MPLAB devices

The MPLAB series of devices are programmers and debuggers for Microchip PIC and dsPIC microcontrollers, developed by Microchip Technology.

The ICD family of debuggers has been produced since the release of the first Flash-based PIC microcontrollers, and the latest ICD 3 currently supports all current PIC and dsPIC devices. It is the most popular combination debugging/programming tool from Microchip.

The REAL ICE emulator is similar to the ICD, with the addition of better debugging features, and various add-on modules that expand its usage scope. The ICE is a family of discontinued in-circuit emulators for PIC and dsPIC devices, and is currently superseded by the REAL ICE.

The MPLAB ICD is the first in-circuit debugger product by Microchip, and is currently discontinued and superseded by ICD 2. The ICD connected to the engineer's PC via RS-232, and connected to the device via ICSP.

The ICD supported devices within the PIC16C and PIC16F families, and supported full speed execution, or single step interactive debugging. Only one hardware breakpoint was supported by the ICD.

The MPLAB ICD 2 is a discontinued in-circuit debugger and programmer by Microchip, and is currently superseded by ICD 3. The ICD 2 connects to the engineer's PC via USB or RS-232, and connects to the device via ICSP.

The ICD 2 supports most PIC and dsPIC devices within the PIC10, PIC12, PIC16, PIC18, dsPIC, rfPIC and PIC32 families, and supports full speed execution, or single step interactive debugging. At breakpoints, data and program memory can be read and modified using the MPLAB IDE. The ICD 2 firmware is field upgradeable using the MPLAB IDE.

The ICD 2 can be used to erase, program or reprogram PIC MCU program memory, while the device is installed on target hardware, using ICSP. Target device voltages from 2.0V to 6.0V are supported.

The MPLAB ICD 3 is an in-circuit debugger and programmer by Microchip, and is the latest in the ICD series. The ICD 3 connects to the engineer's PC via USB, and connects to the device via ICSP. The ICD 3 is entirely USB-bus-powered, and is 15x faster than the ICD 2 for programming devices.

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Wikipedia