Forum : ST7/STM8
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April 7, 2009 - 11:34pm
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I have two boards that I have used the RLink with (I have 2 of the RLinks as well). The first board uses an ST7FMC1K4 processor and uses the ICC style programming. It has a 47k pull-up on the reset line to 5V with a 0.01uF cap to ground. 47k pull-ups on ICCSEL and ICCDATA, and a 10k pull-down on VPP/ICCSEL. (These were straight from the ST reference design for the ST7FMC parts). After the RLink stopped working (it insisted that is could not erase the device) after it had worked dozens of times. I then moved it to the second board, an STM8A eval board with the SWIM interface and it worked fine (after applying the jumper to the SWIM interface). When I went back to trouble shoot the original board it started saying that the voltage was wrong (even thought the voltage was 5.00V according to my FLUKE 79 and Tektronix scope). I then noticed it was never pulling down the reset line. I moved the RLink back to the STM8A board and it no longer works and indicates the same message about the wrong voltage. The reset line does not pull-down on the SWIM board either (which has a 10k pull-up and a 0.1uF cap to ground on the reset line) and when it tries to pull down the reset, it shows 3.01V on the reset line. I tried a second RLink and get the same thing. So do I have 2 Blown RLinks (since the reset line won't pull-down to ground on either board) or are these board problems of some other kind? Joe Forgot to mention this is using the STVD software and STVP software since that is what our customer uses. |
Here's an update,
Purchased 2 new RLinks got them this morning (this project cannot wait) and they are working fine. It really does appear that the reset line (if not others) on the 2 that I have is damaged. I'm assuming that these run directly to the micro in the RLink (through what appears to be 50 ohm resistors from the photo Vincent posted. So that would mean these are dead.
Is there a repair depot? Or would the cost to repair them be higher than the 2 I just bought to replace them?
Can I get the ST part with the code pre-programmed so that I could effect repairs myself? Any other assistance would be appreciated.
Joe
Hi,
First, please note that after the software thinks it has detected that the voltage is not correct, it will not issue any other command to the RLink, as incorrect voltage is a fatal error. Measuring the voltage is the first thing we do and if it is incorrect, the RLink does not act on any of its IOs at all. This explains why you don't see the reset line moving when there is this message.
I think what happens is that there is a problem in the voltage measurement, and all the other symptoms you observe are just consequences of that. (which does not mean that there are no other problems, but just that for now you don't see them)
This problem can come from a burned ST7 IO, which cannot be repaired. Please connect everything (USB, ICC, target board power) and check the voltage at pin 54 of the RLink's ST72F651AR6. If it is about half the target board's VCC, then probably the ST7 (or some of its IOs) is burned and the RLink cannot be repaired. Otherwise, it might be simply a problem of connection. If you have already programmed dozens of ST7s, maybe the soldering of the connectors has been damaged or something like this.
Please let me know the result of this test.
We should also try to understand why these RLinks have burned.
Can you send us your board's schematic? (or at least the parts containing ST7, power, clocks, ICC)
Can you please describe the order in which you usually connect the different components?
It's possible that if you connect the RLink to the target board and then power the board, a voltage peak is sent to the RLink that damages it after several occurences. (it really depends on the way your board is powered and regulated, that's why I ask the schematic) To avoid damaging your new RLinks, I recommend to power the board, then connect the RLink to it, and then connect the RLink's USB to the host PC.
Best Regards,
Vincent
Thanks for the reply VincentC.
I've already decided that the issue was a static problem here in the lab. The ground was shot in our lab and leaving the programmer plugged into the USB port all the time damaged some of the pins on the ST7. I've been following your advice on powering the board, then plug in, the connect to the USB port and have not seen further issues. I did run a scope on the power supply at start up and there were no voltage spikes, so I have to believe that we zapped the live device due to static.
Thanks again,
Joe