Oppenheimer Technologies

1
Oppenheimer Technologies

• Rick King
• Jonathan Creekmore

2
Problem

• Current programming solutions for the Ubicom SX
  microcontroller are expensive.
• Typical costs range from 150-240.

3
Requirements

• Our product must
• Program all Ubicom SX microcontrollers
• Cost less than current solutions
• Be manufacturable using equipment at Mississippi
  State University

4
The ProgrammingSpecification

• 17 Frames Per Word
• 4 Cycles Per Frame
• Application of 12V DC Required to Program Flash
  Memory

5
Hardware Design
Ubicom SX-18
Flash Programming Voltage
In-System Programming Interface
PC
Target System
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RS-232 Interface
Ubicom SX-18
PC
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RS-232The Concept

• Most Commonly Available Serial Communications
  Protocol for Computer.
• Transceiver Necessary to Translate Between RS-232
  Voltage Levels and CMOS Levels.

8
The Hardware
2
2
MAX233
SX18
DB9
9
Wheres the UART?

• A UART Converts Between Asynchronous Serial Data
  and Parallel Data
• This Function is Performed in Firmware by the
  SX-18 using Ubicoms Virtual Peripheral UART.

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Flash ProgrammingVoltage
Ubicom SX-18
Flash Programming Voltage
Target System
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Where, Oh Where?

• Where can 12V DC be generated from?
• An op-amp?
• Derive it from the RS-232 lines?
• An IC whose single purpose is to generate a 12V
  signal from a 5V signal?

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In-System Programming Interface
Ubicom SX-18
In-System Programming Interface
Target System
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Firmware

• UART Virtual Peripheral
• HandleCycle and HandleFrame
• System Control Code

14
The ProgrammingSpecification (again)

• 17 Frames Per Word
• 4 Cycles Per Frame
• Application of 12V DC Required to Program Flash
  Memory

15
Waveform
The Data Word is 0x1FCE.
16
Hardware Costs

• Current Parts Cost 30.00
• Possible Cost Reductions
• Reduce PCB Cost from 10 to 0.70
• Potential Cost (1000 quantity) 15.00

17
Software Design
PC Programming Software
Data Link Layer
ISP Protocol Interface
Programmer
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RS-232 Interface
PC Programming Software
Data Link Layer
Programmer
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RS-232 Interface

• Implements a raw serial interface to the embedded
  device.
• Contains commands to send and receive arbitrary
  length strings of binary data.
• Test Bench
• Send text and binary strings across serial
  connection to a software implemented loop-back.
• Status Passed

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DLL Interface
PC Programming Software
Data Link Layer
Programmer
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DLL Interface

• Contains a single command to send binary data and
  block until the receipt of a binary response.
• Implements a simple checksum algorithm to aid in
  debugging of the communications channel.

22
DLL Interface

• Test Bench
• Send text and binary strings across serial
  connection.
• Interject errors in the payload data and check
  for data consistency in the response.
• Status Passed

23
ISP Protocol Interface
PC Programming Software
ISP Protocol Interface
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ISP Protocol Interface

• Contains the following commands

• Start Session
• End Session
• Erase Device
• Read Device Word
• Read FuseX Word

• Program FuseX Word
• Load Data Word
• Program Data Word
• Read Data Word
• Increment Address

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ISP Protocol Interface

• Each command is followed by a repeat count to
  increase the throughput of the serial
  communications channel.
• Test Bench
• Commands are sent through a test program and the
  responses are analyzed to determine if the
  correct action was taken.
• Status Passed

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File Format Interface
PC Programming Software
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File Format Interface

• Contains functionality to read and interpret the
  Intel 8-bit Merged file format.
• Contains functionality to interpret out-of-band
  information such as the Fuse and FuseX bits.
• Test Bench
• Compare output of the filter with the data used
  to generate the file.
• Status Passed

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Screenshot
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Future Directions

• All SMT Design
• USB Serial Interface
• In-System Debugging
• Integrated Assembler and Simulator

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Demo

• Create sample program that has output noticeable
  to the audience.
• Such as a blinking LED?
• Modify program based on audience interaction.
• Such as changing the blink rate?
• Program test microcontroller and demonstrate with
  the new code.