CY8CTST110
Document Number: 001-46931 Rev. *B
Page 6 of 32
Designing with User Modules
The development process for the PSoC device differs from that
of a traditional fixed function microprocessor. The configurable
analog and digital hardware blocks give the PSoC architecture a
unique flexibility that pays dividends in managing specification
change during development and by lowering inventory costs.
These configurable resources, called PSoC Blocks, have the
ability to implement a wide variety of user-selectable functions.
Each block has several registers that determine its function and
connectivity to other blocks, multiplexers, buses and to the IO
pins. Iterative development cycles permit you to adapt the
hardware and software. This substantially lowers the risk of
having to select a different part to meet the final design
requirements.
To speed the development process, the PSoC Designer
Integrated Development Environment (IDE) provides a library of
pre-built, pre-tested hardware peripheral functions, called “User
Modules.” User modules make selecting and implementing
peripheral devices simple, and come in analog, digital, and
mixed signal varieties. The standard User Module library
contains over 50 common peripherals such as ADCs, DACs
timers, counters, UARTs, and other uncommon peripherals,
such as DTMF generators and Bi-Quad analog filter sections.
Each user module establishes the basic register settings that
implement the selected function. It also provides parameters that
allow you to tailor its precise configuration to your particular
application. For example, a Pulse Width Modulator User Module
configures one or more digital PSoC blocks, one for each 8 bits
of resolution. The user module parameters permit you to
establish the pulse width and duty cycle. User modules also
provide tested software to cut your development time. The user
module application programming interface (API) provides
high-level functions to control and respond to hardware events
at run time. The API also provides optional interrupt service
routines that you can adapt as needed.
The API functions are documented in user module data sheets
that are viewed directly in the PSoC Designer IDE. These data
sheets explain the internal operation of the user module and
provide performance specifications. Each data sheet describes
the use of each user module parameter and documents the
setting of each register controlled by the user module.
The development process starts when you open a new project
and bring up the Device Editor, a graphical user interface (GUI)
for configuring the hardware. You can pick the user modules you
need for your project and map them onto the PSoC blocks with
point-and-click simplicity. Next, you build signal chains by inter-
connecting user modules to each other and the IO pins. At this
stage, you must also configure the clock source connections and
enter parameter values directly or by selecting values from
drop-down menus. When you are ready to test the hardware
configuration or move on to developing code for the project,
perform the “Generate Application” step. This causes PSoC
Designer to generate source code that automatically configures
the device to your specification and provides the high-level user
module API functions.
Figure 4. User Module and Source Code Development Flows
The next step is to write your main program, and any
sub-routines
using
PSoC
Designer’s
Application
Editor
subsystem. The Application Editor includes a Project Manager
that allows you to open the project source code files (including
all generated code files) from a hierarchal view. The source code
editor provides syntax coloring and advanced edit features for
both C and assembly language. File search capabilities include
simple string searches and recursive “grep-style” patterns. A
single mouse click invokes the Build Manager. It employs a
professional-strength “makefile” system to automatically analyze
all file dependencies and run the compiler and assembler as
necessary. Project-level options control optimization strategies
used by the compiler and linker. Syntax errors are displayed in a
console window. Double clicking the error message takes you
directly to the offending line of source code. When all is correct,
the linker builds a HEX file image suitable for programming.
The last step in the development process takes place inside the
PSoC
Designer’s
Debugger
subsystem.
The
Debugger
downloads the HEX image to the In-Circuit Emulator (ICE) where
it runs at full speed. Debugger capabilities rival those of systems
costing many times more. In addition to traditional single-step,
run-to-breakpoint and watch-variable features, the Debugger
provides a large trace buffer and enables you to define complex
breakpoint events that include monitoring address and data bus
values, memory locations, and external signals.
Debugger
Interface
to ICE
Application Editor
Device Editor
Project
Manager
Source
Code
Editor
Storage
Inspector
User
Module
Selection
Placement
and
Parameter
-ization
Generate
Application
Build
All
Event &
Breakpoint
Manager
Build
Manager
Source
Code
Generator
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