Get Started with the S32K146 Evaluation Board for General Purpose

Get Software

2.1 Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

The S32 Design Studio for Arm^® is a complimentary Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for automotive and ultra-reliable Arm-based microcontrollers that enables editing, compiling and debugging of designs.

2.2 Run-Time Debugging Tool

S32K146EVB evaluation board performs better when using the FreeMASTER tool for run-time debugging. You can also download and install the FreeMASTER Communication Driver (source code already included in the example project).

Note: Check the FreeMASTER page for the latest version.

Plug It In

3.1 Power up the Board

• The S32K146-EVB evaluation board powers from a USB or external 12V power supply. By default USB power is enabled with J107
• Connect the USB cable to a PC using supplied USB cable
• Connect other end of USB cable (microUSB) to mini-B port on S32K146 at J7

• Allow the PC to automatically configure the USB drivers if needed.
• Debug is done using OpenSDA through J7
• When powered through USB, LEDs D2 and D3 should light green
• Once the board is recognized, it should appear as a mass storage device in your PC with the name S32K146EVB

• Board is preloaded with a software, in which the red, blue and green LEDs will toggle at different rates

Build

4.1 Flash the Out-of-Box Demo

Download the S32K146EVB_OOBE_FreeMASTER_Firmware.srec from Software and Tools tab . Then drag and drop the downloaded image file into your S32K146EVB disk that is listed in your PC window.

4.2 Communicate with Run-Time Debugger

Open the FreeMASTER application on your PC. You should see Welcome page:

Setup communication port to “opensda” and speed to 115200 b/s:

• Setup communication manualy:
  “Project > Options > Comm"

• Setup communication automatically:
  “Tools > Connection Wizard”

4.3 FreeMASTER JumpStart project download

Once the FreeMASTER application detects the web address stored as an TSA active content in the flash memory of the S32K146 MCU, the download of the FreeMASTER project from NXP Semiconductors will be initiated.

4.4 FreeMASTER JumpStart Project Loaded

The FreeMASTER JumpStart project description:

4.5 FreeMASTER JumpStart

Display main project panel, “Project > View > Project Tree“..

Display real-time oscilloscope graph examples such as “Potentiometer“ or “Touch Sense Electrodes“.

4.6 Create a New Project in S32 Design Studio

To create a new project for first time at Eclipse Launcher, please follow the following steps:

• Start program: Click on “S32 Design Studio for Arm” icon
• Select workspace:
• Choose default (see below example) or specify new one
• Suggestion: Uncheck the box “Use this as the default and do not ask again”
• Click OK

• Select “File > New > S32DS Application Project”

• Project Name:
  • Example: “FirstProject”
• Project Type:
  • Select from inside executable or library folder
• Click on “Next”

• Select “Debugger > Support and Library/SDKs Support” if needed
• Click “Finish”

4.7 OpenSDA Configuration

To Debug your project with OpenSDA, it is necessary to select the OpenSDA in the Debug Configuration.

• Select your project, and click on “Debug Configuration”

• Select the Debug configuration under “GDB PEMicro Interface Debugging”

• Click on “Debugger” tab
• Select OpenSDA as the interface, if your board is plugged should appear in the Port field
• Click “Apply” and “Debug” to finish

4.8 Create an Example from SDK

The S32 Design Studio IDE already includes the Software Development Kit for quickly develop applications on S32K1xx devices.

• To create a project using an example go to “File > New > S32DS Project from Example”

• Go to the “S32K1xx SDK RTM v4.0.1” Example Projects section and select the example that wants to be used
• In this example the “hello_world” is selected

• A new project would be created in the workspace
• Click on “generate code icon” and then on “Debug”, as indicated

• If run correctly, the LED should start blinking red and green

The complete documentation of the SDK can be found in:
C:\NXP\S32DS_ARM_v2018.R1\S32DS\S32SDK_S32K14x_EAR_0.8.6\doc\Start_here.html

For more information about the use of the SDK go click on the following link for an SDK training.

Debug

5.1 Debug Basics

Debug configuration is only required once. Subsequent starting of debugger does not require those steps.

Three options to start debugger:

• If the “Debug Configuration” has not been closed, click on “Debug” button on bottom right
• Select Run > Debug (or hit F11)

Note: This method currently selects the desktop target (project.elf) and gives an error. Do not use until this is changed.

• Click on pull down arrow for bug icon and select > debug.elf target

5.2 Step, Run, Suspend and Resume:

• Step Into (F5)

• Step Over (F6)

• Step Return (F7)

• Run

• Suspend

• Resume (F8)

5.3 View and Alter Variables:

• View variables in “Variables” tab
• Click on a value to allow typing in a different value

5.4 View and Alter Registers:

• View CPU registers in the “Registers” tab
• Click on a value to allow typing in a different value
• View peripheral registers in the EmbSys Registers tab

5.5 View and Alter Memory:

• Add Memory Monitor

• Select Base Address to Start at: 40000000

• View Memory

5.6 Breakpoint:

Add Breakpoint: Point and Click.

• Light blue dot represents debugger breakpoint

5.7 Reset and Terminate Debug Session

How to reset and terminate debug session:

• Light blue dot represents debugger breakpoint
• Terminate Ctl+F2()

5.8 Create P&E Debug Configuration.

• Click in debug configurations.

• Create a new P&E launch configuration

• Select S32K146 device
• Click Apply and debug your application

Introduction to OpenSDA

OpenSDA is an open-standard serial and debug adapter. It bridges serial and debug communications between a USB host and an embedded target processor. OpenSDA software includes a flash-resident USB mass-storage device (MSD) bootloader and a collection of Firmware Apps. S32K146 EVB comes with the MSD Flash Programmer OpenSDA Application preinstalled. Follow these instructions to run the OpenSDA Bootloader and update or change the installed OpenSDA Application.

The MSD Flash Programmer is a composite USB application that provides a virtual serial port and an easy and convenient way to program applications into the S32K146 MCU. It emulates a FAT16 file system, appearing as a removable drive in the host file system with a volume label of S32K146EVB.

Raw binary and Motorola S-record files that are copied to the drive are programmed directly into the flash of the S32K146 and executed automatically. The virtual serial port enumerates as a standard serial port device that can be opened with standard serial terminal applications.

Design Resources

Board Documents

S32K1xx Series Cookbook – Application Note

S32K1xx Bootloader – Application Note

Chip Documents

S32K1xx MCU Family – Data Sheet

S32K1xx MCU Family – Reference Manual

S32K1xx MCU Family – Functional Safety Documentation (requires access to the SafeAssure NDA group)

Software

S32K146EVB OOBE FreeMASTER Firmware

S32 Design Studio for Arm

FreeMASTER Run-Time Debugging Tool

Model-Based Design Toolbox (MBDT)

Automotive Math and Motor Control Library Set (AMMCLib)

Get Help

Forums

Connect with other engineers and get expert advice on designing with the S32K146EVB on one of our community sites.

S32K MCUs online community

Training & Events

Assessing the Power Consumption of your S32K MCU-based Designs Before Development