wbUTIL - Re-Flash Programming

wbUTIL - Re-Flash Programming : A Controller or Display can be updated with the latest firmware

This function upgrades both controller & display code/program (or flash) memory as well as EE data (or EEPROM data memory). This is normally only necessary when new features or fixes are released. See the HXF file page for the code available.

Note : Using this utility it is possible to swap between firmware designed for a Bosch LSU sensor and an NTK L1H1 sensor, but REMEMBER that if you do this, typically, you must also change hardware jumpers within the controller. In theory it's also possible to re-flash a controller with display code (or vice versa). It may not be possible to recover from this situation without removing the CPU and reflashing in the correct hardware.

Display Note : Re-flashing a display requires a reprogramming adaptor.

Basic Operation

Basically an HXF file is read, converted to binary data and sent to the device to be re-programmed. This is a two step process where code and then data is programmed.

The screen shows a Browse for File ... button to select the .HXF file containing the code and data. The file will be automatically opened and checked for errors. Any errors, and file statistics, will be shown in the File Data/Information area. The screen shows the HXF file contains 1037 lines that generated a code size of 16018 bytes and EEPROM data size of 512 bytes. The Open button simply re-reads and displays statistics for the currently selected file.

The following flash options can be selected :

  • Rescue? - This is not normally required unless you are reflashing because of a hardware problem that has corrupted the controller's main code. Alternatively, it must be used when upgrading from rev 0021 controller firmware (this code was released in 2004!). Note that Rescue mode also requires that the unit be opened and a temporary jumper is inserted while the re-flash is in progress (more info below).

  • No Prompt? - Skips some informative messages. This is useful for batch programming where all that needs to be done is hit the key to program the (next) device.

  • Show Advanced? - The advanced options, that have some element of risk associated with their use, become active, including ...

  • Code Only? - In certain circumstances it may be desirable to re-flash just the code (for example, the data has been set up with tables that you want to retain). Normally however code changes require different EE data and you should not check this option unless advised to.

  • Data Only? - The data (or EE) memory may become corrupted (this can occur in electrically noisy environments). This is a quick way to reset the EE memory. As noted, it's important that EE memory does not get out of sync with the code memory as strange behaviour can result.

  • Ignore Errors? - Some non-fatal errors are ignored or are simply notified and skipped over. Of course it's possible to do things that you shouldn't, but sometimes that's the only way.

File Operations

There are a number of ways to open an HXF file. As note above, the Browse for File ... button, but you can also drag and drop a file into the large File Data/Information : area.

The Open button simply opens and checks the currently listed file, but note that the checks peformed are also done when the START button is pressed.

As each block of flash memory is downloaded and successfully programmed, an acknowledgement is displayed.

While the flash programs in a few seconds, the EE memory takes a lot longer.

At completion of the flash and EEPROM programming the message box Programming Complete pops up. The total number of retries for both flash and EEPROM are shown in the message.

After clicking on the OK button that's all that has to be done.

Advanced Operations

At the bottom of the screen, in the Info area, a number of special operations can be performed. The [ROM?] button tries to read the ROM version and to then calculate the type of device attached. This is displayed in the status area of the display (note: device selection is not automatically performed as for the [?] button on the General tab).

The [Get EE] button is only active when the Show Advanced? box has been checked. This button reads the EE (ie. data) memory, displays it in .HXF file format, and also writes it to the file (with default name of) ~EE.hxf in the installation directory for wbUtil.