Even without hardware emulator or any other in-circuit debugger, INSIDER allows the user to analyze the application behavior. User can correct even hard-to-find errors much faster, easier and more comfortable.

INSIDER can be used to debug applications with any microcontroller or microprocessor type (Microchip PIC®, Atmel, Dallas, Philips, Motorola, ...) or even FPGAs (Xilinx, Altera ...). The wide input voltage enables user to work even with the low voltage applications e.g. 2.5 V logic. The INSIDER's main advantage is significant increase of effectivity when debugging real-time applications without an emulator or any other debugger. Thanks to low cost, low requirements to the debugged application and time savings is the INSIDER capable to significantly decrease the resulting application development costs.

Work with INSIDER is easy and straightforward. The user adds a short code to his/her MCU application or a small state machine to the FPGA application. Two or three pins have to be connected to the INSIDER, but these pins can be shared with other system functions. INSIDER has three inputs: CLK, DATA and (optional) ENABLE. The internal logic contains a configurable 16-bit shift register, configurable 16-bit latch and the binary -> 7-segment code decoder for the 4-digit LED display.

Clock input CLK has selectable active edge - rising or falling. There are many option for the enable (EN) input:

• EN used / unused
• EN function: clock enable / data latch
• EN active level: log.0 / log.1

The status of all three inputs is indicated with LEDs. The input levels are compatible with these standards: CMOS 2.5 to 5 Volt, TTL and LVTTL. The CLD, DATA and EN signals have Schmitt triggers. There are no special power-up sequences required, both INSIDER and the connected application can be powered on and off arbitrarily. CLK input accepts clock rates up to 50 MHz.

In-Circuit Debugging provided by MICD is very fast due to PICQUICK's Field-Programmable gate Array (FPGA) which allows for much higher data transfer rates than by common software controlled serial communication approach which is used in other ICD systems. The FPGA is also capable to store an user generated serial data which enables user to watch the registers contents and program status even when MCU runs at full speed (similar to INSIDER functionality).

MICD provides separation of PICQUICK and target application supply voltage which frees user from taking care about power-on/off sequencing. The operating voltage range is from 2.5 V to 5.5 V.

Even for not supported devices (currently PIC18F family) of with devices without built-in ICD support (such as PIC16F7x family), can MICD serve as an ICSP programming interface (with low voltage support) and data monitor.