Scope

This technical brief provides a comprehensive overview of supported hardware connections for the SAM-BA® (Microchip SAM Boot Assistant) In-System Programmer and Provisioning (ISPP) tool. The document details the three communication interfaces—USB, UART, JTAG—with complete hardware requirements, connection procedures, and device detection methods for programming Microchip Arm®-based microprocessor units (MPU).

Additionally, the document addresses common issues and provides troubleshooting guidance to ensure successful hardware communication and programming operations.

This document is designed for technical users, system architects and advanced developers who oversee or implement solutions using Microchip microprocessors.

Readers are expected to have a strong foundation in embedded systems and be familiar with Microchip’s microprocessor product line.

Note: The examples provided in this document are based on tests conducted with SAM-BA version 3.9. Check the Microchip SAM-BA Tools web page (see References) for any newer versions.