Mcu firmware update procedure – Studio Technologies 214 User Manual

Page 28

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Issue 1, July 2014

Model 214 User Guide

Page 28

Studio Technologies, Inc.

cap, graphic label, and frosted lens. Once

this is done carefully pull on the body of the

LED and it will pull out of the socket. (A pair

of needle-nose pliers may be required to

perform this task.)
If an LED needs to be replaced note that

it is a polarized device. If upon insertion

it does not light, simply remove the LED,

rotate it 180 degrees, then re-insert it into

the socket.

MCU Firmware Update

Procedure

It’s possible that updated versions of the

firmware (embedded software) that runs

the Model 214’s microcontroller (MCU)

integrated circuit will be released to add

features or correct issues. (Contact Studio

Technologies’ technical support to review

the available firmware.) The unit has the

ability to automatically load revised files

into the MCU’s non-volatile memory by way

of its USB interface. The Model 214 imple-

ments a USB host function that directly

supports connection of a USB flash drive.

The Model 214’s MCU updates using a file

named

m214.bin.

The update process begins by preparing

a USB flash drive. The flash drive doesn’t

have to be empty (blank) but must be in the

personal-computer-standard FAT32 for-

mat. Save the new firmware file in the root

directory with a name of

m214.bin. Studio

Technologies will supply the MCU file inside

a .zip archive file. While the firmware file

inside of the zip file will adhere to the nam-

ing convention required by the Model 214,

the name of the zip file itself will include the

MCU file’s version number. For example,

a file named

m214v1r2MCU.zip would

indicate that version 1.2 of the firmware

(

m214.bin) is contained within this zip file.

Once the new file is loaded into the Model

214 the 2-digit LED display should be

used to confirm that the correct firmware

version has been successfully installed.
To install the firmware file follow these

steps:
1. Remove power from the Model 214.

This will entail removing the Ethernet

connection if it is providing PoE power

and/or removing the external source of

12 volts DC if that is being used.

2. Ensure that nothing is present in the

USB port. Then again apply power to

the unit and “read” the currently load-

ed firmware version using the 2-digit

LED display. Note this for later refer-

ence.

3. Remove power from the Model 214.
4. Insert the prepared USB flash drive into

the Model 214’s USB port, located on

the back panel of the unit.

5. Apply power to the Model 214. Power

can be provided by Power-over-Ether-

net (PoE) associated with a connected

Ethernet signal or can be from an

external 12 volt DC source.

6. The Model 214 will run a “boot loader”

program that will immediately load the

new MCU (

m214.bin) file. This process

takes only a few seconds. During this

time period the LED located below

the USB connector will flash slowly on

and off green. Once the entire loading

process is over, taking approximately

10 seconds, the Model 214 will restart

using the newly-loaded firmware.

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