Program Creator Ci40 Flash With Dediprog

The Creator Ci40 platform, available from RS and Mouser, is designed to allow developers to easily create connected projects. For more projects, documentation and open-source code for the Creator Ci40 check out www.creatordev.io

Programming Creator Ci40 NOR Flash directly with Dediprog SF100

This article looks at how to connect a SPI flash programmer to the Creator Ci40 in order to directly program the boot loader image. Though this operation is typically done via the cXT200 SoC on the board, this is a handy alternate that can prove useful during development. It is also very useful to know that the Creator Ci40 board supports a dual partitioned Flash for over-the-air updates and roll-back capability.

For this article we’re going to show how to connect the Dediprog SF100 serial programmer to the Creator Ci40 to directly flash the development board.

More details about the Dediprog SF100 can be found here

http://www.dediprog.com/pd/spi-flash-solution/SF10...

Note: Other programmers which support the NOR Flash IC type found on the Creator Ci40 may be used.

If using another programmer the interconnection lead to the Creator Ci40 may need adjusting as appropriate for that programmer.

Creator Ci40 NOR Flash details:

Manufacturer.........................................Winbond

Part Numbers.......................................W25Q16DVSNIG or W25Q16JVSNIQ

Density..................................................16Mb

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The NOR flash u-boot images are available for download from:

https://github.com/CreatorDev/u-boot/releases

On the Creator Ci40 the cXT200 processor boots from NOR flash connected to the cXT200 SPI Master1 port.

Access to this port is provided via CN21 for the purpose of programming the NOR flash.

The Creator Ci40 must be powered when programming the NOR flash.

To prevent the cXT200 processor booting and simultaneously accessing the NOR flash whilst programming via the serial programmer, the Creator Ci40 should be held in reset.

We need to build a cable to bridge the Dediprog to the Creator CI40.

The Creator Ci40 can be held in reset by connecting the SYS_RESET# pin on CN21 to GND in the programming lead.

It is recommended that a low value resistor is used to prevent damage to the Ci40 board. We used a 100 ohms resistor in this example

CN21 is a 6 pin (2 row x 3 pin), 0.1” (2.54mm) pitch header, part Harwin M20-9760346, and a variety of connectors will mate with it. Individual jumper cables can also be used

The circuit of the SF100 to Creator Ci40 programming lead is shown here

Examples programming lead - Bill of Materials (B.o.M)

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SF100 mating connector ..........Harwin M20-1070700 (RS part 681-2868)

Ci40 mating connector .............Harwin M20-1070300 (RS part 681-2859)

Crimp terminal...........................Harwin M20-1180046 (RS part 681-2887)

Wire...........................................7/0.2mm

Resistor R1...............................100R 1/4W axial

You are now ready to program the flash directly.

Don't forget the Creator Ci40 must be powered when programming the NOR flash.

Happy programming :-)