RPM Systems Corporation
March, 2016 Page 5
MPQ Manufacturing Programmer User's Guide
1. MPQ Overview
The MPQ Manufacturing Programmer is a four port device programmer for In System Programming
(ISP) of microcontrollers. MPQ allows you to:
• program up to four devices simultaneously from one MPQ
• build arrays of up to 16 MPQ programmers to program up to 64 devices simultaneously
• store up to four different device images in programmer Flash
• use stand-alone (push-button), PC-controlled or ATE (Automated Test Equipment)-controlled
modes of operation
• accommodate target device voltages from 1.6 to 5.5V
1.1 MPQ Connections
The MPQ has three external connectors: the Power connector, the Control connector and the Target
connector. The Control connector is a 25-pin Female D Subminiature connector through which external control
of MPQ operations takes place. A Communications Cable is provided with the MPQ, which provides a
connection between its Control port and a host PC serial port for communications with the MP Manager
software.
The Target connector is a 30-pin 2mm male header which provides programming signals for up to four
target devices. The Power connector is a 2.1mm male barrel connector, through which the MPQ itself is
powered. A Target Cable assembly is provided with MPQ which connects its Target port to the circuit
board(s) containing the ISP devices to be programmed. RPM offers several termination options for the target
end of Target Cables depending upon the particular microcontroller being supported. Target connector options
and pin assignments are outlined in the appendices of this manual.
MPQ senses the target system power supply voltage on each of the four ports to determine when target
voltage is at acceptable levels for programming. The MPQ does not provide power to the target systems. The
power drawn by the MPQ from each target system for target voltage sensing is less than 1mA.
A power supply is provided with the MPQ, which plugs directly into the MPQ's Power connector, and
which is capable of operation from any 50/60Hz, 100 ~ 240VAC power source.
1.2 Programming Images
Images to be programmed into the target devices are stored in the MPQ's internal Flash memory. Up to
four different images can be stored in the MPQ. Images are loaded into MPQ flash from a file on the host PC,
or by reading a programmed device, using the MP Manager software provided with the MPQ. Additional
information required to program the target device, such as device type, target voltage and programming mode,
is provided by the operator at the time each image is loaded, and is stored with the image in the programmer.
Once an image is loaded into flash and the programmer's Target Cable is connected to the target systems,
programming can be initiated in one of three ways: by pushing the green button on the top of the MPQ box
(stand-alone mode), by asserting the Active# line on the Control connector (ATE mode), or on command from
