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FlashICE

 
 
The first memory emulator to recognize and respond to flash commands.

W
hile many developers use PromICE to emulate flash memory, this works only if flash is used as a read-only device.  A true flash memory emulator must recognize and respond to commands specific to the manufacturer and type of flash.  FlashICE is the first emulator to provide true flash memory emulation. 

FlashICE is a new type of tool for the development and test of flash update routines.  These routines update firmware once a product is in the field, log data or error conditions to flash memory or update data in flash file systems. 

Developing these routines is a small but critical part of the product development.   If an update routine does not recover fully from any error condition, it will terminate part way, leaving partially updated firmware and a nonfunctioning product.   With the consequences of failure so great, update routines must be tested to ensure they will work or recover under any conditions.  FlashICE is the only tool available to test or analyze flash update routines. 

FlashICE responds exactly like a flash to commands such as read or write sectors, erase sectors, or suspend and resume erases.  FlashICE speeds up development - it is no longer necessary to program flash in a programmer or via JTAG to test code.   (Older programmers may not even recognize flash or accommodate the flash footprint).

FlashICE provides simulation and analysis capabilities, providing feedback whenever a flash command is issued: verifying success or providing diagnostic error messages.  Flash devices provide no such feedback.  It's also possible to log the actions and results of each command to ensure that the update routines are executing correctly. 

FlashICE simulates potential physical and logical problems which can occur with a flash device.  Without FlashICE, there is no way to test how update routines respond and recover when they encounter these problems.  With FlashICE, you can anticipate these problems and design update routines to respond to them correctly.

FlashICE is invaluable for projecting the long-term life of flash used in embedded products.  FlashICE will provide a statistical profile of writes to each sector over a period of time.  With this information, you can project failure rates and ensure that improper wear leveling is not drastically reducing the life of the flash device.  

FlashICE Description

Flash memory supported AMD Am29F010, Am29F040
Host support: PC, UNIX workstations-download over serial, parallel or Ethernet

 

Flash command recognition

Autoselect Identify Manufacturer, device and die code, sector status
Read/Reset Resets flash, exits autoselect
Chip Erase Erase entire flash device (except protected sectors)
Sector Erase Erase individual sector(s)
Erase Suspend/Resume Interrupt erase to read data from non-busy sectors
Byte Program Program individual bytes

 

Flash error simulation:

Simulate bad sectors/locations Test update routine recovery form damaged devices
Simulate "busy" device Test for update routines read/write to a busy device
Set Sectors Erase Timeout  
Set ETL error Test for recovery when time limit exceeded

 

Flash analysis:

Program/Erase Diagnostics Verify correct algorithms, provide positive indication of successful completion or diagnostic error messages
Flash Activity Logging Records all flash commands with addresses to analyze performance of flash update routines
Flash Odometer Counts writes/sector, allows profile of flash sector use to ensure correct wear leveling
       
     
 
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