Flasher ARM—Stand-alone Production Programmer
Flasher ARM is a stand-alone programming tool for microcontrollers with on-chip or external Flash memory and ARM core.
- Stand-alone JTAG/SWD programmer (Once set up, Flasher can be controlled without the use of PC program)
- Ethernet interface
- Supports internal and external flash devices
- Wide range of devices are supported. For a complete list, please click here.
- Free software updates
- 128 MB memory for storage of target program
- Serial in target programming supported
Contents
About Flasher ARM
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.
Flasher ARM connects via USB, Ethernet or via RS232 interface to a PC, running Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10 and has a built-in 20-pin JTAG connector, which is compatible with the standard 20-pin connector defined by ARM.
Getting Started
Flasher can be used for programming flash targets with the J-Flash software or stand-alone.
Setting up Flasher for the first use
In order to use Flasher for the first time you need to install the Flasher related software and documentation pack which, among others, includes the J-Flash software and connect Flasher to the host PC via USB.
Power-on sequence
In general, Flasher should be powered on before connecting it with the target device. That means you should first connect Flasher with the host system via USB / RS232 and then connect Flasher with the target device via JTAG. Power-on the device after you connected Flasher to it. If you use Flasher in stand-alone mode, just power-on Flasher via external power supply.
Verifying target device connection with J-Link Commander
If the USB driver is working properly and your Flasher is connected with the host system, you may connect Flasher to your target hardware. Then start the J-Link command line tool JLink.exe, which should now display the normal Flasher related information and in addition to that it should report that it found a JTAG target and the target’s core ID. The screenshot shows the output of JLink.exe. As can be seen, it reports a Flasher 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.
Using Flasher with PC Software "J-Flash"
J-Flash is a software running on Windows (Windows 2000 or later) systems and enables you to program your flash EEPROM devices via the JTAG connector on your target system.
J-Flash works with any device/core that is supported by J-Link 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.
Setting up Flasher for Stand-Alone Mode
In order to setting up Flasher for the "stand-alone mode" it has to be in "J-Link mode". When the correct connection of Flasher to the host PC is verified start the J-Flash software. For more information about the general setup sequence to prepare Flasher for stand-alone mode, please refer to the Flasher User's Guide (UM08022).
LED Status Indicators
Progress and result of an operation is indicated by Flasher's LEDs:
| Status of LED | Meaning |
|---|---|
| GREEN, high frequency flashing (10 Hz) | Enumerating Flasher. |
| GREEN, slow blinking (1 Hz) | Programming. |
| GREEN | Programming operation successful / Ready. |
| RED | Programming operation failed. |
Remote Control of Flasher
Flasher can be remote controlled by automated testers without the need of a connection to PC and Flasher's PC program. Therefore Flasher 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:
| Pin | Function | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | START | A positive pulse of any voltage between 5V and 30V with duration of min. 30 ms starts automatic programming (typically erase / program / verify) on falling edge of pulse. |
| 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. |
Supported Devices
Flasher ARM supports a wide range of CPU cores and an even wider range of different devices from various vendors. On this page, an overview of all supported CPU cores as well as devices for which flash programming is supported is given.
Supported CPU Cores
The following CPU cores are supported by Flasher ARM:
ARM Cortex
- Cortex-A51
- Cortex-A71
- Cortex-A81
- Cortex-A91
- Cortex-A121
- Cortex-A151
- Cortex-A171
- Cortex-M0
- Cortex-M0+
- Cortex-M1
- Cortex-M3
- Cortex-M4
- Cortex-M7
- Cortex-M23
- Cortex-M33
- Cortex-R41
1 No Flasher stand-alone support yet. Currently, flash programming is available via PC based J-Flash software only.
ARM (legacy cores)
- Cortex-R51
- ARM720T
- ARM7TDMI
- ARM7TDMI-S
- ARM920T
- ARM922T
- ARM926EJ-S
- ARM946E-S
- ARM966E-S
- ARM1136JF-S
- ARM1136J-S
- ARM1156T2-S
- ARM1156T2F-S
- ARM1176JZ-S
- ARM1176JZF
- ARM1176JZF-S
Known Devices
Known devices are supported devices which are also known by name. Knowing not just the CPU core, but also the device by name brings the following advantages:
- Programming of internal flash (See Flash Download)
- Availability of unlimited number of breakpoints in flash memory (See Flash Breakpoints)
- Known memory map allows speed optimizations for access to Flash andRAM
- Support for non-standard CPU-cores & bugs in silicon: Some silicon requires special sequences for unlock, reset, or simply connecting to the core. For known devices, this is implemented
Note that a device has not to be known by name to be supported. This means that J-Link can be used with any device, using a standard core listed in the table of supported CPU cores even if it is known by name.
List of Known Devices
The following list gives an overview about which devices are known by J-Link. Note that your device may still be supported even if it is not in this list, as long as it incorporates a core that is listed in Supported CPU Cores. In case of doubt, please feel free to get in touch with SEGGER.
The list from below is always valid for the latest version (highest version number) of the J-Link/Flasher software package. This may be a release (even version number) or beta version (odd version number), since support for some devices is usually added in a beta phase first.
Adding support for new/unknown devices
If a device is not listed in the list of known devices on this page, there are two options to get it to be known by J-Link:
- Adding support for it (incl. flash programming) on your own. Fore more information how to do this, please refer to the SEGGER wiki.
- Get in touch with support@segger.com and issue a device support request
Note that a device has not to be known by name to be supported. This means that J-Link can be used with any device, using a standard core listed in Supported CPU Cores even if it is known by name.
Supported SPI flashes
The Flasher ARM does also support download into SPIFI (SPI Flash Interface) flashes in case they are memory mapped readable through the CPU (called SPIFI support on most targets).
Moreover, utilities like J-Flash SPI also support direct programming of SPI flashes without any CPU in between.
The following SPI flashes are currently supported by the Flasher ARM (J-Link software package):
Flasher ARM Specifications
| Specifications | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Supply | USB powered, 100mA for Flasher ARM. 500 mA if target is powered by Flasher ARM | ||||
| USB Host Interface | USB 2.0 | ||||
| RS232 Host Interface | RS232 9-pin | ||||
| Target Interface | JTAG 20-pin (14-pin adapter available) | ||||
| Max. target cable length | Recommended (delivered): 20cm (8") Max. 2m (6.5") allowed but might reduce max. target interface speed. | ||||
| Serial Transfer Rate between Flasher ARM and Target | up to 15MHz | ||||
| Supported Target Voltage | 1.2 - 5V | ||||
| Current drawn from target voltage sense pin (VTRef) | < 25µA | ||||
| 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 Microsoft Windows 7 Microsoft Windows 7 x64 Microsoft Windows 8 Microsoft Windows 8 x64 Microsoft Windows 10 Microsoft Windows 10 x64 | ||||
Target Interfaces
Since Flasher ARM is compatible with J-Link it also supports the same target interfaces. Currently the following target interfaces are supported:
- JTAG
- SWD
For more information about the target interfaces please refer to J-Link - Interface description. Please note that Flasher ARM currently does not support SWO.
