In-circuit emulator: Encyclopedia II - In-circuit emulator - Function

In-circuit emulator - Function

The basic idea of an "in-circuit emulator" is that it provides a window into the embedded system. The programmer uses the emulator to load programs into the embedded system, run them, step through them slowly, and see and change the data used by the system's software.

An "emulator" gets its name because it often "emulates" the central processing unit of the embedded system's computer. Often, it literally has a plug that plugs into the same socket as the CPU chip. Emulating the main computer lets it do anything that the main computer can do, but under the control of a programmer.

ICE's are always tools that attach a terminal or PC to the embedded system. The terminal or PC provides an interactive user interface for the programmer to investigate and control the embedded system.

Notably, when their program fails, most embedded systems simply become inert lumps of nonfunctioning electronics. Without an ICE, the development of embedded systems can be extremely difficult, because there is usually no way to tell what went wrong. With an ICE, the programmer can usually test pieces of code, then isolate the fault to a particular failing piece of code, and then inspect the failing code and rewrite it to solve the problem.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Function", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki