Superboard 2040 Puts a Logic Analyzer on Your Dev Board

Getting a complex microcontroller-based project up and running is rarely a smooth process. So, when something inevitably goes wrong, you might need a logic analyzer to see what is happening on a bus, a debug probe to inspect the firmware, or a serial connection to figure out where the code stopped. Zolex built the Superboard 2040 around the idea that those tools should already be there when you need them.

The Superboard 2040 is an RP2040 development board with a second microcontroller dedicated to debugging and monitoring the first. The target is Raspberry Pi's familiar dual-core RP2040, while a 216 MHz AT32F405 Cortex-M4 handles the board's logic analyzer, debug probe, serial interface, and communication with the host computer.

The built-in 16-channel logic analyzer is wired directly to the RP2040's GPIO pins. That means finding a logic analyzer, connecting more than a dozen flying leads, and making sure they are attached to the right pins is no longer necessary. With the Superboard, those connections are already made. You can simply start a capture and see what the RP2040 is actually doing.

The analyzer samples at 10 MHz, with higher speeds possible depending on the host computer. Captured signals can be viewed in Zolex's Workbench application, which provides waveform zooming, decimation, and measurement cursors. There is also a built-in UART decoder, with support for additional protocols planned. For automated testing, the la_cli command line tool can capture signals directly to CSV files.

You don't necessarily have to run the logic analyzer to spot a problem, either. The board has 25 LEDs, 24 of which mirror the state of the RP2040's GPIO pins in real time. That makes it possible to glance at the board and immediately see whether a pin is active. If a signal that should be changing remains dark, you already have a useful clue about where to start looking.

The AT32F405 provides a CMSIS-DAP debug interface connected to the RP2040 over SWD. It works with standard tools, including OpenOCD and pyOCD, while a virtual COM port provides serial access to the target. The logic analyzer, debug probe, and serial connection all reach the computer through one USB-C connection without requiring a separate driver installation on Windows. A second USB port connects directly to the RP2040 for UF2 flashing and USB development.

That permanent connection between the RP2040 and its test equipment opens up some interesting possibilities beyond manual debugging. Because the logic analyzer can be controlled from the command line and produces easily parsed output, an automated tool or AI coding agent could compile and flash new firmware, capture the resulting GPIO activity, and use those measurements to help diagnose a problem.

Zolex has made the Superboard 2040 hardware open source under the CERN-OHL-S license, with schematics, PCB files, and the bill of materials already available. The release date and pricing information have not been announced yet, but you can sign up for notifications to stay in the loop.