Datasheet

MPLAB
®
REAL ICE
™
IN-CIRCUIT
EMULATOR USER’S GUIDE FOR
MPLAB X IDE
 2013 Microchip Technology Inc. DS52085A-page 15
Chapter 1. About the Emulator
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The MPLAB REAL ICE in-circuit emulator is a modern emulator that supports hardware
and software development for selected Microchip PIC
®
microcontrollers (MCUs) and
dsPIC
®
Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs).
An overview of the emulator is provided in this chapter:
• Emulator Features
• How the Emulator Helps You
•Emulator System
• Emulator Kit Components
1.2 EMULATOR FEATURES
The MPLAB REAL ICE emulation concept has these features:
• Processors run at maximum speeds
• Debugging can be done with the device in-circuit
• No emulation load on the processor bus
• Simple interconnection
• Capability to incorporate I/O data
• Instrumented Trace (MPLAB IDE and Compiler Assisted)
• PIC32 Instruction Trace (Hardware trace)
In addition to emulator functions, the MPLAB REAL ICE in-circuit emulator system also
may be used as a production programmer.
1.3 HOW THE EMULATOR HELPS YOU
The MPLAB REAL ICE in-circuit emulator is an integral part of the development engi-
neer's toolsuite. Application usage can vary from software development to hardware
integration, to manufacturing test, to field service.
The MPLAB REAL ICE in-circuit emulator system enables you to:
• Debug an application on hardware in real time
• Debug with hardware breakpoints
• Debug with software breakpoints (device-dependent)
• Halt, based on internal events and/or external signals
• Monitor internal file registers
• Emulate full speed
• Program devices as a production programmer
• Trace lines of code or log variable/expression values