For users of our Cyclone for Renesas stand-alone programmer, we've made our library of programming algorithms for supported Renesas devices available for download here. As always, if you do not see the algorithm you need for a supported device, you can use this link to request a custom algorithm. The Cyclone for Renesas currently supports the H8, R8C, and M16C families.
Freescale offers certain development boards with an integrated debug circuit based on Open Source BDM. The Open Source BDM circuit design is an open source, community-driven design. It has been published on Freescale's website, and full documentation can be found in the Community Forums.
P&E Microcomputer Systems has released a free utility that allows the user to upgrade the firmware on the current JM60-OSBDM development board design. The utility may be downloaded at: www.pemicro.com/osbdm
P&E's USB Multilink (part# USB-ML-12E) hardware interface is required to perform this firmware update. The process of updating the firmware via this utility is very simple. Please follow these steps:
1. Plug the USB Multilink into the 6-pin BDM header for a JM60 device in the OSBDM design.
2. Click the "Select" button to browse for the firmware file that you would like to download to the OSBDM design.
3. Click the "Update Firmware" button to complete the firmware update.
This video provides a brief comparison of the features of two popular
P&E hardware interfaces, the USB BDM Multilink and the Cyclone PRO.
This overview is intended to help users determine which interface is
best suited for their project. More information about each interface
can be found on the USB-ML-12 and Cyclone PRO product pages.
P&E is pleased to announce that 64-bit Windows support has arrived,
including support for Windows 7. P&E software has been upgraded
to work under Windows 7 (and other Windows 64-bit operating systems) by
using the latest version of our drivers - P&E Hardware Interface
Drivers 10. There is no need to worry about P&E software
compatibility if you're migrating to a Windows 64-bit OS at home or in
the office. Click through to read more...
We're pleased to announce the release of our latest device drivers.
This update includes support for Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, and
Windows 7 Operating Systems for both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures,
as well as some minor bug fixes. Please click through for simple instructions.
The power of P&E's Cyclone programmers is now available for Renesas! P&E's Cyclone for Renesas is a flexible, affordable in-circuit flash programming solution for Renesas devices that excels in a demanding production environment. After configuration, operation is as simple as one touch. Click through to read more about the latest addition to P&E's Cyclone family of programmers.
This video gives a demonstration of how to load a programming image onto a
CompactFlash card in the expansion port of P&E's Cyclone products.
CompactFlash activation is a powerful feature that lets users expand
the memory and versatility of their Cyclone:
One
of the key features of P&E Cyclone stand-alone programmers is their
ability to store all necessary programming information - binary data,
algorithm information, and programming settings – in the Cyclone’s
internal memory, in a format known as the Stand-Alone Programming (SAP)
Image. This allows programming operations to be initiated by pushing a
single button.
Now this memory space can be expanded via optional software which
enables the Cyclones’ CompactFlash interface. The expanded storage
feature simplifies management of Stand-Alone Programming images. This
Expert’s Corner explains how to take advantage of the CompactFlash card
feature to facilitate the Stand-Alone Programming process.
P&E engineer Edison Tam demonstrates how to program
Freescale's QE128 with P&E's Cyclone PRO stand-alone automated
programmer, and gives an overview of the development and production
capabilities of the Cyclone PRO. To learn more, please visit the Cyclone PRO product page:
Watertown, MA - P&E Microcomputer Systems has expanded its line of UNIT Library Interface Routines by adding a new version that supports Freescale's RS08 microcontroller family. P&E's UNIT Libraries allow the user to create custom Windows applications that can fully control an RS08 processor using either P&E's Cyclone PRO (Rev. C) or USB-ML-12 (Rev. C) interfaces. It also supports P&E's DEMO9RS08LA8, DEMO9RS08LE4, and DEMO9RS08KB12 development boards, available through Freescale.
The UNIT libraries are frequently used to build custom production line testers. The libraries allow applications to peek and poke memory, peripherals, and other resources of the processor by using P&E interfaces to access the debug port. With these abilities, the application can perform tests of the target hardware, calculate target calibration data, or simply control the target using debug mode.
More information about P&E's UNIT Interface Library Routines for the RS08 can be found at P&E's website.
P&E's flash programming software PROG12Z now supports the Freescale MC9S12XE family of microcontrollers.
The MC9S12XE family of microcontrollers comes with unique flash
memory called D-Flash that can be allocated for Emulated EEPROM (EEE)
which mimics the small sector size and endurance of real eeprom.
Before you can program the D-Flash or EEE, the D-Flash must be
configured with the "Full Partition" command PROG12Z. This article discusses how to program the MC9S12XE100 using PROG12Z.
Systems that use memory-mapped external flash require special considerations from a programming perspective. Because there are so many variables, questions about external flash are among the most common types of technical support inquiries that we receive. In this article, we provide an overview of how the P&E PROG software handles external flash and offer some tips to help debug a system. The examples in this article relate to Freescale ColdFire devices, but the concepts can be applied to most microprocessor systems. Click through to read more...
P&E has updated its Cyclone PRO Image Creation Utility to provide a
way for users to set a custom trim frequency for HCS08, RS08, and CFV1
devices that have an internal reference clock. To use this feature, the
user must first select a programming algorithm, because not all devices
have the same maximum and minimum internal reference clock
frequencies. Click through for more information about setting a custom trim frequency...
Did you know that P&E offers full chip simulation for all 8-bit Freescale
devices? This powerful tool allows you to jump start device evaluation
and firmware development. You can start writing code without having
access to the actual device. All aspects of 8-bit devices from
the CPU to external I/O can be analyzed in a full-chip
simulator.
Continue reading for more information about P&E's full chip simulation...
P&E’s PROG programming software will sometimes prompt the user to
enter a “Base Address”. In this article, we discuss what the base
address is and why it exists. For situations where the flash can be relocated, the PROG software will always move the flash so that it begins at address 0. However, the developer may not have an object file that matches this new memory mapping. To account for this, the “Base Address” (specified by the user) is subtracted from all addresses in the object file prior to programming.
Click through to read more about understanding the base address...
Today's tip concerns P&E's Cyclone automated programmers. With the release of the Cyclone Automated Control Package,
users have been inquiring if there is a way to automate the creation of stand-alone
images. Fortunately, with the standard Cyclone
PRO/MAX installations, users already have command-line executables that
can accomplish this task.
Click through to view a demonstration of how to use CSAPHCS08Z.EXE to create a stand-alone image for a 9S08QE128 device...
P&E's Cyclone PRO makes it very simple to program both the Flash
and EEPROM on your target HC08/HCS08/HC(S)12(X) device. There is a
unique algorithm for each device and the type of memory, so the first
step is to determine the correct algorithm for your setup. A list of
all of our algorithms is located here. If you need help indentirying the correct algorithm, please refer to our previous post, Choosing The Right Programming Algorithm.
When you need to convert between object file formats, download one
of P&E's free, C language development kits. These kits include a
full GNU compiler toolchain, including Binutils OBJCOPY.
When using P&E's PROG family of programming software, it's
necessary to specify the correct programming algorithm to match
your hardware setup. Because P&E
provides thousands of different programming algorithms this can seem like a duanting task. In this article
we discuss how to quickly determine the programming algorithm that correctly matches a specific hardware setup. Click through to read more...
Did you know that the Freescale Codewarrior IDE includes an
option that allows you to program flash with more flexibility? This option is
called “Expert Mode."
Expert Mode provides a set of general interface
functions which are used to control the erasing, verifying, programming and
viewing of modules to be programmed and provides the flexibility of choosing
your own flash programming algorithm and program/erase ranges in your module
within the IDE.
Click through to find out more about using PROG features in CodeWarrior...
Freescale offers certain development boards with an integrated debug circuit based on Open Source BDM. The Open Source BDM circuit design is an open source, community-driven design. It has been published on Freescale's website, and full documentation can be found in the Community Forums. 
P&E's flash programming software PROG12Z now supports the Freescale MC9S12XE family of microcontrollers.
P&E has updated its Cyclone PRO Image Creation Utility to provide a
way for users to set a custom trim frequency for HCS08, RS08, and CFV1
devices that have an internal reference clock. To use this feature, the
user must first select a programming algorithm, because not all devices
have the same maximum and minimum internal reference clock
frequencies. Click through for more information about setting a custom trim frequency...
Did you know that P&E offers full chip simulation for all 8-bit Freescale
devices? This powerful tool allows you to jump start device evaluation
and firmware development. You can start writing code without having
access to the actual device. All aspects of 8-bit devices from
the CPU to external I/O can be analyzed in a full-chip
simulator. 
When you need to convert between object file formats, download one
of P&E's free, C language development kits. These kits include a
full GNU compiler toolchain, including Binutils OBJCOPY.