The integrated online burning, which combines burning and testing, has gained more attention. To enhance burning efficiency, it's common to manufacture fixtures and burning jigs. Long cables are required between fixtures, jigs, and programmers, as the length of the cables affects the strength of signal transmission. Generally, the longer the cable, the weaker the signal. When the signal is weak, the failure rate of burning also increases. So, how can we address the instability issue in the chip burning process of programmers?
Firstly, we have added a shielding layer to prevent electromagnetic interference. As a tool that maintains close communication with the chip burning process, the programmer is highly sensitive to electromagnetic disturbances. The burning application environment is typically in factory workshops, but high-power equipment can exacerbate electromagnetic interference. To minimize interference as much as possible, it is recommended to add a shielding mesh to the burning line, or directly use wires with shielding capabilities, such as shielded wire or cable. Additionally, it is suggested to wear static gloves during operation to prevent interference.
Next, it's essential to choose wires with high conductivity. Generally, thicker wires are preferred, as the length, thickness, and material of the wire all affect the integrity of signal transmission. Choosing high-quality materials can reduce internal resistance and minimize signal loss. Common options include solid copper wire, silver-plated wire, and gold-plated wire.
We must also reduce the communication frequency. Communication frequency is a crucial reference data for information transmission. The higher the frequency, the faster the transmission speed, but as the frequency increases, the signal strength also diminishes. Therefore, when the line length is considerable, it is advisable to decrease the communication frequency to enhance the stability of the transmission.
Additionally, resistors can be connected to signal lines. Some chips have weak drive capabilities in their programming interfaces, so a pull-down resistor can be added to enhance the drive force. Of course, you can also opt for a programmer with stronger drive capabilities, as the programmer's drive force directly affects the length of the connections. There are programmers on the market that support online programming, directly outputting or inputting programming signals from the internal chip's IO ports or FPGA pins. If the drive force is weak, the signal can distort when the connections are long, leading to unstable programming. The solution is to enhance the signals through multiple routes, increase the programmer's drive force, and address the issue of long connections.
