Flash Tools Downloads
Flash Download Utility for 8 and 16-bit Single Board Computer Modules
PHYTEC 8- and 16-bit Single Board Computer modules are delivered with the special "FlashTools" utility, enabling download of user code in machine-readable format via serial interface to Flash memory populating our SBC modules. This convenient means of in-system programming (ISP) forgoes the need to use dedicated programming devices to download user code to Flash memory.
Depending on the implemented controller, some PHYTEC SBCs are delivered with a special firmware-side FlashTools kernel resident in on-board memory. This firmware communicates with FlashTools installed on a host-PC, allowing communication and download to the target SBC module. A special protection mechanism secures the FlashTools firmware from accidental erasure or overwrite. Other PHYTEC SBC modules use the controller-level bootloader to download a target-side FlashTools firmware to the SBC at the start of the programming cycle.
The newest version of FlashTools, FlashTools 3, integrates into a single download utility program the previously stand-alone 8-bit, 16-bit and on-chip Flash (OCF) versions of FlashTools. FlashTools 3 also offers:
- A quick and secure means of programming Flash via a special serial protocol
- Auto-start for automated processes using a combination of batch command and script files, enabling erasure and programming of Flash in a single action
- A Windows .dll driver enabling full integration of the FlashTools interface and features into end user Window applications
- User expansion, such as simultaneous broadcast download of user code to multiple targets via CAN
