Solutions for SPI Protocol Testing and Debugging in Embedded Systems

There are many reasons to use serial protocols in embedded systems: simplicity, low pin count, and the ability to set up a network of simple devices to implement a complex functionality. Focusing on the Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), this paper explores the reasons to test and debug an SPI port. It then describes and compares the tools available on the market for test and debug, from general purpose oscilloscopes to specialized PC-based SPI exercisers and analyzers.