Software Description
KT912F634UG User’s Guide Rev. 2.0 10/2013
18
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
Archive Information
Archive Information
8.3
FreeMASTER Graphical User Interface
The installation, application setup, and operating instructions were discussed in previous paragraphs. This
section describes the software functionality.
8.3.1
About the FreeMASTER Software
FreeMASTER software (formerly known as PC Master software) is an off board driver supporting
communication between the MM912F634 microcontroller and a PC. This tool allows the programmer to
remotely control an application in a user-friendly graphical environment, running on a PC. It also provides the
ability to view real-time application variables in both text and graphic form. FreeMASTER software is a versatile
tool used for multipurpose algorithms and applications. It provides smart features, including:
•
View board application variables - either in the original format, or transformed into a more easily viewable
format
•
Modify variable values (in the original or transformed format) to control the board application
•
Plot read variable value changes using the Scope feature
•
Plot fast events using the Recorder feature
•
Control the target application using application commands
•
Add HTML pages providing help, or descriptions for the target board application features, scopes and
recorders, application control, etc.
•
Create a logical tree structure of blocks relating to the various board application functions, and assign their
corresponding description pages
•
Scope and recorder definitions, and watch grids
•
Add an HTML based Control page that can control the board application, using standard web tools.
•
More about this tool can be found in application note AN2395 (See ”
References
” section).
8.3.2
FreeMASTER Software on the Embedded Side
8.3.2.1
General Outline
The default communication interface between the PC and the target microcontroller is the SCI (UART). Beside
this, several communication plug-ins were created and added to the FreeMASTER application:
•
JTAG/EOnCE (56F8xxx only)
•
BDM (HCS08, HCS12 only)
•
OSBDML (HC08, HCS12 only), included TBDML
•
CAN Calibration Protocol
•
Ethernet, TCP/IP
In order to communicate over the SCI, the FreeMASTER software driver must be included in the CodeWarrior
project. It is a set of files that can be downloaded from
www.freescale.com
for a particular microcontroller family
(8-bit MCU S08, 16-bit MCU S12, 16-bit DSC - MC56F8000, 32-bit ColdFire, 32-bit Power Architecture).
Then in the file
freemaster_cfg.h
, it is necessary to configure the FreeMASTER serial communication driver.
This is to set the SCI module used (base address of the SCI module used), size of buffer, enable/disable
recorder or scope, mode of operation (interrupt driven or periodic calling), etc.
