[asac][almanews] ALMA Memo 414 Released

[Stacy Oliver]

ALMA Memo #414

An SPI Bus Implementation of a Bootloader for the PIC16F87x

Dave Brown (University of Manchester, JBO)

2002/03/25

Keywords: PIC, AMBSII, SPI Bus, M&C Bus.

Abstract:	The latest family of PIC microcontrollers are able to write to
their own program memory  space.  This  allows a small bootloaader program
to receive new program code over the SPI bus  (which is normally used to
communicate with the M&C bus).   This bootloader program resides  in the
protected area at the top of memory and is invoked by a special form of
reset.

This facility is useful in the debug and test phases as only a single
connection is required  to the test host.  It could also be used in the
field to allow reprogramming without powering  down and removing cards.
This would need additional software in the M&C bus controller and  the AMBSI
and would require rigorous safeguards against accidental programming.


View a pdf version of ALMA Memo 414.
http://www.alma.nrao.edu/memos/html-memos/alma414/memo414.pdf

Download a postscript version of ALMA Memo 414.
http://www.alma.nrao.edu/memos/html-memos/alma414/memo414.ps

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