The debug and trace system offers a flexible and powerful mechanism for non-intrusive debugging.

Figure 1. Debug and trace overview
Debug and trace overview
The main features of the debug and trace system include:
  • Two-pin serial wire debug (SWD) interface, protocol version 1
  • Access port connection
    • Breakpoint unit (BPU) supports eight hardware breakpoint comparators
    • Data watchpoint and trace (DWT) unit supports four watchpoint comparators
    • Instrumentation trace macrocell (ITM)
    • Embedded trace macrocell (ETM)
    • Access protection through APPROTECT, ERASEPROTECT and SECUREAPPROTECT
  • Embedded trace buffer (ETB)
  • Trace port interface unit (TPIU)
    • 4-bit parallel trace of ITM and ETM trace data
Note: When a system contains multiple CPU domains, it is important to be aware that if one domain (subsystem A) has master rights on another domain (subsystem B), the master subsystem can access some data from the slave subsytem. In this example, even if subsystem B is locked by APPROTECT or ERASEPROTECT, subsystem A can access some data for subsystem B. Consequently, even if the security permissions are managed per subsystem, it is mandatory to have a global approach to the protection. Protecting a slave subsystem does not guarantee system security if the master subsystem is not protected.

Special consideration regarding debugger access

A debugger, if desired, can be restricted to debug non-secure code only, and access non-secure memory regions and peripherals using register SECUREAPPROTECT. Register APPROTECT will block all debugger access.

Debugger accesses are controlled as described in table below.
Table 1. Debugger access control
Debugging capability UICR.APPROTECT.PALL UICR.SECUREAPPROTECT.PALL
Secure and non-secure code Unprotected Unprotected
Non-secure code only Unprotected Protected
No debugging possible Protected -

If a RAM or flash region has its permission set to allow code execution, the content of this region will be visible to the debugger even if the read permission is not set. This allows a debugger to display the content of the code being executed. For more about how to configure permissions, please refer to SPU — System protection unit.

DAP - Debug access port

An external debugger can access the device via the debug access port (DAP).

The DAP implements a standard Arm® CoreSight™ serial wire debug port (SW-DP). The SW-DP implements the serial wire debug (SWD) protocol that is a two-pin serial interface, see SWDCLK and SWDIO illustrated in figure Debug and trace overview.

In addition to the default access port in the application CPU (AHB-AP), the DAP includes a custom control access port (CTRL-AP), described in more detail in CTRL-AP - Control access port.

Note:
  • The SWDIO line has an internal pull-up resistor.
  • The SWDCLK line has an internal pull-down resistor.

There are several access ports that connect to different parts of the system. An overview is given in the table below.

Table 2. Access port overview
AP ID Type Description
0 AHB-AP Application subsystem access port
3 APB-AP CoreSight™ subsystem access port
4 CTRL-AP Application subsystem control access port

The standard Arm® components are documented in Arm CoreSight SoC-400 Technical Reference Manual, revision r3p2. The control access port (CTRL-AP) is proprietary, and described in more detail in CTRL-AP - Control access port.

Debug interface mode

Before the external debugger can access the CPU's access port (AHB-AP) or the control access port (CTRL-AP), the debugger must first request the device to power up via CxxxPWRUPREQ in the SWJ-DP.

As long as the debugger is requesting power via CxxxPWRUPREQ, the device will be in debug interface mode. Otherwise, the device is in normal mode. When a debug session is over, the external debugger must make sure to put the device back into normal mode and then a pin reset should be performed. The reason is that the overall power consumption is higher in debug interface mode compared to normal mode.

Some peripherals behave differently in debug interface mode compared to normal mode. The differences are described in more detail in the chapters of the affected peripherals.

For details on how to use the debug capabilities, please read the debug documentation of your IDE.

If the device is in System OFF when power is requested via CxxxPWRUPREQ, the system will wake up and the DIF flag in RESETREAS will be set.

Real-time debug

The device supports real-time debugging, which allows interrupts to execute to completion in real time when breakpoints are set in thread mode or lower priority interrupts.

Real-time debugging thus enables the developer to set a breakpoint and single-step through their code without a failure of the real-time event-driven threads running at higher priority. For example, this enables the device to continue to service the high-priority interrupts of an external controller or sensor without failure or loss of state synchronization while the developer steps through code in a low-priority thread.

Registers

Register overview

Register Offset Description
TARGETID 0x042

The TARGETID register provides information about the target when the host is connected to a single device.

The TARGETID register is accessed by a read of DP register 0x4 when the DPBANKSEL bit in the SELECT register is set to 0x2.

TARGETID

Address offset: 0x042

The TARGETID register provides information about the target when the host is connected to a single device.

The TARGETID register is accessed by a read of DP register 0x4 when the DPBANKSEL bit in the SELECT register is set to 0x2.

Bit number 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
ID D D D D C C C C C C C C C C C C B B B B B B B B B B B A
Reset 0x10090289 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
ID R/W Field Value ID Value Description
A

R

UNUSED

Reserved, read-as-one
B

R

TDESIGNER

An 11-bit code: JEDEC JEP106 continuation code and identity code. The ID identifies the designer of the part.

NordicSemi

0x144

Nordic Semiconductor ASA
C

R

TPARTNO

Part number
D

R

TREVISION

Target revision

Electrical specification

Trace port

Symbol Description Min. Typ. Max. Units
Tcyc

Clock period, as defined by ARM (See ARM Infocenter, Embedded Trace Macrocell Architecture Specification, Trace Port Physical Interface, Timing specifications)

 62.5 ns