The USB-Dongle and Derivative Board Family provides a low cost and easy to use demo platform for many popular NXP microcontrollers.

USB-Dongle and Derivative Board Family

USB–Dongle - The USB-Dongle provides a Virtual COM Port interface to the PC and allows hex files to be downloaded and programmed using Flash Magic or other common utilities. The USB-Dongle provides all power needed by the various Derivative Boards so no external power supply is required. The USB-Dongle plugs directly into any standard USB port on a PC and supports both USB 1.0/1.1 and USB 2.0.

USB–Dongle

Derivative Boards – In general, Derivative Boards require the use of the USB-Dongle for power and a programming interface. Low cost Derivative Boards are available for many different microcontrollers from NXP. Supported families include the LPC9xx, ARM7 LPC2xxx and 89V52X2.

Derivative Board Headers – Each Derivative Board brings every pin of the microcontroller out to a standard 0.10” spacing header footprint for easy probing of signals or to support prototyping or wire-wrapping.

Derivative Board Jumper Settings – Derivative Boards TSSOP-SKT and PLCC-SKT jumper description.  The following files contain Jumper Instructions and information.
DB-PLCC44-SKT Jumper Settings
DB JP1 Instructions

Derivative Board Schematics – Schematics are available for every Derivative Board.

Supported Microcontrollers – Almost every NXP microcontroller in the LPC9xx, ARM7 LPC2xxx and 89V52X2 families are supported with either a specific Derivative Board (such as the DB-HVSON10-LPC9103) or with a generic Socket Board (such as the DB-TSSOP-SKT). The DB-TSSOP-SKT contains a ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) socket and supports all of the LPC9xx family parts in TSSOP packages from 14 to 28 pins.

Pricing - The USB-Dongle is priced at $17.00 (quantity 1) with Derivative Boards ranging from $5.00 to $10.00 depending on complexity. This means a low cost ($22.00 to $27.00) solution is now available for prototyping and programming of dozens of different microcontrollers from NXP Semiconductors.

Availability - Digi-Key and Mouser stocks the USB-DONGLE and all members of the Derivative Board Family.

The following list shows specific products currently in stock at Digi-Key and Mouser.

Programming Capability – The USB-Dongle can program a variety of NXP microcontrollers using ICP, ISP or IAP programming. Many Derivative Boards are available with a microcontroller pre-loaded for easy development with a specific part. Other Derivative Boards are available with a ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) socket for programming of various microcontrollers in a common package such as TSSOP or PLCC. These Socket boards can also be used to program multiple parts in an engineering or low volume production environment.

Flash Magic Software – The USB-Dongle works with Embedded Systems Academy’s Flash Magic software and can be downloaded for free from www.flashmagictool.com. Flash Magic provides an intuitive and easy to use tool for reading, writing, and configuring Derivative Board Family members.

Software Examples – Examples have been provided for each specific microcontroller loaded on the Derivative Boards. These examples demonstrate basic control of LED and UART functions available on each of the Derivative Boards. In addition, UART examples show how to direct communications from the Derivative Board’s microcontroller based UART back to the PC through the USB-Dongle. The User can edit and recompile these examples to make simple changes to LED blink rate or to add timer output code or exercise various other on-chip peripheral functions. 

Software Toolset Requirements – The USB-Dongle is compatible with any compiler or assembler that can generate Intel HEX files. Evaluation compilers can be downloaded from one of the following locations:

Raisonance Eval51 (builds 80C51/LPC9xx images up to 4KB in size)

Keil C51 (builds 80C51/LPC9xx images up to 2KB in size, but requires a 4KB or larger device to work properly)

Keil ARM (builds ARM7/ARM9 images up to 16KB in size, other limitations)

Windows Software Drivers – USB Drivers are required to allow communications with the PC for both programming and debug support. Drivers are available for Windows 2000/XP and Windows Vista. Your specific version of Windows may already include drivers from Microsoft, so it’s possible that no additional drivers may be required. Please refer to the USB-Dongle Users Manual for step by step installation instructions.

             Windows Vista Driver (15 kB)

            Windows 2000/XP Driver (15 kB)

USB Interface to PC - The USB-Dongle uses a standard USB Type A connector to interface to the USB port on any PC. The board supports both USB 1.0/1.1 and USB 2.0. For best results, it is not recommended to plug the USB-Dongle into a hub or docking station hub.

USB-Dongle Interface to Derivative Boards - The USB-Dongle includes a 14 pin connector to the Derivative Board that utilizes the following signals:

The 14 pin connector is a Samtec part number MEC1-108-02-F-D-RA1-SL-TR. The actual connector is 16 pins but two of the pins are keyed to prevent the possibility of plugging the connector in backwards.

Power Requirements - The USB-Dongle provides all power needed by the various Derivative Boards so no external power supply is required. The USB-Dongle requires approximately 50mAat 5VDC and each Derivative Board requires 50mA or less, so the total 5VDC requirement from the PC USB port is 100mA max. The USB-Dongle may provide maximum of 200mA of current to the derivative board.

Have Questions? – Ask your questions on the Future Designs’ technical support forum at http://www.teamfdi.com/forum/forum_index.html.