Microchip SAMxxx ATSAM4SA16BA-ANR is supported!

Microchip ATSAM4SA16BA-ANR Device Information

The ATSAM4SA16BA-ANR device is produced by Microchip and is part of the SAMxxx SAM4S device family. The device supports 6 hardware breakpoints. The following device-specific features are available for this device, in addition to the many debug and programming features PEmicro provides for ARM Cortex devices:

• SD Secure Device

PEmicro provides various tools which work with the ATSAM4SA16BA-ANR, many of which are free.

PEmicro Software Device Selector

Use the device selector "ATSAM4SA16B" when using PEmicro/compatible software. ATSAM4SA16BA-ANR is a part number that falls under PEmicro's ATSAM4SA16B designation.

PEmicro's Microchip ATSAM4SA16BA-ANR Flash Algorithms

ATSAM4SA16BA-ANR uses the PEmicro programming algorithm(s) listed below for internal flash programming:

• Atmel_ATSAM4SA16B_1x32x256k.arp

Please note: Depending on the specific device, PEmicro may also have algorithms available for SPI / Quad SPI / Parallel external flash programming. The software should indicate support for ATSAM4SA16B devices during setup. If it does not then you may need to upgrade your software to the latest version in order to access the most current device support.

Production Programming (Low-, Medium-, and High-Volume)

Cyclone Production Programmers are designed to make repetitive programming reliable, easy, and feature rich. Regardless of whether small lots are being programmed manually by non-technical labor, or huge numbers are being produced by automated equipment, PEmicro's in-circuit Cyclone programmers are perfect for the job. Cyclone programmers are robust, fast, and extremely easy to use. They can program using many protocols, such as JTAG and SWD, and include many features such as high speed programming, verification, serialization, dynamic per device data, CRC calculations, trim, security, and more.

Cyclone LC and Cyclone FX programmers can operate as stand-alone units that do not require a PC for programming. Programming can be launched from the unit or fully automated into the production process with PEmicro's automated control API. Cyclone MultiChannel programmers are PC-controlled, fully automated production systems designed to program multiple targets in parallel through the same automation-focused workflow.

PEmicro offers several in-circuit production programmers that support the Microchip ATSAM4SA16BA-ANR:

• Cyclone LC - Robust, reliable, flexible production programmers that can be fully automated, operated remotely, and used in stand-alone mode.
• Cyclone FX - Flagship programmers that add high-end speed, enhanced security, larger internal storage, expandable SD card storage, and USB host add-ons such as barcode scanning.
• Cyclone MultiChannel Programmer - A high-speed, compact, multi-channel production programmer for fixture or benchtop use. It is ideal for high-volume and space-constrained automated applications that need to program multiple targets in parallel.

Cyclone Control Suite

Cyclone LC, Cyclone FX, and Cyclone MultiChannel programmers include the Cyclone Control Suite, which consists of three distinct tools to help the user control and automate the programming process. Cyclone FX users have some advanced features available to them, such as gang programming. Cyclone LC users can purchase a separate license if they need access to these advanced features, while Cyclone MultiChannel users can automate high-speed, parallel programming across multiple channels.

Software Development & Debug Support

There are many free and commercially available development tools which support PEmicro's hardware interfaces. PEmicro supports GDB based development setups with easily installed plug-ins and tools. PEmicro's hardware and software support is fully featured, cost effective, and high performance.

• GDB debugger within Eclipse - PEmicro provides a no-cost plug-in for Eclipse which integrates PEmicro hardware support for many different ARM devices seamlessly into Eclipse. The plug-in includes the GDB server, so there is no separate software needed. The GDB support includes flash programming, provisioning, trim, hardware breakpoints, software breakpoints, and more. Linux and Windows are supported. PEmicro's GDB Eclipse Plug-in for the ATSAM4SA16BA-ANR is available at no charge!
  
• Cyclone MultiChannel Programmer - The Cyclone MultiChannel can handle multiple debug sessions to multiple targets simultaneously, which may be useful for software verification and shared hardware scenarios.
  
• Commercial Tool Support - PEmicro hardware and debug for this device is supported in many leading toolchains including: IAR Workbench, Keil Microcontroller Development Kit, and more. Click to view additional information about 3rd party IDEs.
  

Debug/Programming Hardware

PEmicro has two major hardware types which can control, debug and program the ATSAM4SA16BA-ANR: the USB Multilink debug cables and the Cyclone automated in-circuit programmers.

The USB Multilink hardware cables are designed primarily for development. PEmicro offers the low-cost Multilink ACP debug probe, which supports ARM devices from a broad array of manufacturers. For those who also work with additional NXP or STMicroelectronics 8-/16-/32-bit devices we offer the all-in-one Multilink Universal debug probe. And for those looking for a big boost in speed (up to 10x), or the ability for the Multilink to power the target, we offer our flagship USB Multilink Universal FX debug probe.

These high-speed USB interfaces are fully featured and robust solutions for development. In addition to development and test software, PEmicro offers the PROG for ARM Cortex Processors flash programming software which runs in Windows and can be used along with these Multilinks to flash program many ARM Cortex devices.

PEmicro's Cyclone LC, Cyclone FX, and Cyclone MultiChannel in-circuit programmers can also be use to debug targets much like a multilink, but with a few additional advantages:

• Debugging across Ethernet to reach targets located away from the PC.
• Sharing hardware between developers from anywhere on the network.
• Debugging targets over the internet.
• Using Cyclone target-power capabilities to help with debug entry.
• Debugging multiple targets simultaneously across the network with Cyclone MultiChannel programmers.

Custom In-Circuit Test Application Development

PEmicro's UNIT Interface Library Routines allow the user to create a Windows or Linux application which can fully control the execution of the embedded ATSAM4SA16BA-ANR processor via one of PEmicro's hardware interfaces.

The PC-based application can peek and poke memory, peripherals, and other resources of the embedded processor through the debug port. Applications can use this ability to perform tests of the target hardware, calculate target calibration data, or UNIT can simply be a way to develop a totally custom application which controls the target via debug mode. The advantage of using debug mode is that the processor doesn't need to be running application code or even be programmed for the PC application to fully exercise the processor's capabilities. Information about this test product which supports the ATSAM4SA16BA-ANR can be found on the UNITACMP product page. PEmicro has also written an Expert's Corner white paper which describes how to use the UNIT library to create an in-circuit test for boards containing a device similar to the ATSAM4SA16BA-ANR.