Scribd
Upload
5 views3 pages

Transitioning From Legacy Cyclones

Uploaded by

danielbarrientos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
5 views3 pages

Transitioning From Legacy Cyclones

Uploaded by

danielbarrientos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Transitioning from Legacy Cyclones to Cyclone LC & Cyclone FX Programmers

This document describes both the differences between the legacy Cyclones and the Cyclone LC/Cyclone
FX, as well as considerations when transitioning to the newer hardware.

Legacy Cyclone Models


The following Cyclone models are considered legacy models
• Cyclone PRO
• Cyclone MAX
• Cyclone for ARM devices
• Cyclone for STMicro
• Cyclone for Renesas
• MON08 Cyclone

Differences between Cyclone LC/Cyclone FX and Legacy Cyclones


PEmicro’s Cyclone LC & Cyclone FX are the newest generation of Cyclones and are replacing our legacy
Cyclone products. This new Cyclone platform features several improvements:
· The Cyclone LC & Cyclone FX platforms can each support programming all of the devices
supported by legacy Cyclones.

· The Cyclone LC & Cyclone FX programmers feature a 4.3” touchscreen, which is a significant
improvement over the legacy Cyclones’ non-touch displays and navigation buttons.

· The Start button on the Cyclone LC & Cyclone FX programmers is rated for 1,000,000 presses,
which far exceeds the 100,000 press rating of the legacy Cyclones’ buttons.

· The Cyclone FX programmers have many new software features, such as the ability to detect
target power, the ability to delete individual images, a descriptive error message queue, dynamic
IP acquisition (DHCP), etc.

· Headers for the Cyclone LC & Cyclone FX are keyed on the opposite side as the legacy Cyclones.
The headers are also located within the body of the unit as opposed to around the sides. Users
with keyed connectors should check any connections carefully to be sure they will not need to be
re-oriented.

Note that the CompactFlash port on legacy Cyclones does not exist on Cyclone LC programmers and has
been replaced by the SDHC port on Cyclone FX programmers.

Cyclone FX programmers are high-speed versions of the Cyclone LC programmers which add higher
performance, larger internal storage (allowing many more images), security, the ability to set
programming limitations, power measurement, external SDHC memory expansion, and test capabilities.
A more comprehensive feature comparison is shown here:

https://www.pemicro.com/products/product_comparisons/cyclone_vs_FX.cfm

Migrating from Legacy Cyclones to Cyclone LC & Cyclone FX


Please pay close attention to the following issues.

Features & Device Support


The Cyclone LC and Cyclone FX platforms represent two different levels of features, pertaining to
security, storage size, communications speed, peripherals, etc. Once you have decided which set of
features you need (Cyclone LC or Cyclone FX), choose the model within that platform which offers the
device support that you require. One model will support ARM devices only, and one model will support
ARM devices as well as a broad range of NXP devices.
For Cyclone for STMicro migration, the Cyclone LC Universal and Cyclone FX Universal are the right
choices. Additionally a special adapter needs to be purchased. Adapters can be purchased at:

https://www.pemicro.com/products/product_viewDetails.cfm?product_id=159.

For Cyclone for Renesas migration, the Cyclone FX Universal is the only choice. Additionally a special
adapter needs to be purchased.Adapters can be purchased at:

https://www.pemicro.com/products/product_viewDetails.cfm?product_id=159.

More information can be found here:

https://www.pemicro.com/products/product_comparisons/cyclone_vs_FX.cfm

Programming Image Compatibility


Images generated with recent versions of the legacy Cyclone software will run without modification on
the Cyclone LC & Cyclone FX programmers.

Programming images generated with older versions of the Cyclone Legacy software may need to be
converted to a new format version to work with the Cyclone LC & Cyclone FX programmers. The
conversion is necessary to update the image to a more secure CRC version. Conversion does not require
any of the original files/settings used to generate the image, just the image file itself, and the data in an
image is not exposed during the conversion. There is a command-line utility in the Cyclone LC & Cyclone
FX software called SAP_CONVERT_CONSOLE.EXE which completes this conversion. The converted image
will run on the latest firmware versions for both the legacy Cyclones and Cyclone LC & Cyclone FX
programmers.

One advantage of images created with recent versions of the image creation utilities is that settings and
scripts used to generate a programming image are now stored in the image itself. While there is no ability
to read out the data stored in a programming image, the settings used to generate it can be imported
back into the image creation utility. This is convenient if, for instance, the user wants to see which power
settings are used in the image. It also allows a programming image to be regenerated if the user has all of
the data files needed.

Automated Control Software


Older versions of the Cyclone Automated Control Package, used to automate control of programming
and modify the images stored on a Cyclone from the PC, may need to be updated to the latest version in
order to work with the Cyclone LC & Cyclone FX programmers. The latest version of the Cyclone
Automated Control Package supports both new and legacy Cyclones.

Development IDE Software


There are many software development IDEs on the market which support older Cyclones, such as the
Cyclone PRO, for use in development. We have worked with many of these vendors to update their
software to transparently support the Cyclone LC & Cyclone FX programmers. The latest versions of
software such as NXP’s MCUXpresso IDE, MCUXpresso for VS Code IDE, Kinetis & S32 Design Studios,
Codewarrior, as well as IAR’s Workbench, Keil’s uVision, and Cosmic’s Zap now support the Cyclone LC &
Cyclone FX programmers just as they have supported the legacy Cyclones in the past.

For older tools which are no longer being actively supported, PEmicro provides many patches so that
customers can upgrade their older software to work with the latest hardware, including the Cyclone LC
and Cyclone FX programmers. PEmicro has a FAQ on the web describing this : http://www.pemicro.com/
faqs/faq_view.cfm?id=211

Cutting Edge Feature: Cloud Connectivity


Cyclone LC and Cyclone FX programmers allow the user to take advantage of cloud-connected
programming Jobs. Jobs are easy to create, much like SAP Images. But unlike SAP Images, the PEcloud
platform can be used to deliver programming Jobs securely, to start and stop programming, to view
programming results, and much more. Cloud-connected programming provides added control over, and
insight into, the programing process.

Visit us online at www.pemicro.com.

You might also like