Whether you’re looking for the right tool to help with testing, programming, or prototyping, Total Phase offers various host adapters that support the development of products across the embedded systems industry. Our best-selling Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter, high-speed Cheetah SPI Host Adapter, and state-of-the-art Promira Serial Platform all have unique features that are suited for some of the most complex or unique projects.
Not sure which host adapter is right for you? Here is a quick guide to help you choose the right one:
Applications
Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter - Great for Prototyping
The Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter is a general-purpose host adapter that can act as an I2C or SPI master or slave device, making it an easy and cost-effective way to prototype. As a masterdevice, it can emulate an MCU that can control various slave devices, including sensors, motors, and lighting. As a slave device, it can check the validity ofthemessages being sent by the master. Automated testing can be done using the Aardvark adapter along with the free Control Center Serial Software via batch mode allowing for XML-based scripting. An API is also available to generate a full system that performs automated testing – perfect for running stress tests or production line testing
Cheetah SPI Host Adapter – Great for Programming
The Cheetah SPI Host Adapter was created with the intention of being able to quickly erase, program, and verify flash memory chips and EEPROMs at high speeds. With the free Flash Center Software, one can choose from a large library of preconfigured chip profiles, or simply upload a custom chip profile if needed. The Cheetah adapter has a pipelined architecture for command queueing that can program memory devices within seconds, making it ideal for engineers that need to minimize programming time. With multiple Cheetah adapters, it is possible to gang program multiple chips for increased efficiency. The Cheetah adapter can also emulate an SPI master, making it easy to evaluate peripherals including memory chips and sensors.
Promira Serial Platform – Best all-in-one tool
The Promira Serial Platform is an all-in-one, multi-purpose tool that can fit several testing and development use cases. With its quick, upgradable software applications, one can have features complete for designing, debugging, and developing in minutes. Users can even use our powerful, well-documented Promira API to create custom applications of their own. The Promira Serial Platform can act as an I2C/SPI master or slave device; as a master, it is capable of emulating an MCU to actively poll sensors, read and write to BIOS memory, and control the bus. As a slave device, it can simulate sensors and test the validity of commands sent by the master. The integrated level shifter simplifies set up and reduces impedance on the bus. Its high-speed capabilities are ideal for a production setting to quickly program flash memory chips and flash firmware onto EEPROM or for debugging the fastest of systems. The Promira platform is the only tool that can be configured via Ethernet for remote access production programming and monitoring.
Use Cases
Here are some examples of how other companies are successfully using our host adapters in their projects:
Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter:
- Testing server platforms before they end up in customer’s hands
- Debugging NVMe enterprise SSD technology
- Developing and testing highly critical Level A devices for planes
- Testing responsiveness of sensors as a master and testing behavior of microprocessor as a slave
- Validating I2C/SPI library and drivers
- Utilizing as a master to interface with MIPI cameras
Cheetah SPI Host Adapter:
- Including in semiconductor development kits for easier programming and interfacing with applications
- Sending SPI messages to integrated circuits to ensure devices such as tablets, cell phones, or optical drives are working properly
- Testing and programming chips in a production environment
- Writing content for specific images and deleting specific areas using "Zeroes" option to erase memory
Promira Serial Platform:
- Ensuring compliance when developing silicon by emulating master/slave to probe
- Including in development kits to support customers ex: audio DSP lines that require lower voltage I2C
- Mounting onto planes to test engine software
- Production line programming of EEPROM data in printers
- Programming Quad SPI flash memory at low voltages