Field Firmware Updates

Updating firmware in the field is often a necessary part of a product life cycle. In many cases an embedded application is not designed to update itself or has no connection to the outside world to allow remote updating. Access to a PC network or even wall power is often limited. P&E provides several solutions to allow in-circuit reprogramming of a target in an extremely simple fashion with little or no training required. P&E tools support programming the target automatically with a single click of a button. The only requirement of the target system is to have access to the background debug header on the microcontroller to be updated.

Firmware update without a PC

When detached from a PC, a Cyclone unit can operate as a stand-alone programmer. It can optionally be powered by a lithium ion powerpack which means that the Cyclone doesn’t need access to wall power. The combination is a fully operational field programming setup which is lightweight, compact, and extremely portable.

All that is required for a field update is to connect the Cyclone unit with a pre-programmed image to the target. Flash programming occurs directly from the Cyclone image to the target by the simple touch of the Start button. Many images may be stored in the Cyclone and the appropriate one may be selected via the liquid crystal display and buttons.

Once started, programming launches and the on-board LCD displays the current state of the programming process. The final result is displayed on the LCD as well as on highly visible LEDs which clearly indicate a successful programming result.

The Cyclone comes with all necessary software for programming. The following table shows the equipment needed for this configuration:

Architecture	Part Number & Description	Price
68HC08 68HCS08 68RS08 68HC(S)12(X) ColdFire V1	CYCLONEPRO Hardware Debug Interface and Stand-Alone Programmer	US$499.00
Kinetis Qorivva MPC5xxx ColdFire V2/V3/V4 Power Architecture 5xx/8xx Power Architecture PX Series DSC ARM MAC7xxx	CYCLONE_MAX Programmer & Hardware Debug Interface for ColdFire V2-4, Power 5xx/8xx, Qorivva 5xxx, Kinetis, & ARM (USB, Ethernet, Serial)	US$899.00
ALL Architectures	Cyclone_PowerPack Rechargeable Lithium Ion PowerPack for Cyclone Pro and Cyclone Max	US$159.00

If the user has a laptop available, the PROG flash programming software can be used in combination with a USB Multilink cable to reprogram the flash in a target system. Power for the USB Multilink is drawn from the USB Bus of the laptop.

Firmware Updates can be done in an automated fashion using a script file with the command line version of the programmer. In this setup, programming can be performed by launching the programmer from a batch file which passes the script file for programming to the programmer. 

Alternately, firmware updates can also be performed through P&E’s interactive PROG software which allows the user to interactively reprogram the target.

In order for this configuration to be used, two pieces of equipment are needed: (1) the appropriate version of PROG suitable for your processor architecture, and (2) the appropriate USB Multilink for your processor architecture.

The following table displays the appropriate PROG for your processor Architecture:

Architecture	Part Number & Description	Price
68HC08	CPROG08SZ 68HC08 Command-Line Programming Software	US$129.00
68HCS08	PROGHCS08 68HCS08 Flash/EEPROM Programmer Software	US$169.00
68RS08	PROGRS08 RS08 Full Featured Flash Programmer software	US$169.00
68HC(S)12(X)	PROG12Z 68HC(S)12 Flash/EEPROM Programmer Software	US$169.00
ColdFire V1	PROGCFV1 ColdFire V1 Flash Programmer Software	US$169.00
ColdFire V2/V3/V4	PROGCFZ ColdFire Flash/EEPROM Programmer Software	US$199.00
Power Architecture 5xx/8xx	PROGPPCZ Power Architecture 5xx/8xx Flash/EEPROM Programmer Software	US$199.00
Power Architecture 55xx (Nexus)	PROGPPCNEXUS Qorivva MPC55xx/56xx Flash Programmer Software	US$199.00

Is your architecture not supported? Suggest one here

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