(Topic ID: 354055)

gq 4x4 programmer fails writing with larger eproms

By harig

31 days ago



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  • 6 posts
  • 4 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 31 days ago by harig
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    #1 31 days ago

    my programmer recently developed some issues:

    In the past I had no issues programming different types of 27C040, M27C4001, TMS27C040 and other even larger Eproms
    When burning yesterday some M27C512 eproms all worked fine without issues but the M27C4001 will always fail during writing at the exact same position/address: 26,58% / 0x022001

    - all eproms were blank checked before
    - tested with slower speed (0 instead of default +2)
    - updated firmware with the latest version 7.32
    - tested different USB ports (2.0 , 3.0) on the laptop
    - tested with additional external power supply
    - voltage dignostic: all tests passed
    - used different device profiles (27C040, M27C4001, TMS27C040) to program the chip
    - tested at least 15 different eproms (some of them were successfully programmed in the past already)

    As the programming always fails at the same address I verified the hex files from eprom and noticed following:
    starting from address 0x22000 the data written into the eprom is not the same as shown in the buffer at the corresponding address . Instead starting from address 0x22000 the data read from the eprom is the same as located at address 0x2000 - note the offset!
    It seems to me that address line A17 is involved in that issue causing that the data from 0x2000 onwards gets duplicated at address 0x22000 onwards.
    Till address 0x21FFF all seems fine and from 0x22000 the duplication starts
    Does my programmer have issues with adress decoding?

    I used the "test H/w" functionality to toggle the states of all the pins of the programmer - even A17 seems fine and toggles betwenn 0V and 3,3V like all the other adress lines. When starting a blank check one can also see some traffic on A17 (toggling between 0V / 3.3V) which leads to the estimation that A17 should be ok.

    What I noticed during those H/W tests that D6 and D7 only provide 3,8V when high while all the other data pins D0 - D5 provide 4,8V
    Could that be my issue?

    opened the programmer to check-except for quite some flux left from production I could not see anything obvious. Tried to follow the signal paths which is not that easy without schematics

    Any idea what is causing my "duplication" of data at the wrong address?

    thanks

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    #2 31 days ago

    I had some problem with my GQ-4X a few years ago, it failed during writing, after cleaning the ZIF socket with electronic cleaner spray and air duster spray it started working again, a long shot but might be worth a try.

    #3 31 days ago

    I'd contact the manufacturer of your eprom programmer.

    https://www.mcumall.com/store/index.php?route=product/category&path=66

    They have a forum there, and I'd expect you'll have better luck getting specific service advice there.

    #4 31 days ago

    thanks for the hints.

    I already posted there the same question: http://www.mcumall.com/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13807

    in the meantime I could find some additional sympthoms: I go into Test H/W mode where one can set individual adresses.
    when I set A13 to high (3.3V) A17 also goes to high although not activated. The other way around A17 high, A13 stays low as expected.
    Setting just A17 high/low also works fine
    seems there is some connection or other issue from A13 to A17 - ohmic measurement between those pins is fine and same as between other adresspins

    #5 31 days ago

    Looks like the chips are not blank, looks like they need erased.

    Quoted from harig:

    my programmer recently developed some issues:
    In the past I had no issues programming different types of 27C040, M27C4001, TMS27C040 and other even larger Eproms
    When burning yesterday some M27C512 eproms all worked fine without issues but the M27C4001 will always fail during writing at the exact same position/address: 26,58% / 0x022001
    - all eproms were blank checked before
    - tested with slower speed (0 instead of default +2)
    - updated firmware with the latest version 7.32
    - tested different USB ports (2.0 , 3.0) on the laptop
    - tested with additional external power supply
    - voltage dignostic: all tests passed
    - used different device profiles (27C040, M27C4001, TMS27C040) to program the chip
    - tested at least 15 different eproms (some of them were successfully programmed in the past already)
    As the programming always fails at the same address I verified the hex files from eprom and noticed following:
    starting from address 0x22000 the data written into the eprom is not the same as shown in the buffer at the corresponding address . Instead starting from address 0x22000 the data read from the eprom is the same as located at address 0x2000 - note the offset!
    It seems to me that address line A17 is involved in that issue causing that the data from 0x2000 onwards gets duplicated at address 0x22000 onwards.
    Till address 0x21FFF all seems fine and from 0x22000 the duplication starts
    Does my programmer have issues with adress decoding?
    I used the "test H/w" functionality to toggle the states of all the pins of the programmer - even A17 seems fine and toggles betwenn 0V and 3,3V like all the other adress lines. When starting a blank check one can also see some traffic on A17 (toggling between 0V / 3.3V) which leads to the estimation that A17 should be ok.
    What I noticed during those H/W tests that D6 and D7 only provide 3,8V when high while all the other data pins D0 - D5 provide 4,8V
    Could that be my issue?
    opened the programmer to check-except for quite some flux left from production I could not see anything obvious. Tried to follow the signal paths which is not that easy without schematics
    Any idea what is causing my "duplication" of data at the wrong address?
    thanks[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

    #6 31 days ago

    the eproms were erased and blank checked...I fear it is something else.

    Quoted from Brtlkat:

    Looks like the chips are not blank, looks like they need erased.

    I continued and isolated the two outputs A13+A17 at the CPLD (U6) - the 'crosstalk' from A17 to A13 already happens there - so no easy replacement of a diode or similar...

    could the issue already happen at the input of the CPLD ??
    or am I completely wrong and it is something else, e.g. a software issue???

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