Data Dolphin Tech Note

DV0501

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Updating the Firmware of the DVF-320 Meter

Introduction
The DVF-320 meter has, within its electronics, a basic level programming known as firmware. As part
of its commitment to improvement on this product, Optimum Instruments regularly updates this
firmware, giving the meter extended functionality and more robust operation. The following technote
details the procedure to update the firmware of your DVF-320 to a newer version. Note that this
procedure is intended to be performed by technical personnel only.

Connecting to the DVF-320 meter

The firmware of the DVF-320 is updated by a special program that uses the serial port of a laptop or
desktop PC to communicate with the DVF-320 meter. A standard serial cable is used to connect the
DVF-320’s communications port to the serial port of your desktop or laptop PC. To make this
connection you will have to open the DVF-320 as its communication port is located inside of the meter
at the top left corner of the main board. Install this cable, as shown in Figure 1 below, with DVF-320
disconnected from power.

*Power, sensor and output

connections not shown for DD-CC
clarity Serial
Communication
Cable

Laptop PC DVF-320 Meter*

Figure 1: Connecting the DVF-320 to a PC

Backing up the EEPROM image

As a precaution the current EEPROM image, which contains the settings for all the enabled input
channels for the DVF-320, should be backed up a BIN (binary) file. To do this will require that the Data
Dolphin software be installed on the programming computer. To back up the DVF-320’s EEPROM
image:

1. Plug in and power the DVF-320 meter.

2. Startup the Data Dolphin software on the PC and ensure that the Data Dolphin software is
communicating with the DVF-320 meter. For more information on testing Data Dolphin software
Optimum Instruments Inc. 1 of 4
#201, 3124 Parsons Road, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6N 1L6
For more info call (780) 450-0591 or FAX (780) 440-2515
Email: optimum@optinst.com 1000IE-03/03
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to DVF-320 communication, consult section 6.2.2 (Connecting with the Data Dolphin Software)
of the DVF-320 manual.]
3. Open the Setup window by clicking on the Setup button on the Data Dolphin software’s toolbar.
4. Click on the Precision Inputs tab.
5. Near the bottom of the window, double-click on the text that reads “These inputs have 24 bit
precision”. This will open a security input box.
6. Enter the password “Snoopy” and hit the enter key. This will open the EEPROM utility window.
7. Near the top of this window is a section of buttons named “Dolphin”. Click on the Read button in
this section. The Data Dolphin software will begin downloading from the DVF-320’s EEPROM.
When this operation is complete, the hexadecimal values of the EEPROM’s registers should
appear in the text area of the EEPROM utility window.
8. Near the top of the EEPROM utility window is a section named “Disk”. Click on the save button
to backup the DVF-320’s EEPROM image to the Data Dolphin software’s cache directory.
9. Close the EEPROM utility window and the Data Dolphin software.

The AVR program and firmware update.

The software application used to update the DVF-320 firmware is in a file called “AVRprog.exe”. This
application is ready to run as is and does not need a full installation on to the programming PC to run
correctly. Copy the program on to the programming PC into a convenient, quickly accessed location
(such as the desktop).

The actual firmware updates for the DVF-320 are stored in a HEX file format. This HEX file is read by
“AVRprog.exe” when it is programming the new firmware version into the meter. The version of the
firmware is contained in the first four letters of the HEX file name. For instance, “40261218.HEX”
means product “40” (the DVF-320 meter), firmware version “26”. Firmware updates are sequential (ie
version 26 would be and earlier version than 25). Prior to performing the firmware updating procedure,
power the DVF-320 meter and note the current firmware version displayed on the bottom line of the
LCD. Ensure that the version programmed into the meter is later than the version you intend to install.

Firmware updating procedure

Use the following procedure to update the DVF-320’s firmware:

1. To start the procedure, make sure that the power of the DVF-320 is off. Make sure you have
the AVRProg.exe program and the firmware hex image file in a convenient, easy to access
location on your PC. Connect the PC to the DVF-320 with serial communications cable (see
Connecting to the DVF-320 meter, page 1)
2. Power the DVF-320 meter. The will meter will begin booting its firmware. The LCD will show all
the character locations blocked out during the boot. While the meter is booting (a period of
approximately 10 seconds) a window exists to update the firmware. Immediately after powering
the meter, launch the firmware application by double-clicking on its icon.
3. The firmware application’s main interface, shown in Figure 2 below, should appear almost
immediately. However, a glitch exists in some versions of Windows where the application may
not be able to find the serial communications port the DVF-320 is connected to. In this case,
the application’s interface (Figure 2) will not immediately appear. Instead, the application will
eventually time-out and display a message similar to the one in Figure 3 below. If this is the
case, start the procedure over again and before the time-out message appears, unplug the
meter, plug it back in and while the meter is booting, launch another instance of the program.
The second instance will find the serial communications port and will work properly.

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Figure 2: Interface for firmware application (AVRprog.exe)

Figure 3: Communications time-out message

4. Once the firmware application has launched, click on the “Browse…” button and path to the
directory containing (HEX) file with the firmware update. Select the HEX file and click the Open
button to select the firmware update file.

Updating the Firmware of the DVF-320 Meter 3 of 4

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Figure 4: Windows file dialog to select firmware HEX file

5. In the “Flash” section of the firmware application interface, click the “Program” button. The
program will begin updating the firmware. A status bar above the “Flash” section will display
how far along the firmware update has progressed. Above the status bar a text message
should display, “Erasing device…”, then “Programming” and finally, “Verifying”.

Figure 5: Firmware application during updating

6. After a minute or so, the firmware update will be complete. Confirm that the new firmware is in
place by unplugging (powering off) the meter, and then plugging it in again. The new firmware
version will be displayed on the bottom line of the meter’s LCD.

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