Holtek e-Link User manual

e-Link for 8-Bit MCU ICP User’s Guide
Revision: V1.00 Date: May 13, 2015May 13, 2015

Rev. 1.00 2 May 13, 2015 Rev. 1.00 3 May 13, 2015
e-Link for 8-Bit MCU ICP User’s Guide e-Link for 8-Bit MCU ICP User’s Guide
Table of Contents
1. e-Link Introduction ......................................................................................... 3
2. e-Link Appearance and ICP Functions ......................................................... 3
2.1 e-Link Appearance ................................................................................................................3
2.2 e-Link ICP Functions.............................................................................................................3
3. e-Link ICP Usage Flow Description .............................................................. 4
3.1 HOPE3000 for e-Link Software Update ................................................................................4
3.2 Programming Function..........................................................................................................4
3.2.1 Holtek 8-bit Flash MCU...................................................................................................4
3.2.2 SPI Flash ........................................................................................................................7
3.2.3 EEPROM ........................................................................................................................8
4. e-Link Switch and Indicators ........................................................................ 10
5. e-Link Size ...................................................................................................... 10

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1. e-Link Introduction
The e-Link is Holtek’s third generation simulator/programmer for use with Holtek Flash MCU
devices. It includes both OCDS (On-Chip Debug Support) and ICP (In-Circuit Programming)
functions.
2. e-Link Appearance and ICP Functions
2.1 e-Link Appearance
e-Link is the common name for the Holtek simulator/programmer hardware series all of which have
the same appearance as shown below.
Figure 1. e-Link – Front Figure 2. e-Link – Back
11
9
7
5
3
1
12
10
8
6
4
2
Figure 3. e-Link – Side Figure 4. e-Link – Pin Assignment
2.2 e-Link ICP Functions
• Programming Holtek 8-bit Flash MCUs
• Programming EEPROMs
• Programming SPI Flash

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3. e-Link ICP Usage Flow Description
3.1 HOPE3000 for e-Link Software Update
LogontotheHoltekofcialwebsite(http://www.holtek.com.cn/China/tech/tool/Mainpage1.htm) to
download and install the latest HOPE3000 for use with the e-Link.
3.2 Programming Function
The e-Link should be updated to be in the e-Link ICP mode by using the HOPE3000 for e-Link
software.
3.2.1 Holtek 8-bit Flash MCU
The programming pins are shown as follows:
Table 1. 5-wire Connection Figure 5
Table 2. 4-wire Connection Figure 6
Note:Whentheadaptorleadisused,a0.1μFcapacitorshouldbeconnectedbetweenVDDand
GND.
BeforeICPoperation,rstclick“File”→“Open”toopentheMTPletobeprogrammed,then
correctly connect the target Holtek 8-bit Flash MCU.
The initialisation interface of the HOPE3000 for e-Link software is as follows.

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Figure 7
【Upload】
• Upload
Theuploadoptionincludessixcommands,“Program”,“EEData”,“ALL”,“VerifyProgram”,
“VerifyEEData”and“VerifyAll”.
• Select“Program”:OnlyreadtheProgramMemorydata.
• Select“EEData”:OnlyreadtheEEPROMMemorydata.
• Select“ALL”:TheProgramMemoryandEEPROMMemorydatawillbothberead.
• Select“VerifyProgram”:OnlyverifytheProgramMemorydata.
• Select“VerifyEEData”:OnlyverifytheEEPROMMemorydata.
• Select“VerifyAll”:TheProgramMemoryandEEPROMMemorydatawillbothbeveried.
Note: The read data will be shown in the corresponding window. If the data is to be stored then click
the“Save”buttonunderthe“File”option.

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【Download】
• Download
Thedownloadoptionincludeseightcommands,“Program”,“EEData”,“ALL”,“AutoVerify”,
“EraseProgram”,“EraseEEData”,“EraseAll”and“LockChip”.
• Download Steps:
1.Click“File/Open”toopenthecorresponding.MTPle.
2.Select“Program”:TheProgramMemorydatawillbedownloadedtothetargetMCU.
Select“EEData”:TheEEPROMMemorydatawillbedownloadedtothetargetMCU.
Select“ALL”:TheProgramMemoryandEEPROMMemorydatawillbothbedownloadedto
the target MCU.
3.Afterthedownloadcommandisexecuted,iftheMCUprogramsarerequiredtobeexecuted,
clickthe“PowerOn”functionunderthe“Tools”option,orselectthe“AutoPowerOn”
functionunderthe“Tools”optionbeforethedownloadcommandisexecuted.
• AutoVerify
Whenthisoptionisselected,ifthedownload“Program”,“EEData”and“ALL”commandsare
executed, the system will automatically verify data for the current executing command.
• Erase
IftheMCUprogramsordataarerequiredtobeupdated,the“EraseProgram”or“EraseEEData”
commandcanbeexecuteddirectlyasneeded.HoweveriftheMCUislocked,the“EraseAll”
command should be executed.
• Lock Chip
Afterthedownloadcommandisperformed,iftheMCUdataisrequiredtobeprotected,the“Lock
Chip”functionunderthe“Download”optioncanbeexecuted.Thiswillensurethatthedata
written to the MCU cannot be read.
【Tools】
• Tools
This option is mainly to implement power supply control and reset function selection for the
target IC.
• ViewOption
If this function is selected, the options setup in the HOPE3000 for e-Link will pop up.
• Reset
If this command is executed, the MCU will be forced to return to the program initial state and
rerun.
• Power On
If the power has been successfully connected, then after the command is executed, the program
downloadedtotheMCUwillrun.Thevoltageiseither3.3Vor5V,whichuserscanchoose
according to their needs.
Note: If users want to use the ICP mode, the Target Board can be supplied directly with either a
3.3Vor5Vpowersupply.Themaximumcurrentis300mAwhichshouldmeettheneedsof
mosttargetboards.Ifhighercurrentsarerequiredthenanexternalpowersupplyshouldbe
connected.
• Power Off
AfterthiscommandisexecutedthetargetICwillhavenopowerandtheprogramswillnotrun.
• AutoPowerOn
Function:Afterthe“Download”,“Upload”andothercommandsareexecuted,thesystemwill
supply power to the devices automatically.

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• ViewS.W.A.R.T
Afterthiscommandisexecuted,someinformationwillpopup,suchastheprogrammedMCU
type, programming time, programming times, etc.
• EraseS.W.A.R.T
Afterthiscommandisexecuted,theprogramminginformationwillbeclearedwithoutexecuting
again.
• ActivateWriter
This option is used to register and activate the e-Link.
• F/W Update
Update F/W version for e-Link ICP Mode.
【Extra】
3.2.2 SPI Flash
FortheSPIFlashprogramming,thecurrentsupporteddevicepartnumberincludestheMX25series
andSST25series.
SPI Flash Programming Pins:
12 ×11 GND
10 ×9×
8 CEB 7 ×
6 MOSI 5 ×
4 SCK 3 ×
2 MISO 1 VDD
Table 3
The external SPI Flash should be connected correctly; otherwise the following prompt window will
pop up and normal SPI Flash programming operation cannot be carried out.
Figure 8
WhentheexternalSPIFlashisconnectedcorrectly,thefollowingwindowwillpopup.The“Part
No.”optionwillshowthecurrenlytconnectedSPIFlashtypebydefault.Click“Open”toselectthe
corresponding.datlefornormalprogramming.

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Figure 9
3.2.3 EEPROM
For the EEPROM programming, the current supported device part number is the HT24 series.
Programming Pins:
12 ×11 GND
10 ×9×
8×7×
6 SCL 5 ×
4×3×
2 SDA 1 VDD
Table 4
When the external EEPROM is connected correctly, if this function is used, the following window
will pop up.

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Figure 10
Click“Open”toopenthecorresponding.binleasfollows.
Figure 11
Note:1.IfaddresspinsA2,A1andA0arechecked,thecorrespondingpinishigh,ifnotchecked,
the corresponding pin is low and the default state is not checked.
2.AddresspinsA2,A1andA0willbeadjustedaccordingtotheopened.binlesize.For
example,iftheopenedleis8Kbits(HT24LC08),thenonlyA2isselectable,A1andA0
are invalid.

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4. e-Link Switch and Indicators
• Switch
The switch is used to reset the e-Link.
• Indicators
Status:YellowindicatesthatprogrammingisOKandthepowerisconnected
Flashing:OKorpoweroninitialstate
Continuouslyon:Representstheexecutionof“Tools”→“PowerOn”function
Error: Red indicates the programming is in a fail state
Flashing: Fail
Active:BlueindicateswhethertheprogrammingisinReadyorBusystate
Continuously off: Ready
Flashing: Busy
5. e-Link Size
• e-Link back and side dimensions (unit: mm)
Figure 12
• e-Link back slot dimensions (unit: mil)
Figure 13