Firmware Upgrade Procedure for Instruments with Flashable Program Memory


Introduction

Firmware upgrades may be needed to correct bugs, implement enhancements,
or for compatibility with instrument drivers or accessory programs like
ExceLINX.  Consult the documentation for your product to see what firmware
version is required for the functions/modules you intend to use, then
follow the steps below to upgrade if desired.


Step 1.  Determine the firmware revision of your instrument

	The firmware revision is briefly displayed during the power-on
	sequence of the instrument.  When the instrument's power is
	turned on, all display annunciators will be illuminated for a
	short period.  Then the firmware revision is displayed briefly
	as follows:

		mmmm: yyy (zzz)

		where: 
		mmmm is the product model number
		yyy is the firmware revision (e.g. A01) of the product
		zzz, if present, represents display processor firmware
		
	To determine the firmware revision via remote control, use
	the *IDN? query command.  After sending the *IDN? command and
	addressing the instrument to talk, the following response is
	sent to the computer:

	KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS INC., MODEL mmmm, xxxxxxx, yyy/zzz

	Where: mmmm is the product model number, xxxxxxx is the serial 
	number, yyy is the firmware revision, and zzz is the display 
	firmware revision.

Step 2.  Determine next action

	Based on the firmware revision of your Model mmmm, choose the
	appropriate course of action:

		Review the product documentation or special firmware
		file ("FW_27xx.txt" for 2700/2701/2750/2790, "FW_64xx.txt"
		for 6485/6487/6514) to determine the firmware level 
		required to use the Instrument Driver, ExceLINX software
		or (in case of 27xx) the switch modules being used.
		
		Compare the required firmware version to the version
		presently in the instrument (as determined by step one.)

		If the installed firmware revision is the same as required 
		or higher*, no update is needed.  Otherwise, proceed to step 
		3 to perform the upgrade.

		* What is a higher firmware?
		Keithley's firmware numbering convention is a letter followed
		by two numbers, eg A03.  The letter represents a major 
		revision, typically due to a hardware change.  Within each
		letter, releases are numbered sequentially, so A06 is higher
		than A05.  However, the numbering restarts at 01 if a letter
		change occurs, so B01 is higher than A02
		If the new firmware has a different letter than the currently 
		installed firmware, the new file is probably not compatible with
		your instrument's hardware.  DO NOT attempt to install the new
		firmware -- call a Keithley applications engineer to discuss
		possibilities for upgrading your unit.

Step 3.  Upgrade firmware

	Please read first:
	- Have only one instrument attached at the time of flashing.
	The PC will scan to find the address of the unit to program,
	but having additional instruments connected will cause the flash
	operation to fail.
	- If an attempt is made to install a firmware file for a
	different instrument (i.e., install 6487 firmware into a 2750),
	the flash operation will give an error message.  No harm is done
	to the attached unit.
	- In most cases, instrument calibration is not affected by 
	upgrading firmware.  Exceptions will be noted clearly in the
	documentation accompanying the flash program files.
	- In units which support both DDC and SCPI commands, such as 
	6485/6487/6514, select SCPI mode.  Flash operations use SCPI!

	To perform the firmware upgrade, a personal computer connected
	to your instrument is required.  The PC must be at least Pentium
	class running Windows 98 or later.

        The firmware can be installed via the IEEE-488 bus or
        the RS-232 interface:

        IEEE-488 Bus - If using the IEEE488 bus, a Keithley, CEC, or
        National Instruments IEEE-488.2 interface board must be
        installed in the PC.  Use an IEEE488.2 cable to connect the
        interface board to the instrument.

        RS-232 interface - If using the RS-232 port, use an RS-232C
        cable to connect the communications port to the instrument.
	When using RS-232 interface, the RS-232 cable must be a 
	straight-through cable, not a null modem cable.	

	Perform the following steps:

		Download the "mmmm yyy Firmware upgrade.exe" file from
		the Keithley Web site, www.keithley.com to a temporary
		directory on your PC.

		From Windows, click Start>>Run>>Browse.

		From the dialog box, navigate to the temporary
		directory and select the "mmmm yyy Firmware upgrade.exe"
		file. Click OK or Open. This will unpack the files
		required to install the flash upgrade utility.

		From Windows, click Start>>Run>>Browse.

		From the dialog box, navigate to the temporary
		directory and select the Setup.exe file. Click
		OK or Open.

		Follow all the prompted instructions to install the
		upgrade utility.

		From Windows, click Start>>Programs>>Keithley
		Instruments>>Model mmmm Flash Upgrade yyy, and
		follow all prompted instructions.


	
Known Issues:
When using RS-232 interface, The user may get a timeout error 
at 99% (after instrument resets):
"Timeout Error: Error In Programming Model mmmm!".
This error can be safely ignored.

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End of Flash_FW.txt