Serial Monitor
TrinovaQ Studio includes an integrated Serial Monitor for communicating with embedded hardware over a USB serial (UART) connection. This enables real-time monitoring of debug output, sensor readings, and device status — without leaving the IDE.
Overview
The Serial Monitor is available in the Serial tab of the bottom panel. It provides:
- Auto-discovery of available COM ports
- Configurable baud rate
- Live data stream display from the connected device
Connecting to a Device
Step 1: Connect Your Hardware
Plug your target board into a USB port. Most boards appear as a virtual COM port (e.g., COM3, COM4 on Windows).
Step 2: Open the Serial Monitor
- Click the Serial tab in the bottom panel
- The Serial Monitor interface displays the port selector and baud rate options
Step 3: Select the COM Port
- Click the Port dropdown — available serial ports are listed automatically
- Select the port corresponding to your device
- If your port is not listed, click Refresh to re-scan for available ports
Step 4: Select the Baud Rate
Choose the baud rate that matches your firmware's UART configuration:
| Baud Rate | Typical Use |
|---|---|
| 9600 | Low-speed sensors, legacy hardware |
| 115200 | Standard debugging and data logging |
| 500000 | High-speed data streams |
Make sure the baud rate configured in your firmware matches the selection in the Serial Monitor. A mismatch will result in garbled output.
Step 5: Connect
Click Connect. The Serial Monitor begins displaying incoming data from the device.
Viewing Data
Once connected, the Serial Monitor displays all bytes received from the device as text in the display area. The view auto-scrolls to the latest data.
Disconnecting
Click Disconnect to close the serial connection. The port is released so other tools can access it.
Hardware Register Viewer
In addition to the Serial Monitor, TrinovaQ Studio provides a Register Viewer for inspecting and modifying hardware peripheral registers.
The Register Viewer supports the following peripheral definitions:
GPIOA — General Purpose I/O
| Register | Offset | Description |
|---|---|---|
| MODER | 0x00 | Port mode register (input/output/alternate/analog) |
| OTYPER | 0x04 | Output type register (push-pull or open-drain) |
| OSPEEDR | 0x08 | Output speed register |
CAN1 — Controller Area Network
| Register | Offset | Access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCR | 0x00 | Read/Write | Master Control Register |
| MSR | 0x04 | Read-Only | Master Status Register |
The MSR register is read-only. Attempts to write to it are blocked by the Register Viewer.
WWDG — Window Watchdog
| Register | Offset | Description |
|---|---|---|
| CR | 0x00 | Control Register — critical for safety timeout configuration |
The Window Watchdog control register directly affects system reset behavior. Incorrect configuration can cause unintended system resets.
Using the Register Viewer
- Open the Hardware panel in the sidebar or Dashboard
- Select a peripheral (e.g.,
GPIOA,CAN1,WWDG) - The 32-bit register values are displayed with individual bit toggling
- Click any bit to toggle it (Read/Write registers only)
- Read-Only registers display their values but cannot be modified
This view is intended for development and debugging. Changes made in the Register Viewer reflect the current device state but do not automatically generate corresponding firmware code.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| No COM ports listed | Board not connected or driver missing | Reconnect board, install USB-serial driver |
| Garbled output | Baud rate mismatch | Match baud rate to firmware configuration |
| Data stops appearing | Device stopped transmitting | Check firmware logic; reconnect if needed |
| Port not released | Previous connection not closed | Click Disconnect; restart Studio if needed |
Related Pages
- Compile & Flash — Build and deploy firmware before using the Serial Monitor
- Quick Start — See the Serial Monitor in the context of the full workflow