Byte Paradigm Bus Tools Catalogue

Byte Paradigm Sprl

More about Byte Paradigm Sprl

Byte Paradigm is a company specializing in embedded system verification tools. They offer USB-based logic analyzers and data loggers that enable engineers to probe, visualize, and decode digital signals and protocols like I²C and SPI. Their products feature large storage memory and unique capabilities for analyzing and debugging embedded systems efficiently.

Byte Paradigm: USB pattern generation and SPI/I2C test tools

Byte Paradigm (Belgium) makes USB-connected digital pattern generators and serial protocol exercisers and analysers, all driven from one PC program, 8PI Control Panel. They let an engineer apply a defined stimulus to a chip or board, either arbitrary 16-bit digital patterns or SPI and I2C transactions, and capture and decode what comes back, without writing a test fixture.

How a Byte Paradigm instrument works

A Byte Paradigm instrument sits between a PC and the device under test: the PC defines the stimulus, the instrument drives it onto the pins, and the same instrument records the response. The GP-22050 generates and captures 16-bit patterns, while the SPIXpress and I2CXpress act as bus master (exerciser) and bus analyser for one serial protocol each. All three are configured and controlled from 8PI Control Panel on the PC.

The PC sets up the test over USB; the instrument drives the pins and captures what the device under test sends back.

Stimulus and response testing

Stimulus and response testing means applying a known input to a device and checking its output against what you expect. With a pattern generator you define the input as an arbitrary digital waveform; with a protocol exerciser you define it as a bus transaction, such as an SPI write or an I2C read. The analyser side of each instrument then records the pins, so a fault shows up as a difference between what you sent and what came back.

Each pass through the loop compares the captured response with the expected one.

Byte Paradigm products at a glance

Model	Type	Protocols	Key figures	Host connection
GP-22050 USB Instrument	Pattern generator and logic analyser	16-bit digital patterns, JTAG; SPI and I2C as optional modes	16 data and 6 control lines; 1.2 to 3.3 V I/O; 50 MHz; 16 kB on-board memory	USB 2.0
SPIXpress SPI Interface	SPI exerciser and analyser	Standard SPI, non-standard 3-wire and 4-wire serial	Up to 50 Mbps	USB 2.0 high speed
I2CXpress I2C Interface	I2C exerciser and analyser	I2C	10 kbps, 100 kbps, 400 kbps and 1 Mbps	See product page

GP-22050: pattern generator, analyser and JTAG controller

The GP-22050 is a 16-bit pattern generator with a built-in logic analyser. It has three base modes: ADWG (arbitrary digital waveform generator), analyser, and JTAG port controller. Further modes, including SPI and I2C exerciser and analyser modes, can be bought to extend it.

Lines: 16 bi-directional data lines plus 6 bi-directional control lines, with I/O voltage from 1.2 to 3.3 V.
Speed: 50 MHz maximum frequency on all signals.
Memory and streaming: 16 kB embedded memory. When a run is longer than the memory, data streams to or from the PC over USB 2.0, up to 100 MB per run, with a maximum sustained throughput of 11 MB/s.

SPIXpress and I2CXpress: serial protocol exercisers

The SPIXpress and I2CXpress each play the bus master from the PC and also analyse the bus. The SPIXpress works with standard SPI and with non-standard 3-wire and 4-wire serial interfaces at up to 50 Mbps, which covers parts that differ slightly from the SPI standard. The I2CXpress runs I2C at 10 kbps, 100 kbps, 400 kbps and 1 Mbps; it works as an I2C master and as an analyser. In analyser mode the I2CXpress decodes the bus and the capture can be saved as decoded data, raw samples or a VCD file.

8PI Control Panel software

8PI Control Panel is the PC software for the GP and Xpress series and runs on Windows.

Graphical interface: configure the instrument, switch modes, and view results, including a waveform viewer for SPI captures.
TCL/tk scripting: automate test sequences without compiling code.
C/C++ DLL: call the instrument from your own programs; Visual Basic and other applications can use it too.
Version note: devices with a serial number starting with 05 must be used with 8PI Control Panel version 2.05 or newer.

Typical applications

Stimulating and verifying FPGAs, ASICs, DACs and digital boards with arbitrary 16-bit patterns from the GP-22050
Accessing and debugging SPI devices and boards with the SPIXpress, including parts with non-standard 3-wire or 4-wire serial interfaces
Exercising and tracing I2C devices from the PC with the I2CXpress
Controlling a JTAG port from the PC with the GP-22050 JTAG mode
Automated bench tests scripted in TCL/tk or called from C/C++

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a pattern generator and a protocol exerciser?

A pattern generator such as the GP-22050 outputs arbitrary digital waveforms that you define bit by bit. A protocol exerciser such as the SPIXpress or I2CXpress works at the bus level, sending SPI or I2C transactions and decoding the replies.

Which Byte Paradigm model should I choose?

Choose the SPIXpress for SPI work, the I2CXpress for I2C, and the GP-22050 if you need free-form 16-bit patterns, a logic analyser or a JTAG controller.

Can the GP-22050 do SPI and I2C?

Yes, as optional modes. The GP-22050 ships with pattern generator, analyser and JTAG modes, and SPI and I2C exerciser and analyser modes are purchasable options.

What software do I need?

8PI Control Panel, which runs on Windows and controls the GP-22050, SPIXpress and I2CXpress. It provides a graphical interface, TCL/tk scripting and a C/C++ DLL.

What voltage levels does the GP-22050 support?

I/O voltage from 1.2 to 3.3 V. See the product page for the SPIXpress and I2CXpress, where we have not confirmed the figures.

Can I script the instruments from my own code?

Yes. 8PI Control Panel includes a TCL/tk scripting environment and a C/C++ DLL, and Visual Basic and other applications can integrate with it. Stock of these older models is limited, so check the product page for availability.

Source: Byte Paradigm product information as published by the manufacturer's press releases and authorised resellers. Need help choosing a model? Ask our engineers.

Byte Paradigm GP-22050 USB Instrument

Byte Paradigm GP-22050 USB Instrument

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Byte Paradigm Sprl

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Byte Paradigm SPIXpress SPI Interface

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Byte Paradigm Sprl

Byte Paradigm: USB pattern generation and SPI/I2C test tools

How a Byte Paradigm instrument works

Stimulus and response testing

Byte Paradigm products at a glance

GP-22050: pattern generator, analyser and JTAG controller

SPIXpress and I2CXpress: serial protocol exercisers

8PI Control Panel software

Typical applications

Frequently asked questions

Byte Paradigm GP-22050 USB Instrument

Byte Paradigm GP-22050 USB Instrument

Byte Paradigm I2CXpress I2C Interface

Byte Paradigm I2CXpress I2C Interface

Byte Paradigm SPIXpress SPI Interface

Byte Paradigm SPIXpress SPI Interface

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Byte Paradigm Sprl

Byte Paradigm: USB pattern generation and SPI/I2C test tools

How a Byte Paradigm instrument works

Stimulus and response testing

Byte Paradigm products at a glance

GP-22050: pattern generator, analyser and JTAG controller

SPIXpress and I2CXpress: serial protocol exercisers

8PI Control Panel software

Typical applications

Frequently asked questions

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Byte Paradigm GP-22050 USB Instrument

Byte Paradigm GP-22050 USB Instrument

Byte Paradigm I2CXpress I2C Interface

Byte Paradigm I2CXpress I2C Interface

Byte Paradigm SPIXpress SPI Interface

Byte Paradigm SPIXpress SPI Interface