JPH0667931A - Single-chip microcomputer simulator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] A tool that facilitates the definition of external event information generated in the I / O port of a single-chip microcomputer in conjunction with the debug target program shown in 4 of FIG.
It is added to the simulator body shown in 7 to improve the debugging efficiency of the program. [Structure] The present invention is one function of the simulator shown in FIG. Characteristically, the simulator shown in FIG.
Input / output information can be displayed in real time by creating an event information definition file 5 that is referred to when simulating the data, and by editing the editing means equipped with a window screen that can graphically define the timing chart data and the specified I / O port. The reason is that a display means having a window screen is provided. [Effect] (1) It is possible to improve the productivity of the software and shorten the development period. (2) It is possible to improve the reliability of the software.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a simulator used when developing a device controlled by a single-chip microcomputer, and more particularly to a debugging environment for testing an application program for controlling a single-chip microcomputer without hardware. The present invention relates to a simulator for a single-chip microcomputer that provides.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for debugging an application program for controlling a single-chip microcomputer, a method of simulating only a CPU and a memory of a target single-chip microcomputer, and emulating all functions of the single-chip microcomputer can be emulated. There is a way to connect the in-circuit emulator to the hardware (jig) instead of the target single-chip microcomputer.

The details of the prior art, which is a prerequisite for the present invention, will be described below.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of an electronic computer which is a conventional execution environment. In the figure, reference numeral 6 is a central processing unit in which a single-chip microcomputer simulator, which is software, operates, and a display 1, a keyboard 2, a main storage unit 21, and a disk unit 3 are connected.

FIG. 1 shows the structure of the simulator.
The configuration other than the waveform input means 10 and the waveform display means 11 in this figure represents a conventional simulator. The microcomputer simulator main body 7 is composed of each software of the simulator kernel 12, the command control means 8, the microcomputer simulator 9, the interrupt simulator 20, and the I / O simulator 15, and together with the debug target program 4, a host machine at the time of software development. It is read into the main memory of the electronic computer that becomes a target, the CPU of the target single-chip microcomputer, the memory, and various interrupts (external, timer,
By simulating the serial communication / A / D converter), an operating environment equivalent to an actual single-chip microcomputer environment is realized when debugging the program to be debugged, and in addition, each I / O of the single-chip microcomputer is realized. It has a function of handling external event information supplied to the port as an independent program file that can be easily created / modified on the editor of the electronic computer, and a function of defining the information by a logical expression.

Next, detailed functions of the simulator will be described. FIG. 3 shows the format of the event information definition file, and FIG. 4 shows the detailed structure of the event information definition file and the relationship between the monitored event information and the external event information to be generated.

The event information definition file 22 shown in FIG. 3 is an ASCII file that can be created / corrected by an editor on an electronic computer which is a host computer, and the composite monitoring event check information 25 ([LG] in FIG. 3) shown in FIG. ),
Single monitoring event check information 26 ([WT] item in FIG. 3),
It is composed of composite external event information 27 ([PN] item in FIG. 3) and single external event information 28 ([SG] item in FIG. 3). The event information definition file is read aloud on the main memory and managed by linking as shown in FIG.

The management information when the simulator reads the event information definition file defined by the user will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the composite monitoring event check information 2 in FIG.
Reference numeral 5 is composed of the number of single monitoring information and the monitoring information of the L case defined by the monitoring information. The monitoring information is monitoring event classification, monitoring condition 1, monitoring condition 2, monitoring data, the number of times the condition is satisfied, and a composite when the condition is satisfied. It consists of an external event case number. Next, the composite monitoring event check information 26 is composed of the number of composite monitoring expressions and the monitoring expression of the W case defined by the above, and the monitoring expression is a condition with a plurality of single monitoring event check information associated with it. The establishment is being monitored. The logical expression for the condition satisfaction monitoring of the single monitoring event check information 26 is the logical product (AN) of the case NOs in the single monitoring event check information.
It is defined by the combination of D) and the logical sum (OR). Further, a logical product (AND) is described by “&”, and a logical sum (OR) is described by “|”. Finally, FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the single external event occurrence information and the actual timing chart. This figure shows that the event information definition file 23 defined by the user is recognized as the information shown in the external event occurrence information 28 inside the computer, and the signals of the timing chart 30 are generated to the port numbers 10 and 11. .

[0010]

However, in the prior art, the I of the target single-chip microcomputer is used.
Before the user can define the external event information to be supplied to the / O port using the editor of the computer, numerical data must be calculated from the timing chart that defines the signals to be simulated in advance. It took a lot of man-hours to work with.

Further, since the target I / O port is monitored by distinguishing the output signal from the microcomputer and the input signal from the simulator and displaying only the presence or absence of the trigger on the screen based on the character, the user may have a slight difference. There was a problem that it was difficult to understand.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional system, the present invention adds the waveform input means 10 and the waveform display means 11 of FIG. 1 to make it easier to use and more efficient in defining the external event data. , I / O port input / output data display method is provided.

[0013]

The single-chip microcomputer simulator of the present invention has a window screen capable of graphically defining the external event information supplied to each I / O port. The definition can be performed without a detailed time calculation by writing a timing chart while checking the relationship with other signals on the window. Further, in the case of correction, it is possible to visually judge and edit by moving the edge itself of the timing chart with a mouse.

Further, the function of monitoring the designated I / O port of the single-chip microcomputer is provided, and the window screen capable of displaying the input / output signal to the I / O port in real time is provided to visually check the timing. In addition, it is possible to capture in real time.

[0015]

As described above, by adopting the graphical window in the environment for defining the external event information, the editing and confirmation can be performed by the judgment including the visual image. In addition, the external event information definition can be performed on the same screen as the timing chart display, thereby realizing an efficient external event information definition environment.

Further, by implementing a thorough and highly efficient debugging environment on the window screen capable of displaying the input / output signals to the I / O port in real time, the debugging man-hours of the application software can be reduced.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a simulator embodying the present invention. The waveform input means 10 and the waveform display means 11 will be described in detail below. FIG. 6 shows waveform input means (an example of initial value creation).

In this figure, an example of a case of creating a timing chart (initial value) for simulating a signal from a jig to a designated I / O port is shown, showing the external event which is the first feature of the present invention. An example of a waveform input means capable of graphically processing the condition definition in an independent window is shown. Here, 31 is a dialog for inputting an initial value of data to be output to I / O for simulation, and 32 is a window in which the simulator displays a timing chart based on the data input in the dialog of 31. Is. While confirming the timing chart graphically displayed in the 32 window, the operator can input data from the 31 dialog and define the external event information.

The procedure for generating the waveform 34 shown by the broken line of 2-SWINP1 (I / O port) in FIG. 6 will be described below with reference to the external event information input processing flowchart in FIG.

In FIG. 7, first, an I / O port is designated (step: S36), and then a simulation start time (S37), a continuation time (S38), and High or Low are designated (S39). When forming a waveform, that is, when switching the level from High to Low or from Low to High, at least two patterns of information are required.
When the designation of w is input a plurality of times and the number of repetitions is set (S41), the timing chart shown by the broken line 33 of 2-SWINP1 in FIG. 6 is automatically repeated according to the input pattern. At this time, it is also possible to confirm the timing chart in the waveform display window 2 and re-input if there is a correction. Further, simple correction with a mouse is also possible, and the details of the correction will be described later with reference to FIG.

The waveform 35 indicated by the broken line in the 3-SWINP2 portion in FIG. 6 is the waveform 1-SWINP0 above.
It is a copy of 3. Needless to say, if you want to create the same waveform as the data defined for other ports as described above, you can easily copy the data without newly editing it.

Next, an example of modifying the data already created will be shown.

FIG. 8 shows a waveform input means (example of correction with a mouse).

Reference numeral 42 in the figure shows a part of the already created waveform data display window, reference numeral 45 shows the waveform data before correction with the mouse, and reference numeral 46 shows the waveform data after correction with the mouse. The waveform 45 before the correction is changed to the waveform 46 after the correction,
If you want to modify so that the High signal is output from the 1 ms point, the leading edge of the part you want to move in the waveform data display window (where the right arrow (mouse) points)
While clicking 43, move the mouse to 44 at the left-side arrow at the desired position. As a result, the waveform after the edge moves to the left as it is. When the correction is completed, the input or correction information is reflected in the event information definition file 22 shown in FIG. 3 in the format described below.

Next, two patterns in which data is actually defined by the waveform data will be introduced. FIG. 9 shows a timing chart and external event information (No. 1). The timing chart 47 is an example of the case of generating a non-repeating waveform. The simulation for the port 10 shown in the timing chart 47 shows that High is 5 msec, Low is 8 msec, and Hig is
This is an example in which h is output for 5 msec and Low is output for 12 ms. Event generation information information ([PN]) by inputting the above-mentioned external event information.
An event information definition file 48 including the external event generation information ([SG]) 49 is generated. The details are shown below.

A) The composite external event P1 is S1, S2, S
It is associated with four single external events shown in S3 and S4,
The number of repetitions is one.

B) Single external event S1, S2, S3, S4
Outputs High or Low data for the continuous time after the specified start time has passed to port No.10. In particular, when the previous sequence exists as in * 1, the start time is automatically calculated by designating the previous sequence NO.

FIG. 10 shows a timing chart and external event information (No. 2).

This drawing is an example of the case where a regular waveform having a large number of repetitions is generated as in the timing chart 50. The data of the port 10 shown in the timing chart 50 is a waveform generated by repeating High for 5 ms and Low for 10 ms starting from High, and the event information definition file 51 is generated by the external event information input. The details are shown below.

A) The composite external event P1 is associated with the two single external events S1 and S2, and the number of repetitions is 20.

B) The single external event S1 causes the 10th I / O port to generate a high signal for 5 ms from the time of occurrence of the event.

C) A single external event S2 is sent to the 10th I / O port after the end time of S1 (start time of S1 + 5 ms).
After) Generate a Low signal for 10 ms.

As described above, since a regular waveform can pattern input data, a wide waveform can be generated with a small amount of input (man-machine processing), but an irregular waveform cannot pattern input data. Since the number of inputs is large, it is not suitable for wide-area waveform generation, and is suitable for partial generation and correction.

Finally, the operation of the waveform input means will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the external event to be generated is confirmed in the timing chart (S54), and external event information is input (S55). Next, the waveform generated in this is confirmed (S56). At this point, if it is determined that correction is necessary, re-input or correction with the mouse will be performed. This is defined as an external event (S58), read to the main memory by the simulator start / operation instruction, and the simulation to the I / O port is executed.

As described above, according to the present invention, the creation and modification of the timing chart can be processed more visually and graphically on the screen of the electronic computer which is the host machine.

Next, the waveform display means which is the second feature of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the waveform display means. In the figure, reference numeral 59 indicates an execution environment configuration. Reference numeral 60 denotes a single-chip microcomputer, in which the CPU 6 of the microcomputer in which the debug compatible program 62 is incorporated.
There are 3 and 61 is a simulator which substitutes a single microcomputer chip. As a result, a debug-compatible program can be used for debugging when debugging without using an actual single microcomputer chip.

The middle part of the figure shows the relationship between the single-chip microcomputer 60 and the hardware 64. Between the single-chip microcomputer 60 and the hardware 64, I / O ports P1 to P3 are collected information (input information) on the microcomputer side. ), P4 ~
P6 is a control information (output information) terminal. The present invention realizes a debug environment in which the situation can be grasped at a glance by capturing the input / output information and displaying it graphically in real time on the screen of an electronic computer which is a host machine.

Next, the operation of the waveform display means will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The operation of the waveform display means is performed only when the process is displayed on the screen. When the condition is met, the simulator calls the process of FIG. 13 immediately after simulating one instruction of the debug-compatible program. To do. In this processing, all I / O for input generated internally by the simulator
The port information is read (S66, S67) and the necessary waveform information is saved. Also, the information of all output I / O ports generated by the microcomputer is read (S68, S69),
Save the required waveform information. Last saved I
Input / output information of the / O port is displayed on the screen as a timing chart (S70).

Since the above processing is executed every time one instruction of the program is simulated (executed), real-time display is possible. Further, since the waveform display means automatically records the information in a file when the simulation is executed, the waveform display means can display the information again (replay display). Needless to say, the reproduction / display function is provided with a scroll function, a zoom function capable of enlarging and reducing, a trigger function capable of automatically searching for a changed position, and the like.

[0043]

With the waveform input means of the present invention, the setting and editing of the external event information definition can be graphically processed as a timing chart on the screen of the computer which is the host machine, and the external event information definition and its confirmation can be performed at the same time. In addition, it is possible to make more visual judgments without complicated calculations, and select functions such as copy, move, delete, and zoom up in the menu selection format, which greatly increases the number of man-hours required to create and modify waveform data for simulation. Reduction is possible.

Further, since the fine adjustment of the external event definition can be easily performed with the mouse, various debug conditions can be set, and the quality of the debug program can be improved.

Further, since the input / output information of the designated I / O port can be displayed in real time by the waveform display means, higher quality debugging becomes possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simulator configuration diagram.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an electronic computer that is an execution environment.

FIG. 3 is a format of an event information definition file.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between a monitoring event and an external event to be generated.

FIG. 5 is a relationship diagram of single external event occurrence information and a timing chart.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of waveform input means (an example of creating initial values).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an external event information input process.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of waveform input means (a modification example with a mouse).

FIG. 9: Timing chart and external event information (1)
FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of a timing chart and external event information (No. 2).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of waveform input means processing.

FIG. 12 is a diagram of an example of waveform display means.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of waveform display means.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Display, 2 ... Keyboard, 3 ... Disk device, 4 ... Debug support program, 5 ... Event information definition file, 6 ... Central processing unit, 7 ... Simulator main body, 8
... Command control means, 9 ... Microcomputer simulator, 10
... Waveform input means, 11 ... Waveform display means, 12 ... Simulator kernel, 13 ... External event occurrence start timing monitoring means, 14 ... External event occurrence means, 15 ... I / O simulator, 16 ... I / O port simulator, 17 ... Timer simulator, 18 ... SCI simulator, 19 ... A /
D converter simulator, 20 ... Interrupt simulator, 2
1 ... Main storage device, 22 ... Event information definition file, 23,
48, 51 ... Event information definition file example, 24 ... External event occurrence start timing monitoring process, 25 ... Composite monitoring event check information, 26 ... Single monitoring event check information, 27, 52
... Composite external event occurrence information, 28 ... Single external event occurrence information,
29 ... External event occurrence queue, 30, 32, 47, 50
... Timing chart, 31 ... Waveform input processing, 33 ... Waveform (copy source), 34 ... Waveform (initial value input), 35 ... Waveform (copy destination), 42 ... Correction process timing chart, 4
3 ... Edge position before correction, 44 ... Edge position after correction, 45
Waveforms before correction, 46 ... Waveforms after correction, 49, 53 ... Single external event generation information, 53 ... Single external event generation information, 59 ... Configuration, 60 ... Single chip microcomputer, 61 ... Simulator, 62 ... Debug support program, 63 … CPU, 6
4 ... Hardware, 65 ... Information content (timing chart) example.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshitaka Shioiri 3-2-1, Saiwaicho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Hitachi Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Nakazato 2-chome, Saiwaicho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki No. 1 within Hitachi Engineering Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A simulator main body of a target single-chip microcomputer, a program to be debugged, and external event information to be supplied to an I / O port of the single-chip microcomputer is read as a data file on a memory, and based on these data, electronic data is read. This is a simulation method for simulating the operation of the debug target program in the target single-chip microcomputer in the computer, and the timing of starting the generation of the external event to be supplied to the I / O port of the single-chip microcomputer and the signal of the external event. In a program format independent of the simulator, and in a simulation method in which the external event information file can be defined by a logical expression, a window image in which the external event information can be defined graphically A single-chip microcomputer simulator characterized by having an editing means having a surface. 2. The simulator according to claim 1, further comprising a function of monitoring a designated I / O port of the single-chip microcomputer, and displaying a window screen capable of displaying an input / output signal to the I / O port in real time. A single-chip microcomputer simulator, which is provided with a display means provided. 3. A simulator for a single-chip microcomputer, which comprises a processing unit, a main memory unit, a disk unit, an electronic computer having a display and a keyboard, and which simulates a single-chip microcomputer for debugging a target single-chip microcomputer control program. In the processing device, the processing device includes a microcomputer simulator function for simulating the target single-chip microcomputer, an I / O simulator function for simulating I / O of the target single-chip microcomputer, and an interrupt simulator for simulating interrupt processing. And I / of the single chip microcomputer
The function of defining the timing of starting the generation of an external event to be supplied to the O port and the signal of the external event in a program format independent of the simulator, and defining it in the external event information file by a logical expression, and the external event. An editing means having a window screen capable of easily generating information with a graphic image and a display means having a window screen capable of displaying an input / output signal to a designated I / O port of the single chip microcomputer in real time are provided. A single-chip microcomputer simulator characterized by being provided.