Embedded Systems Test Solutions

Debug embedded systems with Acute logic analyzers and protocol analyzers. Decode I2C, SPI, UART, MIPI I3C, and JTAG with 120+ protocol decoders and 2 GHz timing analysis.

Embedded systems development demands visibility into the digital signals that connect processors, sensors, memory, and peripherals. Whether you are bringing up a new SoC, debugging firmware communication issues, or validating production hardware, the ability to capture and decode bus traffic in real time is essential. Engineers working on embedded platforms routinely face challenges like intermittent I2C NAKs, SPI timing violations, UART framing errors, and clock-stretching edge cases that are invisible without proper instrumentation. As designs grow more complex with multiple buses operating simultaneously, traditional single-channel debug approaches fall short. Acute instruments address these challenges head-on. The TravelLogic and LA4000 series logic analyzers provide up to 2 GHz timing resolution across dozens of channels, letting you capture fast digital edges with precision. With 120+ built-in protocol decoders covering I2C, SPI, UART, MIPI I3C, JTAG, and many more, you can view decoded bus transactions alongside raw signal data in a single capture. The MSO2000 and MSO3000 mixed-signal oscilloscopes combine analog and digital channels so you can correlate power rail behavior with digital bus activity. Device cascading lets you scale channel counts for system-level debug without sacrificing sample rate, and all instruments connect via USB 3.0 to your PC for a portable, powerful debug setup.

Common Challenges

Debugging intermittent communication failures on I2C, SPI, or UART buses

Correlating analog power rail behavior with digital bus transactions

Capturing simultaneous traffic across multiple buses with tight timing

Identifying clock-stretching, NAK, and framing errors buried in long captures

Scaling channel count for complex multi-processor designs

Supported Protocols

I2C

Inter-Integrated Circuit — Serial, synchronous

SPI

Serial Peripheral Interface — Serial, synchronous

UART

Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter — Serial, asynchronous

MIPI I3C

MIPI Improved Inter-Integrated Circuit — Serial, synchronous

JTAG

Joint Test Action Group (IEEE 1149.1) — Serial, synchronous
View Full Protocol Matrix →

Recommended Instruments

TravelBus Series

19–25 Channel Protocol & Logic Analyzers — 800 MHz Timing, 200 MHz State Analysis, 120+ Decoders

TravelLogic Series

34-Channel Logic Analyzers — 2 GHz Timing, 200 MHz State Analysis, Up to 8 Gb Memory

MSO2000 Series

2-Channel Oscilloscope + 8–16 Channel Logic Analyzer — 2 GHz Timing, Up to 8 Gb Memory

MSO3000 Series

4-Channel Oscilloscope + 16-Channel Logic Analyzer — 200 MHz Bandwidth, 1 GS/s, 120+ Protocol Decoders

LA4000 Series

68–136 Channel Logic Analyzers — 4 GHz Timing, 400 MHz State, 32 Gb Memory, Cascadable

Related Downloads

Frequently Asked Questions

What instruments do I need to debug I2C and SPI communication issues?
For most I2C and SPI debug tasks, a TravelLogic or LA4000 series logic analyzer with the I2C and SPI protocol decoders is the best starting point. These instruments capture digital signals at up to 2 GHz timing resolution and automatically decode bus transactions, showing addresses, data payloads, ACK/NAK status, and timing between frames. If you also need to monitor power rails or analog signals alongside the bus traffic, the MSO2000 or MSO3000 mixed-signal oscilloscopes combine analog channels with a logic analyzer and protocol decoders in a single instrument.
Can I capture traffic on multiple embedded buses at the same time?
Yes. Acute logic analyzers support simultaneous multi-bus capture with independent protocol decoding on each bus. The LA4000 series provides up to 136 channels in a single unit, and you can cascade multiple instruments together for even higher channel counts while maintaining synchronized timing. This lets you capture I2C, SPI, UART, and other buses in the same acquisition and correlate their timing precisely.

Ready to Get Started?

Contact our engineering team for a recommendation tailored to your application.

Browse Products Talk to an Engineer