Rapid Program Tracing Spots Hard-To-Find Bugs
MIPS SmaRT is a hardware module that can be integrated into any system-on-chip (SoC) within the MIPS ARC configurable architecture. Delivered via the MIPS ARChitect™ configuration tool as an IP library component, it enables rapid software debug with minimal increase in die size and no power consumption penalty.
MIPS SmaRT gives developers the ability to trace program execution precisely in the real system. They can therefore diagnose bugs that are difficult to reproduce in system simulators, or only become apparent when the system is run at full speed.
The system works by recognizing any change of program flow control: the relevant source and destination instruction addresses are then recorded within a stack structure. When the processor is halted, the resultant execution history can be read back by the MetaWare® debugger via the SoC’s JTAG port: no special interfaces or external hardware are required.
Highlights & Key Features
- Minimal Area and Power Penalty
- MIPS SmaRT tracing can be disabled in normal operation, reducing its impact in terms of power consumption to effectively zero. It requires less than 8.5 k gates to implement, so the cost in silicon area is low.
- MIPS SmaRT tracing uses the SoC’s existing JTAG port, so it requires no addtional interface circuitry.
- Easy To Integrate
- MIPS SmaRT is supplied as a hardware IP block that can be included on-chip by a designer using the MIPS ARChitect processor configurator. Using this GUI-based design tool allows SmaRT to be configured for use within devices based on any MIPS ARC core.
- Easy To Use
- SmaRT is designed for use in conjunction with the MetaWare Debugger. The debugger can be used to switch MIPS SmaRT tracing on and off as part of normal program execution, by setting a control bit.
- Trace results can be displayed in an intuitive fashion, along with other program information available to the debugger.
Product Details
| Description | ARC Debug Option for all ARC Cores |
| Name | dwc_arc_debug |
| Version | 2.1b |
| ECCN | 3E991/NLR |
| STARs | Open and/or Closed STARs |
| myDesignWare | Subscribe for Notifications |
| Product Type | DesignWare Cores |
| Toolsets | Qualified Toolsets |
| Download | dwc_arc_debug |
| Product Code | 4794-0, 7849-0, 7850-0, 8022-0, 8023-0, 8024-0, 8025-0, 8026-0, 8027-0, 8028-0, 8045-0, 8046-0, 9169-0, 9170-0, A279-0, A280-0, A281-0, A282-0, A603-0, A604-0, A605-0, A628-0, A629-0, B140-0, B141-0, C238-0, C239-0, C240-0, C241-0, C242-0, C243-0, C244-0, C245-0, C246-0, C247-0, C248-0, C249-0, C250-0, C251-0, C252-0, C897-0, C898-0, D089-0, E584-0, E756-0, E832-0, E876-0 |
| Description | ARC SmaRT, optional Real-Time Trace debug |
| Name | dwc_arc_smart |
| Version | 2.2.2 |
| ECCN | 3E991/NLR |
| STARs | Open and/or Closed STARs |
| myDesignWare | Subscribe for Notifications |
| Product Type | DesignWare Cores |
| Documentation | Show Documents Hide Documents QuickStartARC SmaRT Getting Started ( PDF ) Reference ManualARC SmaRT Reference ( PDF ) Release NotesARC SmaRT Release Notes ( PDF ) |
| Toolsets | Qualified Toolsets |
| Download | dwc_arc_smart |
| Product Code | 8034-0 |