What is a device programmer, and what types are there?
What is a device programmer?
Even people who work with electronic components often do not know what a device programmer is. So what is it? This article explains.
In Taiwan the device is called a "burner" (燒錄器) because Taiwan's semiconductor industry developed early; when the term reached the mainland, customers adopted "programmer" instead, since the English name is PROGRAMMER — the same word used for a software developer.
A programmer is a tool that writes data into a programmable integrated circuit. It is mainly used to program (or "flash") microcontrollers (including embedded MCUs) and memory chips (including BIOS). By function, programmers fall into three groups: universal programmers, dedicated programmers and volume-production programmers.
Dedicated programmers are the cheapest. They support fewer chip types and suit applications that only need one chip family — for example, programming only the PIC series.
Universal programmers cover almost (though not quite) every chip that needs programming today. Their design is complex and the cost is high, which limits sales volume and pushes the price up; they suit situations where many different chips must be programmed.
Now you know what a device programmer is. We will keep publishing more technical articles about programmers — bookmark our site to follow them.
What types of programmers are there?
By function, programmers fall into universal programmers and dedicated programmers.
Dedicated programmers are the cheapest and support fewer chip types; they suit applications that only need one specific chip family.
Universal programmers cover almost (though not quite) every chip that needs programming today. Their design is complex and the cost is high, so they are much more expensive than dedicated models — they suit situations where many different chips must be programmed.
By the way they are used, programmers fall into manual programmers and automated programming machines.
Manual programmers
A manual programmer connects to a PC over USB and to the local network over Ethernet for local or remote PC communication. It can also run stand-alone, is easy to operate and easy to extend, which makes it suitable for small batches.
Such programmers usually support many chip types, but the matching test sockets are limited: a socket works for one package only, so the cost per package is high. Offline programming does have advantages — it avoids losing chips when debugging goes wrong, and programming outside the board is stable and efficient, which suits small-batch production.
These programmers are also well equipped: users can combine erase, blank check, program, verify and lock into a single command. As a rule, a programmer that supports more chip types is the better investment, because it maximises the return on your purchase.
Automated programming machines
Automated programming machines are expensive. They are controlled by a microcomputer, pick components with multiple nozzles and carry out every step of the operation automatically.
One machine can program dozens of chips at the same time. This fully automatic, intelligent IC programming equipment is designed for high-volume electronics production and needs no operator — the machine raises an alarm automatically if something goes wrong. Because the price is high, buyers are mostly dedicated programming houses and SMT factories.