Nuvoton Nu-Link User manual

Nuvoton Nu-Link Debug Adapter User Manual
Oct 28, 2014 - Revision V1.01
Nuvoton Nu-Link
Debug Adapter User Manual
The information described in this document is the exclusive intellectual property of
Nuvoton Technology Corporation and shall not be reproduced without permission from Nuvoton.
Nuvoton is providing this document only for reference purposes of NuMicro microcontroller based system
design. Nuvoton assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions.
All data and specifications are subject to change without notice.
For additional information or questions, please contact: Nuvoton Technology Corporation.
www.nuvoton.com

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Table of Contents
1INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................. 3
2HARDWARE SPECIFICATIONS..................................................................................................... 4
2.1 Nu-Link-Pro ........................................................................................................................... 4
2.2 Nu-Link .................................................................................................................................. 5
2.3 Nu-Link-Me............................................................................................................................ 5
2.4 Nu-Link-Me (On-board Version)............................................................................................ 6
2.5 Nu-Link Adapter Hardware Specifications ............................................................................ 6
3MAIN FUNCTIONS .......................................................................................................................... 8
3.1 Debugging ............................................................................................................................. 9
3.1.1 Debug Mode.....................................................................................................................9
3.1.2 Breakpoints ......................................................................................................................9
3.1.3 Direct Register Control Interface ......................................................................................9
3.1.4 Semihost ........................................................................................................................11
3.2 Programming....................................................................................................................... 12
3.2.1 Online Programming.......................................................................................................12
3.2.2 Offline Programming.......................................................................................................12
3.2.3 Software Serial Number (SN).........................................................................................13
3.3 Wide Voltage Programming ................................................................................................ 14
3.4 Installing the Nu-Link Adapter Driver................................................................................... 14
4INSTALLATION AND SETUP........................................................................................................ 15
4.1 Connecting to the Nu-Link Adapter..................................................................................... 15
4.2 Software Setup.................................................................................................................... 16
4.2.1 ICP Tool .........................................................................................................................16
4.2.2 Keil RVMDK ...................................................................................................................19
4.2.3 IAR EWARM...................................................................................................................22
4.2.4 CooCox CoIDE...............................................................................................................25
5+APPENDIX................................................................................................................................... 27
5.1 Nu-Link Adapter Operating Current..................................................................................... 27
6REVISION HISTORY..................................................................................................................... 28

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1 Introduction
Nuvoton’s Nu-Link Debug Adapter is an USB debugger and programmer based on the SWD (Serial
Wire Debug) signal interface and can be applied to the development of Nuvoton NuMicro™ Family
chips. As shown in Table 2-1, there are three types of the Nu-Link Debug Adapter in accordance with
different specifications, including Nu-Link-Pro, Nu-Link, and Nu-Link-Me. The three types are called
“Nu-Link Adapter” in general if no specific conditions are mentioned.
The Nu-Link Adapter supports ICP (In-Circuit Programming) based on the SWD (Serial Wire Debug)
signal interface. The user can employ the NuMicro™ICP Programming Tool to update chip firmware
for mass production. The Nu-Link Adapter also supports the third-party development tools, such as
Keil RVMDK, IAR EWARM, and CooCox CoIDE.
For simplicity and clarity, parts of specific terms in this user manual are contracted or abbreviated, as
listed in the following table.
Short Name
Full Name
Nu-Link Adapter
Nuvoton Nu-Link Debug Adapter
NuMicro™ Family
Nuvoton NuMicro™ Family
ICP Tool
Nuvoton NuMicro™ ICP Programming Tool
Keil RVMDK
Keil ARM RealView Microcontroller Development Kit (MDK-ARM® )
IAR EWARM
IAR Embedded Workbench for ARM
CooCox CoIDE
CooCox Integrated Development Environment
SWD
Serial Wire Debug
ICP
In-Circuit Programming

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2 Hardware Specifications
The Nu-Link Adapter provides an USB connector and a SWD signal interface for connecting to the
target chip. The user can connect the Nu-Link Adapter to an USB port of a PC to debug and program
target chips through the development software tools. As shown in Table 2-1, there are three
specifications for the Nu-Link Adapter, in which debugging, Online/Offline Programming, and SWD I/O
voltage settings may be supported depending on the specifications (refer to the +Appendix for details).
Table 2-1 Nu-Link Adapter Function Comparison
Type
Function
Nu-Link-Pro
Nu-Link
Nu-Link-Me
Debugging
✔
✔
✔
Online Programming
✔
✔
✔
Offline Programming
✔
✔
Multi SWD I/O Voltage
✔
SWD I/O Voltage Support
1.8V, 2.5V, 3.3V, 5.0V
5.0V
3.3V (default), 5.0V
(3.3V for On-board
version only)
2.1 Nu-Link-Pro
The Nu-Link-Pro is a full-functional debugger and programmer with debugging, online/offline
programming, and SWD I/O voltage setting functions. As shown in Figure 2-1, the Nu-Link-Pro
includes an USB port that can be connected to a computer host, a set of Status LEDs, an offline
programming button, a SWD port that can be connected to a target chip for debugging and
programming (the voltage level of the SWD port can be adjusted through software as 1.8V, 2.5V,
3.3V, or 5.0V), a set of SWD I/O voltage LEDs and SWD Power Output LEDs.
SWD
USB
Offline Programming Button SWD Power Output LED
SWD I/O Voltage LED
(1.8V / 2.5V / 3.3V / 5.0V) Status LED (ICE / ICP / Red / Green)
Figure 2-1 Nu-Link-Pro Configuration

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2.2 Nu-Link
The Nu-Link is a basic debugger and programmer with debugging and online/offline programming
functions. As shown in Figure 2-2, the Nu-Link includes an USB port that can be connected to a
computer host, a set of Status LEDs, an offline programming button, and a SWD port that can be
connected to a target chip for debugging and programming (the default voltage of the SWD port as
5.0V).
SWD
USB
Offline Programming Button
Green
Red
ICP
ICE
Status LED
Figure 2-2 Nu-Link Configuration
2.3 Nu-Link-Me
The Nu-Link-Me is a simple debugger and programmer with debugging and online programming
functions, which is only shipped with the NuTiny-SDK kits and can be used stand-alone for developing
the customized NuMicro™ Family system.As shown in Figure 2-3, the Nu-Link-Me includes an USB
port that can be connected to a computer host, a set of Status LEDs, a Power Switch to switch the
voltage of Nu-Link-Me between 3.3V and 5.0V (the default as 3.3V), a SWD port that can be
connected to a target chip for debugging and programming (whose voltage is adjustable with the Nu-
Link-Me). A Cortex Debug port is provided in parts of the version only for connecting to Keil’s
MCBNUC1XX board. The pins of the Cortex Debug port conform to those of the SWD port, except the
pin order.
SWD
USB
Cortex Debug
Status LED
(ICE / ICP / Red / Green)
Power Switch
(5.0V / 3.3V)
Figure 2-3 Nu-Link-Me Configuration

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2.4 Nu-Link-Me (On-board Version)
The main functions of the Nu-Link-Me on-board version, including debugging and online programming,
are the same as those of the Nu-Link-Me. The Nu-Link-Me on-board version is provided with all
NuMicro™ Family series. The user does not need to prepare s debugger when using a learning board.
The Nu-Link-Me on-board version includes an USB port that can be connected to a computer host, a
set of Status LEDs, and a SWD port connected to the chip on the learning board (default) for
debugging and programming (external connection is not supported). The SWD port voltage is always
3.3V.
The learning boards that support the Nu-Link-Me on-board version are listed below:
Nu-LB-NUC140
Nu-LB-M051
Nu-LB-Mini51
2.5 Nu-Link Adapter Hardware Specifications
The Nu-Link Adapter hardware comparison is shown in Table 2-2.
Table 2-2 Nu-Link Adapter Hardware Comparison
Device
Description
Nu-Link-Pro
Nu-Link
Nu-Link-Me
Nu-Link-Me on-board ver.
USB
Connected to an USB port of a PC to use
the Nu-Link Adapter or download offline
programming firmware
✔
✔
✔
✔
SWD
Connected to the target chip for
debugging and programming
✔
✔
✔
Status LED
Display the operation status of the Nu-
Link Adapter
✔
✔
✔
✔
Offline Programming Button
Click this button to proceed with offline
programming
✔
✔
SWD Power Output LED
Display the power output status of SWD
VCC pins
✔
SWD I/O Voltage LED
Display the SWD VCC and I/O voltage
✔
Power Switch
Power switch between the power output
of the Nu-Link-Me power (e.g. between
the SWD VCC and I/O pins)
✔*1
Cortex Debug
Able to connect to Keil’s MCBNUC1XX
board for debugging and programming
✔*1
*1Only supported in parts of the version.

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Table 2-3 SWD I/O Voltage LEDs and SWD Power Output LEDs Status List
Power Status
Target System Power
SWD Power Output
LED
SWD I/O Voltage LED
1.8V
2.5V
3.3V
5.0V
SWD port I/O and VCC voltage as 1.8V
-
On
On
-
-
-
SWD port I/O and VCC voltage as 2.5V
-
On
On
On
-
-
SWD port I/O and VCC voltage as 3.3V
-
On
On
On
On
-
SWD port I/O and VCC voltage as 5.0V
-
On
On
On
On
On
SWD port I/O voltage as 1.8V
✔(1.8V)
-
On
-
-
-
SWD port I/O voltage as 2.5V
✔(2.5V)
-
On
On
-
-
SWD port I/O voltage as 3.3V
✔(3.3V)
-
On
On
On
-
SWD port I/O voltage as 5.0V
✔(5.0V)
-
On
On
On
On
Table 2-4 Status LEDs Difference List
Nu-Link Adapter Operation Status
Status LED
ICE
ICP
Red
Green
Boot
Flash×3
Flash×3
Flash×3
Flash×3
One Nu-Link Adapter selected to connect
Flash×4
Flash×4
Flash×4
On
ICE Online (Not connected with a target chip)
On
Any
-
-
ICE Online (Connected with a target chip)
On
Any
-
On
ICE Online (Failed to connect with a target chip)
On
Any
Flash
On
During Offline Programming
-
On
-
Flash
Slowly
Offline Programming Completed
On
-
-
-
Offline Programming Completed (Auto mode)
On
On
-
-
Offline Programming Failed
On
Flash
-
-

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3 Main Functions
The Nu-Link Adapter provides complete debugging and programming functions for NuMicro™ Family
and supports a number of third-party development tools. The detailed function support is listed in
Table 3-1.
Table 3-1Nu-Link Adapter Functions
Software
Function
ICP Tool
Keil
RVMDK
IAR
EWARM
CooCox
CoIDE
Debugging
✔
✔
✔
Breakpoints
✔
✔
✔
Direct Register Control Interface
✔
✔
✔*1
Semihost
✔
✔
✔
Online Programming
✔
✔
✔
✔
Offline Programming*2
✔
Software Serial Number
✔
Wide Voltage Programming*3
✔
✔
✔
Multi Nu-Link Adapter Support
✔
✔
✔
Nu-Link Adapter Driver Installation
✔
✔
*1 Core registers view is supported; peripherals view is not supported.
*2Supported for Nu-Link and Nu-Link-Pro.
*3Supported for Nu-Link-Pro.

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3.1 Debugging
This section briefly describes the debugging function supported by the Nu-Link Adapter. For more
details, please refer to the related user manuals.
3.1.1 Debug Mode
The Nu-Link Adapter supports debugging for the NuMicro™ Family chips based on the SWD signal
interface. The third-party tools that support using the Nu-Link Adapter for chip debugging include Keil
RVMDK, IAR EWARM, and CooCox CoIDE. Some more functions supported in Debug mode are
described as follows.
3.1.2 Breakpoints
In Debug mode, the user can add breakpoints in the code for debugging. During the real-time
simulation of the Nu-Link Adapter, the chip simulation will be stopped at a specific breakpoint. Figure
3-1 shows the breakpoint settings in Keil RVMDK Debug mode. The red labels on lines 052 and 059
indicate the breakpoints inserted; the yellow arrow refers to the code to be executed next and shows
the register value of Program Counter (PC) (i.e. “R15(PC)=0x00000D04” in the Registers pane in
Figure 3-1).
Figure 3-1 Setting Breakpoints in Keil RVMDK Debug Mode
3.1.3 Direct Register Control Interface
The Direct Register Control Interface can be used to display the register content in a target chip and
manipulate the registers. Take Keil RVMDK Debug mode for example, invoke the Debug command
and select a register from the “function register list” (e.g. ADC, CAN, CLK, etc.) to open the Direct
Register Control Interface of the selected register, as shown in Figure 3-2.

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Figure 3-2 Direct Register Interface Control Related Options in Keil RVMDK Debug Mode
The Direct Register Control Interface for CLK is shown in the left part of Figure 3-3, where the left
column shows the register name, and the right column shows the register value. The Direct Register
Control Interface for PWRCON is shown in the right part of the Figure 3-3, where the left column
shows the function name, and the right column shows the function value.
Detailed Operation:
Double-clicking a “register value” will open the register control details, as shown in the right part of
Figure 3-3.
The “register value” or “control value” can be modified directly. The Nu-Link Adapter will then modify
the content of the target chip.
Figure 3-3 Direct Register Control Interface in Keil RVMDK Debug Mode