Recent technical history of Micro1401 Mk 2 firmware

There are two types of firmware in the Micro1401 Mk 2: software and hardware. The software firmware is the program code that tests the Micro1401 when you switch it on and that then obeys instructions transmitted from the host. The hardware firmware includes controls for components such as the ADC and DACs, the clocks, the digital input and output, and the host ports.

Latest version freely down-loadable now. See also the technical history of the firmware of the micro mk 1 or the Micro-3.

Date Revision Summary
12/09 16
CEDpost 14 Self Test
Pld851 13 FPGA
M1401 14 Monitor
Angel 02 Boot
  • Fixes a rare DAC write timing error present in Pld851 versions 11 and 12
01/09 15
CEDpost 14 Self Test
Pld851 12 FPGA
M1401 14 Monitor
Angel 02 Boot
  • Self-test code adjusted to avoid very rare false errors.
  • Added hardware to detect source of overrun errors.
  • Corrected fault in triggered ADC clock start in Pld851 version 11.
  • Fixed timing error at start of clocked ADC conversions.
10/08 14
CEDpost 13 Self Test
Pld851 10 FPGA
M1401 14 Monitor
Angel 02 Boot
  • Many tests protected against pulses on event inputs during tests.
  • Added extra test for clocked ADC conversions.
  • Added support for OVRSRC register to give more information in the event of an interrupt error.
  • Code emulating EEPROMs in flash memory improved to avoid problems with EEPROM writes.
04/08 13
CEDpost 12 Self Test
Pld851 10 FPGA
M1401 13 Monitor
Angel 02 Boot
  • Correction to the host transfer code to fix a problem with the new high-efficiency data transfers in Spike2.
04/08 12
CEDpost 12 Self Test
Pld851 10 FPGA
M1401 12 Monitor
Angel 02 Boot
  • Provides scatter/gather data transfer mechanisms for transfers to host PC, plus generalised I2C bus access functions.
10/07 11
CEDpost 12 Self Test
Pld851 10 FPGA
M1401 11 Monitor
Angel 02 Boot
  • SetADCList extended to allow sub-bursts.
  • Uses EEPROM tag to detect sync hardware.
11/06 10
CEDpost 12 Self Test
Pld851 10 FPGA
M1401 10 Monitor
Angel 02 Boot
  • Self test does not generate spurious E0CSR and E1CSR reset test errors when signals are connected to E0 and E1 inputs.
05/06 9
CEDpost 11 Self Test
Pld851 10 FPGA
M1401 10 Monitor
Angel 02 Boot
  • USB data handling in high-load situations improved
  • ADC overrun interrupt test timing improved, interrupt test checks for no interrupt
  • Waits for the USB interface to be configured before starting self-test
  • Enhanced reset pulse generation and system timer interrupt handling
02/05 8
CEDpost 09 Self Test
Pld851 08 FPGA
M1401 09 Monitor
Angel 02 Boot
  • SetTimerClock supports T clock character to select edge-triggered start in e.g. DIGTIM.
  • Self-test handles error LED better when reporting errors via the USB interface.
08/04 7
CEDpost 08 Self Test
Pld851 08 FPGA
M1401 08 Monitor
Angel 02 Boot
  • INFO and CONFIG commands extended
04/04 6
CEDpost 08 Self Test
Pld851 08 FPGA
M1401 07 Monitor
Angel 02 Boot
  • USB reset logic improved
  • ADC multiplexer bit 6 and test register implemented
  • Improved tests on clocked digital outputs
  • Improved USB support
  • Improved USB type detection
  • Extended INFO command
04/03 5
CEDpost 06 Self Test
Pld851 07 FPGA
M1401 05 Monitor
Angel 02 Boot
  • Prevents USB character data overflow
  • Better timing in topbox serial EEPROM access
  • Fixed debug ramp address and ramp data loops
10/02 4
CEDpost 06 Self Test
Pld851 07 FPGA
M1401 04 Monitor
Angel 02 Boot
  • Self test Post now tests the DILDATN logic
  • FPGA Pld has improved DAC update timing
08/02 3
CEDpost 04 Self Test
Pld851 06 FPGA
M1401 04 Monitor
Angel 02 Boot
  • Self test: Added support for 2270 chip and top box test registers.
  • FPGA: Improved timing for USB interface access, added non-destructive read address (DILDATN) for digital input data low byte.
  • Monitor: Added support for 2270 chip, and large numbers of ADC channels. Flash slot erase command added.
  • Boot: Added initialisation code for 2270.
03/02 2
CEDpost 02 Self Test
Pld851 01 FPGA
M1401 03 Monitor
  • Self-test: Adjusted to handle both 10 volt build and Patch option in DAC tests.
  • Monitor: Fixed possible timing problem with very fast host PCs
12/01 1
CEDpost 01 Self Test
Pld851 01 FPGA
M1401 02 Monitor
  • The command loading was made more robust.