Flasher ST7: Programs ST7 series of flash microcontrollers with on-chip flash
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Features
- Small, compact housing
- Easy to use windows program
- Serial (in target) programming supported
- Programming / Verifying / Read back supported
- OPTION BYTE Programming supported
- 512 KByte internal Flash memory to store target program
- High speed programming: app 12 sec for 60 kb in serial mode with 16 MHz target clock for programming and verification
- Can be used in a production environment
- PC program allows batch mode processing for usage in automated test systems.
- Once set up, Flasher can be controlled without the use of PC program
- ASCII command interface to control Flasher without the use of PC program (Requires firmware version 1.84 or above)
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| Flasher ST7 Reads / programs MCU in serial mode (in circuit). |
New features
April, the 25th 2008:
ST7FOXA0 programming supported.
Initial version for ST7FOX support.
The CPU can be programmed, but can not be calibrated.
March, the 7th 2008:
ST7FLiteU05, ST7FLiteU09 supported.
January, the 22nd 2007:
ST72F325R9, ST72F325J9 supported.
December, the 5th 2006:
ST7LiteUS5 supported.
November, the 7th 2006:
ST7Lite19B supported.
October, the 19th 2005:
RC calibration value recovery after clearing readout protection on ST7Lite CPUs implemented.
Requires software and firmware update to version 1.92j or later.
September, the 2nd 2005:
Programming speed increased for ST7 HD-Flash devices.
Requires firmware update to version 1.92h.
May, the 24th 2005:
ST7Lite3 devices supported by Flasher ST7 software version 1.92d.
May, the 20th 2005:
ST7FMC devices supported by Flasher ST7.
Blank check of ST7 CPUs optimized, runs 10 times faster.
These features are supported by software version 1.92c.
May, the 4th 2005:
Up to 20 COM ports supported by FLASHER PC program.
Additional options and commandline parameter added.
Multiple individual setups can be controlled with command line to support multiple Flasher on one PC.
Readout protection of ST7 devices can now be removed automatically.
Option bytes may be programmed before other FLASH sectors are programmed. This enables fast programming when internal clock of ST7 CPU has to be used.
These features are supported by software version 1.90b.
January 2004:
ASCII command interface implemented to control Flasher from any application without the need of Flasher PC program.
A manual which describes ASCII command interface can be downloaded from our  downloadpage.
Supported microcontrollers
The following microcontrollers are supported:
Target system interface
The target system interface from FLASHER ST7 to target system has to be connected
to the 10 pin connector, (pin 1 is marked at the connector) as shown in the diagram.
| 1 |
GND |
Common signal ground |
--- |
| 2 |
ICCDATA |
Data signal for ICC protocol communication |
Open collector output with active pull up |
| 3 |
GND |
Common signal ground |
--- |
| 4 |
ICCCLK |
Clock signal for ICC protocol communication |
Open collector output with active pull up |
| 5 |
GND |
Common signal ground |
--- |
| 6 |
RESET |
Target CPU reset |
FLASHER output (Note 1) |
| 7 |
VDD |
Target supply voltage |
Supplies FLASHERs target interface |
| 8 |
ICCSEL/VPP |
Programming voltage for target CPU |
12V programming voltage, also used to enter ICC mode |
| 9 |
OSC_CLK |
Target CPU clock |
Supplies system clock to target |
| 10 |
-- |
-- |
Not used for ST7, leave open |
Note 1:
If RESET of target system is driven by a reset circuitry with active high driver, RESET output of FLASHER must not be connected directly to CPU reset of target.
Working environment
General
Flasher has been designed for use in a lab or production environment.
Host System
IBM PC/AT or compatible. CPU: 486 (or better) with at least 8Mb of RAM, running Windows 95 / 98 /NT.
It needs to have an RS232 interface available for communication with FLASHER.
Power supply
Flasher ST7 requires 14 - 18V DC, min. 40mA. Please use the power supply which comes with the tool. Flasher is protected
against polarity reversion. Please avoid excess volatage.
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, install it onto your hard drive and start the executable.
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:
| 2 |
RxD |
Serial asynchronous (RS232) data input |
Serial data output (TxD) |
| 3 |
TxD |
Serial asynchronous (RS232) data output |
Serial data input (RxD) |
| 5 |
GND |
Signal ground |
Signal ground |
Getting started
- Connect FLASHER to a PC running Windows 95/98/2000 or NT using the NULL-modem cable and run the FLASHER software FLASHER.EXE
- Connect FLASHER to the power supply.
- Set up the device via Options menu of PC program
- For in-circuit programming: Connect FLASHER to target system via customized interface cable.
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 |
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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:
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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 FLASH 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 |
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A modal dialog box will indicate the status and progress of the operation;
the operation can be canceled hitting the CANCEL button |
SETUP
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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 ST7.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
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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 ST7.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. |
Operating FLASHER in stand-alone mode
After download the target program is stored in FLASHERs on board Flash memory until
FLASHER is reconfigured for an other target, or an other target application program is downloaded to FLASHER. Any number of microcontroller may then 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 the sectors of the FLASH and the interface.
The progress and the result of the operation is indicated by the LED:
| GREEN, flashing |
Erasing / Programming / Verifying in progress |
| GREEN |
Programming operation successful |
| RED |
Programming operation failed |
Remote control of FLASHER ST7
FLASHER ST7 can be remote controlled by automated testers without the need of
a connection to PC and Flashers PC program. Therefore FLASHER ST7 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 downloadpage.
Using the serial link to program in circuit
FLASHER can be used for in circuit programming of ST7 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.
Serial programming, technical details
Serial programming of ST7 microcontrollers uses ICC protocol.
The commands which are used are described in the ST manual. In general, the sequence is as follows:
FLASHER resets the target CPU and then sets up the target to enter ICC mode
FLASHER downloads an application program (RAMCODE) to target CPU.
FLASHER starts the target RAMCODE
RAMCODE accepts commands from Flasher to read, clear or program the target CPU
Error messages
The following error messages can occur during operation of FLASHER (shown in red on your PC)
| 1 |
Erase failed |
Erase operation has failed. |
| 2 |
Write failed |
Write operation has failed. |
| 3 |
Verify failed |
Verification failed. Loaded program and contents of the flash-memory are not identical. |
| 4 |
Blank check failed |
Chip is not blank. |
| 5 |
Flash write/erase timed out |
Could not write into flash memory, the max. waiting time has been exceeded. |
| 7 |
Canceled |
Last operation has been canceled by the user. |
| 51 |
VCC fail |
VCC of target system outside specified range.
Check supply of your target system
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| 55 |
CRC check in programmer failed |
After download or after programming of target CPU, the CRC of Flashers memory changed.
Check supply of Flasher to avoid problems |
| 56 |
Internal VCC drop during operation |
Check Flashers power supply |
| 58 |
DAC for Vpp not calibrated |
Flasher is unable to build VPP for Target CPU, because Calibration data for DAC was lost.
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| 75 |
RAMCode does not work |
After download to target, the RAMCode did not respond to Flasher.
Check device configuration.
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| 76 |
RAMCode does not respond command |
RAMCode did not respond to Flashers command.
Reset target and retry operation.
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| 80 |
Could not enter ICC mode |
Target did not enter ICC mode.
Check configuration and device settings.
Check target connection.
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| 81 |
Timeout during serial data transfer |
Target did respond in specified time.
Check configuration and device settings.
Check target connection.
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| 82 |
Option byte read failed |
Retry operation.
Check configuration and device settings.
Check target connection.
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| 83 |
Option byte programming failed |
Retry operation.
Check target connection.
If target was read protected, Option bytes can not be modified.
Select "Clear All" function first.
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| 84 |
Program All function failed |
"Clear All" function terminated in error. Retry operation.
Check target connection.
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| 85 |
Target is read protected |
Target could not be read, because target is read-protected by option byte settings.
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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 ICCCLK and ICCDATA signals work properly.
Support
For support questions please send an email to support@segger.com.
Updating FLASHER's software
FLASHER contains a microcontroller with flash memory and a boot loader. FLASHER's
firmware can be updated using the serial interface of any PC by starting the Flasher
software and select the "Options | Download Firmware" menu.
Download the latest software here: Version 1.96n [1192 KB][Updated 08-04-25]
Latest information about software modification can be found in the Flasher relase notes.
Download the ASCII command interface manual: Flasher ASCII interface manual [PDF]
Download the latest user's manual: Flasher ST7 manual 1.80 [185 KB][Updated 03-09-22]
Copyright 2001-2008 SEGGER Microcontroller GmbH & Co.KG.
All rights reserved.
For more information, please visit our web site www.segger.com
or contact us at info@segger.com
Last update:
April 25, 2008
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Flasher ST7
