Fixation monitor firmware

programming procedure
Overview
The fixation monitor processor module is programmed in two stages from factory settings:

1) Firmware for the usb flash drive is programmed using a terminal interface and usb-serial
cable.
2) Firmware for the eyetracking is loaded by simply drag-and-drop to the usb flash drive
created in step 1

STEP 1 – USB flash drive firmware programming

Parts needed:

1) usb-to-serial 6 pin header (part no: TTL-232-R-3V3 NB install the driver for this on your PC)
2) VET2 debug Rev01 board
3) flat ribbon cable (contacts on one side, each end has the contacts on the opposite side)
4) VET2 Rev02 baseboard with BF-527 v1.1.5 module fitted
5) stand mini USB cable

1. USB-RS232
2. Programming board
(VET2 debug Rev01)
3. Flat ribbon
4. VET2 Rev02 baseboard
with BF-527 v1.1.5
module fitted
5. Standard USB cable
2. Programming procedure from factory setting

STEP 1 – connecting up the test harness and getting ready to install USB
flash drive firmware
1 Attach the RS322-USB converter as shown above and connect it to the PC. The black wire is pin 1
on the board, so be careful you plug in the right way round.
2 If necessary you need to install the driver from ftdichip.com if necessary, and then run up
hyperterminal accessories->communications .
3 At the hyperterminal prompt make up a new connection (eg call it VET2) and OK it
4 on the Connect to form select the highest number COM in the drop down box Connect using. The
number depends on your PC but it is always the highest number. Ok this.
5 On the COMxx Properties form setup the following :

6 Connect the grey ribbon ensuring the contact side faces downwards to the board. The
connectors are a bit fiddly so be careful that the cable is fully into the connector.
7 Plug in the usb which powers up the mainboard. On the hyperterminal window you should see
the on-board monitor of the processor module come up and finish with a command prompt
“CM-BF527>”. There is a 5 second countdown for you to press any key to prevent an already
loaded firmware from running so you can use this mechanism to break into the loading process
 if a module is being upgraded from a previous usb firmware. This terminal program is what you
will use to install the firmware for the usb flash drive.

Procedure to install the usb flash firmware

At the hyperterminal command prompt we can upload and program the MSD.ldr firmware for the
usb flash drive as follows:

1 Type: xmr MSD527.ldr

2 On the hyperterminal Transfer menu click “Send file...”
3 Click browse to get to the MSD527.ldr file on the PC.
4 On the protocol drop down box select “Xmodem”
5 At the bottom of the form click “Send”
6 Now wait until the file has been completely sent. This may take half a minute.
7 Now at the “CM-BF527” prompt type: flash –unlock. Wait for this to finish
8 Now type : flash –rs app , and type Y and return at the prompt (are you sure question). Wait for
this to complete.
9 Type : flash MSD527.ldr –a , and wait for this to complete.
10 When 9 has completed then remove the usb cable from the baseboard and put in again.
11 After about 5 seconds your PC should detect a USB flash drive and may prompt you to format it.
12 Either use the prompt, or go to explorer and use this to format the USB drive to 1 MB and name
the drive “VET2”.

At this point the vet2 is ready to accept the tracking firmware. If you power cycle (unplug and plug
back the usb cable) then the unit will come up as a usb flash drive.

13 Using explorer, copy the tracking firmware Vet2.ldr file to the flash drive VET2 created in step
12. This is just a drag and drop exercise. While copying the green LED on the baseboard is lit up.
You must wait until the green LED goes dark and any interrupt during this process will require
the usb flash drive to be reformatted (see remedial steps below).
14 Once the copying has completed then press the small button on the baseboard momentarilly.
This reboots the baseboard. After 5 seconds the PC will register a usb video device and a human
interface device. Once these have installed the unit is ready for final testing. (see test notes)

Remedial steps
1. Interrupted flash programming: if there was a problem with step 12 then remove the usb
cable, re-insert it and then press and hold the button on the baseboard. When the green
LED flashes once you should release the button. The PC will register a flash drive. Reformat
this and repeat step 12
2. Interrupted step 9: If step 9 was interrupted then power cycle the baseboard and repeat
from step 1. Note that you should “press any key” at the command prompt within the first
5 seconds from power up.