In the teaching process of microcontroller, it is often difficult to achieve ideal teaching effect by using theory alone. Usually, the teaching method combining theory with practice can improve students’understanding ability and cultivate students’ practical ability.
In the case of limited hardware practice conditions, the teaching method of combining theory with practice will also be affected. At this time, Proteus and IAR can be introduced into the teaching in time to carry out software simulation, so that the theory runs through practice, and students can better grasp the knowledge through simulation experiments. The course “Microcontroller Technology and Application” has strong practical applicability.
The core master controller of this course in our school is the MSP430 series single chip computer of TI Company of America. In the process of teaching, it is often difficult to achieve ideal results by using theoretical teaching alone. The teaching method combining theory with practice can improve students’interest in learning. However, the practical conditions of hardware are often limited. At this time, Proteus and IAR are introduced to simulate the software in time in teaching, and the theory is penetrated into practice. Through simulation experiments, students can better understand and master the knowledge they have learned. Proteus software is a commonly used EDA tool software. It can not only realize the design of circuit schematic diagram, debug function of code, but also realize the simulation of single chip microcomputer and its peripheral devices.
Proteus supports Keil51, MPLAB, IAR and other third-party software compilation and debugging environment. Proteus 7.
8 and the previous version of the joint IAR development environment can realize real-time debugging of software code, and easily realize the simulation design of MSP430 series MCU. The Embedded Workbench for MSP430 (IAR EW430) produced by IAR Company is an integrated development environment that supports all the functions of MSP430, such as engineering management, program compilation, code download and debugging. Through the highly optimized MSP430 C/C compiler of IAR EW430, together with MSP430 simulator and C-SPY hardware debugger, thermostatic element the electronic design of MSP430 series MCU can be realized. Using Proteus 7.
8 and IAR EW430 software, the results of real-time observation program can be simulated.
In the process of the integration, IAR software needs to be set up to generate HEX files for Proteus simulation. Specific operation: Build MSP430 project and C file in IAR, and write code; select Opintion option under main menu Project, compile C file in Output under Linker option to generate HEX file, which is stored in Exe folder under Debug file in project by default, and change output option in Format to intel-extended.
In the simulation circuit established in Proteus, open the MSP430 main chip, configure the HEX file generated by IAR into the Program Files option, and then complete the debugging operation. Taking a single digital tube display experiment as an example, the teaching simulation of Proteus and IAR is realized.
MSP430F249 is required to display a single 8-segment common cathode digital tube, and the hexadecimal number “0-F” from 0 to 15 is displayed in turn. First, the new project D-display is built in Proteus, and the schematic diagram is drawn in ISIS, as shown in Figure 1.
Configuration of Proteus and IAR software according to requirements, compile and debug the program code in IAR, run the program while combining Proteus to view the simulation results in real time, and finally complete the design and implementation of a single digital tube display.
Introducing Proteus and IAR to simulate software in MCU teaching and putting theory into practice can effectively improve students’learning interest and practical ability, and play an active role in improving classroom teaching effect.