CoreSight Debug and Trace Connectors
For ARM Cortex-M devices

There are several target connectors which are used to connect to an ARM target system. They enable debug and trace units such as the ULINK family of adapters to physically connect to the target system in order to program, debug, and gather trace information.

Each connector has been defined for particular uses and has specific benefits which we will discuss further.

Target Connectors

• 10-pin (0.05") - Cortex Debug Connector
• 20-pin (0.10") - ARM Standard JTAG Connector
• 20-pin (0.05") - Cortex Debug+ETM Connector

Debug and Trace Connectors for Cortex-M devices.

Cortex Debug Connector (10-pin)

The Cortex Debug Connector provides support for Serial Wire and JTAG interface modes in a very small, low cost 10-pin (0.05") connector. This new style connector provides access to all SWD, SWV, and JTAG signals available on a Cortex-Mx device.

A 10-pin header (Samtec FTSH-105-01) is specified with dimensions: 0.25" x 0.188" (6.35mm x 4.78mm).

The Cortex Debug Connector is supported by ULINK2 and ULINKPro.

ARM Standard JTAG Connector (20-pin)

The ARM Standard JTAG Connector provides support for Serial Wire and JTAG interface modes in a 20-pin (0.1") connector. It has been used for many years in ARM processor-based systems and can be used to access all SWD, SWV, and JTAG signals available on a Cortex-Mx device.

Dimensions of the ARM JTAG Connector are 1.29" x 0.722" (33mm x 18.5mm).

The ARM Standard JTAG Connector is supported by ULINK2, ULINK-ME, and ULINKPro.

Cortex Debug+ETM Connector (20-pin)

This small 20-pin (0.05") connector provides access to SWD, SWV, JTAG, and ETM (4-bit) signals available on a Cortex-M3 device.

A 20-pin header (Samtec FTSH-110-01) is specified with dimensions: 0.50" x 0.188" (12.70mm x 4.78mm).

The Cortex Debug+ETM Connector is supported by ULINKPro.

ARM ETM 'Mictor' Connector (38-pin)

The Mictor (Matched Impedance ConnecTOR) has been the standard way to connect a trace probe to an ARM target. It supports up to 32-bit ETM trace and is really intended for use with very high-speed ARM processors such as Cortex-R4 and Cortex-A9. As Cortex-M3 ETM only supports 4-bit trace, the best connector solution to support debug and ETM is the 20-pin Cortex Debug+ETM connector.