Create New Keil Project for ARM7 LPC2148

In previous tutorial, we have quickly gone through how to load or program HEX file onto LPC2148 MCU using Flash Magic. This post is all about how to Create new Keil project for ARM7 LPC2148 Microcontroller. We’ll cover each and every step one by one. To keep simplicity we’ve provided text as well as video. You can follow anyone according to your comfort. Installation of MDK-ARM Keil uVision4 is pretty straight forward. We just have to fill form and get setup file. Evaluation version of Keil for ARM is available to download click here.

MDK-ARM Keil µVision:

This is free software (evaluation version) which solves many of the pain points for an embedded system developer. This software is an Integrated Development Environment(IDE), which integrated text editor to write program, a compiler and it will convert your source code into HEX file. Here is simple guide to start working with Keil µVision which can be used for:

Writing programs in C/C++ or Assembly
Compiling and assembling programs
Debugging programs
Creating HEX, AXF and BIN file
Test program without real hardware

Here is step by step guide to create fresh new project for ARM7 LPC2148 Microcontroller using MDK-ARM µVision4.

Once we’ve installed Keil, click on Keil µVision4 icon. This will appear on desktop after installation Keil.

Click on Project menu, and then hit on New uVision Project

create_new_project_keil_lpc2148 — Create New Project Keil LPC2148

Create new project folder named as Blinky.

give_name_to_new_keil_project — Give Name to New Keil Project

Select target Device vendor. In this case NXP (founded by Phillips)

select_device_in_keil — Select Device in Keil

Expand NXP icon and select specific chip i.e. LPC2148 After this, a dialog box will pop-up on screen. This will ask you whether to copy startup code for LPC2148. Click on Yes.

add_startup_file_lpc2148 — Add Startup File For LPC2148

Then we’ll get basic workplace to get start with writing code in. When we expand Target1 in left project pane. We see Startup.s is already added which is necessary for running code in Keil.

ready_workplace_for_lpc2148 — Ready Workplace For LPC2148

NOTE:

code will not run without Startup.s file. Because startup code executes immediately upon reset of the target system and performs the following listed operations.

Defines interrupt and exception vectors
Configures the CPU clock source (on same device)
Initializes the external bus controller
Copies the exception vectors from ROM and RAM for systems with memory remapping
Initializes other low level peripherals, if necessary
Reserves and initializes the stack for all modes
Reserves the heap
Transfers control to the main C function

Now click on File menu and hit on New.

create_new_file_keil — Create New File Keil

Write code to blink LED in C and FileName.c Save. NOTE:Don’t forget to save as with .c extension

add_c_file_to_keil_project — Add C File To Keil Project

Once we save file as blinky.c. We’ll quickly get complete code with syntax highlighted.

code_highlighted_in_keil_lpc2148 — Code Highlighted In Keil LPC2148

Now we can add blinky.c file by adding it to Group Source 1.

add_source_file_to_project_lpc2148 — Add Source File To Project LPC2148

Add blinky.c file

add_file_to_keil_project — Add File To Keil Project

Now right click on Target 1 and hit on Options for target “Target 1”

set_options_for _target_lpc2148 — Set Options For Target LPC2148

In Options for target “Target 1”. In output tab, click on check box Create HEX File.

set_output_keil_lpc2148 — Set Output Keil LPC2148

Then go to Linker tab. Click on Use Memory Layout for Target Dialog

setup_linker_option_keil_lpc2148 — Setup Linker Option Keil LPC2148

Then hit on Rebuild All target files

rebuild_the_keil_project_lpc2148 — Rebuild The Keil Project LPC2148

Now we can see Build output. If we check project directory at this point. We’ll find generated HEX file. Later on we’ll use it to load or burn into LPC2148 MCU using Flash Magic.