Elektor transistor curve Tracer (Feb 2009) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: rodd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2022, 08:57:22 pm
content: Hi I stumbled with a kit of this curve tracer which I will assemble if I could upload the firmware to the processor board.However I do not have the knowledge to generate the R8C/13 file from the firmware that was made available by Elektor at the time.It seems I should use a software called Renesas High-performance Embedded Workshop to generate an .hex file that could be uploaded to the processor board using another software, the e Flash Development Toolkit.The references cited in the article are no longer valid and I do not know how to proceed.Does anybody in this forum has built this kit or has the knowledge and time to help me?I have attached the article and the zip file containing both the firmware and the software that runs on the computer, for reference.Thanks in advance to all,RogerArtigo.pdf(1521.06 kB - downloaded 343 times.)

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2022, 09:53:06 pm
content: The article(Feb. 2009)has this to say about the firmware:QuoteAnd the references , , ,  are:QuoteThe links don't work anymore, but you could peruse the contents of previous Elektor issues (check worldradiohistory.com) and find where the R8C and the HEW are discussed. The Elektor forum might also be a place to look.There is also this link for a R8C flasher program:https://home-master.com.ua/Renesas_R8C_Flasher.htmlBut I don't know if this will program a blank R8C chip. You might ask.That said, I think a better approach is to translate the code to a more modern and popular microcontroller. The code doesn't look too complicated. Two PWM timers are used to create some voltages and two ADC pins are used to measure voltage and current. Commands and results are sent over the serial port.The picture of the Elektor PCB shows the R8C and USB serial chip on a daughter board:so it looks like Elektor designed it with the idea that a different MCU could be used.

author: rodd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2022, 11:35:11 pm
content: Thank you for you reply.The article mentioned that there is a first step required to “compile” the executable to be loaded in the microprocessor that is accomplished using the first program. Than the hex code is loaded using the second program.I might try tour suggestion but I need to generate the hex file first.Can you help me on that?

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2022, 01:16:47 am
content: Here is the download page for the High-performance Embedded Workshop application:https://www.renesas.com/us/en/software-tool/high-performance-embedded-workshopI found a couple of Elektor articles about the R8C/13:January 2006, p. 36:https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Elektor/00s/Elektor-2006-01.pdfFebruary 2006, p. 38:https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Elektor/00s/Elektor-2006-02.pdfMarch 2006, p. 38:https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Elektor/00s/Elektor-2006-03.pdfThis page at Mikrocontroller.net has a lot of useful information and links:https://www.mikrocontroller.net/articles/R8C(it's in German -- Google Translate does a good job at translating it into English)

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2022, 02:58:48 am
content: Why build such a thing at all?With a cheap function generator such as the JDS6600 you have two output channels and you can set one to a "staircase" signal and the other to a sawtooth (with a period time equal to the step time of the staircase) and you have all the signals for a curve tracer. You can build the rest on a breadboard, or make a more permanent setup for a test jig circuit with neat connectors if you plan to use it more often.

author: rodd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2022, 06:02:16 pm
content: Dear Doctorandus_P,The main reason to build it is that I have all the parts and PCBs.The person who gave me the kit did not know that the firmware was not uploaded to the processor board, and I am not familiar to compilation/uploading procedures for this microprocessor.That is why I am asking for help.Regards,Roger

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2022, 08:42:32 pm
content: Oops, my bad, I should have let your first post sink in deeper then the front of my eyeballs.Quote from: rodd on June 22, 2022, 08:57:22 pmDoes that visual basic program still run on your PC?If that does not run, (Maybe in some compatibility mode or VM?) then getting it to work may be difficult even if you've flashed the uC.I also had a look at:https://www.renesas.com/us/en/software-tool/cc-compiler-package-r8c-and-m16c-families#overviewAnd the link posted by ledtester.All that software seems to be 10+ years old. Apparently those Renesas controllers never became very popular, or they are still aimed at the "professional" market, where some people apparently prefer to pay 4 digit numbers for a compiler.Another problem is the programmer itself.You probably need some kind of hardware box to program that microcontroller, and it's quite likely it's probibitively expensive for a one-off project.If you can't get the renesas tools to work you still have options open.I had a look at the source code, and it's a fairly simple program with just 700 lines of code.(I do not like the 400 line long main() function, but that's not very much to the point).A bit weird that comment is in both English and German. but that also is not very important.The important part is that you have the source code. The microcontroller (with serial to USB chip) is also a separate module.These two factors make it relatively easy to just swap out the microcontroller completely for some other microcontrollerThe most important part for the mictrocontroller is to have two PWM outputs and an ADC with two imputs, and lots of uC's have that.Almost every uC also as a U(s)ART.So it seems doable, but a project like that easily eats up a few days or weeks of your (spare) time.

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2022, 07:31:25 am
content: Renesas is a notorious MCU maker.When the situation happens they do a dozen hardware variations over night and only one version is public, the one nobody uses.Debug directory has a Curve_Tracer.mot file, it seems to be a Motorola S-record, one of NC30 Processing Flow results.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SREC_(file_format)