Maximizing production efficiency: In-System Programming and FlashRunner

In-System Programming provides greater flexibility in the production environment and offers advantages in terms of time and cost savings.

With ISP solutions, firmware updates can be easily performed even when the circuit board is already mounted. In fact, the components are programmed while embedded and installed in the system. Previously, our series began with an introduction to fundamental concepts for understanding our field. Check out the full article at this link: https://smh-tech.com/corporate-blog/in-system-programming-isp-implanting-a-brain-inside-a-memory/

This article explores the details of ISP applications and explains why FlashRunner  is an optimal solution to be integrated.

In-System Programming: connection and communication protocol

The main part of the ISP are in summary:
1) The ISP programmer
2) The ISP lines
3) The ISP target device

The first is the HW used to flash the ISP target devices mounted on the board. It needs to connect to the ISP target device to install its brain.

How does it do that? Through physical connections called ISP lines, the ISP programmer can connect and flash the firmware inside the internal memory of the ISP target device.

The concept of “communication protocol” describes exactly the way which the ISP programmer connects and flashes the ISP target device with. The communication protocol is the common language that allows the two parts to interact: useless to say the both parts need to speak the same language to talk together.

The most common used protocol for the ISP programming are:
1) JTAG
2) SWD
3) UART
4) SPI
5) …

Depending on the languages available for an ISP target device (usually more than one), the ISP programmer needs to be connected to the right physical connections and adapt the communication protocol to its needs.

In-System Programming solution: what is FlashRunner?

FlashRunner is an ISP programmer, a full equipped programming system for the ISP programming. It is a an industrial solution, reliable and durable, used in low/mid/high-volume production lines, thought to work 24/7.

It is a universal programmer. What does it mean? It means that it can support every kind of communication protocols that the market needs to program its ISP target device. It is a parallel programmer: it can program the different memory-equipped components mounted on a single board.

Keep in touch to know more about FlashRunner and SMH –Technologies company.