RCX C-Link Series
Firmware
EDT, Inc.
2011 June 29
12
Firmware
To avoid version problems, EDT recommends against doing a firmware update unless you are convinced it
is necessary. If it is necessary, you can use the utility
rcxload
to query the firmware, verify it against a
provided firmware file, and update the firmware.
Versions
EDT extenders are factory-preset with the files shown in
Table 4
.
If your extender unit is using standard firmware older than revision 11, the unit will support camera speeds
of only 20–40 MHz at 1.25 GBaud, using a configuration code of 1-1 (ignore Data-Valid), 1-2 (use Data-
Valid), or 2-1 (framegrabber end).
For backward compatibility, firmware revisions of 11 or later will behave identically for configuration codes
1-1 and 1-2. As of firmware revision 11, Data-Valid is automatically detected. If you use configuration code
2-2 at the framegrabber end for 16-bit mode, you can use the corresponding configuration code of 1-2 at
the camera end.
NOTE
To determine whether your firmware is revision 11 or later, you can enter configuration code 3-5 (see
Configuration and LED Configuration Codes on page 7
). If the LED then blinks two fast, two slow, two
fast (indicating an unsupported configuration code), then you have firmware of revision 11 or later.
Querying, Verifying, and Updating
For base or medium mode, follow the steps below to query, verify, and update the firmware.
NOTE
This procedure works only if you are using EDT FOX or PCI Express framegrabbers and fiber extenders
in base or medium mode. If you are using anything else, contact EDT to update the firmware.
CAUTION
To avoid corrupting the firmware on the extender, do not interrupt the update by pressing Ctrl-C or
turning off the power while the update is in progress.
1.
Set up your system as instructed in this guide (see
Connecting the Extender Assembly on page 3
).
2.
Run
pciload
with no arguments to ensure that the system recognizes the EDT framegrabber. Typical
output appears thus:
pdv unit 0 (pci dv fox):
XC2S200 PCI FPGA, AMD 29LV081B 8MB FPROM
s/n AP0064, p/n 019-02103-11, i/f fpga xc2s400e, rev 11 clock 40 Mhz, opt f2
Sector 0
Sector 1
Sector 2 PROM id: <dvtlk4_3v.ncd 2s200fg456 2005/06/10 14:58:10>
Sector 3 PROM id: <dvtlk4_5v.ncd 2s200fg456 2005/06/10 14:58:16>
3.
Configure the extender with code 3-3 (see
Configuration and LED Configuration Codes on page 7
).
Table 4. FPGA configuration files for RCX-series extenders (as of February 2009)
Operating mode
Channel
FPGA configuration file
Base
[no channels]
rgb11.rcx
Medium
X
mx11.rcx
YZ
my11.rcx
Full
X
fx11.rcx
YZ
fyz11.rcx
