DAvE (Infineon)

Last updated
Digital Application virtual Engineer (DAVE)
Developer(s) Infineon Technologies
Written inJava, C
Operating system Microsoft Windows
Available inEnglish
Website http://www.infineon.com/...

DAVE (Infineon) Digital Application Virtual Engineer (DAVE) is a software development and code generation tool for microcontroller applications created in C/C++. DAVE is a standalone system with automatic code generation modules. It is suited for the development of software drivers for Infineon microcontrollers and aids the developer with automatically created C-level templates and user-desired functionalities.

Contents

The latest releases of DAVE include all required parts to develop code, compile and debug on the target for free (based on the ARM GCC tool suite). It is similar to the products of Atmel (AVR, SAM) and Microchip (PIC, PIC32) to name a few. [1]

DAVE was developed by Infineon Technologies, and is only available for their microcontrollers. The generated code can be used on development environments from Eclipse, Keil, Tasking, and so on.

Latest version 4 (beta) for ARM-based 32-bit Infineon processors

The successor of the Eclipse-based development environment for C/C++ and/or GUI-based development using "Apps". It generates code for the latest XMC1xxx and XMC4xxx microcontrollers using Cortex-M processors. The code generation part is significantly improved. Besides the free DAVE development software, a DAVE SDK is a free development environment to set up its own "Apps" for DAVE. Details (downloads, getting started, tutorials, etc.) can be found on the website.

Stable version 3 for ARM-based 32-bit Infineon processors

Automatic code generation is based on the use of case-oriented, configurable, and tested software (SW) components, called DAVE Apps. They are comparable to executable and configurable application notes that can be downloaded from the web, just like apps for smartphones or tablet PCs. This environment is based on Eclipse. Besides the "App approach," ordinary program development using C/C++ is also available. The targets for this development are XMC1xxx and XMC4xxx microcontrollers that use ARM Cortex-M processors. [2]

Previous (older) versions

This version targets 32-bit MCUs (TriCore AUDO family), 16-bit MCUs (C166, XC166, XE166, and XC2000 family), and 8-bit MCUs (XC800 family) from Infineon. After the initial setup, the configuration wizard appears and gives an overview of the hardware peripherals, control units, and modules. Here, the actual microcontroller application can be created by selecting the desired functionality. At this step, module-specific functions have to be selected for module initialization and control. Finally, the application source files will be generated by DAVE and embedded in a project for the selected development environment, where one can continue to modify the code or add it to an existing project. [3]

The installation of DAVE and DIP files is unproblematic, with only a few clicks after downloading the application from Infineon's web page. One can start working with DAVE and already generate example code without reading a manual, as the steps for doing so are pretty much self-explanatory when following the application wizard. Furthermore, Infineon provides many application notes and tutorials on how to use DAVE in combination with different microcontrollers and development environments.

Besides the main development environment, DAVE, Infineon also developed additional software that can be used in conjunction with DAVE for specific microcontroller families or additional hardware: DAVE Bench for XC800 is a platform providing free development tools for Infineon's 8-bit microcontrollers family, based on the Open Source Eclipse architecture. [4] DAVE Drive is a GUI-based software tool that allows application developers to create embedded software for the control of brushless synchronous three-phase motors. [5]

Alternative software

As mentioned, the Infineon MCUs are directly supported by several commercial products – depending on the selected MCU target. [6] Also, an embedded coder library for Matlab exists. [7] As a free alternative to DAVE, the developer can use the Keil Microcontroller Development Kit (MDK) Version 5. Code for the XMX1000 series up to 128 kB can be developed this way without purchasing a license from Keil. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microcontroller</span> Small computer on a single integrated circuit

A microcontroller or microcontroller unit (MCU) is a small computer on a single integrated circuit. A microcontroller contains one or more CPUs along with memory and programmable input/output peripherals. Program memory in the form of ferroelectric RAM, NOR flash or OTP ROM is also often included on chip, as well as a small amount of RAM. Microcontrollers are designed for embedded applications, in contrast to the microprocessors used in personal computers or other general purpose applications consisting of various discrete chips.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TI MSP430</span>

The MSP430 is a mixed-signal microcontroller family from Texas Instruments, first introduced on 14 February 1992. Built around a 16-bit CPU, the MSP430 was designed for use with low power consumption embedded applications and for low cost.

Nucleus RTOS is a real-time operating system (RTOS) produced by the Embedded Software Division of Mentor Graphics, a Siemens Business, supporting 32- and 64-bit embedded system platforms. The operating system (OS) is designed for real-time embedded systems for medical, industrial, consumer, aerospace, and Internet of things (IoT) uses. Nucleus was released first in 1993. The latest version is 3.x, and includes features such as power management, process model, 64-bit support, safety certification, and support for heterogeneous computing multi-core system on a chip (SOCs) processors.

Nios II is a 32-bit embedded processor architecture designed specifically for the Altera family of field-programmable gate array (FPGA) integrated circuits. Nios II incorporates many enhancements over the original Nios architecture, making it more suitable for a wider range of embedded computing applications, from digital signal processing (DSP) to system-control.

TriCore is a 32-bit microcontroller architecture from Infineon. It unites the elements of a RISC processor core, a microcontroller and a DSP in one chip package.

V850 is a 32-bit RISC CPU architecture produced by Renesas Electronics for embedded microcontrollers. It was designed by NEC as a replacement for their earlier NEC V60 family, and was introduced shortly before NEC sold their designs to Renesas in the early 1990s. It has continued to be developed by Renesas as of 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cypress PSoC</span> Type of integrated circuit

PSoC is a family of microcontroller integrated circuits by Cypress Semiconductor. These chips include a CPU core and mixed-signal arrays of configurable integrated analog and digital peripherals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keil (company)</span>

Keil is a German software subsidiary of Arm Holdings. It was founded in 1982 by Günter and Reinhard Keil, initially as a German GbR. In April 1985 the company was converted to Keil Elektronik GmbH to market add-on products for the development tools provided by many of the silicon vendors. Keil implemented the first C compiler designed from the ground-up specifically for the 8051 microcontroller.

EFM32 Gecko MCUs are a family of mixed-signal 32-bit microcontroller integrated circuits from Energy Micro based on ARM Cortex-M CPUs, including the Cortex-M0+, Cortex-M3 and Cortex-M4.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">XC800 family</span>

The Infineon XC800 family is an 8-bit microcontroller family, first introduced in 2005, with a dual cycle optimized 8051 "E-Warp" core. The XC800 family is divided into two categories, the A-Family for Automotive and the I-Family for Industrial and multi-market applications.

The Infineon XE166 family is a 16-bit microcontroller family, first introduced in 2007. The XE166 can be found in applications like servo drivers, appliance motors, industrial pumps, transportation and power supplies.

Mbed is a development platform and real-time operating system (RTOS) designed for internet-connected devices that utilize 32-bit ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers. These internet-enabled devices are often categorized under the Internet of Things (IoT) umbrella. The Mbed project is a collaborative effort led by Arm Holdings, in partnership with various technology companies and contributors.

XMC is a family of microcontroller ICs by Infineon. The XMC microcontrollers use the 32-bit RISC ARM processor cores from ARM Holdings, such as Cortex-M4F and Cortex-M0. XMC stands for "cross-market microcontrollers", meaning that this family can cover due to compatibility and configuration options, a wide range in industrial applications. The family supports three essential trends in the industry: It increases the energy efficiency of the systems, supports a variety of communication standards and reduces software complexity in the development of the application's software environment with the parallel released eclipse-based software tool DAVE.

AURIX is a 32-bit Infineon microcontroller family, targeting the automotive industry. It is based on multicore architecture of up to three independent 32-bit TriCore CPUs.

TASKING GmbH is a provider of embedded-software development tools headquartered in Munich, Germany.

In computing, autonomous peripheral operation is a hardware feature found in some microcontroller architectures to off-load certain tasks into embedded autonomous peripherals in order to minimize latencies and improve throughput in hard real-time applications as well as to save energy in ultra-low-power designs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MicroEJ</span> French-American software comoany

MicroEJ is a French-American independent software vendor with headquarters in Nantes, France and offices in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. It was founded by Fred Rivard in 2004. It is known for developing MICROEJ VEE, a Virtual Execution Environment for embedded software development and other software development tools such as the software development kit MICROEJ SDK.

References

  1. AG, Infineon Technologies. "Neue Version der Entwicklungsplattform DAVE senkt Software-Entwicklungszeit für XMC-Mikrocontroller von Infineon beträchtlich - Infineon Technologies" . Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  2. "DAVE™ Forum" . Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  3. "Getting started with XC164CS starterkit using DAvE, Tasking EDE & CrossView Pro Debugger" (PDF). Application Note. Infineon Technologies. Retrieved 5 March 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. "DAvE Bench". Product Overview. Infineon Technologies. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  5. "DAVE™ Drive Application Code Generator for PMSM and BLDC Motor Control with Infineon's 8-bit Microcontrollers". Application Brief. Infineon Technologies. Archived from the original on 11 April 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  6. AG, Infineon Technologies. "Products - Infineon Technologies" . Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  7. AG, Infineon Technologies. "Products - Infineon Technologies". Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  8. "MDK for Infineon XMC - Installation - Activation" . Retrieved 25 June 2016.