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RE: Identity Protocol - Part 3 - Unboxing and Blinking with Maxim LPSDK

arvindsa — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 11:58:25 GMT

Absolutely true. Arduino reduces a lot of hassles, infact all my past projects on this community is develeoped on Arduino. I take up some freelancing work for some extra bucks and most of the clients ask me not to use arduino. thay way, i got used to Nordic and STM32 Hal and the thrill of extracting every bit of performance out of the chip. So, this time, I am taking opportunity to expand my comfort zone to Maxim. Dream is to work with Apollo Ambiq. But sadly their cost is too prohibitive for a pure learning experience.

Identity Protocol - Part 3 - Unboxing and Blinking with Maxim LPSDK

arvindsa — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:54:43 GMT

In Part 3 of my Series, I will be sharing the Unboxing, and How i had setup my computer for the Programming.

Recap:

The idea is simple enough: stop making people swipe a card and type a PIN at every single door. Instead, the ID card (a MAX32630FTHR + ATECC508A in your pocket) unlocks once via PIN, then silently does challenge-response crypto over Bluetooth every time you walk up to a door. If the card gets yanked off you, the IMU detects the tug and it locks itself. No PIN, no entry. For more details check the Part 1 of the series

Part 1 - The Idea Identity Protocol Part 1 - Plan
Part 2 - Django Server - [mention:1ab561efc7f2445b8eb20783970ed89c:46448885d0e64133bbfbf0cd7b0fd6f7]

The Unboxing

E14 always does a great job of packing ensuring that the products arrive safely. I looking at the sponsored kit, i expected the package size to be small but i was stunned to see quite a large one. As i opened and removed the packing material, came out confetti. Or was it? Nope, it was the Stickers, Yayyy. Stickers. I love sticking them to my electronics storage boxes for a cool effect.

Then the Striking Blue Box with Analog Devices Emblazoned on it. I thought this might be the Feather board because i thought Analog Devices had bought Maxim. But Inside i found the FTHR-PMD-INTZ Adapter Board. E14 did mention that they could ship only one out of the two they promised and they will ship the second one soon. But Since it is not going to be used in my project, I'm gonna say not to ship it to me, If anyone want's it. I can ask e14 to ship it to them instead (if they allow)

Then came the artisanal style packaging by Particle. Nestled inside the earthy paperish minimal packing was the Matte-Black gold plated PCB just shining there.

CharliePlex Featherwing and The Motor Control Wing in the Adafruit's classic transparent and Pink zip pouches respectively, The charlieplex LED was red. I would have liked it better with White, but hey it is classic.

And them deep inside was two white unbranded boxes. Inside them were the power houses MAX63230 Feather Board. i Love them giving the pin out card. Helped me make a header file for the programming so easily and also for quick references.

The Programmer was inside an Analog Devices Branded Altoid Tin style box. I would have liked it if not for the fact that there was no ESD padding in the inside. I am gonna reuse the pink one from the outer box. Inside was the Pico Programmer, A Micro USB Cable and the IDC - Ribbon Cable, Even the programmer comes with it's own Pinout card

and finally the Feather board itself.

Setting up the SDK and IDE

Download the LPSDK File by going to https://www.analog.com/en/products/max32630.html and under "Tools & Simulations", Download the right SDK for your OS. No Linux option [emoticon:ca08b2c27c2f40e993e89508acf29e0b] Yes, You will need to login and then it will download all the files.

Install the LPSDK from here. Do set a path without spaces. I am setting it up at "D:\projects\electronics-libraries\maxim". You should be able to see a folder structure like this below

[embed:dc8ab71f-3b98-42d9-b0f6-e21e02a0f8e2:6bdff1c8-9787-4e3c-a8c8-215222798871:type=text&text=maxim%2F%0A%E2%94%9C%E2%94%80%E2%94%80%20Eclipse%2F%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%E2%86%90%20Eclipse%20IDE%20with%20Maxim%20CDT%20plugin%0A%E2%94%9C%E2%94%80%E2%94%80%20Firmware%2F%0A%E2%94%82%20%20%20%E2%94%94%E2%94%80%E2%94%80%20MAX3263X%2F%0A%E2%94%82%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%E2%94%9C%E2%94%80%E2%94%80%20Applications%2F%0A%E2%94%82%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%E2%94%82%20%20%20%E2%94%94%E2%94%80%E2%94%80%20EvKitExamples%2F%20%20%20%20%E2%86%90%20ready-to-build%20example%20projects%0A%E2%94%82%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%E2%94%94%E2%94%80%E2%94%80%20Libraries%2F%0A%E2%94%82%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%E2%94%9C%E2%94%80%E2%94%80%20Boards%2FEvKit_V1%2F%20%20%E2%86%90%20board%20support%20%28shared%20with%20FTHR%29%0A%E2%94%82%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%E2%94%9C%E2%94%80%E2%94%80%20CMSIS%2F%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%E2%86%90%20ARM%20CMSIS%20%2B%20linker%20scripts%0A%E2%94%82%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%E2%94%94%E2%94%80%E2%94%80%20MAX3263XPeriphDriver%2F%0A%E2%94%9C%E2%94%80%E2%94%80%20Toolchain%2F%0A%E2%94%82%20%20%20%E2%94%9C%E2%94%80%E2%94%80%20bin%2F%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%E2%86%90%20arm-none-eabi-gcc%2C%20arm-none-eabi-gdb%2C%20%E2%80%A6%0A%E2%94%82%20%20%20%E2%94%94%E2%94%80%E2%94%80%20msys%2F1.0%2Fbin%2F%20%E2%86%90%20make%2C%20uname%2C%20mkdir%2C%20rm%2C%20%E2%80%A6%0A%E2%94%94%E2%94%80%E2%94%80%20setenv.bat%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%E2%86%90%20sets%20PATH%20for%20a%20cmd.exe%20session]

You have the Eclipse project too. It was a straight forward option to open it, make a blinky compile and then upload it. But then It doesnt work. This is where i spent a lot of time. Now, The SDK ships board support for the EvKit_V1 evaluation kit. The MAX32630FTHR has similar peripherals but different pin connection. The default code is trying to initialize the board with the MAX14690N PMIC over I2CM0 but on the FTHR the PMIC is wired to I2CM2. The I2C transaction waits indefinitely for an ACK, so firmware never reaches `main()`. This happens regardless of whether you build from Eclipse or the command line. it's a firmware issue, not an IDE issue. I switched to command line to keep things simple, but Eclipse works fine too once you configure it as a Makefile project pointing at the LPSDK's own make.exe. So had to override Board_Init() as below

[embed:dc8ab71f-3b98-42d9-b0f6-e21e02a0f8e2:ff37126b-55b3-4ad6-adbd-1d18088a73d8:type=c_cpp&text=int%20Board_Init%28void%29%0A%7B%0A%20return%20E_NO_ERROR%3B%20%20%20%2F%2A%20skip%20EvKit%20PMIC%20init%20%E2%80%94%20PMIC%20is%20on%20I2CM2%20on%20FTHR%20%2A%2F%0A%7D]

The BlinkY Code

[embed:dc8ab71f-3b98-42d9-b0f6-e21e02a0f8e2:0eb9fdd8-7e7e-488f-8fb2-15d9ba9f47f4:type=c_cpp&text=%23include%20%22mxc_config.h%22%0A%23include%20%22gpio.h%22%0A%23include%20%22tmr_utils.h%22%0A%0A%2F%2A%0A%20%2A%20Override%20the%20weak%20Board_Init%28%29%20from%20EvKit_V1%2Fboard.c.%0A%20%2A%20On%20the%20FTHR%20the%20PMIC%20is%20on%20I2CM2%2C%20not%20I2CM0%20%E2%80%94%20the%20EvKit%20init%20hangs.%0A%20%2A%2F%0Aint%20Board_Init%28void%29%0A%7B%0A%20%20%20%20return%20E_NO_ERROR%3B%0A%7D%0A%0A%2F%2A%20MAX32630FTHR%20RGB%20LED%20%E2%80%94%20active-low%2C%20open-drain%20%2A%2F%0A%23define%20LED_R_PORT%20%20PORT_2%0A%23define%20LED_R_PIN%20%20%20PIN_4%0A%23define%20LED_G_PORT%20%20PORT_2%0A%23define%20LED_G_PIN%20%20%20PIN_5%0A%23define%20LED_B_PORT%20%20PORT_2%0A%23define%20LED_B_PIN%20%20%20PIN_6%0A%0Astatic%20const%20gpio_cfg_t%20led_r%20%3D%20%7B%20LED_R_PORT%2C%20LED_R_PIN%2C%20GPIO_FUNC_GPIO%2C%20GPIO_PAD_OPEN_DRAIN%20%7D%3B%0Astatic%20const%20gpio_cfg_t%20led_g%20%3D%20%7B%20LED_G_PORT%2C%20LED_G_PIN%2C%20GPIO_FUNC_GPIO%2C%20GPIO_PAD_OPEN_DRAIN%20%7D%3B%0Astatic%20const%20gpio_cfg_t%20led_b%20%3D%20%7B%20LED_B_PORT%2C%20LED_B_PIN%2C%20GPIO_FUNC_GPIO%2C%20GPIO_PAD_OPEN_DRAIN%20%7D%3B%0A%0Astatic%20void%20leds_init%28void%29%0A%7B%0A%20%20%20%20GPIO_Config%28%26led_r%29%3B%0A%20%20%20%20GPIO_Config%28%26led_g%29%3B%0A%20%20%20%20GPIO_Config%28%26led_b%29%3B%0A%20%20%20%20%2F%2A%20all%20off%20%E2%80%94%20drive%20high%20%28active-low%29%20%2A%2F%0A%20%20%20%20GPIO_OutSet%28%26led_r%29%3B%0A%20%20%20%20GPIO_OutSet%28%26led_g%29%3B%0A%20%20%20%20GPIO_OutSet%28%26led_b%29%3B%0A%7D%0A%0Aint%20main%28void%29%0A%7B%0A%20%20%20%20leds_init%28%29%3B%0A%0A%20%20%20%20while%20%281%29%20%7B%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%2F%2A%20Red%20on%20%2A%2F%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20GPIO_OutClr%28%26led_r%29%3B%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20TMR_Delay%28MXC_TMR0%2C%20MSEC%28500%29%29%3B%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20GPIO_OutSet%28%26led_r%29%3B%0A%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%2F%2A%20Green%20on%20%2A%2F%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20GPIO_OutClr%28%26led_g%29%3B%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20TMR_Delay%28MXC_TMR0%2C%20MSEC%28500%29%29%3B%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20GPIO_OutSet%28%26led_g%29%3B%0A%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%2F%2A%20Blue%20on%20%2A%2F%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20GPIO_OutClr%28%26led_b%29%3B%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20TMR_Delay%28MXC_TMR0%2C%20MSEC%28500%29%29%3B%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20GPIO_OutSet%28%26led_b%29%3B%0A%20%20%20%20%7D%0A%7D]

The Makefile

[embed:dc8ab71f-3b98-42d9-b0f6-e21e02a0f8e2:1c75aef8-4470-4a94-882d-93cb8bf510cd:type=python&text=PROJECT%20%20%3D%20blinky%0ATARGET%20%20%20%3D%20MAX3263X%0ACOMPILER%20%3D%20GCC%0ABOARD%20%20%20%20%3D%20EvKit_V1%0A%0A%23%20Hardcode%20TARGET_UC%2FTARGET_LC%20%E2%80%94%20%24%28shell%20tr%20...%29%20breaks%20in%20PowerShell%20outside%20MSYS%0ATARGET_UC%20%3A%3D%20MAX3263X%0ATARGET_LC%20%3A%3D%20max3263x%0A%0A%23%20Path%20to%20the%20LPSDK%20Firmware%20folder%20%28adjust%20if%20your%20install%20path%20differs%29%0AMAXIM_SDK%20%3D%20%2Fd%2Fprojects%2Felectronics-libraries%2Fmaxim%2FFirmware%2FMAX3263X%0A%0A%23%20Toolchain%20%28bundled%20with%20LPSDK%29%0ATOOL_DIR%20%3D%20%2Fd%2Fprojects%2Felectronics-libraries%2Fmaxim%2FToolchain%2Fbin%0A%0ALIBS_DIR%20%20%20%3D%20%24%28MAXIM_SDK%29%2FLibraries%0ACMSIS_ROOT%20%3D%20%24%28LIBS_DIR%29%2FCMSIS%0A%0A%23%20Sources%0ASRCS%20%20%3D%20main.c%0AVPATH%20%3D%20src%0AIPATH%20%3D%20src%0A%0APROJ_CFLAGS%20%2B%3D%20-DMXC_ASSERT_ENABLE%0A%0A%23%20Board%20support%0ABOARD_DIR%20%3D%20%24%28LIBS_DIR%29%2FBoards%2F%24%28BOARD%29%0Ainclude%20%24%28BOARD_DIR%29%2Fboard.mk%0A%0A%23%20Peripheral%20driver%0APERIPH_DRIVER_DIR%20%3D%20%24%28LIBS_DIR%29%2F%24%28TARGET_UC%29PeriphDriver%0Ainclude%20%24%28PERIPH_DRIVER_DIR%29%2Fperiphdriver.mk%0A%0A%23%20CMSIS%20%2B%20linker%20rules%20%28must%20be%20last%20include%29%0Ainclude%20%24%28CMSIS_ROOT%29%2FDevice%2FMaxim%2F%24%28TARGET_UC%29%2FSource%2F%24%28COMPILER%29%2F%24%28TARGET_LC%29.mk]

Do update the path to the place where you installed the SDK. The LPSDK ships its own make.exe and MSYS utilities. You must use these, I had STM32 toolchain installed, and by default had it's path in the environment. It did not work out well. So i had to add the path manually by running a batch script for the MAXIM Project before i ran anything.

[embed:dc8ab71f-3b98-42d9-b0f6-e21e02a0f8e2:527a5fed-fbbe-4598-b7c0-da1ee0ac5025:type=powershell&text=%24lpsdk%20%3D%20%22D%3A%5Cprojects%5Celectronics-libraries%5Cmaxim%22%0A%24env%3APATH%20%3D%20%22%24lpsdk%5CToolchain%5Cmsys%5C1.0%5Cbin%3B%24lpsdk%5CToolchain%5Cbin%3B%24env%3APATH%22]

Flashing with OpenOCD

[embed:dc8ab71f-3b98-42d9-b0f6-e21e02a0f8e2:19c58d22-0b2e-4170-839d-41d018d6b1c5:type=powershell&text=openocd%20-f%20interface%2Fcmsis-dap.cfg%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20-f%20target%2Fmax3263x.cfg%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20-c%20%22program%20build%2Fblinky.elf%20verify%20reset%20exit%22]

Or you can drag and drop on the Disk drive that appears when you plug in the programmer.

Once i added printf to output to serial. it was producing no output at all even though the blinky was clearly running. Turns out the SDK routes printf through a UART and you have to tell it which one. On the FFeather, the DAPLink USB serial is on UART1 (pins P2_0/P2_1). Add this to your PROJ_CFLAGS in the Makefile:

[embed:dc8ab71f-3b98-42d9-b0f6-e21e02a0f8e2:04dc893e-2111-44c9-aadf-1e9b43e82820:type=powershell&text=PROJ_CFLAGS%20%2B%3D%20-DCONSOLE_UART%3D1]

A final note

This technique works with any IDE you prefer Visual Studio Code, CLion, Eclipse, whatever fits your workflow Now I am gonna be traveling to Goa for work next week. Hopefully i will get some free time to enjoy the beaches there, So If anyone has a doubt on setting up the toolchain, do comment and I'll try my best to respond back. Will also write a note on setting up the Debugger soon.

RE: Identity Protocol - Part 3 - Unboxing and Blinking with Maxim LPSDK

BigG — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 11:02:35 GMT

You can even use the Arduino IDE too... saves the hassle with toolchain config

#include "mxc_config.h"
#include "gpio.h"
#include "tmr_utils.h"

/*
 * Override the weak Board_Init() from EvKit_V1/board.c.
 * On the FTHR the PMIC is on I2CM2, not I2CM0 — the EvKit init hangs.
 */
int Board_Init(void)
{
    return E_NO_ERROR;
}

/* MAX32630FTHR RGB LED — active-low, open-drain */
#define LED_R_PORT  PORT_2
#define LED_R_PIN   PIN_4
#define LED_G_PORT  PORT_2
#define LED_G_PIN   PIN_5
#define LED_B_PORT  PORT_2
#define LED_B_PIN   PIN_6

static const gpio_cfg_t led_r = { LED_R_PORT, LED_R_PIN, GPIO_FUNC_GPIO, GPIO_PAD_OPEN_DRAIN };
static const gpio_cfg_t led_g = { LED_G_PORT, LED_G_PIN, GPIO_FUNC_GPIO, GPIO_PAD_OPEN_DRAIN };
static const gpio_cfg_t led_b = { LED_B_PORT, LED_B_PIN, GPIO_FUNC_GPIO, GPIO_PAD_OPEN_DRAIN };

static void leds_init(void)
{
    GPIO_Config(&led_r);
    GPIO_Config(&led_g);
    GPIO_Config(&led_b);
    /* all off — drive high (active-low) */
    GPIO_OutSet(&led_r);
    GPIO_OutSet(&led_g);
    GPIO_OutSet(&led_b);
}


void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
  leds_init();

}

void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
        GPIO_OutClr(&led_r);
        TMR_Delay(MXC_TMR0, MSEC(500));
        GPIO_OutSet(&led_r);

        /* Green on */
        GPIO_OutClr(&led_g);
        TMR_Delay(MXC_TMR0, MSEC(500));
        GPIO_OutSet(&led_g);

        /* Blue on */
        GPIO_OutClr(&led_b);
        TMR_Delay(MXC_TMR0, MSEC(500));
        GPIO_OutSet(&led_b);

}

RE: Forum#2 - MAX32630FTHR Development Environments - Adaptive Sentinel: Security Intelligence Hub

skruglewicz — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 05:21:00 GMT

Hi Everyone

UPDATE: I’ve successfully completed the setup for the Arduino IDE! While it is the "simplest" path, I did encounter a few Windows 11 hurdles—specifically needing to manually install the Mbed serial drivers and resolving a WMIC dependency error via the command line. I’ve detailed the fixes in the main post above for anyone following along.

Next Up: I’m moving on to the PlatformIO (VS Code) environment. I’m interested to see how it handles the dual-framework support for Arduino and Mbed locally.

Thanks for following the journey!

Forum#2 - MAX32630FTHR Development Environments - Adaptive Sentinel: Security Intelligence Hub

skruglewicz — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 04:46:50 GMT

Hey everyone!

I received the Sponsored Challenger Kit on Wednesday April 9, 2026. I unboxed the kit and took inventory of the contents. Everything was there, including some neat stickers from Element14. Unboxing other evaluation kits, I’m refered to some sort of “getting started” path to become familiar with the device. I did not find one in the MAX32630FTHR package?Since I never experimented with it, I decided to do some research to try and figure out what to do with this thing.

I noticed some confusing labels on the Analog Devices product page—specifically that this board is "Not Recommended for New Designs" (NRND). What I surmise is it just means ADI isn't pushing it for mass-market commercial products anymore. Turns out, the MAX32630FTHR is an older generation chip. While it’s reliable, ADI has moved their focus to newer chips like the MAX32650 and the MAX78000 (AI-focused) series which are supported by the modern MSDK. For us hackers and makers, it’s still a powerhouse with a great FeatherWing form factor right.

OK Fine.. then I stumbled onto the Arm Mbed OS website MAX32630FTHR | Mbed and I see Mbed is reaching “End of Life” in July of this year 2026, plastered on this page and all over the website. Apparently, Mbed OS is being phased out in favor of newer IoT frameworks, making it a "legacy" choice for this board.

Ok, now I’m beginning to wonder how the heck to program this thing. I hear you can use the Arduino IDE from fellow challenger Alistair (check out his forum post Programming the MAX32630FTHR with the Arduino IDE (Don't Forget to Set) - element14 Community). Then I hear that another challenger arvindsa is going to use LPSDK ( check out https://community.element14.com/challenges-projects/design-challenges/smart-security-and-surveillance/f/forum/56840/identity-protocol---part-3---unboxing-and-blinking-with-maxim-lpsdk ) .

I stopped in my tracks and before jumping on the band wagon and starting installing development environments, I decided to write this blog for this forum post. I’m a software Engineer and interested in embedded programming tool chains (there’s a lot of them out there). I am now interested in finding out more about these two environments, and I find there is a third option available.

So here's a breakdown of how to actually program this thing in 2026.

Supported Development Environments

Environment	Pros	Cons
Arduino IDE	Massive library support; easiest for beginners; familiar "Blink" workflow.	Harder to do deep register-level optimization; abstraction hides hardware complexity.
PlatformIO (VS Code)	Professional-grade; handles both Arduino and Mbed frameworks; great for version control.	Steeper learning curve than Arduino; requires manual environment switching.
Maxim LPSDK (Eclipse)	Official C/C++ access is provided at the "bare-metal" level. This includes the original examples and drivers, encompassing all the bare-metal register files, peripheral drivers, and original C examples.	Legacy software; Eclipse can be "clunky"; no longer receiving major updates.
Mbed OS (Legacy)	Built for ARM; great hardware abstraction for RTOS features.	End of Life (EOL); online compiler is gone; community support is fading.

MY Choice for Beginners: Arduino IDE

If you want to get a "Blinky" running in under 5 minutes, go with Arduino. Analog Devices maintains an official Arduino Core for Maxim git repo for Maxim's MAX326xx series based Boards.

Blinky Battle: Comparing the Frameworks

To see the differences in how these environments "think," let’s look at how they handle the onboard Green LED (P2_5).

1. The Arduino Way (Procedural)

C++

#include <Arduino.h> void setup() { pinMode(LED_GREEN, OUTPUT); } void loop() { digitalWrite(LED_GREEN, LOW); // Active Low on this board! delay(500); digitalWrite(LED_GREEN, HIGH); delay(500); }

Why it’s different: It uses the standard setup/loop structure. It’s simple, but it hides the fact that you're interacting with a complex ARM Cortex-M4F.

2. The Mbed Way (Object-Oriented)

C++

#include "mbed.h" DigitalOut green_led(LED_GREEN); int main() { while(1) { green_led = !green_led; // Toggle logic thread_sleep_for(500); } }

Why it’s different: Mbed treats the LED as an "Object" (DigitalOut). It feels more like modern C++ and is built for multi-threaded applications.

3. The Bare-Metal / LPSDK Way (Register-Level)

C++

#include "mxc_device.h"
#include "gpio.h"
int main(void) {
const gpio_cfg_t led = { PORT_2, PIN_5, GPIO_FUNC_OUT, GPIO_PAD_NONE };
GPIO_Config(&led);
while (1) {
GPIO_OutToggle(&led);
for(int i=0; i<1000000; i++) { __NOP(); } // Manual delay
}
}

Why it’s different: This is "the real deal." You are talking directly to the GPIO registers. It’s extremely efficient but requires you to understand the hardware datasheet inside and out.

I plan to try all Supported Development Environments mentioned above, starting with the Arduino IDE to verify my hardware works. Then,to move on to PlatformIO in VS Code. It gives you the best of both worlds: the ease of either using Arduino code or Legacy Mbed code. I might try Maxim LPSDK, since I'm familiar with Eclipse.

To set up a development environment for the MAX32630FTHR on Windows, you have several options ranging from beginner-friendly to professional-grade toolchains. Since Mbed OS is deprecated, the Arduino IDE or PlatformIO are now the recommended paths.

Required Hardware

For all environments, you must use a MAX32625PICO (DAPLink adapter) and a 10-pin ribbon cable to flash code to the MAX32630FTHR.

To prepare the boards for programming follow these steps:

Connect the MAX32625PICO to the MAX32630FTHR board with the fine pitch 10 pin ribbon cable.
Apply power to the MAX32630FTHR board through a micro USB connector.
Connect the MAX32625PICO to a computer through a micro USB connector.

My host PC is running Windows 11. Once the hardware is connected and the MAX32625PICO is plugged into the computer, the system automatically creates a new COM port and mounts the device as a USB drive.

As shown in the Device Manager below, the board is recognized as COM15:

Additionally, the DAPLINK drive appears in the file system. Upon first connection, it contains two default files:

1. Arduino IDE (Highly Recommended for Beginners)

The simplest way to get a "Blinky" running quickly.

Download & Install:
1. Download the latest version from the Arduino website.
2. Run the installer and follow the standard Windows prompts. I have installed version 2.3.8
Configure:
1. Open Arduino IDE and go to File > Preferences.
2. Paste this URL into Additional Boards Manager URLs:
  1. Go to the preferences screen (File, Preferences) add https://raw.githubusercontent.com/analogdevicesinc/arduino-max326xx/master/package_maxim_index.json to the list of “Additional Boards Manager URLs”.
3. Go to Tools > Board > Boards Manager, search for "maxim", and install Maxim's 32-bit Microcontroller.
4. Select your board: Tools > Board > Maxim ARM (32-bit) Boards > MAX32630FTHR.
5. Select a Port : Tools >Port
6. Set the programmer: Tools > Programmer > DAPLink.
Compile & Run Blinky:
1. Open the example: File > Examples > 01.Basics > Blink.
2. Connect the board via the MAX32625PICO adapter.
3. Click the Upload arrow icon.
Results:
- Here is the IDE after the Upload. Success the LED is blinking using the example code.
Windows gotchas
- Since I'm using Windows11, II ran into a few problems that I was able to resolve
- Mbed serial driver is required.
  - If you are a Windows user and do not already have the mbed serial drivers installed, then you will need to download and install them from https://os.mbed.com/handbook/Windows-serial-configuration
  - I need to get this since I'm running Windows 11. But my Chrome browser did not work on the download link, so I needed to use another browser.
  - Now that Mbed serial driver is installed , the device manager shows a different COM port from the initial connection of COM15. The port is now COM16 as shown below.
- Upload Fails
  - When I clicked the Upload icon, the upload failed. The following error appeared:
  - So what is happening? I researched this and found my Arduino IDE for the MAX32630FTHR is trying to use a legacy Windows tool called wmic that Microsoft has recently disabled or removed in Windows 11.
  - Via Command Line : Open Command Prompt or PowerShell as Administrator and run:
    - DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:WMIC~~~~
      - After this, restart the Arduino IDE and try your upload again.

Ok this is my arduino setup completed on to the next environment.

2. PlatformIO (VS Code)

Professional-grade environment that handles multiple frameworks.

Download & Install:
1. Install Visual Studio Code.
2. Open VS Code, click the Extensions icon, search for "PlatformIO IDE", and click Install.
Configure:
1. Click the PlatformIO (Ant) icon and select + New Project.
2. Name your project and search for board: "Maxim MAX32630FTHR".
3. Select Arduino or Mbed as the framework.
Compile & Run Blinky:
1. Replace the contents of src/main.cpp with the blinky code.
2. Connect your board via the DAPLink adapter.
3. Click the Checkmark (Build) and then the Right Arrow (Upload) on the bottom status bar.

3. Mbed OS (Legacy - End of Life)

While still supported by PlatformIO as a local framework, the online compiler is gone and it is no longer recommended for new development.

Instruction: If you must use it, it is best accessed through PlatformIO (Step 2 above) by selecting "mbed" as your framework during project creation. This allows you to compile and run Mbed-based code locally without relying on discontinued online services.

4. Maxim LPSDK (Eclipse-based Legacy)

Official bare-metal environment specifically for older chips like the MAX32630.

Download & Install:
1. Visit the MAX32630 Product Page and go to Tools & Simulations.
2. Download the LPSDK for Windows.
3. Critical: Install it in a path without spaces (e.g., C:\MaximSDK\) to avoid build tool errors.
Configure:
1. Launch the bundled Eclipse IDE.
2. Import an existing project: File > Import > General > Existing Projects into Workspace.
3. Navigate to the Examples/MAX32630/Hello_World folder within the SDK directory.
Compile & Run Blinky:
1. Right-click the project and select Build Project.
2. To run, right-click the project and select Run As > Maxim C/C++ Application (ensure your DAPLink is connected).

Thanks for reading my blog. hope you find it helpful. I'll be experimenting with these development environments over the next couple of days. Stay tuned and let me know what development Environments you are having success with programming the MAX32630FTHR

RE: Forum#2 - MAX32630FTHR Development Environments - Adaptive Sentinel: Security Intelligence Hub

skruglewicz — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 22:23:09 GMT

good to know thanks... SteveK

RE: Identity Protocol - Part 3 - Unboxing and Blinking with Maxim LPSDK

skruglewicz — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 22:12:40 GMT

Great news, arvindsa!

I really appreciate you sharing this post. I’m currently in the process of evaluating development environments for this board, and your insights are incredibly timely.

It’s becoming quite apparent to me that example code written for the MAX326xx series using the LPSDK sits very close to the iron—you definitely need to keep that pin diagram nearby! I’ve grown accustomed to the BSP middleware found in eval kits from Nordic, Renesas, and others, which usually ensures that SDK examples work seamlessly across all their kits.

It’s a shame you had to put in so much effort just to get a "blinky" example running, but your walkthrough makes it much easier for the rest of us. Great job on the technical deep dive; I'll definitely be coming back to review this post in detail as I set up my own environment.

Have fun in GOA, I'll be on the atlantic ocean next week on Cape Cod.

SteveK

RE: Programming the MAX32630FTHR with the Arduino IDE (Don't Forget to Set)

Alistair — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:38:35 GMT

Good spot. In fact the code was a quick hack as when it was 50/50 the results were not as visually appealing. If I had thought about it more I would probably used random(100) so it was a percentage and more understandable, but I overthink things enough and need to draw the line somewhere.

As for the random(2) suggestion, this is perfectly valid C/C++ and I have likely used it myself in the past, but it is not so readable to those getting going with programming. My hope is that this is an accessible project to those getting going and the key reason I am going down the Arduino IDE route. As you say, worth leaving here just in case it is useful to someone.

Programming the MAX32630FTHR with the Arduino IDE (Don't Forget to Set)

Alistair — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:44:54 GMT

The MAX32630FTHR is a great little board, but it is very focused on working with the mbed platform, and that platform is coming to the end of life later this year. As a result I want to use the Arduino IDE instead. Fortunately Analog Devices already have an Arduino core ready. There are a few hurdles to get through and this is a summary of my notes to help anyone else wanting to do the same thing.

Software Setup

The first thing to do is to install the Arduino IDE. The machine I am using has version 1.8 installed from the Windows Store, but I generally recommend downloading it from the Arduino web site [https://www.arduino.cc/download] if you can.

Next we need to install the Arduino core for the MAX326XX boards. To quickly get going just to the the Arduino preferences screen (File, Preferences) add https://raw.githubusercontent.com/analogdevicesinc/arduino-max326xx/master/package_maxim_index.json to the list of “Additional Boards Manager URLs”. Next select Tools, Board, Boards Manager, search for MAX32630FTHR, and click the Install button. After that you can select the board by clicking Tools, Board, Maxim ARM (32-bit) Boards, and then MAX32630FTHR.

We are almost ready to flash the board, but if you are a Windows user and do not already have the mbed serial drivers installed, then you will need to download and install them from os.mbed.com/.../Windows-serial-configuration .

Hardware Setup

Now we need to plug things in. The MAX32630FTHR kit should come with a MAX32625PICO already set up as a DAPLink programmer. This needs to be plugged into the machine via USB and the MAX32630FTHR via the tiny ribbon cable, and the MAX32630FTHR needs to be powered via its USB socket. Even if you plug the MAX32630FTHR into the computer and a serial port shows up, you can not programme it directly. You will always need to use the MAX32625PICO.

Now from the Tools menu we select the Port of the MAX32625PICO, set Programmer to “DAPLink”, and we are ready to go. Try flashing the good old Blink example and it should just work.

Fun fact, the binary is transferred by copying a file to the virtual drive. When this happens the drive vanishes, and then reappears, and your computer will do whatever it does when a flash drive is inserted. If it fails then just try a second time and it will often then work.

Random Notes

The Arduino Core is well rounded and most things work as they would with any other device. UART1 that can be used for debugging is accessed via Serial1, but that is also mapped to Serial for compatibility. The Bluetooth module is on UART0, but there is a little more work required to get that set up that I will document in the near future.

If you want a silly little sketch to make the LEDs flash then this is what you need. [emoticon:c4563cd7d5574777a71c318021cbbcc8]

[embed:dc8ab71f-3b98-42d9-b0f6-e21e02a0f8e2:dd0cde2c-ed92-4dfc-a123-bd66c0aeebca:type=c_cpp&text=void%20setup%28%29%20%7B%0ApinMode%28P2_4%2C%20OUTPUT%29%3B%0ApinMode%28P2_5%2C%20OUTPUT%29%3B%0ApinMode%28P2_6%2C%20OUTPUT%29%3B%0A%7D%0A%0Avoid%20loop%28%29%20%7B%0AdigitalWrite%28P2_4%2C%20random%2810%29%3E5%29%3B%0AdigitalWrite%28P2_5%2C%20random%2810%29%3E5%29%3B%0AdigitalWrite%28P2_6%2C%20random%2810%29%3E5%29%3B%0Adelay%28250%29%3B%0A%7D]

If you need to get advanced then much of the Maxim Microcontrollers SDK is included in the Arduino Core. I will be covering a bit about this when I document communicating with the Bluetooth module. Doing this is less Arduino development and more high end C++ development inside the Arduino IDE though. If you need to do a lot of that then another tool chanin may be more appropriate for your project.

Finally here are some useful things that I have been using while figuring this out…

RE: Identity Protocol - Part 3 - Unboxing and Blinking with Maxim LPSDK

Aniket_kumar_raj — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:03:45 GMT

Packaging was great

RE: Identity Protocol - Part 3 - Unboxing and Blinking with Maxim LPSDK

Aniket_kumar_raj — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:02:44 GMT

I was sure you will get the kit😀... The world needs you BATMAT 😆

RE: Forum#2 - MAX32630FTHR Development Environments - Adaptive Sentinel: Security Intelligence Hub

arvindsa — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:59:53 GMT

The Maxim LPSDK won't work out of the box with the Feather Board. The examples are actually for the MAX32630-EVKIT which has a different pinout. The Board_Init() runs automatically before main() and tries to talk to the PMIC over I2CM0 — but on the FTHR the PMIC is on I2CM2, so it hangs silently and your firmware never starts. You will need to override Board_Init to get it to a working status

RE: Accessing the PAN1326B Bluetooth module on the MAX32630fTHR

skruglewicz — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 22:02:54 GMT

Thanks for your research... great

Accessing the PAN1326B Bluetooth module on the MAX32630fTHR

Alistair — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:35:54 GMT

I have dome some experimentation over the long weekend and had some success in getting the MAX32630fTHR working with the Arduino IDE. In fact it is pleasingly fast to compile and upload. I will try and finish documenting this process just in case it is of help to others, or me in the future when I have forgotten everything. ;-)

There is one thing I am struggling with however, and I was wondering it anyone has the solution.

I am trying to communicate with the PAN1326B to scan for Bluetooth devices. It should be on UART0, and having dug deep in to the Arduino core for the module it looks like that is mapped correctly. However when I send data (a HCI reset of 01,03,0c,00 for example) to it nothing happens and nothing ever comes back.

I have pulsed down P1.6 (BT_RST) for a few hundred milliseconds to try and reset things and nothing changes. I have held CTS low, but also checked it high just in case.

One complication is the PAN1326B required a 32KHz signal, but this is a feature built in to the MAX32630 in P1.7. If I do not activate this then RTS remains high as expected.

When I set the PWR_PSEQ_32K_EN flag in PWRSEQ_REG4 to activate the 32KHz output RTS from the module is briefly high, but then goes low in a fraction of a second. I believe this is as expected.

Now one odd thing is if I leave the module running it will eventually do high. This is not quick though and may be some kind of power saving feature perhaps?

I am blindly assuming that the clock is being generated and being passed thought correctly, but there is a test pad TP4 so I can confirm this tomorrow. Everything else is not exposed on the board unfortunately.

So, has anyone got any thoughts on why I am not able to communicate with the module, or advice of what to try next?

RE: Accessing the PAN1326B Bluetooth module on the MAX32630fTHR

skruglewicz — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 22:00:20 GMT

Thanks...I'll keep this info handy when I experient with BLE.

RE: Accessing the PAN1326B Bluetooth module on the MAX32630fTHR

skruglewicz — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 22:00:01 GMT

thanks Alistair

The mbed compatibility is a bit over my head at the moment. But I will keep this in mind when and if I decide to use BLE in my project..
Thanks for your feedback on my question

Steve K

RE: Forum#1 - Challenge Overview - Adaptive Sentinel: Security Intelligence Hub

skruglewicz — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:50:57 GMT

Great news arvindsa .I'll take a look at this environment also thanks.. for posting your Forum post#3. I'll take a look at it.
in the process of installing ADSDK and using VSCode. Once I find what works for me I'll include it in a forum post. I received my kit late in day yesterday april 8, 2026

SteveK

Forum#1 - Challenge Overview - Adaptive Sentinel: Security Intelligence Hub

skruglewicz — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 05:54:51 GMT

Hello everyone!

I'm excited to introduce myself and share my participation in the Smart Security and Surveillance Design Challenge. This marks the beginning of my journey with the challenge, and this forum post is my first entry In a series of forum posts for this challenge.

I was thrilled to be selected as one of the applicants for this exciting challenge. The opportunity to work with the challenge sponsor's kit for Smart Security and Surveillance represents exactly the kind of innovative project I was hoping to tackle.

I am a Retired Senior Software Engineer, with nearly 40 years of experience in the field, from 1980 until my retirement in 2018. I hold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science from Boston University (Class of 1980).

I am now an active and recognized contributor to the technical community, specifically on element14.com and Hackster.io. I have authored a significant number of blogs, documenting my technical findings, project builds, and participation in numerous RoadTests and Design Challenges. This community involvement highlights my commitment not only to development but also to knowledge sharing and technical documentation.

I have deep technical expertise in Embedded Systems and IoT, with extensive hands-on experience in designing, developing, and documenting complex IoT projects. I am proficient across a wide range of hardware platforms, including microcontrollers and Single Board Computers (SBCs) from leading vendors. My experience includes working with NXP devices like the MCXA153 and FRDM-MCXN947, various Arduino boards (Uno Q, NANO 33 IoT), Nordic's nRF series (nRF9160, nRF7002 Wi-Fi 6 DK), and kits from Infineon, Renesas, and DFRobot. Additionally, I utilize SBCs such as the Raspberry Pi 4 and Pi 5-based reComputer AI for more compute-intensive applications.

My robust software foundation spans multiple operating systems and toolchains. I am skilled in using popular IDEs like VS Code, Eclipse, ModusToolbox, and MCUXpresso, and I operate comfortably within Windows, Ubuntu Linux, and Raspberry Pi OS environments. For real-time and resource-constrained applications, I have hands-on experience with Zephyr RTOS, FreeRTOS, and AzureRTOS. My core programming skills lie in C/C++, Python, and MicroPython. Furthermore, I have practical experience in the growing fields of AI/ML, specifically with Edge AI and TinyML, leveraging frameworks such as TensorFlow and PyTorch, and using tools like Edge Impulse and Imagimob Studio. I am proficient with essential communication protocols including Wi-Fi, LTE, LoRaWAN, CAN, SPI, and I2C.

My comprehensive plan for participation in this challenge centers around progress tracking and transparent documentation, culminating in a detailed Project blog.

My primary mechanism for sharing updates and engaging with the community will be through a series of dedicated posts on the official Challenge Forum. I plan to publish multiple, periodic updates detailing each phase of the project—from initial concept and component sourcing to prototyping, coding, and final integration. Each forum post will be numbered contained in the Title. The title will also include the topic of the post. This post is the first in this series.

These posts will serve a dual purpose: firstly, to chronicle my progress and maintain a public record of my journey, and secondly, to actively seek assistance and constructive feedback from fellow participants, mentors, and subject matter experts within the community. I will leverage the collective knowledge of the forum to troubleshoot issues, optimize my design, and ensure the project's successful execution..

The culmination of this effort will be a comprehensive Final Project submission. This document will serve as a complete resource for understanding my build. It will meticulously detail:

The Build Process: A step-by-step narrative of the physical assembly, circuit design, and component integration, highlighting key decisions and challenges overcome.
Functional Specifications: A clear outline of what the final device is designed to do, including all user-facing features and expected performance metrics.
Technical Specifications: A deep dive into the hardware architecture, software stack, communication protocols, and power management system.
Final Outcome and Evaluation: An honest assessment of the finished project, comparing the results against the initial goals and outlining any unexpected successes or areas for future improvement.

This structured approach to documentation and community interaction is designed not only to fulfill the requirements of the challenge but also to contribute a valuable, easily understandable resource to the wider community.

Building upon my successful Adaptive Environmental Monitoring and Smart Access Control project here on element14 for the Smart Spaces Design Challenge,

I decided to extend this project using the Sponsor kit provided by this challenge, using the two MCU’s plus the components from the kit and an Arduino UNO Q to my design.

For the Smart Spaces Design Challenge, challengers were tasked with using an NXP FRDM MCX A and an N Series to create a building automation project. I designed an intelligent building automation solution using a distributed architecture, with the NXP FRDM MCX A153 as the central HUB and multiple FRDM MCX N236 boards as EDGE sensor nodes.

In this challenge design,I plan to replace the two NXP MCX N236 (edge nodes) boards with the two MAX32630FTHR MCU kits, plus other components from the kit, and replace the NXP MCX A153 (hub) with an Arduino UNO Q.

Why the Arduino UNO Q? I decided to utilize the AI and DualBrain capabilities of the UNO Q. I recently did a roadtest on the UNO Q Test out Arduino's Uno Q , here on Element14. I was really impressed with the power of utilizing a powerful Linux system environment with a Zephyr real time OS on an Arduino MCU.

Introducing my challenge entry project Adaptive Sentinel: Security Intelligence Hub

This project will transform a standard access control system into an intelligent, multi-modal security hub integrating environmental awareness with advanced surveillance. Utilizing the MAX32630FTHR, I will implement a distributed "Sentry and Hub" system.The project creates a "Living Security" prototype, combining my existing "Adaptive Environmental" system design with the challenge kit's components for an agile, responsive security solution.

Possible Edge Node applications.

Facial Recognition & Voice Entry: Integrate a Facial Recognition Door Entry System as the primary security layer. By adding a voice-detection component (leveraging the kit's processing power), the system will require dual-factor biometric authentication (face + voice passphrase) for high-security areas.

Crowd & Sentiment Monitoring: Using the kit's Würth Elektronik ICLED Display, the system will provide real-time visual feedback on "Crowd Sentiment." In a commercial or residential lobby setting, the system will analyze entry patterns and environmental stress levels, displaying a color-coded "Atmosphere Index" (e.g., green for calm, pulsing red for high-occupancy or detected anomalies).

Active Break-In & Sentry Response: Using Adafruit DC Motor + Stepper FeatherWings, build a Remote Security Sentry. During a "Break-In Monitoring" event, motors will deploy physical barriers or orient sensors toward a breach detected by sensors.

Enhanced Environmental Logic: Using the Ethernet FeatherWing, Ensure all data—from air quality to security breaches—is logged to a central dashboard. This allows the system to correlate environmental data (like a sudden rise in temperature or CO2) with security events (like a fire-related evacuation), automatically unlocking doors for safety.

As a participating challenger I was awarded the Sponsored Challenger Kit free of charge to incorporate into my project. I will conduct a Deep Dive into the Kit, getting to understand the development environment and how I can use these components in my project. I will be researching these components and reporting my progress using my next forum post. My plan includes detailing the integration of the kit's components into my design, as well as outlining the programming logic for each individual part. Since I never have had the opportunity to experiment with these devices I will be devoting my time in the next couple of weeks to experimenting with the kit components and gain a better understanding on how they fit into this challenge. I would be interested in knowing from the other participants how they are understanding the usage and programming of the kit components and on some tips and workarounds that were found.

Looking forward to collaborating with everyone.

RE: Programming the MAX32630FTHR with the Arduino IDE (Don't Forget to Set)

skruglewicz — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:36:26 GMT

Thanks Alistair This is great... I'll give it a try soon.. I'm still evaluating the best development environment for me, since the Mbed environment is end of life soon.

Steve K

RE: Programming the MAX32630FTHR with the Arduino IDE (Don't Forget to Set)

vmate — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:50:24 GMT

A quick note regarding the random boolean generation you used:

This won't actually be 50-50%. 0-5 (so 6 possible values) will be evaluated to false, and 6-9 will be evaluated to true (so 4 possible values). That means there's a 60% chance for false, and only 40% for true.

You can simply do random(2), which will generate values between 0-1, and C/C++ interprets nonzero values as true when converting to boolean, while interpreting 0 as false.

Obviously it's completely irrelevant in your test code, just wanted to leave this here, maybe someone finds it useful.

RE: Forum#1 - Challenge Overview - Adaptive Sentinel: Security Intelligence Hub

arvindsa — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:10:20 GMT

Here is my writeup about setting up the LPSDK Identity Protocol - Part 3 - Unboxing and Blinking with Maxim LPSDK

RE: Accessing the PAN1326B Bluetooth module on the MAX32630fTHR

Alistair — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:47:37 GMT

I have just rushed a post with the details in. I will do a deeper dive in to the lower level stuff when I post about the Bluetooth work. community.element14.com/.../programming-the-max32630fthr-with-the-arduino-ide

RE: Forum#1 - Challenge Overview - Adaptive Sentinel: Security Intelligence Hub

arvindsa — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:06:33 GMT

I received my boards today. I managed to have blinky running using LPSDK. I had copied the settings of the examples which by default the pins are mapped to the MAX32630-EVKIT's Pinouts and did not work. So i had to work around it.

RE: Accessing the PAN1326B Bluetooth module on the MAX32630fTHR

BigG — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:30:54 GMT

Well done figuring all that out. You've made a solid choice going with Arduino as with Mbed I think you have to use an older version (like 5.10) to use the Bluetooth on this board rather than mbed 6.x.

RE: Accessing the PAN1326B Bluetooth module on the MAX32630fTHR

Alistair — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:24:03 GMT

I think I have it working. There were a number of things that I will document later (honest ;-) ). The summary version is that UART0 was not enabled so neds turning on, P1.7 need a 32KHx signal mapping to it, the Arduino core UART initialisation turns off the RTS and CTS functionality so it needs turning back on after setup, and the RX and TX pins are inverted. The latter is one that was a guess but an easy check and paid off. So, show stopper over. Phew.