A programmer, device programmer, chip programmer, device burner, or PROM writer is a piece of electronic equipment that arranges written

software Software is a set of computer programs and associated documentation and data. This is in contrast to hardware, from which the system is built and which actually performs the work. At the lowest programming level, executable code consists ...

to configure programmable non-volatile

integrated circuits An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit (also referred to as an IC, a chip, or a microchip) is a set of electronic circuits on one small flat piece (or "chip") of semiconductor material, usually silicon. Large numbers of tiny ...

, called programmable devices. The target devices include

PROM A promenade dance, commonly called a prom, is a dance party for high school students. It may be offered in semi-formal black tie or informal suit for boys, and evening gowns for girls. This event is typically held near the end of the school y ...

EPROM An EPROM (rarely EROM), or erasable programmable read-only memory, is a type of programmable read-only memory (PROM) chip that retains its data when its power supply is switched off. Computer memory that can retrieve stored data after a power s ...

EEPROM EEPROM (also called E2PROM) stands for electrically erasable programmable read-only memory and is a type of non-volatile memory used in computers, usually integrated in microcontrollers such as smart cards and remote keyless systems, or as a ...

Flash memory Flash memory is an electronic non-volatile computer memory storage medium that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed. The two main types of flash memory, NOR flash and NAND flash, are named for the NOR and NAND logic gates. Both us ...

eMMC The MultiMediaCard, officially abbreviated as MMC, is a memory card standard used for solid-state storage. Unveiled in 1997 by SanDisk and Siemens, MMC is based on a surface-contact low pin-count serial interface using a single memory stack sub ...

MRAM Magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) is a type of non-volatile random-access memory which stores data in magnetic domains. Developed in the mid-1980s, proponents have argued that magnetoresistive RAM will eventually surpass competing tec ...

, FeRAM,

NVRAM Non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM) is random-access memory that retains data without applied power. This is in contrast to dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and static random-access memory (SRAM), which both maintain data only for as lon ...

, PLDs, PLAs,

PALs PALS may refer to: * Patient Advice and Liaison Service * Pediatric Advanced Life Support * Periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths * Portraits of American Life Study * Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy * Pouch Attachment Ladder System * Prag ...

, GALs, CPLDs,

FPGAs A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is an integrated circuit designed to be configured by a customer or a designer after manufacturinghence the term '' field-programmable''. The FPGA configuration is generally specified using a hardware de ...

, and

microcontrollers A microcontroller (MCU for ''microcontroller unit'', often also MC, UC, or μC) is a small computer on a single VLSI integrated circuit (IC) chip. A microcontroller contains one or more CPUs ( processor cores) along with memory and programmabl ...

Function

Programmer hardware has two variants. One is configuring the target device itself with a socket on the programmer. Another is configuring the device on a

printed circuit board A printed circuit board (PCB; also printed wiring board or PWB) is a medium used in Electrical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering to connect electronic components to one another in a controlled manner. It takes the form of a L ...

. In the former case, the target device is inserted into a socket (usually

ZIF ZIF, ZiF or Zif may refer to: * Zero insertion force Zero insertion force (ZIF) is a type of IC socket or electrical connector that requires very little (but not literally zero) force for insertion. With a ZIF socket, before the IC is inserte ...

) on top of the programmer. If the device is not a standard ''DIP packaging'', a plug-in adapter board, which converts the

footprint Footprints are the impressions or images left behind by a person walking or running. Hoofprints and pawprints are those left by animals with hooves or paws rather than feet, while "shoeprints" is the specific term for prints made by shoes. The ...

with another socket, is used. In the latter case, device programmer is directly connected to the printed circuit board by a connector, usually with a cable. This way is called ''on-board programming'', ''in-circuit programming'', or ''

in-system programming In-system programming (ISP), or also called in-circuit serial programming (ICSP), is the ability of some programmable logic devices, microcontrollers, and other embedded devices to be programmed while installed in a complete system, rather tha ...

''. Afterwards the data is transferred from the programmer into the device by applying signals through the connecting pins. Some devices have a serial interface for receiving the programming data (including JTAG interface). Other devices require the data on parallel pins, followed by a programming pulse with a higher voltage for programming the data into the device. Usually device programmers are connected to a

personal computer A personal computer (PC) is a multi-purpose microcomputer whose size, capabilities, and price make it feasible for individual use. Personal computers are intended to be operated directly by an end user, rather than by a computer expert or tec ...

through a parallel port,

USB Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard that establishes specifications for cables, connectors and protocols for connection, communication and power supply (interfacing) between computers, peripherals and other computers. A broad ...

port, or LAN interface. A software program on the computer then transfers the data to the programmer, selects the device and interface type, and starts the programming process to read/ write/ erase/ blank the data inside the device.

Types

There are four general types of device programmers: # Automated programmers (multi-programming sites, having a set of sockets) for mass production. These systems utilize robotic pick and place handlers with on-board sites. This allows for high volume and complex output (such as laser marking, 3D inspection, Tape input/output, etc.) # Development programmers (usually single-programming site) for first article development and small-series production. # Pocket programmers for development and field service. # Specialized programmers for certain circuit types only, such as FPGA,

microcontroller A microcontroller (MCU for ''microcontroller unit'', often also MC, UC, or μC) is a small computer on a single VLSI integrated circuit (IC) chip. A microcontroller contains one or more CPUs (processor cores) along with memory and programmable i ...

, and

programmers.

History

Regarding old PROM programmers, as the many programmable devices have different voltage requirements, every pin driver must be able to apply different voltages in a range of 025 Volts. But according to the progress of memory device technology, recent flash memory programmers do not need high voltages. In the early days of

computing Computing is any goal-oriented activity requiring, benefiting from, or creating computing machinery. It includes the study and experimentation of algorithmic processes, and development of both hardware and software. Computing has scientific, e ...

, booting mechanism was a mechanical devices usually consisted of switches and

LEDs A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy in the form of photons. The color of the light (cor ...

. It means the ''programmer'' was not an equipment but a human, who entered

machine code In computer programming, machine code is any low-level programming language, consisting of machine language instructions, which are used to control a computer's central processing unit (CPU). Each instruction causes the CPU to perform a very ...

s one by one, by setting the switches in a series of "on" and "off" positions. These positions of switches corresponded to the machine codes, similar to today's

assembly language In computer programming, assembly language (or assembler language, or symbolic machine code), often referred to simply as Assembly and commonly abbreviated as ASM or asm, is any low-level programming language with a very strong correspondence be ...

. Nowadays,

s are used for

bootstrapping In general, bootstrapping usually refers to a self-starting process that is supposed to continue or grow without external input. Etymology Tall boots may have a tab, loop or handle at the top known as a bootstrap, allowing one to use fingers ...

mechanism as

BIOS In computing, BIOS (, ; Basic Input/Output System, also known as the System BIOS, ROM BIOS, BIOS ROM or PC BIOS) is firmware used to provide runtime services for operating systems and programs and to perform hardware initialization during the ...

, and no need to operate mechanical switches for programming.

Manufacturers

For each vendor's web site, refer to "External links" section. *Batronix
BPM MicrosystemsDiagProg4: CodiProg
* Xeltek Inc. *Conitec Datasystems
MCUmall Electronics Inc.
* Data I/O * Elnec *DediProg Technology Co.,Ltd * *Hi-Lo System Research *Phyton, Inc.

References

External links

*Technical information
JEDEC - Memory Configurations: JESD21-C

JEDEC - Common Flash Interface (CFI) Specification, JESD68.01, September 2003.

Intel - Common Flash Interface (CFI) and Command Sets

** ttps://www.keysight.com/main/editorial.jspx?&ckey=2052199 What is the IEEE 1532 Standard? Keysight Technologies
JEDEC - STANDARD DATA TRANSFER FORMAT BETWEEN DATA PREPARATION SYSTEM AND PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC DEVICE PROGRAMMER: JESD3-C, Jun 1994

JEDEC - JC-42 Solid State Memories
*Manufactures
BPM Microsystems

Xeltek Inc.

Conitec Datasystems Inc.

Data I/O Corporation

Elnec s.r.o.

Dediprog

Minato Holdings Inc.

Hi-Lo System Research Co. Ltd.

Phyton, Inc.

halec
{{DEFAULTSORT:Programmer (Hardware) Computer engineering Integrated circuits Non-volatile memory Gate arrays