Flasher ARM: General info

Flasher ARM is a programming tool for microcontrollers with on-chip or external Flash memory and ARM core. Flasher ARM is designed for programming flash targets with the J-Flash software or stand-alone. In addition to that Flasher ARM has all of the J-Link functionality. Flasher ARM connects via USB or via RS232 interface to a PC, running Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003 or Windows Vista and has a built-in 20-pin JTAG connector, which is compatible with the standard 20-pin connector defined by ARM.

Features:

Stand-alone JTAG/SWD programmer (Once set up, Flasher can be controlled without the use of PC program)
No power supply required, powered through USB
Support for ARM® 7/9 and Cortex-M3
Supports internal and external flash devices
64 MB memory for storage of target program
Can be used as J-Link (JTAG emulator) with a download speed of up to 720 Kbytes/second
Programming speed between 30-300 Kbytes/second depending on target hardware
Serial in target programming supported
Data files can be updated as mass storage or via J-Flash
Target interface: JTAG/SWD

Download Flasher ARM manual (UM08007)

Download J-Link/Flasher ARM software

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Specifications

Power Supply	USB powered, 100mA for Flasher ARM. 500 mA if target is powered by Flasher ARM
USB Host Interface	USB 2.0, full speed
RS232 Host Interface	RS232 9-pin
Target Interface	JTAG 20-pin (14-pin adapter available)
Serial Transfer Rate between J-Link and Target	up to 12MHz
Supported Target Voltage	1.8 - 5V
Target supply voltage	5V
Target supply current	Max. 400mA
Operating Temperature	+ 5 °C ... + 60 °C
Storage Temperature	- 20 °C ... + 65 °C
Relative Humidity (non-condensing)	< 90% rH
Size (without cables)	121mm x 66mmx 30mm
Weight (without cables)	120g
Supported OS	Microsoft Windows 2000 Microsoft Windows XP Microsoft Windows XP x64 Microsoft Windows 2003 Microsoft Windows 2003 x64 Microsoft Windows Vista Microsoft Windows Vista x64

Flasher ARM download speed

The following table lists Flasher ARM performance values (Kbytes/second) for writing to memory (RAM) via the JTAG interface:

Revision	ARM7 Memory download
Flasher ARM Rev. 1	720 kB/s (12MHz JTAG)

Please note that the actual speed depends on various factors, such as JTAG, clock speed, host CPU core etc.

JTAG Speed

There are basically three types of speed settings:

Fixed JTAG speed
Automatic JTAG speed
Adaptive clocking

Fixed JTAG speed

The target is clocked at a fixed clock speed. The maximum JTAG speed the target can handle depends on the target itself. In general ARM cores without JTAG synchronization logic (such as ARM7-TDMI) can handle JTAG speeds up to the CPU speed, ARM cores with JTAG synchronization logic (such as ARM7-TDMI-S, ARM946E-S, ARM966EJ-S) can handle JTAG speeds up to 1/6 of the CPU speed. JTAG speeds of more than 10 MHz are not recommended.

Automatic JTAG speed

Selects the maximum JTAG speed handled by the TAP controller.

NOTE:
On ARM cores without synchronization logic, this may not work reliably, since the CPU core may be clocked slower than the maximum JTAG speed.

Adaptive clocking

If the target provides the RTCK signal, select the adaptive clocking function to synchronize the clock to the processor clock outside the core. This ensures there are no synchronization problems over the JTAG interface.

NOTE:
If you use the adaptive clocking feature, transmission delays, gate delays, and synchronization requirements result in a lower maximum clock frequency than with non-adaptive clocking. Do not use adaptive clocking unless it is required by the hardware design.

Working with Flasher ARM

Flasher ARM can be used for programming flash targets with the J-Flash software or stand-alone.

Setting up Flasher ARM for first use

In order to use Flasher ARM for the first time you need to install the Flasher ARM related software and documentation pack which, among others, includes the J-Flash software and connect Flasher ARM to the host PC via USB.

Connecting the target system

Power-on sequence
In general, Flasher ARM should be powered on before connecting it with the target device. That means you should first connect Flasher ARM with the host system via USB / RS232 and then connect Flasher ARM with the target device via JTAG. Power-on the device after you connected Flasher ARM to it.
If you use Flasher ARM in stand-alone mode, just power-on Flasher ARM via external power supply

Verifying target device connection with J-Link.exe
If the USB driver is working properly and your Flasher ARM is connected with the host system, you may connect Flasher ARM to your target hardware. Then start the J-Link command line tool JLink.exe, which should now display the normal Flasher ARM related information and in addition to that it should report that it found a JTAG target and the target’s core ID. The screenshot below shows the output of JLink.exe. As can be seen, it reports a Flasher ARM with 3 JTAG devices connected.

Verifying target device connection with J-Flash
Another way to verify the target connection is to connect to the target using J-Flash. To connect to the target with J-Flash you have to choose an appropriate project file for the target first. After opening the project file choose Target --> Connect from the menu to connect to the target. If everything works as expected, follow the instructions in 2.2 to download a program to Flasher ARM with J-Flash.

Using Flasher ARM with PC Software "J-Flash"

J-Flash is a software running on Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003 or Windows Vista systems and enables you to program your flash EEPROM devices via the JTAG connector on your target system.
J-Flash works with any ARM7/9/Cortex-M3 system and supports all common external flashes, as well as the programming of internal flash of ARM microcontrollers. It allows you to erase, fill, program, blank check, upload flash content, and view memory functions of the software with your flash devices.

Features

Works with any ARM7/ARM9/Cortex-M3 chip
ARM microcontrollers (internal flash) supported
Most external flash chips can be programmed
High-speed programming: up to 200 Kbytes/second (depends on flash device)
Very high-speed blank check: Approximately 16 Mbytes/sec (depends on target)
Smart read-back: Only non-blank portions of flash transferred and saved
Easy to use, comes with projects for standard eval boards.

Setting up Flasher ARM for stand-alone mode

In order to setting up Flasher ARM for the "stand-alone mode" it has to be in "J-Link mode". When the correct connection of Flasher ARM to the host PC is veryfied start the J-Flash software. For more information about the general setup sequence to prepare Flasher ARM for stand-alone mode, please refer to the Flasher ARM User's Guide (UM08007)

LED status indicators

Progress and result of an operation is indicated by Flasher ARM.s LEDs:

Status of LED	Meaning
GREEN, high frequency flashing (10 kHz)	Enumerating Flasher ARM.
GREEN, slow blinking (1 kHz)	Programming.
GREEN	Programming operation successful / Ready.
RED	Programming operation failed.

Using the serial link to program in circuit

Flasher ARM 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.

Remote control of Flasher ARM

Flasher ARM can be remote controlled by automated testers without the need of a connection to PC and Flasher ARM™s PC program. Therefore Flasher ARM is equipped with additional hardware control functions, which are connected to the SUBD9 male connector, normally used as RS232 interface to PC. The following diagrams show the internal remote control circuitry of Flasher ARM:

Pin No.	Function	Description
1	START	A positive pulse of any voltage between 5V and 30V with duration of min. 30 ms starts itAutole function (Clear / Program / Verify) on falling edge of pulse. Whether Clear is executed depends on Options \| Filling & misc. \| Automatic clear before program.
4	BUSY	As soon as Auto-Function is started, BUSY becomes active, which means that transistor is switched OFF.
5	GND	Common Signal ground.
7	OK	This output reflects result of last action. It is valid after BUSY turned back to passive state. The output transistor is switched ON to reflect OK state.

JTAG interface connection (20 pin)

There is a standard 20 pin connector defined by ARM. J-Link ARM has a built-in 20-pin JTAG connector, which is compatible with this standard.

JTAG interface connector signals:

Pin	Signal	Type	Description
1	VTref	Input	This is the target reference voltage. It is used to check if the target has power, to create the logic-level reference for the input comparators and to control the output logic levels to the target. It is normally fed from Vdd of the target board and must not have a series resistor.
2	Vsupply	NC	This pin is not connected in Flasher ARM. It is reserved for compatibility with other equipment. Connect to Vdd or leave open in target system.
3	nTRST	Output	JTAG Reset. Output from Flasher ARM to the Reset signal of the target JTAG port. Typically connected to nTRST of the target CPU. This pin is normally pulled HIGH on the target to avoid unintentional resets when there is no connection.
5	TDI	Output	JTAG data input of target CPU. It is recommended that this pin is pulled to a defined state on the target board. Typically connected to TDI on target CPU.
7	TMS	Output	JTAG mode set input of target CPU. This pin should be pulled up on the target. Typically connected to TMS on target CPU.
9	TCK	Output	JTAG clock signal to target CPU. It is recommended that this pin is pulled to a defined state on the target board. Typically connected to TCK on target CPU.
11	RTCK	Input	Return test clock signal from the target. Some targets must synchronize the JTAG inputs to internal clocks. To assist in meeting this requirement, you can use a returned, and retimed, TCK to dynamically control the TCK rate. Flasher ARM supports adaptive clocking, which waits for TCK changes to be echoed correctly before making further changes. Connect to RTCK if available, otherwise to GND.
13	TDO	Input	JTAG data output from target CPU. Typically connected to TDO on target CPU.
15	RESET	I/O	Target CPU reset signal. Typically connected to the RESET pin of the target CPU, which is typically called "nRST", "nRESET" or "RESET".
17	DBGRQ	NC	This pin is not connected in Flasher ARM. It is reserved for compatibility with other equipment to be used as a debug request signal to the target system. Typically connected to DBGRQ if available, otherwise left open.
19	5V-Target supply	Output	This pin can be used to supply power to the target hardware.

Notes

All pins marked NC are not connected inside J-Link. Any signal can be applied here; J-Link will simply ignore such a signal.

Pins 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 are GND pins connected to GND in J-Link. They should also be connected to GND in the target system.

Pin 2 is not connected inside J-Link. A lot of targets have pin 1 and pin 2 connected. Some targets use pin 2 instead of pin 1 to supply VCC. These targets will not work with J-Link, unless Pin 1 and Pin 2 are connected on the target's JTAG connector.

Pin 3 (TRST) should be connected to target CPUs TRST pin (sometimes called NTRST). J-Link will also work if this pin is not connected, but you may experience some limitations when debugging. TRST should be separate from the CPU Reset (pin 15)

Pin 11 (RTCK) should be connected to RTCK if available, otherwise to GND.

Pin 19 (5V-Target supply) of the connector can be used to supply power to the target hardware. Supply volatage is 5V, max. current is 300mA. The output current is monitored and protected agains overload and short-circuit.

Power can be controlled via the J-Link commander. The following commands are available to control power:

Command	Explanation
power on	Switch target power on
power off	Switch target power off
power on perm	Set target power supply default to "on"
power off perm	Set target power supply default to "off"