Implementing custom flash programming in Piccolo

Christophe Ducommun

Hi,

I want to implement a custom flash programming solution in our current software in order to update the software via RS-232 with our own Windows software.

So, there is no problem for me to use the Flash API in the Piccolo and it works fine. The problem is the following, I don't know how to read the .out compiled file in order to know at which flash address I need to flash the data.

Because the .cmd linker file place some code/data in different location in the flash. So I need to know how I can read the .out file and know where to place the data in flash.

Can anyone give me some link or information how is structure the .out file produced by the compiler ?

Thanks

Christophe

over 12 years ago

0 Anton Kachalov over 12 years ago

Intellectual 705 points

Hi, Christophe.

In my projects I use a bit modified HEX format outputted by hex2000 tool to update software via eCAN / UART. Same routines with specially prepared CMD-files used to load new software to run from the memory like a RAM-only debug session. It is usefull when you need to frequently test a changes to do not touch FLASH every time.

Here is the script to produce HEX firmware. The FWUP routine looks like this. Customized HEX format parsed by this module.

0 Christophe Ducommun over 12 years ago in reply to Anton Kachalov

Prodigy 70 points

Hi Anton,

I have tryed the hex2000 utility and it seem's to be exactly the tool that I need. Actually I will try with the Motorola S3 format in order to download the full

software in flash with the UART and my own windows software.

So for the final product, our customers can upgrade the firmware with our tools and software.

Thanks

0 Stefan Fischer over 12 years ago in reply to Christophe Ducommun

Intellectual 680 points

there is allready a free Tool for programming hex files over UART called c2prog

http://www.codeskin.com/programmer

0 Anton Kachalov over 12 years ago in reply to Stefan Fischer

Intellectual 705 points

Stefan Fischer said:
there is allready a free Tool for programming hex files over UART called c2prog

C2Prog requires to load C2kernel via SCI for the flash process. It is not so easy to update running system that way. Thus I wrote self update integrated module. It's very flexible and requires only Xmodem software to program local or remote side via eCAN. Also, it is easy to write custom transport module (i2c, spi, ethernet and so on).

C2000™︎ microcontrollers

C2000 microcontrollers forum

Implementing custom flash programming in Piccolo