Introduction

The HardwareUpdate Tool is used to program Firmware (FW) and FPGA images to the storage memory on the Demo2X and Demo3 baseboards. Please note that the screen shots will be for a Demo3 board; any major differences to Demo2X will be highlighted, otherwise the display name will be "Demo2X".

Note; For Demo2X boards, FW version 28 or higher is required to run on Windows 7 systems. FW versions lower than 28 must be updated on an XP system before being used on a Windows 7 system.

The tool is GUI based, and can be started via the "start" menu:

All Programs – Aptina Imaging – Tools – HardwareUpdate Tool

Once launched, this dialog will appear

Select "Next" to continue.

Note: "Prog fw:" applies to Demo3 only.

The main screen displays the current revisions of the FW and FPGA, and allows you to select which one to check for a new revision.

       This is an example of the display when all items are up-to-date.

       Note that "Current Boot Firmware" applies to Demo3 only.

This is an example that down-revision FPGA has been detected:

Select the radio button of the next to the item in Red, and then select "Next".  

Leave "Auto Update the FPGA code" as-is, select "Next".

The Next dialog allows you to select "Start FPGA Update" - select it and then "Next" and the download will start.

In the case of the FPGA, this can take several minutes.

Select the "Finish" button to exit.

Unplug and reinstall the USB cable to reboot the board.

The entire process should be performed again to verify the other items for the baseboard.

This same process is followed for the Firmware or any other item that needs upgrade.

Manual Select of a File to Download

       In some situations, you'll be requested to manually install an image - most likely an FPGA image.

       When that occurs, the "Choose Update" dialog will show nothing in Red.

       Select the Radio Button next to the item to be updated, and then "Next".  On the following dialog, select "Let me choose a new file".

Select the "Browse" button and navigate to the location per the instructions provided, then select "Open".

The selected file path will appear in the Text field next to the "Browse" button.  Select "Next" to continue with the process - select "Start FPGA Update" - select it and then "Next" and the download will start.

Recovery Instructions

It is possible that a Stage-2 FW update could render the Demo3 inoperative.

Here's a link to Recovery Instructions in case that happens.