1. Meaning of Errors
"DEVICE INITIALIZE COM ERR" indicates an error detected during initial communication.
"DEVICE ILLEGAL REPLY" indicates an abnormal response from the target microcontroller.
The last two digits of the code represent the action taken when the error occurs;
"0F" indicates a communication error during initial communication.
<Verification Items>
If you have not yet been able to successfully program the microcontroller (100% error rate),
please first verify the following points, including ensuring the programmer is correctly set up:
* You are using the correct definition file and Micom Pack for the target microcontroller.
* Check the definition file and Micom Pack manuals and ensure the correct parameter
settings are configured for your target board.
* Check the "Typical Connection Examples" described in the Micom Pack
manual and ensure the target is correctly connected.
2. Main Error Causes and Countermeasures
If the error "DEVICE INITIALIZE COM ERR" or "DEVICE ILLEGAL REPLY 0F" occurs alone
(without other errors),it indicates an initial communication error, and the following
hardware factors are likely to be the cause:
<Poor Contact/Wiring>
- Poor contact of probe pins or connectors, or wiring problems such as broken wires.
<Signal Waveform Quality Issues>
- If the jig wiring length is long, or if there is a large series resistor on the
communication line on the target board, the rising and falling edges of the signal
waveform may be distorted.
->(Example Countermeasures)
- Minimize the jig wiring length.
- Try reducing the communication baud rate from 5Mbps to 2.5Mbps.
- In the case of single-wire UART communication, a large pull-up resistor may
distort the rising edge waveform.
->(Example of countermeasures)
・If the pull-up resistor on the target board is 10kΩ, add a 4.7kΩ pull-up resistor
on the jig.
*Depending on the microcontroller specifications, the appropriate pull-up resistor
is approximately 1kΩ to 4.7kΩ.
The smaller the resistance value, the less distortion there will be in the rising edge waveform.
For other wiring-related checks, please refer to the following link.
Regarding the review of the wiring of jig equipment
<Noise Factors>
・Bit corruption occurred due to the influence of sudden noise, resulting in abnormal
received data.
*If other errors (such as the last two digits of the code ERASE:01, PROGRAM:03, etc.)
or other error codes are also occurring simultaneously, the possibility of a sudden
noise factor increases.
・Overshoot or undershoot occurs in the rising or falling edge of the signal
Due to the effects of the device's drive capability, the impedance matching of the
transmission line, and signal reflection at connectors, the waveform of the rising and
falling edges of the signal may be distorted, affecting communication.
-> (Examples of countermeasures)
• Add a damping resistor of approximately 10 ohms to 100 ohms in series with the
signal line.
• Add a pull-down resistor of approximately 1 kΩ to the signal line.
*When implementing these countermeasures, please select appropriate circuit constants
while checking the signal waveform.
For other noise countermeasures, please refer to the following link.
Noise Countermeasures for Programming Equipment
<Equipment failure>
• To determine whether there is a hardware failure, please replace the probe hardware
(e.g., PHX400) or programmer unit (e.g., AFX100, AFX210) with a spare unit and
check if the situation improves.
<Use of older versions of products>
Using older versions does not necessarily cause errors, but for troubleshooting
purposes, it is recommended to check operation with the latest version when
a problem occurs.
• Please check the version of the definition file and Micom pack (parameters files)
you are using, and if you are using an older version, please update to the latest version
and check operation.
Please check the versions of the main unit firmware and FPGA. If you are using an older
version, please update to the latest version and verify operation.
For instructions on how to check your current version and how to update, please refer
to the following links:
How to check the various versions of NETIMPRESS
How to update the main unit firmware/FPGA