Flash Writer Help

Introduction

This program is used to load firmware updates onto communication processors

(measurement box) as well as measurement and camera processors (measuring sensors).
The firmware of the device being updated must be version 01.00 or higher.

General operating instructions

Program sequence

The firmware update is performed in several steps, whose sequence and execution is
dependent on the progress of the update, the status of the connected devices and the
program settings.

Each step is illustrated by a screen page which provides information on the measures to be
performed, the action currently being executed or the result of a particular action.

You can proceed with the next step once the measures stipulated by the program have been
carried out or the result of a particular action has been displayed.

Function buttons

Switches to the next program step.

Skips the next program step.

Quits the current program run and changes to the start page.

Opens the settings dialog.

Opens this help document.

Quits the FlashWriter program.

Not all the function buttons are always shown. Their availability depends on the current
program step and the possible or permitted actions.

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Program steps
Preparations

The axle measurement program and CCD server should not be running. If necessary, close
these programs. You can close the CCD server by right-clicking the CCD symbol in the info
field of the task bar. This will open a context-sensitive menu; select the menu item EXIT.

Firmware updates are only possible in cable operation. You should therefore connect all the
measuring sensors by cable.

Checking the connected devices / version check

The characteristics of the connected devices (measurement box and measuring sensors) are
determined and compared with the data in the firmware file. Providing the devices are
update-capable (dependent on the device model and installed firmware version), they are
earmarked for an update and marked accordingly on the display.

Providing that the version check has not been switched off (see chapter "Settings"), only the
results shown in this view determine whether or not the devices will be updated. Any
changes which may occur during the course of the update (e.g. after loading the measuring
processor firmware, previously non-updatable cameras can now be updated) are not taken
into account. This requires the program to be run again.

Updating the communication processor

The communication processor is updated. The result is displayed.

This step is only executed if the communication processor is updatable and the firmware file
contains a more recent version than that currently installed, or if the versions check function
has been disabled.

Updating the measurement processors

The measurement processors in all the connected measuring sensors are sequentially
updated. The result is then displayed.

This step is only executed if the respective measuring processor is updatable and the
firmware file contains a more recent version than that currently installed, or if the versions
check function has been disabled.

Do not make any modifications (pressing keys, connecting/disconnecting

cables etc.) to the connected devices when data is being transferred.
Data is being transferred if all the LEDs on the measuring sensor control
panel are flashing.

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Special procedure for individual measurement processors

This step is only carried out if the previous update of individual measurement processors
failed or the measuring processor could not be reached when performing the version check.

An attempt is made to update the measurement processors in a special mode that also
permits updates when the firmware is missing or corrupted.
Ensure that only the measuring sensor being updated is connected to its cable: all others
must be disconnected.

This step can be skipped for specific measuring sensors if you deliberately do not want them
to be updated (sensor not connected).
Don’t forget to reconnect all the measuring sensors cables once this special procedure has
been completed.

Preparing the updates for cameras 1 / 2

This step is required if the measuring sensors contain older types of measurement processor
boards. This is indicated by the EDV number, which ends in /01 or /02 on such devices. In
such cases it is necessary to open the device and make specific preparations so that the
cameras can be updated.

We strongly recommend that these measures are only implemented by

qualified service technicians.

Skip this step if you don’t want to update the cameras.

Updating the cameras

The cameras are updated. The result is displayed.

All the cameras 1 followed by all the cameras 2 of the connected measuring sensors are
sequentially updated.

This step is only executed if the firmware installed on the respective measuring processor is
at least version 02.00 and the firmware file contains a version more recent than that in the
camera, or if the versions check function has been disabled.

Do not make any modifications (pressing keys, connecting/disconnecting

cables etc.) to the connected devices when data is being transferred.
Data is being transferred if all the LEDs on the measuring sensor control
panel are flashing.

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Checking the connected devices / result

A final device check is performed. The update results are displayed.

Settings

The settings dialog allows the following options and settings to be made:

Selection list “Language”:

Used to select the language of the user interface.
When starting the program for the first time, a screen appears which allows the language to
be selected.

Option “Do not compare versions”:

Normally the firmware is only updated if the firmware image versions in the firmware file are
more recent than those installed on the devices. This is why a version comparison is
performed to check which devices can actually be updated. The version comparison can be
disabled here.
The version check is always performed at the start of a program run, however the results are
not taken into consideration when this option is selected.
This option is reset at the end of the program.

This option should only be used by experienced users or service technicians,

see chapter “Additional information“.

Option “Use other firmware file”:

Usually the firmware images are stored in the file FlashData.xml , which is located in the
same directory as program file FlashWriter.exe. If this option is selected, the file specified in
the text field below will be used instead.
Changing this option will have no effect on an update run that has already started.
This option is reset at the end of the program; the selected firmware file is noted.

This option should only be used by experienced users or service technicians,

see chapter “Additional information“.

Option "Interface"
This option will be required at a later date to permit the update of other types of measuring
sensors. It is disabled in the current version.

Specific notes and error messages

A screen page will display a corresponding message in case of faults or particular situations.

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An overview of possible faults and problems is given below:

“Measuring sensor cable not connected! A cable connection is required to perform the
Please connect the measuring sensor cable firmware update. It should therefore be
and proceed with the next step“. checked whether the measuring sensor
cables are connected before making the
update. A message will be output if this is not
the case.
“The firmware data file "<file path>" could not Per default the file FlashData.xml in the
be read.” program file directory is used, unless another
has been specified in the settings.

These messages may occur for the following

reasons:
ƒ The file does not exist, is damaged or
locked by another process.
ƒ Invalid file format, i.e. it does not contain
any firmware images.
“The communication processor cannot be Providing the communication processor and
reached.” measurement box are connected, this
message may be caused by one of the
following:
ƒ The serial interface is not functioning or is
blocked by another application.
ƒ The communication processor contains
neither an executable application nor a
boot loader, or it is defective.

Additional information
Loading an older version

Follow these steps to install an older version:

ƒ Select the settings option “Do not compare versions” and “Use other firmware file” and
then the file containing the older firmware images.
ƒ Start the firmware update. As there is no version comparison, the old firmware will now
be loaded onto all the connected devices.
ƒ On completion, deselect the options stated in the first step above.

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Notes on handling individual cases

If the measuring sensor does not contain a functioning firmware (all the LEDs on the
measuring sensor are permanently lit), connect it together with a functioning measuring
sensor to the measurement box prior to starting the Flash Writer. Otherwise it may not be
recognised by the communication processor and the update will fail.

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