Holtek Semiconductor Inc. Project Name Holtek e-WriterPro Q&A Update Date 2015-04-03 Author Sky Version 1.01 Page 1/7 Holtek e-WriterPro Q&A Revision History Version Date Description Author 1.00 2013-11-07 Create Sky 1.01 2015-04-03 Add 9 and 10 items Sky Check the following questions when encountering programming problems: ...................................2 1. Check if the USB cable is the original Holtek cable......................................................................2 2. Check if the HOPE3000 is the latest version.................................................................................2 3. Check if the writer firmware is the latest version. .........................................................................2 4. Check if the IC Pin 1 is located in the correct position..................................................................2 5. Use a multi-meter to measure whether all the writer lines are connected properly. ......................3 Holtek e-WriterPro Frequently Asked Questions: ..............................................................................3 1. Q Which e-WriterPro lines are used for ICP - In-Circuit Programming.....................................3 2. Q The original ICP can program successfully using the e-Writer Plus but cannot program with the e-WriterPro.......................................................................................................................4 3. Q What is the difference between CheckSum and Verify Code in the HOPE3000 .....4 4. Q Blank Check is OK using the HOPE3000 but the read option has a value. ............................4 5. Q Programming tip the selected IC package does not match with the e-Socket 6. Q Programming tip the HIRC calibration has failed 7. Q The difference between A type socket and C type socket .......................................................6 8. Q How the e-WriterPro connects to the 9. Q How to change the information displayed on the e-WriterPro screen.....................................7 10. Q How to mute the buzzer sound of the e-WriterPro..................................................................7 .................5 ............................................................5 Writer Device .......................................................6 Holtek Semiconductor Inc. Project Name Holtek e-WriterPro Q&A Update Date 2015-04-03 Author Sky Version 1.01 Page 2/7 Check the following questions when encountering programming problems: 1. Check if the USB cable is the original Holtek cable. Ensure that the presently used USB cable is the original Holtek cable. The total power consumption of the e-WriterPro is about 200mA. When In Circuit Programming is used, it requires additional power. Therefore if using a lower-quality USB line, this may cause power related problems due to its internal higher resistance. In such cases the Writer needs to be restarted or the programming will fail. The original USB line is illustrated by the following figure: Fig.1 2. Check if the HOPE3000 is the latest version. The software website is http://www.holtek.com.tw/chinese/tech/tool/tool.htm#HOPE3000 and the software version is shown by the following: Fig.2 3. Check if the writer firmware is the latest version. Download the latest HOPE3000 and then install. If the following screen appears, then update with the latest firmware version using the suggested steps. Fig.3 4. Check if the IC Pin 1 is located in the correct position. The position shown by the red arrow is the Pin 1 position. If Pin 1 is in a wrong position the writer will not work properly. Fig.4 Holtek Semiconductor Inc. Project Name Holtek e-WriterPro Q&A 5. Update Date 2015-04-03 Author Sky Version 1.01 Page 3/7 Use a multi-meter to measure whether all the writer lines are connected properly. If using the ICP method for programming, ensure that the lines are connected properly, otherwise the programming will fail. Holtek e-WriterPro Frequently Asked Questions: 1. Q Which e-WriterPro lines are used for ICP - In-Circuit Programming A Flash type MCU options: ICP (e-CON12C) and ICP (e-CON12A), the difference can be described as follows: a. The ICP(e-CON12C) interface is illustrated by the following figure (without an e-socket, it is recommended to use this method). Fig.5 b. The ICP (e-CON12A) interface is illustrated by the following figure (if it requires an e-socket, it is not recommended to use this method). Fig.6 B OTP type MCU option: ICP (e-CON12B), the interface is illustrated by the following figure. Fig.7 The programming signal appears on the CN1 interface in the following fixed sequence during ICP programming. But programming a different series of MCU has different number of signal lines, therefore consult the following websites for details: http://www.holtek.com.cn/China/tech/tool/MainPage2.aspx?L=CN http://www.holtek.com/english/literature/Holtek_MCU_In-Circuit_Programming_Guidelines.pdf Holtek Semiconductor Inc. Project Name Holtek e-WriterPro Q&A Update Date 2015-04-03 Author Sky Version 1.01 Page 4/7 Fig.8 2. Q The original ICP can program successfully using the e-Writer Plus but cannot program with the e-WriterPro. A During ICP, it will fail due to long lead lines or due to low quality line material. Shorten the lead line (less than 15cm) and connect a 220pF capacitor between the CLK pin and GND (locate the capacitor as close as possible to the IC). Ps As the flex cable can easily experience signal crosstalk, it is recommended to use separate DuPont lines. 3. Q What is the difference between CheckSum and Verify Code in the HOPE3000 A CheckSum: This is the sum of all data in the programming file. However this method has certain shortcomings, as the following screen diagram shows. If the two highlighted data positions are exchanged, the file content is obviously different however the checksum will remain the same. Verify Code: In order to resolve this checksum problem, using the CRC-16 algorithm can recognise data exchange. Fig.9 Fig.10 4. Q Blank Check is OK using the HOPE3000 but the read option has a value. Holtek Semiconductor Inc. Project Name Holtek e-WriterPro Q&A Update Date 2015-04-03 Author Sky Version 1.01 Page 5/7 A As shown in the following figure, the option value is the manufacturing value, so it will not be added to the checksum, but with a blank IC display during blank check. Fig.11 5. Q Programming tip the selected IC package does not match with the e-Socket A An IC that has different package types uses different sockets for programming. If the wrong IC package is selected, the writer will report errors. With a DIP package for example, if an SOP package is selected, then the writer will report that the package is not matched with the e-Socket. Fig.12 6. Q Programming tip the HIRC calibration has failed A Firstly, confirm whether the IC has already been programmed and confirm the chosen frequency & voltage are same as in the previous programming process. Secondly, confirm that the programmed file has been generated by the IDE-3000, rather than being just read out from the programmed IC. confirm whether the data lines have been connected properly. Holtek Semiconductor Inc. Project Name Holtek e-WriterPro Q&A Update Date 2015-04-03 Author Sky Version 1.01 Page 6/7 Fig.13 7. Q The difference between A type socket and C type socket A As shown in the following figure, in order to improve programming reliability, a 220pF capacitor is located at each programming pin for the C type socket. Consult the following website for relevant information: http://www.holtek.com.cn/China/tech/tool/e-Socket.htm Fig.14 8. Q How the e-WriterPro connects to the Writer Device A The CN3 connector on the e-WriterPro is used to connect to the writer. The details of the interface are as follows: e-WriterPro: The red circled pins are used for the mainstream writers. Fig.15 Holtek Semiconductor Inc. Project Name Holtek e-WriterPro Q&A Update Date 2015-04-03 Author Sky Version 1.01 Page 7/7 Table 1 9. Q How to change the information displayed on the e-WriterPro screen. A Execute the HOPE3000, and then connect it with the e-WriterPro. After opening the programming file, setup the information displayed on the screen briefly according to the following figure. (HOPE3000 version 3.11 or above is suitable for this operation. Fig.16 10. Q How to mute the buzzer sound of the e-WriterPro A Execute the HOPE3000 and connect to the e-WriterPro. After opening the programming file, setup the buzzer according to the following figure. (HOPE3000 version 3.10 or above is suitable for this operation.) Fig.17