Installing / using software

Installing the FLASHER PC-software

The PC software FLASHER.EXE is distributed on the accommodating 3.5" floppy disk; In order to use the software, simply copy the setup program onto your hard drive. Starting the setup program will guide you through the installation process.

Connecting FLASHER to the PC

PC FLASHER interface cable

A standard serial interface cable (null modem) can be used to connect FLASHER to the PC.
The pin assignment of the 9 pin SUB-D male RS-232 interface connector is as follows:

Getting started

1. Connect FLASHER to a PC running Windows 95/98/2000 or NT using the NULL-modem cable and run the FLASHER software FLASHER.EXE
2. Connect FLASHER to the power supply.
3. Set up the device via Options menu of PC program
4. For in-circuit programming: Connect FLASHER to target system via customized interface cable.
5. Before connecting the target system to Flasher, ensure, there is no ground potential difference between target and Flasher, otherwise the Flasher may be damaged.

Using the FLASHER PC program

General

Flasher comes with an easy to use Windows program. It allows reading of program files in Motorola or Intel hex format. The following is a screen shot of the FLASHER.EXE with loaded target program

Communication between PC and FLASHER

Make sure the power supply is connected (one of FLASHERs LEDs should be illuminated) and FLASHER is connected to your PC with a NULL-modem cable as supplied. If the PC-program displays anything other than "No communication" under flasher status, the communication between Flasher and your PC is functioning.

First time setup of FLASHER

When using FLASHER for the first time, please select the menu point Options->Device. You will see the following dialog box:

First carefully select the correct target device. A false selection may damage your target! Then select the chip area you would like to access, the sectors of the on chip-flash and the interface you would like to use. The serial interface requires a cable to connect FLASHER to your target. For targets running at low frequencies, it may be necessary to set the speed option to Slow.

Now you should be able to blank check, clear, program, verify or read the target chip in serial mode (if your target is properly connected to the FLASHER). The first time you program or verify, the PC downloads your your target program to the FLASHER, where it is stored in the on board RAM chip for programming or verification. The PC-Program stores all setup information in the registry; when you start the program the next time, it will start with the same settings.

Programming/clearing/verifying/blank check

Select one of the commands in the TARGET menu to start the operation. Note that some of the menu points may be grayed if you have no connection to the target or no file loaded

A modal dialog box will indicate the status and progress of the operation; the operation can be canceled hitting the CANCEL button

SETUP

The operating mode of FLASHER may be changed using the setup dialog from the Options menu.Power up mode, Power down mode and Reset mode should not be changed for normal operation. Setting of Power down mode has no effect on FLASHER MV3.You may change the reset active and reset inactive time, if required by your target hardware. All setup settings are stored permanently in FLASHER after pressing 'Save setup' button.

Additional options

The operating mode of FLASHER may be changed using the setup dialog from the Options menu.Power up mode, Power down mode and Reset mode should not be changed for normal operation. Setting of Power down mode has no effect on FLASHER MV3.You may change the reset active and reset inactive time, if required by your target hardware.All setup settings are stored permanently in FLASHER after pressing 'Save setup' button.

ID check

When programming the chip in serial mode (in target), a 7 byte identification has to be supplied. If the target mcus user program area is blank, this id-value does not matter. However, after programming, these values need to be set correctly, because otherwise FLASHER will be unable to communicate with the target CPU. These ID-values can be set using the menu point Options|Pass code (7 byte ID). With a standard program, these values should be 0, as the high bytes of the interrupt vectors which are used to store the values are usually 0. For more detailed information, please consult the Renesas users manual. The menu point "Edit|Copy Renesas Id into loaded file" can be used to set these 7 ID bytes.

Problems with ID check

You should act carefully when using the ID bytes. if you do not know the ID-value programmed into a target chip, there is no way to erase, read or reprogram the chip in-circuit. We recommend not to use this feature during the development process.

Operating FLASHER in stand-alone mode

After download the target program and all settings are stored in FLASHER 5s on board FLASH memory and remain valid until new settings or data are sent to FLASHER. Any number of microcontrollers may now be programmed by FLASHER (one at a time) without the need of a host PC, by simply pressing the start button. FLASHER will use the settings which have been made in the PC-program. This includes the selection of target address range as well as any options. Whether the target CPU will be erased before programming depends on setting of option "Automatic clear before program". Progress and result of the operation is indicated by FLASHERs LEDs:

Remote control of FLASHER 5

FLASHER 5 can be remote controlled by automated testers without the need of a connection to PC and Flashers PC program. Therefore FLASHER 5 is equipped with additional hardware control functions, which are connected to the SUBD9 male connector, normally used as RS232 interface to PC. The following diagram shows the internal remote control circuitry of FLASHER:

ASCII command interface

FLASHER with firmware version 1.84 or above can be controlled without the need of Flashers PC program. FLASHER firmware contains an ASCII command interface function. Any application may send commands via RS232 to Flasher to start programming of target CPU.
A manual which describes ASCII command interface can be downloaded from our download page.

Using the serial link to program in circuit

FLASHER can be used for in circuit programming of supported CPUs, which incorporate built in firmware for serial update of user flash.
The target system has to be designed to support this mode of operation. Refer to target specific connection diagrams or Users manuals
of your target CPU.

Serial programming, technical details

Serial programming uses a clock synchronous interface. 8 bits of data (1 byte) is transferred at a time.
The commands which are used are described in the Renesas manual. In general, the sequence is as follows:
FLASHER resets the target system by pulling the /Reset line low for a short period of time (1-2 ms)
FLASHER waits for app. 500 ms (tRd)) in order to allow the target system to recover from reset.
FLASHER checks the BUSY line. If it is active (high level) FLASHER stops with error message
40: Target chip says "BUSY" because it can not communicate with the target system
FLASHER outputs one clock (clock changes from high to low and back). BUSY should now be active (high).
If it is not active, FLASHER stops with error message 41: Target chip: Busy does not react
FLASHER outputs 7 more data bits ( 7 clock cycles) and wait for BUSY to go low.
More data bytes are output (or read) as explained under d)/e)

trd: typ 500ms

Serial target interface circuitry

Error messages

error messages are documented in the Flasher online help (since version 1.74a).

Trouble shooting

Proper operation of FLASHER in serial mode depends on your target system. If you have any
trouble operating FLASHER in serial mode, please:

• Check your target hardware
• Check the connecting cable
• Use an oscilloscope to check the state of the signals on the target connector,
  especially to check if the target CPU is RESET properly and the target CPUs BUSY signal works properly.

Known limitations and problems

Serial mode

• Older versions of the Renesas M16C/62 boot loader sometimes do not start after RESET. If you experience problems in communicating with the target system, power down the target system, power it up and try again.

Support

For support questions please send an email to このメールアドレスはスパムボットから保護されています。閲覧するにはJavaScriptを有効にする必要があります。 .