I need to program a serial SPI EEPROM with a hex file. Can I use your Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter?  Which software application should I use with the Aardvark adapter?

Thanks for your questions! You can easily use the Aardvark adapter to program SPI EEPROMs. The contents of a hex file, as well as a binary or Motorola S-Record file, can be loaded for programming using the Flash Center Software.  It is also possible to use the Control Center Serial Software.

How the Applications Work

Here’s a summary of what the applications can do for you.

The Flash Center Software can quickly erase, program, and verify I2C and SPI based EEPROM and Flash memory devices. An XML parts library is provided with built-in support for EEPROMs and serial Flash chips from major manufacturers. However, if you need to program a device that is not yet supported, you can take an existing XML file and edit it per the data sheet of the device. For more information, please refer to this article about customizing XML files.

The Control Center Serial Software provides full access to all Aardvark adapter functionality and eliminates the need to write custom software to control the Aardvark adapter. It has also a batch scripting capability with the Aardvark XML Batch Script Language. For more information, please refer to this knowledge base article about programming in batch mode.

Programming Examples

We have two videos that show you how to program devices with the applications we recommended.

Programming an EEPROM with Flash Center Software

This video shows programming an SPI EEPROM using the Flash Center Software with a Cheetah SPI Host Adapter. You can use this information with your Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter.

When loading a hex of or S-Record file for programming a device, you’ll need to do following:

• Define at least one byte of padding in the Pad text field before loading a file.
• Afterwards, click the Load File button and select the desired file.

When loading a hex or S-Record file, any undefined regions in the file will be filled with the byte sequence specified in the Pad text field. The data pattern will be repeated through all undefined regions of memory in the data image, aligned to the data pattern size.

Programming with the Control Center Serial Software

This video shows how to program an I2C EEPROM using the Control Center Serial Software with an Aardvark adapter. The information is very similar to programming an SPI device.

We hope this answers your questions. Additional resources that you may find helpful include the following:

• Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter User Manual
• Flash Center Software User Manual
• Control Center Serial Software User Manual

If you want more information about our host adapters or other products, feel free to contact us with your questions, or request a demo that applies to your application.