Programmer (hardware)

In the context of installing firmware onto a device, a programmer, device programmer, chip programmer, device burner,^[1]^: 364 or PROM writer^[2] is a device that writes, a.k.a. burns, firmware to a target device's non-volatile memory.^[3]^: 3

Thumb — *Engineering Universal Programmer* with two socket.

Typically, the target device memory is one of the following types: PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash memory, eMMC, MRAM, FeRAM, NVRAM, PLD, PLA, PAL, GAL, CPLD, FPGA.

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Generally, a programmer connects to a device in one of two ways.

Insertion

In some cases, the target device is inserted into a socket (usually ZIF) on the programmer.^[4]^{: 642, pdf15} If the device is not a standard DIP packaging, a plug-in adapter board, which converts the footprint with another socket, is used.^[5]^: 58

Cable & port

In some cases, a programmer connects to a device via a cable to a connection port on the device. This is sometimes called on-board programming, in-circuit programming, or in-system programming.^[6]^[7]^[8]

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Data is transferred from the programmer to the device as signals via connecting pins.

Some devices have a serial interface^[9]^{: 232, pdf3} for receiving data (including JTAG interface).^[4]^{: 642, pdf15} Other devices communicate on parallel pins, followed by a programming pulse with a higher voltage for programming the data into the device.^[10]^: 125

Usually, a programmer is controlled via a connected personal computer through a parallel port,^[1]^: 364 USB port,^[11] or LAN interface.^{[citation needed]} A program on the controlling computer interacts with the programmer to perform operations such as configure install parameters and program the device,^[1]^: 364 ^[12]^: 430 ^[13]^[14]

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There are four general types of programmers:

Automated programmers often have multiple programming sites/sockets^[15] for mass production.^[4] Sometimes used with robotic pick and place handlers with on-board sites to support high volume and complex output such as laser marking, 3D inspection, tape input/output, etc.
Development programmers usually have a single programming site; used for first article development and small-series production.^[16]
Pocket programmers for development and field service.^[16]^[17]
Specialized programmers for certain circuit types only, such as FPGA,^[18] microcontroller,^[4]^{: 642, pdf15} and EEPROM programmers.^[13]

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Regarding old PROM programmers, as the many programmable devices have different voltage requirements, every pin driver must be able to apply different voltages in a range of 0–25 Volts.^[19]^: 651^[20]^: 40 But according to the progress of memory device technology, recent flash memory programmers do not need high voltages.^[21]^[22]

In the early days of computing, booting mechanism was a mechanical devices usually consisted of switches and LEDs. It means the programmer was not an equipment but a human, who entered machine codes one by one, by setting the switches in a series of "on" and "off" positions. These positions of switches corresponded to the machine codes, similar to today's assembly language.^[23]^{: 261–262}^[24]^[25] Nowadays, EEPROMs are used for bootstrapping mechanism as BIOS, and no need to operate mechanical switches for programming.^[26]^: 45

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For each vendor's web site, refer to "External links" section.

Batronix
BPM Microsystems
DiagProg4: CodiProg
Xeltek Inc.
Conitec Datasystems
MCUmall Electronics Inc.
Data I/O
Elnec
DediProg Technology Co., Ltd
Minato Holdings [ja]
Hi-Lo System Research
Phyton, Inc.

[1]
Mueller, Scott (2003). Upgrading and Repairing PCs. Que Publishing. p. 364. ISBN 9780789727459. PROM programmer PC transfer.
[2]
Cressler, John D. (2017). Silicon Earth: Introduction to Microelectronics and Nanotechnology, Second Edition. CRC Press. ISBN 9781351830201.
[3]
Czerwinski, Robert; Kania, Dariusz (2013). Finite State Machine Logic Synthesis for Complex Programmable Logic Devices. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9783642361661.
[4]
Mazidi, Muhammad Ali; Naimi, Sarmad; Naimi, Sepehr (2011). The AVR microcontroller and embedded systems : using Assembly and C (PDF). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall. ISBN 9780138003319. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-02-15. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
[5]
Edwards, Lewin (2006). So You Wanna Be an Embedded Engineer: The Guide to Embedded Engineering, From Consultancy to the Corporate Ladder. Elsevier. p. 58. ISBN 9780080498157. plug-in adapters DIP packaging.
[6]
"IEEE 1532-2002 - IEEE Standard for In-System Configuration of Programmable Devices". IEEE.
[7]
"What is the IEEE 1532 Standard?". Keysight Technologies.
[8]
Jacobson, Neil G. (2012). The In-System Configuration Handbook:: A Designer's Guide to ISC. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9781461504894.
[9]
Ong, Royan H. L.; Pont, Michael J. (25 April 2001). "Empirical comparison of software-based error detection and correction techniques for embedded systems". Proceedings of the ninth international symposium on Hardware/Software codesign - CODES '01. ACM. pp. 230–235. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.543.9943. doi:10.1145/371636.371739. ISBN 978-1581133646. S2CID 15929440.
[10]
Ravichandran, D. (2001). Introduction To Computers And Communication. Tata McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN 9780070435650.
[11]
"Review: XG autoelectric TL866CS MiniPro Universal USB Programmer". Gough's Tech Zone. 22 April 2016.
[12]
International Validation Forum (1995). Validation Compliance Annual: 1995. CRC Press. ISBN 9780824794590.
[13]
"How to Read, Erase, & Write EProm EEProm Chips Electronic Fuel injection DIY Tuning GQ-4X Programmer". YouTube. 2 May 2014.
[14]
"EPROMS: The minimum you need to know to burn your own". www.classic-computers.org.nz.
[15]
"gang | Definition of gang in English by Oxford Dictionaries". Oxford Dictionaries | English. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018.
[16]
"EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review - Page 1". www.eevblog.com.
[17]
"EPROM programmer for field service - Google Search". www.google.com.
[18]
Pang, Aiken; Membrey, Peter (2016). Beginning FPGA: Programming Metal: Your brain on hardware. Apress. ISBN 9781430262480.
[19]
Godse, Atul P.; Godse, Deepali A. (2008). Digital Techniques. Technical Publications. ISBN 9788184314014.
[20]
Ball, Stuart (2002). Embedded Microprocessor Systems: Real World Design. Elsevier. ISBN 9780080477572.
[21]
Choi, S. J.; Han, J. W.; Jang, M. G.; Kim, J. S.; Kim, K. H.; Lee, G. S.; Oh, J. S.; Song, M. H.; Park, Y. C.; Kim, J. W.; Choi, Y. K. (2009). "High Injection Efficiency and Low-Voltage Programming in a Dopant-Segregated Schottky Barrier (DSSB) FinFET SONOS for nor-type Flash Memory". IEEE Electron Device Letters. 30 (3): 265–268. Bibcode:2009IEDL...30..265C. doi:10.1109/LED.2008.2010720. ISSN 0741-3106.
[22]
"Remembering the PROM knights of Intel | EE Times". EETimes. 2002-07-03.
[23]
DuCastel, Bertrand; Jurgensen, Timothy (2008). Computer Theology: Intelligent Design of the World Wide Web. Midori Press LLC. ISBN 9780980182118.
[24]
"Getting Started with Blinking Lights on Old Iron". Hackaday. 10 August 2017.
[25]
Gooijen, Henk. "NOVA 3 console description". www.pdp-11.nl.
[26]
Goel, Anita (2010). Computer Fundamentals. Pearson Education India. ISBN 9788131733097.

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[Muller_2003-1] [1]
Mueller, Scott (2003). Upgrading and Repairing PCs. Que Publishing. p. 364. ISBN 9780789727459. PROM programmer PC transfer.

[Cressler_2017-2] [2]
Cressler, John D. (2017). Silicon Earth: Introduction to Microelectronics and Nanotechnology, Second Edition. CRC Press. ISBN 9781351830201.

[Czerwinski_2013-3] [3]
Czerwinski, Robert; Kania, Dariusz (2013). Finite State Machine Logic Synthesis for Complex Programmable Logic Devices. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9783642361661.

[Mazidi_2017-4] [4]
Mazidi, Muhammad Ali; Naimi, Sarmad; Naimi, Sepehr (2011). The AVR microcontroller and embedded systems : using Assembly and C (PDF). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall. ISBN 9780138003319. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-02-15. Retrieved 2018-03-16.

[Edward_2006-5] [5]
Edwards, Lewin (2006). So You Wanna Be an Embedded Engineer: The Guide to Embedded Engineering, From Consultancy to the Corporate Ladder. Elsevier. p. 58. ISBN 9780080498157. plug-in adapters DIP packaging.

[IEEE-2532-6] [6]
"IEEE 1532-2002 - IEEE Standard for In-System Configuration of Programmable Devices". IEEE.

[IEEE_1532_by_agilent-7] [7]
"What is the IEEE 1532 Standard?". Keysight Technologies.

[Jacobson_2012-8] [8]
Jacobson, Neil G. (2012). The In-System Configuration Handbook:: A Designer's Guide to ISC. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9781461504894.

[Ong_2001-9] [9]
Ong, Royan H. L.; Pont, Michael J. (25 April 2001). "Empirical comparison of software-based error detection and correction techniques for embedded systems". Proceedings of the ninth international symposium on Hardware/Software codesign - CODES '01. ACM. pp. 230–235. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.543.9943. doi:10.1145/371636.371739. ISBN 978-1581133646. S2CID 15929440.

[Ravichandran_2001-10] [10]
Ravichandran, D. (2001). Introduction To Computers And Communication. Tata McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN 9780070435650.

[Review_TL866CS-11] [11]
"Review: XG autoelectric TL866CS MiniPro Universal USB Programmer". Gough's Tech Zone. 22 April 2016.

[IVF_1995-12] [12]
International Validation Forum (1995). Validation Compliance Annual: 1995. CRC Press. ISBN 9780824794590.

[YouTube-HowTo-13] [13]
"How to Read, Erase, & Write EProm EEProm Chips Electronic Fuel injection DIY Tuning GQ-4X Programmer". YouTube. 2 May 2014.

[Minimum_need_to_know-14] [14]
"EPROMS: The minimum you need to know to burn your own". www.classic-computers.org.nz.

[gang_by_Oxford_Dict-15] [15]
"gang | Definition of gang in English by Oxford Dictionaries". Oxford Dictionaries | English. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018.

[MiniPro_TL866_Universal_Programmer_Review-16] [16]
"EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review - Page 1". www.eevblog.com.

[Google_Search_Field-service-17] [17]
"EPROM programmer for field service - Google Search". www.google.com.

[FPGA_Programmer-18] [18]
Pang, Aiken; Membrey, Peter (2016). Beginning FPGA: Programming Metal: Your brain on hardware. Apress. ISBN 9781430262480.

[Godse_2008-19] [19]
Godse, Atul P.; Godse, Deepali A. (2008). Digital Techniques. Technical Publications. ISBN 9788184314014.

[Ball_2002-20] [20]
Ball, Stuart (2002). Embedded Microprocessor Systems: Real World Design. Elsevier. ISBN 9780080477572.

[Choi_2009-21] [21]
Choi, S. J.; Han, J. W.; Jang, M. G.; Kim, J. S.; Kim, K. H.; Lee, G. S.; Oh, J. S.; Song, M. H.; Park, Y. C.; Kim, J. W.; Choi, Y. K. (2009). "High Injection Efficiency and Low-Voltage Programming in a Dopant-Segregated Schottky Barrier (DSSB) FinFET SONOS for nor-type Flash Memory". IEEE Electron Device Letters. 30 (3): 265–268. Bibcode:2009IEDL...30..265C. doi:10.1109/LED.2008.2010720. ISSN 0741-3106.

[EETIMES_2002-22] [22]
"Remembering the PROM knights of Intel | EE Times". EETimes. 2002-07-03.

[DuCastel_2008-23] [23]
DuCastel, Bertrand; Jurgensen, Timothy (2008). Computer Theology: Intelligent Design of the World Wide Web. Midori Press LLC. ISBN 9780980182118.

[PDP8-24] [24]
"Getting Started with Blinking Lights on Old Iron". Hackaday. 10 August 2017.

[Nova3-25] [25]
Gooijen, Henk. "NOVA 3 console description". www.pdp-11.nl.

[Goel_2010-26] [26]
Goel, Anita (2010). Computer Fundamentals. Pearson Education India. ISBN 9788131733097.

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Programmer (hardware)

Insertion

Cable & port

Wikiwand in your browser!

Programmer (hardware)

Insertion

Cable & port

Wikiwand in your browser!

Connection

Transfer

Types

History

Manufacturers

See also

References

External links