Tutorial: Enlightning the Freedom KL25Z Board

The schematics for the Freedom board is now available on the element14 Freedom Board site (you need to log into the element14 community first) as FRDM-KL25Z Schematics (SPF-27556_D).pdf (314.7 K)). So time to write a tutorial how to use the LED on that board.

❗ Note: since this tutorial, the LED component has been simplified. So some of the steps below are much simpler and easer. Please see LED’s for Kinetis, simplified | MCU on Eclipse. I have updated this post with the new instructions and images.

In “FreeRTOS with GCC, Cortex-M0+ and Kinetis KL25Z Freedom Board” and “A Shell for the KL25Z Freedom Board” I have used that board with an RTOS: FreeRTOS. But it is really easy to use that board without an RTOS (‘bare metal’) too. In this tutorial I’m providing step by step instructions to use the RGB LED on the Freedom KL25Z board with Processor Expert and the open source LED component.

❗ NOTE: this post has been written for CodeWarrior for MCU10.3 and it is using an earlier version of the LED component (using BitIO_LDD). Things have been greatly simplified with a new LED component, see this post. I recommend that you use the newer LED component from GitHub.

I’m using CodeWarrior which has the ARM gcc build tools integrated for the Kinetis family. This tutorial features the Freedom KL25Z board with the version 10.x (10.3) of CodeWarrior, but is applicable with minor changes for any other Kinetis board and as well for CodeWarrior for MCU10.x.

Additional Processor Expert Component Installation

In this tutorial I’m using additional open source Processor Expert components which are not part of the CodeWarrior Eclipse standard distribution:

  • LED: Universal LED driver
  • Wait: Universal waiting functions

Both *.PEupd files can be downloaded from the above links. To import them into CodeWarrior, I use the menu Processor Expert > Import Package:

Importing Processor Expert Package

Importing Processor Expert Package

Then I browse to the *.PEupd files and select them to import.

Hint: it is possible to import multiple components in a single step with selecting multiple files to import.

After importing the components, it might be necessary to refresh the components list. To make sure all Processor Expert Views are loaded, I use the menu Processor Expert > Show Views:

Show Processor Expert Views

Show Processor Expert Views

After importing, the LED and Wait component should show up in the Alphabetical tab of the Component Library view:

LED and Wait Components

LED and Wait Components

If not, a Refresh of the components might be needed:

Refresh Components

Refresh Components

 

Creating the Project

I use the menu File > New > Bareboard Project:

File New to create a new project

File New to create a new project

Next, I need to specify a name for my project:

Naming the project

Naming the project

Next, I select the MKL25Z128 as my device:

Hint: I can use the filter field to at the top of the dialog to filter the devices. In MCU10.3 I can simply type ‘kl25’, where in MCU10.2 I need ‘*kl25*’ as filter text.

Selecting KL25Z128

Selecting KL25Z128

Next, to select the debug connection. As the Freedom Board has the new OpenSDA on it, this is my choice:

OpenSDA as Debug Connection

OpenSDA as Debug Connection

In the next dialog, nothing has (or can) be changed. the ARM GNU GCC is the only (and default) tool-chain for Kinetis L (Cortex M0+) family:

ARM gcc Build Tools

ARM gcc Build Tools

Next, I select Processor Expert for my project:

Processor Expert

Pressing ‘Finish’ creates the project for me:

CodeWarrior Projects View with Components

CodeWarrior Projects View with Components

In case the Processor Expert component are not shown, I need to open the components for the selected project:

Open Components for Project

Open Components for Project

 

Note: Now in MCU10.3 the project view and the Processor Expert Components view are clearly separate.

LED

To add the LED component, I select it and use the ‘Add to project’ context menu:

Adding LED Component

Adding LED Component

 

Hint: instead of using the context menu, I can double click on the component to add it.

I do this 3 times, one for red, blue and green color. As I have missing settings, they show up with an error marker in the Components view:

3 LED's in Components View

3 LED’s in Components View

I’m changing the settings in the Component Inspector for the three LED’s:

  1. Changing the Component name: this is an arbitrary name, and is used for the generated driver source files (.c and .h file). I name it LEDR, LEDG and LEDB for the three colors
  2. As according to the schematics the cathode of the LED is connected to the microcontroller pin, I specify ‘no’ for this property (Anode is on the microcontroller port side), and this means that a HIGH logical level of the pin will turn the LED on.
LEDR Settings

LEDR Settings

Linking to Microcontroller Pin

According to the FRDM-KL25Z Schematics (SPF-27556_D).pdf, the RGB LED is connected to following pins:

  • Red: PTB18
  • Green: PTB19
  • Blue: PTD1

So I need to assign the pin to the LED component. For this, I unfold the LED component with clicing on the small triangle on the left side:

Unfolded LED

Unfolded LED

Then I select the LEDpin to show the properties in the Component Inspector. This shows some items in red as they are not assigned yet:

Selected LED Pin

Selected LED Pin

I assign PTB18 as pin:

Assigning port pin

Assigning port pin

💡 With CW for MCU10.5, I can type in the port name and it will filter automatically the entries. For earlier CodeWarrior versions I would need to select the pin from the list.

 

Setting up port and adding bit fields

Next I configure the pin as output, and mark it for auto initialization so I do not need to call the initialization of it in my application:

The Field Name has to match the field name I used in the LED component.

Hint: If I specify the optional ‘Pin Signal’ name, then Processor Expert will document it in the list of pins used.

Optionally I can assign a name for the pin/signal so Processor Expert can generate a pin list for me:

Red LED Signal Name

Red LED Signal Name

I need to do the same procedure for the blue and green led. It is just that they use different pins:

Green LED settings

Green LED settings

Blue LED Settings

Blue LED Settings

Wait Component

As I want to busy wait between the LED toggling, I add the ‘Wait’ component to the project:

Adding Wait Component

Adding Wait Component

Generating Code

Now I have all my components together, time to generate code. For this I use the toolbar button:

Generate Processor Expert Code

Generate Processor Expert Code

This generates the code for my components:

Generating Code

Generating Code

 

Adding LED Code

The application main() is inside ProcessorExpert.c, where add my LED demo code:

LED Code

LED Code

 

Hint: An easy way to add code and function calls to components is to use drag & drop.

Build

I build the project with the menu Project > Build Project or using the ‘hammer’ icon:

Building Project with Hammer Icon

Building Project with Hammer Icon

At this point there should be no problems, so the Problems view should just show empty:

Empty Problems view with no problems

Empty Problems view with no problems

 

Debug

To download and debug, I press the debug toolbar icon. An annoying thing in Eclipse is I first need to *select* the project first to select the right debug configuration:

So I select the project, then hover over the icon to make sure my project is selected. Otherwise I use the small drop down of the debug toolbar icon to select the right configuration:

Starting Debugger

Starting Debugger

This will start the debugger, and I can use the toolbar items in the Debug view to step through my code:

debugging the application

debugging the application

Source Code

The project I have created in above steps can be downloaded from this link.

Summary

The steps presented here are really generic, and work for many boards and microcontrollers, especially for the Kinetis family. All what I need to know is the information to which pin the LED’s are connected. With this it is very easy to create a bare board (without RTOS) application blinking LED’s.

Happy enlightning 🙂

83 thoughts on “Tutorial: Enlightning the Freedom KL25Z Board

  1. Pingback: S-Record Generation with gcc for ARM/Kinetis | MCU on Eclipse

  2. Pingback: OpenSDA on the Freedom KL25Z Board | MCU on Eclipse

  3. Pingback: Tutorial: Accelerating the KL25Z Freedom Board | MCU on Eclipse

  4. Pingback: Tutorial: Freedom with FreeRTOS and Kinetis-L | MCU on Eclipse

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  6. This is an excellent example, shows how to use CW 10.3 and Processor Expert both on a small easy to understand example.

    Like

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  8. Have you changed the LED bean since you wrote this? I’m not seeing the LED at all under the alphabetical list, but LOTS of what look like board-specific LEDs including FRBD_KL25Z_LEDRGB_RED (and GREEN and BLUE.) I guess I should be using these logical device drivers?

    Like

    • No, the LED bean has not changed, but Freescale added their own LED LDD components now. So you could use these if you want, they are using a similar approach as my bean. My bean is universal (works for all architectures), while the Freescale LDD LED ones are only working for Kinetis and ColdFire+.

      Like

  9. Further to above, I have imported the Wait package, and can’t see that in the list, either. This is CW 10.3, build ID 120924.

    Like

    • Maybe your component list has not been updated. It does it automatically for me (Windows 7). Can you try to right click on the Component Library view and use the ‘Refresh’ menu? then it should show up.

      Like

      • Ah, should have thought of that. I couldn’t see any obvious way to refresh (didn’t know about right-click.) I’ve got this on a WinXP VM. As it happens, I’d shut it down; now I’ve fired it up again, it’s all there. I now have a copy of Win7 – is there any benefit to moving over to that? (Both VMs have access to the CW workspace.)

        Like

        • I’m using Win7 32bit and 64bit, but natively (no VM). I think that using Win7 vs XP there is no real benefit, apart of that all the new stuff is focusing on Win7.

          Like

      • I’ve got all this building just fine – tried it on WinXP and Win7. HOWEVER (and it’s a big however) I’m unable to get CW to see the board. I’ve picked up and installed the latest PE Micro drivers but when I plug in the board (I’ve tried two different ones) on both XP and 7, I get a thing popup which finds USB storage on there, but P&E Connection Assistant always comes up (No Device Available) even with re-connections and re-boots. I know this isn’t an Erich Problem, but I’m not entirely sure where I should be looking for help as P&E Micro’s support proved utterly useless when I had a similar problem with the Multilink for HCS08. (It took two lots of new drivers to fix that.) Any pointers as to a half-decent support channel would be most welcome! I’m certainly stuck playing with 8-bit stuff for the time being. (And my TI Stellaris LaunchPad, but I’m probably not allowed to say that here 😉

        Like

        • The LaunchPad is a fantastic board! Freedom of speech (in good sense) is important to me :-). I published a while back a how-to-install tutorial in freescale community thread/93204, but looks with the migration to the new forum this is lost. I see if I can dig this out.

          Like

  10. Pingback: Removal of Processor Expert for a Project | MCU on Eclipse

  11. Pingback: Tutorial: printf() and “Hello World!” with the Freedom KL25Z Board | MCU on Eclipse

  12. Hello.

    I can see from the CPU component properties that the core clock is working at 20.97152 MHz in FEI MCG mode. With this configurtion, I believe the crystal is not used at all.

    The FRDM-KL25Z is advertised as being able to work up to 48 MHz. For this, the setting would have to be to use the PEE mode using the 8 MHz external crystal with 22pF capacitor load. Is this correct?

    I tried this setting but Processor Expert tells me that the max core clock is 20 MHz.

    Do you have any information on the settings to use the MCU at 48 MHz?. Is there any source code for the out-of-the-box project that comes pre-programmed?

    Thank you.

    Like

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  14. Pingback: Tutorial: Bits and Pins with Kinetis and the FRDM-KL25Z Board | MCU on Eclipse

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  16. Hello,

    I’m trying out my FRDM-KL25Z, and selected this tutorial as my 1st project.
    However, you have stopped short of explaining the debugging procedure.
    There are several settings upon clicking the debug button,…when does one select a particular setting ? What are the right settings for this project?

    Some issues:

    1. In your photo, hovering over the debug button shows the tip: ‘Debug Freedom_LED_FLASH_OpenSDA. When I do the same (with the project selected) I just get ‘Debug’ as the tool-tip.

    2. When I try to debug anyway, I get an error message with a ‘No device available’ message.
    However my board is connected, and I could drag other binaries to the board and run them.

    3. After I do a build /build all, should I get some executable like bin/srec/s19 etc (not sure which one is the default)? But I can’t see any. When and where are the produced ?

    Sorry if my questions are ‘noobish’ but I have only used 8 bit MCUs & All this is new to me.

    Thank You.

    Like

    • Well, I got point (2) sorted out from this thread:

      freescale community thread/301232
      and

      OpenSDA on the Freedom KL25Z Board

      This should really be made more clear by Freescale …. it is not mentioned even in the ‘Sample Code Package’ which I tried to use & had this same error – threafter I found this blog.

      But I’m still curious about (1) & (3).

      Thanks

      Like

      • about point 1: the hover shows the active debug configuration. In Eclipse, make sure you have selected the project root folder in the project view, then the ‘debug’ icon will know which project to debug (this is one of the few Eclipse things which really is not done very well). So always select the project to make it ‘active’. If you just have ‘Debug’, this means that you do not have launched a debug configuration yet. Click on the small triangle on the right side of the ‘debug’ icon and select the configuration you want. If the list is empty (Eclipse populates it with your history), select the sub menu ‘Debug as…’ > CodeWarrior Download. This should lead you to the correct configuration.

        As for point 3: this post explains how to generate S19 files with gcc: https://mcuoneclipse.com/2012/09/13/s-record-generation-with-gcc-for-armkinetis/

        Hope this helps,
        Erich

        Like

  17. Pingback: LED’s for Kinetis, simplified | MCU on Eclipse

  18. Hello,

    Very useful blog I must say, helped me a lot to get started with the freedom board.

    However, there is one tiny problem that I am facing while loading the program on the board.
    When I use the “flash programmer” button to load the .elf to the board, it does not start running after the writing is complete. I get no effect even if I press the physical reset button. The MCU starts running my program ONLY when I unplug and reconnect the USB connection.

    I have the debug application loaded on the Open SDA.

    Any idea am i doing wrong? Or is it meant to be this way?

    Like

    • Hello,
      no, that would not be normal. Strange, when I tried this myself after your report, I had somehow the same issue. But when I retried it, it works since then?
      If the program does not start with the reset button, it could be that the reset button is disabled (you can map it to a normal input/output pin). But I think this is not the problem, as at reset, the pin is used as normal reset pin.
      I only could imagine that for strange reasons the OpenSDA prevents the CPU to reset through the reset button.
      Again, it works now for me. Maybe I need to play around in order to reproduce it again.

      Like

  19. i am using Codewarrier 10.3 and on adding LED Bean i am not getting LLD Options on adding LEd Bean , how to resolve that.

    Like

  20. Hi, my cpu model is: MKL25Z128FRDM 1N97F XCTAA1230E, But in the code warrior shows as: MKL25Z128VLK4. I don’t know if this can affect in any way in the moment of doing the “debug” part.

    Like

  21. Hi Erich, First of all. Congratulations for your work. It’s amazing. You have built alot.

    I am with some issue. I can’t Add the LED component, i’ve download from:
    http://steinerberg.com/EmbeddedComponents/LED/home.htm
    and it doesn’t show on Components Library. Even if i refresh.

    I see there is a standart LED component from CW. Shouldn’t you rename to LEDR in your Bean?

    Thank you

    Like

    • Hello,
      if the component has properly be imported, you should have a folder C:\ProgramData\Processor Expert\CWMCU_PE5_00\Beans\LED on your system. Does this folder exist? If not, then the LED component has not been imported properly.

      Like

  22. Erich, I imported the components properly but I am not seeing the configuration of the LED components like yours. I don’t see the LDD and Hardware interface settings in my imported LEDR for example.

    Like

  23. Hi Erich,

    I have trouble setting up the LED component as you instructed. I am using FRDM-KL05Z board.

    This is my configuration window look like: http://s17.postimage.org/5tbauhblb/LED1.png

    The pin only shows “LEDPin” or “GenericBitIO”. I can’t select a Pin I need.

    If I just select “LEDPin” and go forward to generate the code, the comments of the code shows that it is using PTB7 as the pin. However, KL05Z uses PTB8, PTB9, PTB10 respectively for three LED lights. And of course the generated code doesn’t light up the LED, since the pin is wrong.

    If I select “GenericBitIO”, it complains that “No Inherited component assigned”

    Do you have any idea what is happening here?

    Thanks a lot!

    Like

  24. Hi Erich,

    First of all, thank you for these tutorials, they are really useful.

    I tried to make all the tutorials that you had post, in all of them I build the project without problems but when I try debug, the project goes wrong. In the debug window the program says:
    -LED_FLASH_OpenSDA[CodeWarrior Download]
    ARM Processors, LED.elf(Suspended)
    Thread[Id:0x0](Suspended:Signal ‘Halt’ received.Description:User halted thread.)

    Then in the Disassembly window there is a marked line that says:
    -push (r7,1r) –> it seems that the program is stopped here.

    Do you have any idea of what is happening here?

    Thank you very much!!!

    Like

  25. On my LED component inspector under HW Interface, it doesn’t have the LDD drop down to add the GPIO to the LED component, what I am missing to get this option?

    Like

  26. Hi Erich,
    Two questions…

    I am having trouble getting OpenSDA to work and I noticed that in the Connections screen shot above you have both Open SDA and P&E checked. Is there a reason for this?

    Can you please point me to a good tutorial that really targets getting OpenSDA going?
    Thanks again in advance – your site is a brilliant resource.

    Bryon

    Like

    • Hi Bryon,
      thanks, good to hear that things are useful. As for the debug connection screenshot: you only need one. I just had selected two so it creates both the P&E and the OpenSDA connection. Have you loaded the OpenSDA Debug Application on your board? See https://mcuoneclipse.com/2012/09/20/opensda-on-the-freedom-kl25z-board/. If you receive your board, then it has the OpenSDA Mass Storage Device (MSD) bootloader on it, which can be used to copy S19 files. But you cannot debug with it. You need to load first the DebugApp.

      I hope this helps.

      Like

  27. HI Erich

    I followed the step by step Instruction given in the blog but i am having problems with the LED

    I Downloaded the LED file with the link given, But

    And the GPIO LDD option is not available, And i not able the share the LED

    Please let know how to go ahead with the same

    Like

  28. Hi Erich,
    In your post when you add an LED, in the HW Interface dropdown you see GPIOLDD option

    I downloaded the LED component from the link given in your post and added the same

    But when i add the same to my project the GPIOLDD option is not there, And even when i tried adding a GPIO_LDD component its giving me an error saying

    Peripheral is already being used by component BitIoLdd1

    And when i go to BitIoLdd1 its giving an error saying Error in inherited Component setting

    If i download your project and check your LED setting the GPIO_LDD option is still not available

    Like

    • Hi Nikhil,
      I appologize: writing tutorials has a big drawback. When things get improved and steps might change a little bit, then this means updating the tutorials too :-(. I was deliquent not doing this, and hoping pointing to the post with the changes is enough. I was simply wrong, I should have updated the steps in the first place as I agree it might be confusing. So with a big fanfare: I have updated the tutorial with the updated/simplified steps for the actual LED component. So no need any more fumbling with the GPIO_LDD stuff :-). Please refresh things in your browser, and you should now see the same as in CodeWarrior for MCU10.5. Again, I appologize, and hope now it works like a charm 😉

      Like

  29. Pingback: Tutorial: Timer (LED) with Processor Expert for Kinetis | MCU on Eclipse

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  31. Hi Erich

    i’m using kinetis studio, and these examples are done in Codewarrior. My question is… Can I follow the same steps for kinetis studio?
    I’m trying to follow the same steps with accelerometer example that you did, but i have doubts about it.

    Like

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