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DLP-IO16 Development System
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The DLP-IO16 consists of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Interface, a PIC 16F84A (target)
microcontroller and a Flash programming system. The USB interface is designed around FTDI's
FT8U245AM and is used for both the Flash download process and host communications
(16F84A to Host PC) at run time. The target processor (16F84A) will hold 1024 14-bit words of
ROM, 68 bytes of RAM and 64 bytes of EEPROM, none of which is used by the on-board Flash
Programming system. The Flash programming system is comprised of a PIC 16F872 and a 12.5-
volt DV-DC converter and is used exclusively to perform the download process.
Hex file data can be written directly into the 16F84A's Flash memory without the need for an
external device programmer. PC application software that runs under Windows 98/2000 is
available from dlpdesign.com as a free download that performs the Flash download process.
The DLP-IO16 connects to the user's hardware via 8 buffered digital inputs and 8 latched digital
outputs. The digital outputs are implemented using an SN74HC374 and are specified to drive up
to 15 LSTTL loads each. The digital inputs also use a SN74HC374 to latch the incoming digital
data. The DLP-IO26 provides a larger (8K) Flash ROM and more I/O port lines for interfacing
to target electronics. Refer to the datasheet for the DLP-IO26 for additional details.
USB
Interface
Power
Isolation
Switches
Download
Microcontroller
PIC16F872
Target
Microcontroller
PIC16F84A and
Buffers
Input/Output Connector
12.5 Volt
DC-DC
Converter
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DRIVER SOFTWARE
FTDI's VCP (Virtual COM Port) drivers are provided royalty-free on the
condition that they are only used with designs incorporating an FTDI device (ie the
FT8U245AM and DLP-IO16). The latest release versions are available for download from
dlpdesign.com or ftdichip.com.
The VCP driver download file is a combined set of drivers for Windows '98, Windows ME and
Windows 2000. Unzip the file to a blank floppy disk or folder on your PC. The drivers can co-
exist on the same floppy disk or folder since the INF files determine which set of drivers to load
for each operating system version. Once loaded, the VCP drivers allow your application
software, running on the host PC, to communicate with the DLP-IO16 as though it were
connected to a COM (RS-232) port.
In addition to VCP drivers, FTDI's "D2XX Direct Drivers" for Windows offer an alternative
solution to the VCP drivers which allows application software to interface with the FT8U245AM
device using a DLL instead of a Virtual Com Port. The architecture of the D2XX drivers consists
of a Windows WDM driver which communicates with the FT8U245AM device via the Windows
USB Stack and a DLL which interfaces the Application Software (written in VC++, C++
Builder, Delphi, VB etc...) to the WDM driver. An INF installation file, uninstaller program and
D2XX programmers guide complete the package.
The latest version of the D2XX Direct driver adds support for simultaneous access and
control of multiple FT8U245AM devices. An Extended Open function (FT_OpenEx ) has been
added allowing the device to be opened either by it's Product Description or by Serial Number
both of which can be programmed to be unique. A complementary List Devices function
(FT_ListDevices) has been added to allow application software to determine which devices are
currently available for use, again by product description or by serial number.
Download FTDI Application Notes AN232-03, AN232-05, AN232-06, and AN232-07 for
detailed instructions on how to install and remove the drivers for Windows 98 and 2000.
EEPROM WRITE UTILITY
The DLPIO16 has the option to accept manufacturer-specific information that is written into the
93C46 EEPROM. Parameters that can be programmed include the VID and the PID identifiers,
the manufacturer's product string and a serial number.
FTD2XXST is the latest EEPROM serializer and testing utility for the FT8U245AM device. It
replaces the VCP based 232Prog utility. FTD2XXST is based on the new D2XX drivers and
will work on Win '98, Win ME and Win 2000 platforms. You must
download and install the latest release of the D2XX drivers in order to run this application.
Refer to the SER200.PDF guide that is included in the EEPROM Write Utility's download zip
file for details on how to use the serializer.
If you have VCP drivers installed on the PC that is to perform the EEPROM write process you
must uninstall these drivers and install the D2XX drivers prior to running the serializer utility.
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Please note that these utilities are intended for use by manufacturers and not by end-users of the
products.
Windows Software Operation
A 32-bit Windows application that performs the firmware download process is available as a free
download from dlpdesign.com. The application uses the DLL version of the device drivers.
The HELP button can be clicked at any time to read a description of each control.
This download application uses the "OpenEx" function that allows multiple DLP-IOx boards to
be connected to the same PC in a well-organized manner.
This function will open the named device and return a handle that will be used for subsequent
accesses. When the Search button is clicked, a dialog window is opened and all FTDI devices
connected to the system are listed for easy selection. The device name can be its serial number or
a device description; both are text strings that are programmed into an EEPROM that is directly
connected to the FT8U245AM. A third method, open by device number, can be used for new
boards that have not had a serial number or description string written to the non-volatile RAM.
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Download configuration options include enabling or disabling the Watchdog Timer, Power-up
Timer, Brown-out Reset, In-Circuit Debugger and Code Protection modes. Refer to the
datasheet for the target microcontroller for a full description of each available download option.
If a PIC Flash device is code protected, the read function will return all 1's for the data read, and
a standard bulk erase will not work correctly. The only way to erase a device that was
previously programmed with code protection turned on is by issuing commands 1 and 7 while in
Load Configuration mode. The download application mentioned above will perform both a
standard bulk erase and a code-protected bulk erase when the Erase function is selected. This
allows the target processor to be code protected such that the firmware cannot be read but will
still allow for future downloads to occur.
A firmware version string of 16 characters (maximum) can be written to the EEPROM memory
in the download microcontroller. This string is read automatically every time the download
process is initiated, and can be written any time the download application is running and
connected to the target. EEPROM memory in the download microcontroller was used for
storage of the version string instead of the target microcontroller's EEPROM so that all of the
EEPROM memory in the target would remain available for project use.
The Connect function will attempt to initiate communications with the DLP-IO16 board using
the serial number, the device description string or just the device number found in the Search edit
box. The character string in the text box can either be entered manually by the user or it can be
placed there as a result of using the Search function.
If the desired DLP-IOx board is present in the system then the Connect function will be
successful and the version string for the attached board will appear in the Firmware Version edit
box. Additionally, as part of the Connect process, the processor type (16F84A or 16F877) will
be automatically selected by the processor selection radio buttons. Connect mode can be
terminated either by clicking on Disconnect or by pressing the reset button while the Connect
LED is solidly lit.
The Open function will launch a dialog that allows selection of the HEX file that is to be written
to the Flash memory of the target processor. As the HEX file is loaded, each line of data in the
file is checked for errors by calculating and verifying its checksum. The HEX file can contain
configuration settings, processor ID codes and EEPROM data as well as program data.
The Blank Check function will read the entire contents of the Flash memory program area and
verify that every location is set to an all 1's condition. This is the expected state of the Flash
memory after an Erase function has been successfully completed.
The Program function will read the currently selected HEX file, verify the data to be written and
then send the data to the Download processor. Each 14-bit word is checked immediately after it
is written for errors. Any errors that occur during the download process are immediately
reported and the download process if halted. If the target processor is not blank the Program
function will report an error.
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The Auto-erase function, when selected, will begin each Program function by bulk erasing the
program memory area of the target processor.
The Verify function will read the entire contents of the target processor and verify the program
data read against the HEX file. The configuration data read from the target processor is verified
by comparing it against the configuration settings in the GUI (Graphical User Interface). The
comparison is made in this way since the user has the ability to override the HEX file's
configuration settings with the settings in the GUI.
The Read function will read the entire contents of the target processor and place all of its
program, EEPROM, ID and configuration data in a dialog window that is launched
automatically.
Quick Start Guide
This guide requires the use of a Windows 98/2000 PC that is equipped with a USB port.
1.
Download the DLL version of the device drivers from either dlpdesign.com or ftdichip.com.
Unzip the drivers onto a blank floppy disk or into a folder on the hard drive.
2.
Download the serializer program from either dlpdesign.com or ftdichip.com. Unzip the
package and place it in a folder on the hard drive.
3.
Download the Windows download application from dlpdesign.com, unzip the program file
and place it either on the desktop or in a folder on the hard drive.
4.
Download the example software (DLPIO16X) from dlpdesign.com, unzip the package and
place it in a folder.
5.
Connect the DLP-IO16 board to the PC via the provided USB cable. When prompted, select
the folder where the DLL version of the device drivers were stored in step one. Windows
will then complete the installation of the device drivers for the DLP-IO16 board. Reboot the
PC if prompted to do so.
6.
Run the serializer program and write the VID (0403), PID (6001), a description string of your
choosing and serial number as instructed in the instruction manual (PDF) that was
downloaded with the serializer software. Terminate the serializer program and disconnect
the DLP-IO16 board from the USB cable. Wait 10 seconds and reconnect the DLP-IO16
board. Reboot the PC if instructed to do so.
7.
Run the download application that was saved to the hard drive in step 3. Select the Open by
description radio button and click on Search. In the dialog window select the description
string written in step 6.
PDF 
ZIP