help with Xeltek EPROM programmer

J

Jon Elson

Guest
I have a Xeltek Superpro/Z eprom programmer, with their
winsp ver. 1.0 software, running on Win 2K/Pro.
Today I had need to erase and reprogram an Atmel 17LV256
EEPROM, but the erase button on the programmer GUI is grayed
out.  I can't remember if I ever did this before.  I used
to use UV-erasable EPROMS, but this one is electrically erasable.
Is there a setting or option that enables erasing?

(I know if I try to contact Xeltek, they will try to sell me
a new programmer.)

Thanks in advance for any hints!

Jon
 
Jon Elson <jmelson@wustl.edu> wrote:

I have a Xeltek Superpro/Z eprom programmer, with their
winsp ver. 1.0 software, running on Win 2K/Pro.
Today I had need to erase and reprogram an Atmel 17LV256
EEPROM, but the erase button on the programmer GUI is grayed
out.  I can't remember if I ever did this before.  I used
to use UV-erasable EPROMS, but this one is electrically erasable.
Is there a setting or option that enables erasing?
Click to expand...
I think an EEPROM may not need erasing. Erase may be part of the write
cycle since EEPROM typically can be written on a byte basis.

--
Failure does not prove something is impossible, failure simply
indicates you are not using the right tools...
nico@nctdevpuntnl (punt=.)
--------------------------------------------------------------
 
"Jon Elson" <jmelson@wustl.edu> wrote in message
news:SumdnVOLKb-zaqnMnZ2dnUVZ_qKdnZ2d@giganews.com...
I have a Xeltek Superpro/Z eprom programmer, with their
winsp ver. 1.0 software, running on Win 2K/Pro.
Today I had need to erase and reprogram an Atmel 17LV256
EEPROM, but the erase button on the programmer GUI is grayed
out. I can't remember if I ever did this before. I used
to use UV-erasable EPROMS, but this one is electrically erasable.
Is there a setting or option that enables erasing?

(I know if I try to contact Xeltek, they will try to sell me
a new programmer.)

Thanks in advance for any hints!

Jon
Click to expand...
You fill the buffer with 0xff and write the buffer. Now it's 'blank'
Same for any EEPROM
 
Nico Coesel wrote:

Jon Elson <jmelson@wustl.edu> wrote:

I have a Xeltek Superpro/Z eprom programmer, with their
winsp ver. 1.0 software, running on Win 2K/Pro.
Today I had need to erase and reprogram an Atmel 17LV256
EEPROM, but the erase button on the programmer GUI is grayed
out.  I can't remember if I ever did this before.  I used
to use UV-erasable EPROMS, but this one is electrically erasable.
Is there a setting or option that enables erasing?

I think an EEPROM may not need erasing. Erase may be part of the write
cycle since EEPROM typically can be written on a byte basis.

I tried just re-writing the EPROM, and it gets an error within
Click to expand...
a second or two. I will try writing an all-zero block and see
what happens.

I'm pretty sure this device cannot be byte-erased.

Jon
 
"Jon Elson" <jmelson@wustl.edu> wrote in message
news:4a-dnbtS7vtUiqjMnZ2dnUVZ_qadnZ2d@giganews.com...
Nico Coesel wrote:

Jon Elson <jmelson@wustl.edu> wrote:

I have a Xeltek Superpro/Z eprom programmer, with their
winsp ver. 1.0 software, running on Win 2K/Pro.
Today I had need to erase and reprogram an Atmel 17LV256
EEPROM, but the erase button on the programmer GUI is grayed
out. I can't remember if I ever did this before. I used
to use UV-erasable EPROMS, but this one is electrically erasable.
Is there a setting or option that enables erasing?

I think an EEPROM may not need erasing. Erase may be part of the write
cycle since EEPROM typically can be written on a byte basis.

I tried just re-writing the EPROM, and it gets an error within
a second or two. I will try writing an all-zero block and see
what happens.

I'm pretty sure this device cannot be byte-erased.

Jon
Click to expand...
Most, if not all EEPROMs automatically do an erase before write..... so just
program it.... Good job it's not a 17V16- they're OTP :(
We use those for military stuff... pain in the bloody butt...
 
TTman wrote:


Most, if not all EEPROMs automatically do an erase before write..... so
just program it.... Good job it's not a 17V16- they're OTP :(
We use those for military stuff... pain in the bloody butt...
Click to expand...
Then I already know that does NOT work. it gets an error, which
I'm guessing is that the bits are already programmed to the program
state, and need to be reverted to the non-programmed state.
Yeah, I switched to this Atmel device to get away from the expensive
Xilinx 17xxx (OTP) parts. They are not only cheaper, but are
supposed to be re-programmable. What I'm worried about is the
Xeltek may not have suitable voltages available to do the
erase. or, maybe, that is an extra-cost option for the programmer!
Sheesh, this stuff shouldn't be so complicated. But, I can't believe
I've had this thing for about 10 years and NEVER noticed I can't erase
one of these parts!

Thanks,

Jon
 
TTman wrote:


Most, if not all EEPROMs automatically do an erase before write..... so
just program it.... Good job it's not a 17V16- they're OTP :(
We use those for military stuff... pain in the bloody butt...
WOW! I think I got my answer, and my face is RED!
Click to expand...

Atmel calls this an EEPROM, and I always thought that meant
Electrically-erasable, Electrically-Programmable ROM.
But, I read the whole datasheet, and NOWHERE at all does the
word erase appear! So, apparently the 17LV256 family are
all OTP devices! Geez, I've been using them for a number
of years, and had NO idea they were OTP!

Jon
 
On Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:07:50 -0600, the renowned Jon Elson
<jmelson@wustl.edu> wrote:

TTman wrote:


Most, if not all EEPROMs automatically do an erase before write..... so
just program it.... Good job it's not a 17V16- they're OTP :(
We use those for military stuff... pain in the bloody butt...
WOW! I think I got my answer, and my face is RED!

Atmel calls this an EEPROM, and I always thought that meant
Electrically-erasable, Electrically-Programmable ROM.
But, I read the whole datasheet, and NOWHERE at all does the
word erase appear! So, apparently the 17LV256 family are
all OTP devices! Geez, I've been using them for a number
of years, and had NO idea they were OTP!

Jon
Click to expand...
Funny manner of OTP part that has a write-protect pin on it...
Just say'in.

The reset pin polarity is programmable too, which might be an
interesting source of issues on non-virgin parts.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com
 
On Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:17:10 -0500, Spehro Pefhany
<speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote:

On Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:07:50 -0600, the renowned Jon Elson
jmelson@wustl.edu> wrote:

TTman wrote:


Most, if not all EEPROMs automatically do an erase before write..... so
just program it.... Good job it's not a 17V16- they're OTP :(
We use those for military stuff... pain in the bloody butt...
WOW! I think I got my answer, and my face is RED!

Atmel calls this an EEPROM, and I always thought that meant
Electrically-erasable, Electrically-Programmable ROM.
But, I read the whole datasheet, and NOWHERE at all does the
word erase appear! So, apparently the 17LV256 family are
all OTP devices! Geez, I've been using them for a number
of years, and had NO idea they were OTP!

Jon

Funny manner of OTP part that has a write-protect pin on it...
Just say'in.

The reset pin polarity is programmable too, which might be an
interesting source of issues on non-virgin parts.
Click to expand...
I always liked the parts that have I2C addresses that are
programmable, over I2C. ;-)
 
On Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:07:50 -0600, Jon Elson wrote:

TTman wrote:


Most, if not all EEPROMs automatically do an erase before write..... so
just program it.... Good job it's not a 17V16- they're OTP :( We use
those for military stuff... pain in the bloody butt...
WOW! I think I got my answer, and my face is RED!

Atmel calls this an EEPROM, and I always thought that meant
Electrically-erasable, Electrically-Programmable ROM. But, I read the
whole datasheet, and NOWHERE at all does the word erase appear! So,
apparently the 17LV256 family are all OTP devices! Geez, I've been
using them for a number of years, and had NO idea they were OTP!

Jon
Click to expand...
Generally, EEPROMs do not have to be erased like flash. You simply
write the new value. I do not think these devices are OTP as the
data sheet says they are good for 100K write cycles. Your errors
may be caused by the programmer not handling the WP pins correctly.

--
Chisolm
Republic of Texas
 
On Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:30:20 -0500, the renowned krw@attt.bizz wrote:

On Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:17:10 -0500, Spehro Pefhany
speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote:

On Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:07:50 -0600, the renowned Jon Elson
jmelson@wustl.edu> wrote:

TTman wrote:


Most, if not all EEPROMs automatically do an erase before write..... so
just program it.... Good job it's not a 17V16- they're OTP :(
We use those for military stuff... pain in the bloody butt...
WOW! I think I got my answer, and my face is RED!

Atmel calls this an EEPROM, and I always thought that meant
Electrically-erasable, Electrically-Programmable ROM.
But, I read the whole datasheet, and NOWHERE at all does the
word erase appear! So, apparently the 17LV256 family are
all OTP devices! Geez, I've been using them for a number
of years, and had NO idea they were OTP!

Jon

Funny manner of OTP part that has a write-protect pin on it...
Just say'in.

The reset pin polarity is programmable too, which might be an
interesting source of issues on non-virgin parts.

I always liked the parts that have I2C addresses that are
programmable, over I2C. ;-)
Click to expand...
Yup- if you're going to make a product with no front panel that allows
you to change the IP address via an Ethernet connection, better put a
visible clearly marked reset switch to return it to a clearly marked
default value.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com
 
Spehro Pefhany wrote:


Funny manner of OTP part that has a write-protect pin on it...
Just say'in.
Yup, the write protect prevents the contents from being
Click to expand...
altered further. But, I can't find ANYWHERE that mentions
how to erase the part!

Jon
 
Joe Chisolm wrote:



Generally, EEPROMs do not have to be erased like flash. You simply
write the new value. I do not think these devices are OTP as the
data sheet says they are good for 100K write cycles. Your errors
may be caused by the programmer not handling the WP pins correctly.

Well, you guys are all 100% CORRECT! I still don't know what
Click to expand...
happened, maybe there was a dirty spot on the programmer's socket.
But, I went back and tried programming the device, and it worked
perfectly! That's why I never noticed the erase button was grayed out,
I never used it before, I just reprogrammed the part and it worked.

Thanks, everyone!

Jon
 
Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote:

On Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:30:20 -0500, the renowned krw@attt.bizz wrote:

On Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:17:10 -0500, Spehro Pefhany
speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote:

On Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:07:50 -0600, the renowned Jon Elson
jmelson@wustl.edu> wrote:

TTman wrote:


Most, if not all EEPROMs automatically do an erase before write..... so
just program it.... Good job it's not a 17V16- they're OTP :(
We use those for military stuff... pain in the bloody butt...
WOW! I think I got my answer, and my face is RED!

Atmel calls this an EEPROM, and I always thought that meant
Electrically-erasable, Electrically-Programmable ROM.
But, I read the whole datasheet, and NOWHERE at all does the
word erase appear! So, apparently the 17LV256 family are
all OTP devices! Geez, I've been using them for a number
of years, and had NO idea they were OTP!

Jon

Funny manner of OTP part that has a write-protect pin on it...
Just say'in.

The reset pin polarity is programmable too, which might be an
interesting source of issues on non-virgin parts.

I always liked the parts that have I2C addresses that are
programmable, over I2C. ;-)

Yup- if you're going to make a product with no front panel that allows
you to change the IP address via an Ethernet connection, better put a
visible clearly marked reset switch to return it to a clearly marked
default value.
Click to expand...
Usually such equipment comes with software which allows to reset the
IP address. Its not difficult to send a 'proprietary' protocol over an
ethernet network.

--
Failure does not prove something is impossible, failure simply
indicates you are not using the right tools...
nico@nctdevpuntnl (punt=.)
--------------------------------------------------------------
 
"Jon Elson" <elson@pico-systems.com> wrote in message
news:84ydnY6AYLdJ9ajMnZ2dnUVZ_rKdnZ2d@giganews.com...
Joe Chisolm wrote:



Generally, EEPROMs do not have to be erased like flash. You simply
write the new value. I do not think these devices are OTP as the
data sheet says they are good for 100K write cycles. Your errors
may be caused by the programmer not handling the WP pins correctly.

Well, you guys are all 100% CORRECT! I still don't know what
happened, maybe there was a dirty spot on the programmer's socket.
But, I went back and tried programming the device, and it worked
perfectly! That's why I never noticed the erase button was grayed out,
I never used it before, I just reprogrammed the part and it worked.

Thanks, everyone!

Jon
Excellent result in the end, unlike me who has been trying to persuade
Click to expand...
Dataman that their programmer won't overprogram two of the config bits in
the 17V16. Bought two more in the end as the project timing is critical with
late delivery penalties.

Don't think there's any alternative in the military spec part... unless
anyone knows different... 17V16 CC44M
 
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