winIDEA Help

In this topic:

•How to find out if you have Watchdog issue?

•Detecting Watchdog via winIDEA

•Checking for reset messages via logging

•Solution: Disabling External Watchdog on your Target

•Solution: Disabling External via scripts

•Solution: Disabling Internal Watchdog at initialization via winIDEA

 

 

Introduction

Active Watchdog issue is one of the most common issues you experience when trying to debug.

Main function of a Watchdog (WDOG) or a Watchdog Timer (WDT) is to detect if something went wrong and recover from software malfunctions by resetting the chip.

 

It is a timer that starts counting from 0 and when it reaches a certain value, it performs an action (e.g. reset), which is specified by the developer. To prevent this the Watchdog has to be periodically fed or kicked - that means you have to reset the counter and set it to 0 so it doesn't reach a timeout and reset the chip.

 

Why Watchdog?

•Finished application  - Active Watchdog prevents any faulty states or malfunctions.

•Start of a development - You don’t want Watchdog resetting your chip all the time, because you’re actively trying to write and debug the application. Constant resets can slow you down or even prevent you from downloading the application to the chip.

 

Types

•Internal Watchdog - Implemented on the chip and internal to the MCU; it can be easily disabled by a simple write to a register.

•External Watchdog / System Basis Chip (SBC) - Implemented separately as a separate chip or board and it can reset MCU or even cut power; harder to disable, because it’s independent from the CPU.

 

 

 

How to find out if you have Watchdog issue?

You first notice the following issues in winIDEA:

•You can’t perform a Download

•Your application doesn’t run as expected

•winIDEA displays error messages:

oUMI error

oFailed to initialize the debug session

oError 258

oChip in reset

oCannot stop the CPU

oError programming

oExternal reset detected - possible watchdog activity

 

 

 

Detecting Watchdog via winIDEA

Watchdog detection is checked only after Reset / Program / Attach is performed from a disconnected debugger and not on every Reset / Program / Attach. The detection feature is disabled by default.

 

 

You can specify the time period (in milliseconds) for checking the target's reset.

The Progress window will display the results., e.g. Detecting watchdog activity for 10000 milliseconds. Reset asserted, probably watchdog activity.

 

 

 

Checking for reset messages via logging

This way you will ensure the log file will start with a connection to the BlueBox. Status shown in winIDEA must be OFFLINE.

 

1.Enable option Latch target RESET.

2.Disable Stop after target RESET.

 

1. Check options 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 28, 33. To avoid too much information in the log files don't enable too many options if it's not required.

2. Select Debug level and Absolute time.

3. Press the Clear button and copy the Log file path to open it later in the text editor.

 

The first reset is issued by the BlueBox. If several TRESET or Target RESET strings are found in the log file this indicates a watchdog reset (periodic reset) or other external source are resetting the CPU.

 

 

 

Possible solutions

winIDEA offers various solutions to disable internal or / and external watchdog.

Beside the solutions listed below, there is also an option that you have the watchdog enabled in your code.

 

 

Solution: Disabling External Watchdog on your Target

If you get periodic resets measured on your target, disable the External Watchdog on your Target.

 

For example Infineon TLE9278QX, TLE7368, TLF35584, NXP UJA113X.

 

Chip has an input TM (Test Mode) where this operation can be disabled.

BlueBox signal PORST’ is an open drain with 1K Ohm pull-up resistor which can be pulled down by the External Watchdog chip. CPU behaves as a multiple output system power supply and when the watchdog is enabled, this chip expects that it is disabled in ~600ms after power on reset. If it is not disabled, it resets the chip. After that multiple output system power supply is turned off and hence cuts the power to the chip.

 

 

 

Solution: Disabling External via scripts

If you get periodic resets measured on your target, disable the External Watchdog via scripts.

 

 

For example, select TC3X9_TLF35584_disable_stepA.ini to disable External Watchdog on the TLF chip (see Target folder).

 

 

 

 

Solution: Disabling Internal Watchdog at initialization via winIDEA

The option is available in Hardware | CPU Options | Reset and it's checked by default on devices which have an Internal Watchdog.

If Internal Watchdog is not supported, this option is greyed out.

If the Initialization is set to Disabled, the watchdog is not disabled.