Rapid I2C and SPI Prototyping Using the Promira Serial Platform

Rapid prototyping of I2C and SPI systems can be optimized and streamlined with the award-winning Promira Serial Platform from Total Phase: an all-in-one tool for high-performance system emulation and high-speed protocol analysis. From a simplified benchtop setup, to flexibility on device emulation or real-time sniffing, this tool is designed to streamline your prototyping process.

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Accelerating I2C and SPI Development Through Rapid Prototyping

During early embedded development, engineers must validate I2C and SPI device functionality even before hardware is fully built. Rapid prototyping with tools like host adapters and protocol analyzers allows users to emulate system behavior, generate bus traffic, and monitor communication in real time. This helps to detect and correct design issues early, reducing overall costs and time-to-market. The Promira Serial Platform makes this process faster and easier by combining host adapter and analyzer functionality in a single device.

• Validate device functionality before hardware is fully ready
• Generate bus traffic from a host PC to emulate master or slave devices
• Capture and analyze real-time bus activity
• Verify register behavior on peripherals
• Test firmware interactions with devices
• Identify timing or protocol issues early
• Reduce iterations before production

Field-Upgradeable Promira Serial Platform Through Configurable Applications

As an FPGA-based serial device, the Promira Serial Platform can be customized to meet your project needs through a wide range of downloadable, easily configurable applications. This design allows engineers to quickly and easily prototype and debug I2C and SPI systems at varying speeds and functionality, without needing to change hardware. Its host adapter capabilities for protocol emulation or flash programming include:

• I2C Active – Level 1 Application: Enables I2C master and slave speeds up to 1 MHz, with up to 6 configurable GPIOs (4 while using I2C), support for inter-bit and interbyte clock stretching, and software configurable I2C pull-up resistors.
• I2C Active – Level 2 Application: Increases master and slave speeds up to 3.4 MHz, with full support for Standard Mode (100 kbps), Fast Mode Plus (1 Mbps), and High-Speed I2C (3.4 MHz), and up to 12 configurable GPIOs (10 while using I2C).
• SPI Active – Level 1 Application: Enables SPI master speeds up to 12.5 MHz and slave speeds up to 8 MHz, up to 6 configurable GPIOs (2 while using SPI), supports 1 slave select, and supports full duplex master transmit/receive, and asynchronous slave transmit/receive.
• SPI Active – Level 2 Application: Increases master speeds up to 40 MHz and slave speeds up to 20 MHz, supports Dual SPI for Single and Dual I/O programming, up to 12 configurable GPIOs, and up to 3 slave selects.
• SPI Active – Level 3 Application: Increases master speeds up to 80 MHz, supports Quad SPI for Single, Dual, and Quad I/O programming, up to 16 configurable GPIOs, and up to 8 slave selects.

Its protocol analyzer capabilities for high-speed bus sniffing include:

• I2C Analysis Application: Non-intrusively monitors I2C communication up to 5 MHz at 3.3V, real-time data capture and display, with bit-level timing and High-Speed USB and Ethernet connectivity options.
• SPI Analysis – Level 1 Application: Non-intrusively monitors SPI communication up to 24 MHz at 3.3V, real-time data capture and display, with bit-level timing and High-Speed USB and Ethernet connectivity options.
• SPI Analysis – Level 2 Application: Increases non-intrusive monitoring of SPI communication up to 40 MHz at 3.3V, making it the fastest SPI protocol analyzer Total Phase offers.

Compare Promira Applications here. 

One Promira Device for Simplified I2C/SPI Benchtop Testing

A single Promira Serial Platform can function as either an I2C/SPI host adapter or an I2C/SPI protocol analyzer.

Promira Serial Platform for I2C or SPI Emulation or Flash Programming

When configured as an active device through I2C or SPI Active Applications, the Promira Serial Platform can be used to quickly:

• Emulate an I2C/SPI master or slave to validate device behavior before firmware or hardware is ready
• Flash firmware or data onto a memory chip or microcontroller
• Read and write registers on peripherals for validation or debugging
• Generate traffic patterns to test device responses or error handling
• Automate test sequences for repetitive validation tasks

Promira Serial Platform for High-Speed I2C or SPI Bus Analysis

When configured as a non-intrusive I2C or SPI bus analyzer through I2C or SPI Analysis Applications, the Promira Serial Platform can be used to quickly:

• Capture and analyze I2C or SPI communication in real time
• Catch errors and protocol violations early
• Check device behavior with firmware
• Debug tricky or intermittent issues

Performing all of these tasks with a single device reduces the need to carry multiple devices, freeing up valuable space on the workbench, and lets engineers focus on debugging and development.

Using Two Promira Devices for Simultaneous Device Emulation and Protocol Analysis

For users who need to emulate a system while simultaneously capturing and analyzing traffic in real time, two Promira Serial Platforms can be used together. One device, running I2C or SPI Active applications, can generate commands as a master, while the other, running I2C or SPI Analysis Applications, can capture and display the communication live. This set up allows users to immediately see the effects of their commands, making debugging, validation, and rapid prototyping faster and streamlined.

We have a demo illustrating a similar workflow using an Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter and a Beagle I2C/SPI Protocol Analyzer in our video: Prototyping I2C Systems with an I2C Host Adapter and Protocol Analyzer. In the demo, these tools are used to quickly evaluate and prototype an I2C-based system that uses a 3-axis accelerometer.

The Promira Serial Platform can perform the same functions while delivering higher performance for more demanding, higher-speed systems. With advanced features such as integrated level shifting, High-speed USB, Ethernet connectivity, and ability to send and sniff data at much higher speeds, two Promiras provide a more powerful and flexible solution for I2C and SPI system prototyping.

Check out how the Promira platform’s features compares to other comparable tools we offer:

• I2C/SPI Sniffing Comparison
• I2C/SPI Active Comparison

Using the Promira Serial Platform with Total Phase Software

Total Phase’s user-friendly software GUIs and APIs are designed to give you easy control of your device.

For setup, simply connect the Promira platform to the target device via a 34-Pin Split Cable, 34-Pin: 10-Pin Header Cable, or 34-Pin:34-Pin Header Cable.

By pairing the Promira Serial Platform with the Control Center Serial Software or Promira Software API, users can easily emulate master or slave devices and send bus data while observing how it is received to verify device behavior. The Control Center Serial Software’s streamlined interface makes it easy to send commands, while the API allows more advanced applications, including custom scripts to automate complex sequences.

The Flash Center Software also allows engineers to quickly erase, program, and verify I2C- and SPI-based EEPROMs and Flash memory chips connected to the Promira Serial Platform.

With the award-winning Data Center Software, users can quickly and easily analyze captured data and pinpoint I2C or SPI communication issues in real time using advanced features like LiveDisplay, LiveSearch, and LiveFilter. For more further insight into the data, users can select a packet of interest to view its transaction details in the Details window, which also includes the Data and Timing tabs. The Data tab presents values in both Hex and ASCII format, while the Timing tab displays bit-level timing down to 20 ns resolution.

Promira Serial Platform connected to an Accelerometer via a 34-Pin Split Cable

Data Center Software, Sniffing High-Speed I2C Data up to 5 MHz with the Promira Serial Platform

Remote Capabilities with Ethernet Connectivity

The Promira Serial Platform provides flexible connectivity options for a wide range of projects, including both High-Speed USB and Gigabit Ethernet connections. When connected to a LAN via VPN, the Promira can be securely accessed remotely by multiple users in different locations, eliminating the need to be physically present on site. In addition to remote access, Ethernet connectivity also reduces latency and enables higher throughput speeds for increased efficiency.

Using the Promira Admin Interface

Our new Promira Admin Interface provides a streamlined, user-friendly web-based interface for managing and updating Promira Serial Platform devices. From a single dashboard, users can view firmware version and licensed applications, configure network settings, and upgrade both system firmware and licenses. Supported by Promira devices running firmware version 2.00 or later, the interface takes the hassle out of device management, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency during rapid prototyping.

Conclusion

Total Phase’s Promira Serial Platform is the ultimate all-in-one tool for I2C/SPI debugging and development. Optimizing the prototyping stage is a top priority for embedded engineers, and the Promira delivers the flexibility, speed, and performance needed to bring designs to life faster. Supporting simplified setups, dual host adapter and analyzer functionality, and flexible connectivity, the Promira Serial Platform integrates free GUIs, APIs, and an intuitive Admin Interface for a complete prototyping solution.

For more information on our tools, including the Promira Serial Platform, please email us at sales@totalphase.com or request a demo.