MSI Demo project for dsPIC33CH

Master-Slave-Interface introductory demo project for dual-core dsPIC33CH from Microchip tutorial:

• https://microchipdeveloper.com/16bit:ch-example

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• MPLAB X IDE v6.05 is broken - it will hang-up forever once Slave Core project is added to Master Core project (!)

• MPLAB X IDE v6.10 has another bug: It does not work with PicKit 3 and PKOB (PicKit on-board) programmer - so you will be unable to program dsPIC on Curiosity board.

  To fix it you have to install Plugin Updates

• so latest working MPLAB X IDE is v6.10 WITH UPDATES or v5.50.

Hardware Requirements:

• dsPIC33CH Curiosity Development Board
• Micro USB cable (there is no one included with board!)
• ensure that you downloaded data-sheet from:
  • https://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/DS50002801%20-%20dsPIC33CH%20Curiosity%20Development%20Board%20Users%20Guide.pdf
• Notice dsPIC type from data-sheet:
  • dsPIC33CH512MP508

Here is brief overview of I/O peripherals - excluding DC/DC converter parts:

Peripheral	dsPIC33CH pin and/or port
S1 push-button	RE7
S2 push-button	RE8
S3 push-button	RE9
S4 push-button	/MCLR (reset)
R/G/B LED	RB14/RD7/RD5
LED1 red	RE0
LED2 red	RE1
10kOhm pot	RA0

Software Requirements:

• MPLAB X IDE v6.10
• DFP: dsPIC33CH-MP_DFP v1.12.352`
• MCC Core: v5.5.7 (Updated)
• PLIB: 1.171.2 (Updated)
• XC16 v2.10

Again important notes:

• it is necessary to install Plugin Updates in MPLAB X IDE v6.10, otherwise it will NOT work with PicKit on-board programmer (PKOB). To be able to program dsPIC on Curiosity board you need these updates.
• also if MPLAB X IDE v6.10 does not see your on-board programmer try to:
  • exit MPLAB X IDE
  • (re) connect Curiosity board
  • start MPLAB X IDE again
  • now programmer should be visible

Step by Step tutorial

We will mostly follow

• https://microchipdeveloper.com/16bit:ch-example Adjusting it for Curiosity board and parts.

To create Master core project do this:

• connect your Curiosity board to PC with USB micro cable
  • se we will be able to select Programming tool while creating new project.
• run MPLAB X IDE

Now we will create project for Master Core:

• click on File -> New Project...
• select Microchip Embedded -> Standalone Project, click Next
• select:
  • Family: 16-bit DSCs (dsPIC33)
  • Device: dsPIC33CH512MP508 (MASTER - without S1!)
  • Tool: Starter Kits (PKOB)-SN:BURxxx (you need to have your Curiosity board connected to PC for this)
• click Next
• select XC16 compiler - in my case v2.00
• click Next
• NOW important:
  • select location for Master project - please note that we will later create 2nd (Slave) project on same level
  • do NOT use dash (-) or spaces in project name! It is later converted to Symbol name which will crash build!
• I selected:
  • project Name: Master (again - do NOT use dashes (-))
  • project Location: E:\projects\dsPIC33CH-Curiosity-Demo
  • resulting project folder E:\projects\dsPIC33CH-Curiosity-Demo\Master.X
  • keep Set as main project checked on.
• click on Finish

Now we have to run MCC (Microchip Configuratin tool)

• ensure that you have installed MCC in MPLAB X IDE
  • go to Tools -> Plugins
  • seect Installed tab and look for MPLAB Code Configurator
  • if it is not there - select tab Available Plugins and select it
  • in my case I have plugin MCC v5.0.3 - latest version for MPLAB v5.50
• now click on MCC icon on Toolbar to open MCC Tool
• now we will follow guide and so:
• MCC Content Manager window should appear
• click on Select MCC Classic
• click on Finish - it will download required libraries and finally run MCC Tool
• now select Resource Management tab
• under window Device Resources expand Peripherals -> SLAVE CORE -> Slave Core
• either click on + icon or double-click Slave Core to add it to Project
• fill in to Slave Project Name: Slave (we will later create Slave.X project that must match this name)
• for sake of example we have to do this under Master Slave Interface -> Mailbox Configuration
• enable Protocol A and Protocol B
• in case of Protocol A change Direction to: M -> S (was S -> M)
• the Protocol B should be kept to S -> M
• both should have Buffer Size 2 bytes (default)

Now we have to assign these LEDs from above table to proper Master and/or Slave core:

Peripheral	dsPIC33CH pin and/or port
LED1 red	RE0
LED2 red	RE1

So do this:

• select Pin Manager: Grid View (it is in right-bottom Window)
• now Single click on this cell:
  • Row: Pin Module -> GPIO output
  • Column: Port E -0
• the right cell should have now green Lock Icon
• now Single click on this cell for Slave LED (RE1):
  • Row: Slave Core -> Ownership -> output
  • Column: Port E -> 1
• now select Pin Module tab (top middle Window)
• and on RE0 set Custom Name: LED_MASTER

Now we have to save Master settings from Slave core (yes :-)

• select tab Slave Core
• click on Save Master Settings
• this should save .mc3 files under Master.X project

Now we can click on Project Resources -> Generate to generate C source files under Master.X/mcc_generated_files/

• ignore warnings so far

Now rather close MCC tool by clicking on MCC icon in toolbar

Do NOT build yet - we need to create Slave project for build to succeed.

Back in MPLAB X IDE we have to create Slave project:

• click on File -> New Project...
• select Microchip Embedded -> Standalone Project, click Next
• select:
  • Family: 16-bit DSCs (dsPIC33)
  • Device: dsPIC33CH512MP508S1 (SLAVE - must end with S1!)
  • Tool: No tool - does not matter unless you want to debug BOTH Cores, in which case you need 2nd Debugger (slave is programmed from Master Core and its Master flash)
• click Next
• select XC16 compiler - in my case v2.00
• click Next
• NOW important:
  • select location for Slave project - it must be on same level where is Master.X project (!)
• I selected:
  • project Name: Slave - the name must match those configured in MCC Tool (!)
  • project Location: E:\projects\dsPIC33CH-Curiosity-Demo
  • resulting project folder E:\projects\dsPIC33CH-Curiosity-Demo\Slave.X
  • temporarily keep CHECKED Set as main project
• click on Finish

Now we need a bit tricky way run MCC on Slave.X project:

• ensure that Slave is temporarily Main project (Bold font in Projects tab)
• click on MCC icon in toolbar to run MCC tool on Slave project
• again select MCC Classic and Finish

Loading Master settings to Slave project:

• select tab Master Core
• select Easy Setup sub-tab
• click on Load Slave Settings from Master Configuration
• when asked for .mc3 file select e:\projects\dsPIC33CH-Curiosity-Demo\Master.X\master_config.mc3
• don't be scared with RB1 pin conflict.
• click on YES to override RB1 pin setting

Now we have to properly configure and name RE1 (in Master config we just reserved id as "Slave output" but detailed configruation must be done for Slave core:

• in Pin Manager: Grid View
• now SINGLE click on this cell:
  • Row: Pin Module -> GPIO output
  • Column: Port E -1
• there must show green lock icon in this cell.
• now in Pin Module set Custom Name LED_SLAVE for RE1 pin.

Now we can click on Project Resources -> Generate to generate C source files under Slave.X/mcc_generated_files/

Now we need to understand how Dual Core CPU is programmed and executed:

1. Master Core flash contains code for BOTH Master and Slave CPU
2. Master Core copy Slave program to Slave Program RAM (PRAM)
3. master Core starts Execution of Slave

Therefore there is only Single Program (hex) file that must include both Master and Slave Core code. So we have to include Slave.X project into Master.X project build using:

• select tab Projects
• right-click on Master -> Secondaries (was Slaves in older MPLAB X IDE) and
• click on Add Secondary Project...
• select E:\projects\dsPIC33CH-Curiosity-Demo\Slave.X
• ensure that Store path as: is Relative (to make this project portable)
• and click on Add
• AGAIN WARNING! If you have MPLAB X IDE v6.05 it will likely freeze...
  • so use rather MPLAB X IDE v5.50 - it works fine.

Now we need to tell MPLAB to build Slave project:

• right-click Master -> Secondaries -> Properties...
  • WARNING do NOT right-click on Slave leaf - there is no Properties... dialog. You have to click on parent Secondaries
• select checkbox Build and click OK to close dialog.

Finally we have to copy and paste example sources to Master.X/main.c and Slave.X/main.c as shown on https://microchipdeveloper.com/16bit:ch-example

Please see:

• Master.X/main.c
• Slave.X/main.c for full source.

Building

In Tab Projects right-click on Master and select Set as Main Project (it must be that way before build).

Now you can right-click on Master and select Clean and Build - or use Hammer icons on Toolbar.

• Please note that this will ALSO build Slave project, because it has to be included in Master Core Program Flash.

Programming and running

If you have already assigned embedded PicKit programmer you can just use

• Run Main Project (big green arrow icon on toolbar)

After a while both LED1 and LED2 should be ON (forever).

• Plase be patient - it may take some time for program to run...