Allegro A4963 User Manual

A4963 Programmer
Table of Contents

Introduction ................................................................... 1

Using The Programmer .................................................. 2
Creating The Configuration File ................................. 2
Programming The A4963 ........................................... 3
Common Error Messages .............................................. 4
Introduction
This note describes the operation and use of the A4963
programmer. This is a small box connected to a PC via USB
that enables the user to change the default settings in the
registers of the A4963. The default settings are stored in a non-
volatile EEPROM inside the IC and are loaded to the registers
inside the A4963 at power on. Registers can still be modified
via SPI as described in the specification but the contents will
revert to the default values when the power is cycled.
The programming box, shown in figure 1, requires a standard
USB cable with A-Male to B-Male connectors as shown in
figure 2. This cable is not supplied with the box but is readily
Figure 1: Programming Box
Figure 2: USB A-male to B-male cable
Programmer Manual
available form local retail sources. The box is controlled by a
small Windows® based program that requires a driver to be
installed. This is the same driver that is used by the A4963
demo board serial interface program and does not need to be
re-installed The driver is available as a single install
executable from the FTDI website at the following link:
http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/CDM/CDM v2.10.00 WHQL
Certified.exe
The driver should be installed, with administrator priveleges,
before connecting the box to the computer.
Note that the box is marked A4962. This is the same box for
bothe A4962 and A4963.
The control program provides a Graphical User Interface
(GUI) that provides all the required functions. This program is
included in the software package provided on a CD-ROM with
the box. A screenshot of the GUI is shown in figure 3.
Care should be taken to ensure that any A4963 ICs are placed
in the socket with pin 1 oriented as indicated on the box.
Figure 3: Programming Control Window
User Manual
20 August 2014