Real-Time Debugging of a Signal Processing Algorithm

General Questions
1

I have developed a signal processing algorithm. How can I debug it in real-time to ensure that my algorithm works correctly? I’d like to view intermediate signals.

2

To debug your signal processing algorithm in real-time and inspect intermediate signals, you can use several tools and techniques provided by the software environment:

  1. Oscilloscope:

    • The oscilloscope is one of the most powerful tools for real-time debugging in the SciCompiler environment. It allows you to visualize multiple channels simultaneously—sometimes even dozens. Each channel is fully synchronous, meaning that you can view signals with precise timing alignment, crucial for debugging complex processing algorithms.
    • For each channel, the oscilloscope provides:
      • One analog trace: Ideal for viewing continuous signals like voltage levels or processed waveforms.
      • Four digital traces: These are used for debugging digital signals, such as logic states or timing signals in the processing chain.

  2. Logic Analyzer:

    • If your signals are purely digital, you can use the logic analyzer block instead of the oscilloscope. This tool is specifically designed for viewing and debugging digital signals, offering high precision and allowing you to inspect timing relationships between signals, transitions, and glitches.
    • You can visualize multiple digital signals simultaneously, which is useful for tracking the behavior of your algorithm across several stages.

  3. Registers:

    • In many cases, you may prefer to debug using simple registers. You can map intermediate values or signals to registers, then use Resource Explorer or SciSDK to read these values in real-time. This approach is less resource-intensive than using an oscilloscope and is effective for checking specific outputs or states within your algorithm.

  4. Resource Explorer:

    • Resource Explorer makes it easy to read information in real-time. You can monitor registers, data from the oscilloscope, or the logic analyzer directly from the graphical interface. It’s particularly useful for tracking how your algorithm processes data step-by-step and helps ensure that each stage of the signal processing pipeline works as expected.

In summary, for real-time debugging of signal processing algorithms, the oscilloscope and logic analyzer are excellent tools for visualizing signals, while registers and Resource Explorer allow for direct data readout.