NSDSP Configuration

To configure NSDSP, start NSDS Programmer, select the NSDSP device you want to configure, and click on the "Advanced" button. When the Settings screen appears, click on the "Configure NSDSP" button.

Configuration for NSDSP-3

The "Power Supply" section specifies how the target device is powered. It may be either self-powered or powered by NSDSP. When the target device is self-powered, NSDSP senses the voltage on the VDD pin continuously and adjusts the signal voltage level to match the voltage on VDD. It consumes very small amount of power from the target (up to 50 μA). This is necessary to sense the voltage level. When NSDSP provides power, it can apply up to 800 mA to the VDD pin to power the target. The currrent is internally limited at approximately 1 A, and if higher current is drawn, NSDSP may enter Error mode.

NSDSP-3 can provide power continuously, or it can turn the power on right before the programming starts and turn it off after the programming. In latter case, the user can use the programming software to specify the desired voltage. If no voltage is provided, NSDSP will use default voltage.

The "MCLR Pin While in Idle State" section specifies how the MCLR pin should be driven when NSDSP-3 is idle. It can be driven high or pulled up to keep the target device running, driven low to keep the target device in reset, or released to let the board control the MCLR pin.

The "RTS Pin While Not in Use" section lets you decide how RTS pin is driven when UART is not in use. The TX pin is always driven high.

All other pins are put into high impedance state when NSDSP-3 is idle.

The "LED Brightness" section lets you regulate the brightness of red and green LED indicators. This setting does not affect error mode where full brightness is used.

Configuration for NSDSP-1 and NSDSP-2

These settings are useful when you want to install NSDSP chip onto your production board and need to customize NSDSP behaviour.

The "PGC and PGDO" section specifies the state of the PGC and PGDO pins depending on the NSDSP Mode. While NSDSP is in Programming or Debug mode, these pins are controlled by the programmer or debugger. When NSDSP is not powered or is reset, the PGC and PGDO pins are in high impedance state. If you want to put them into a predictable state during reset, use 100kΩ pull-up or pull-down resistors on these pins.

If you have a dual-chip setup where one NSDSP is connected to program two different PICs, you need to configure PGM/RTS/AMCLR pin to work as AMCLR. When this is done, NSDSP will keep AMCLR pin high, which will prevent resetting the PIC connected to AMCLR.

If you do not have a dual-chip setup, configure the PGM/RTS/AMCLR pin to work as PGM or RTS. NSDSP will keep this pin low, allowing it to function as PGM or RTS.

If your target voltage is always the same, it's a good idea to specify the voltage here. This will help programming software to select a suitable programming speed.

If the whole board is USB powered, you must configure NSDSP to request an adequate amount of USB power from the host. Add 50mA for NSDSP itself.

If NSDSP is powered by USB, but the board has its own source of power, configure it to request 100mA.

If NSDSP is powered by the board, do not request USB power - NSDSP will be enumerated as a self-powered device.

When you enter all the settings, click on the "OK" button. This will cause the settings to be saved inside the NSDSP chip.