How to Easily Test a Microcontroller with a Logic Analyzer

Have you ever struggled with a project and not known why? You’ve tested the code and it still isn’t working. You’re considering throwing your board against the wall (but please don’t). You’re glaring at your resistors. What to do?! Sometimes it’s a bad digital pin. Save time, energy, and anger by by testing your microcontroller before you get to work on your project. Instructables user  uses the Analog Discovery’s logic analyzer to do this.

A great oscilloscope/logic analyzer to use for this project...
A great oscilloscope/logic analyzer to use for this project…

After you’ve picked your logic analyzer (we recommend upgrading to the Analog Discovery 2), then pick your microcontroller board! Upload your code and connect your logic analyzer to your board. Connect each pin you’re testing to a different channel, which should provide a reasonable test of each.

analog-discovery-2

Obvious, logic analyzers have plenty more uses, and the problem might actually be in the code, but this is a great Instructable!

 

Author

  • Amber Mear

    I was the Digilent blog editor, and now I'm a contributor. I love learning about wearables and writing about social issues in STEM. Outside of work, I can be found watching Netflix with my cat, working on an art project, or trying to find new, delicious local foods.

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About Amber Mear

I was the Digilent blog editor, and now I'm a contributor. I love learning about wearables and writing about social issues in STEM. Outside of work, I can be found watching Netflix with my cat, working on an art project, or trying to find new, delicious local foods.

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4 Comments on “How to Easily Test a Microcontroller with a Logic Analyzer”

    1. For more information on the product, be sure to check out the product specs that are featured on its page on our main site. Thanks for commenting!

    1. Documentation is included on each individual webpage, or you can find out more at reference.blog.digilentinc.com!

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