Overview

This page gives a brief overview of the software used in this class.

Keil uVision is a compiler/debugger/simulator developed by ARM. Texas Instruments developed the windows drivers that allow communication with the LauchPad board. We have developed a suite of the software modules needed to run this course. All software will be free to download and install. There will be five different types of modules: 1) there will be an integrated development environment (IDE) for writing, compiling, downloading, and debugging code on the microcontroller; 2) there will be example code that we discuss during the lectures; 3) there will be starter files for each of the lab; and 4) there will be automatic grader software that tests your lab solutions to see if your solution meets specifications; and 5) TExaSdisplay is a stand-alone application that provides communication with the serial port on the LaunchPad, provides graders for Labs 5 and 11, implements a virtual Nokia LCD, and implements a very simple oscilloscope.

IDE

We will be using Keil uVision IDE and be writing software in C. These programs only run on Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8, or 10.) There will be a way install software on a Macintosh so Windows will run on the Macintosh. There are no solutions for Linux.

Example projects

There will be many example projects that run on the LM4F120/TM4C123 LaunchPad.

Lab starter projects

You will begin each lab using a starter project.

TExaS Lab Graders

We have written DLL extensions to the Keil uVision IDE that will evaluate your lab solutions. We have named this set of DLLs as Test EXecute and Simulate or TExaS. There is also an application called TExaSdisplay that provides interaction with your serial port software running on the LaunchPad. the current version of TExaSdisplay is like HyperTerminal or PuTTy but much simpler and adds grading for Labs 5 and 11. TExaSdisplay also provides a simple oscilloscope and simulation of the Nokia display used in Labs 12 through 15.

This is how we will grade a lab in simulation.

This is how we will grade a lab on the real board.

Oscilloscope

One of the cool technologies of this class will be its oscilloscope. The scope uses one of the two ADC converters on the microcontroller. We dedicate the use of Port D pin 3 (PD3) as the scope input. Data flows from PD3, sampled by ADC1 at 10kHz, passed via UART0 through the USB cable to the PC and plotted on the PC using the application TExaSdisplay.