Wireless Microcontroller Debugger Using WiFi and Timestamped Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for programming and debugging microcontrollers often require physical connections and interruptions, limiting real-time monitoring and data collection, especially when dealing with complex firmware and embedded systems.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a programmer debugger to gather event signals from a microcontroller via WiFi or wired connections, paired with an additional monitoring system for real-time data collection, allowing uninterrupted execution and timestamped data transmission to a host PC for analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a debug probe is used to program and debug the microcontroller, then full control of the target system is achieved, but physical connection and interruptions are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical physical connection requirement with a wireless communication system. A WiFi module is integrated into the microcontroller to enable wireless data transmission to a host computer, eliminating the need for physical debug probes and cables while maintaining full debugging functionality and enabling real-time monitoring without interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a WiFi module as an intermediary between the microcontroller and the host computer. This wireless intermediary enables data communication without direct physical connection, allowing the debugging process to occur remotely and continuously without requiring physical access or interruptions to the target system.
2Reliability
If successive versions of software are downloaded and debugged, then functionality goals are achieved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous debugging operation by eliminating physical connection requirements. The WiFi-based system allows successive software versions to be downloaded and debugged continuously without requiring physical probe reconnections or system interruptions, significantly reducing the time consumption of each debug cycle while maintaining reliable functionality verification.
3Measurement precision
If real-time data collection is enabled, then monitoring accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal WiFi communication interface that handles multiple functions: data collection, real-time monitoring, and wireless transmission. This single multi-functional module enables accurate real-time data collection without adding complex separate monitoring hardware, as the WiFi system serves both communication and monitoring purposes simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement is described for programming and debugging a microcontroller embedded into a system using a WiFi connection between the system and a host PC, rather than a wired connection. An optional additional monitor system collects event-driven data from the system which is compared to MCU code execution events to provide debugging information without interrupting the microcontroller.