SoftICE - Software In-Circuit Emulator1
Introduction
The new SoftICE software utility was specifically developed to support the FlashFlex
In-Application Programming (IAP) scheme that was unveiled by SST in 1997.
IAP allows the MCU to concurrently execute
user code while updating the flash contents in the background. It allows
customers to make "field upgrades" of the flash contents (both program
code and data) at any time in the product's life cycle via an Internet
or LAN connection, while the product remains in use or in service.
SST's SoftICE is a downloadable micro-controller-resident
software utility that provides in-circuit emulation capability through
the Keil Monitor51 software, a popular third-party Windows monitor interface.
It is the only software utility on the market today that provides "true"
in-circuit emulation without the need for a "bondout" chip or on-board
"hooks" circuitry. It helps debug users' target software in real-time,
thus providing engineers with an in-circuit development tool, which is
effective, easy to use and requires no extra emulator hardware. SoftICE
has most of the features of sophisticated hardware emulators.
Some important features are:
- Full access to every Flash memory location,
RAM location, and SFR for READ/WRITE/ERASE operations.
- Inline Assembler allows for on-the-fly
change of test code. Any changes made using the inline assembler are
implemented immediately on the hardware and in real-time.
- SoftICE works invisibly with
the user-friendly Keil Monitor51 driver to ensure the user the most
comfortable code development environment.
Keil Software
Don’t have the Keil software? You can follow the link below to Keil’s website:
www.keil.com
Download the SoftICE Documentation
For further details of the SoftICE software utility, download the SoftICE User's Guide. (347 KB PDF).
Download the SoftICE Tutorial
For a demonstration of how to use SoftICE to debug user program, download the SoftICE_Tutorial (5.1 MB ZIP)
Download the SoftICE Software
The zip file for each MCU type consists of
- SoftICE firmware
It is to be loaded into the device. It works together with Keil Monitor51
software to provide the emulation tool.
- SSTEasyIAP
It may be used to download SoftICE firmware into the device.
- Convert_to_BSL script
The script file to convert the firmware in the device from SoftICE back to the SST BSL.
Demo Software
Four demo software
programs have been supplied with the SoftICE software. The intent here
is to provide the user with some understanding of their basic functionality.
Any one of the four can be downloaded from the PC to the user platform
or the BSL Demo Board and executed there. Three of the programs, TWOBALL.A51/.HEX,
BINCTR.A51/.HEX, and PENDB.A51/.HEX manipulate LEDs connected to P1 in
some manner. The last three are sample programs that show the users how
to debug the IAP code with SoftICE. DemoIAP_5x is for SST89C54 and SST89C58.
DemoIAP_564 is for SST89E564RD and SST89V564RD. DemoIAP_554 is for SST89E554RC
and SST89V554RC. The source (.A51) and download (.HEX) files for each
of the four demo programs can be downloaded from SST's website.
The file names are:
- TWOBALL.A51/.HEX
- BINCTR.A51/.HEX
- PENDB.A51/.HEX
- demoIAP_5x.A51/.HEX
- demoIAP_564.A51/.HEX
- demoIAP_554.A51/.HEX
Download the Demo Software (Zip file - 10KB)
Note 1:
The SoftICE Software is for the user’s reference and convenience only. SST
does not guarantee the functionality or the usefulness of the SoftICE software.
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