In response to the customers’ large amounts of IC programming needs, Nuvoton also provides one-to-many solutions. One-to-four programming can be performed using the ICP programming software previously introduced along with Nuvoton’s Nu-Link-Gang mass production programmer (Fig. 1) and adapter (Fig. 2). Whether it is four same chips or four different chips, offline ICP can simultaneously perform on the Nu-Link-Gang programmer. This article will explain the steps for using Nu-Link-Gang to perform one-to-many programming; information on the Nu-Link-Gang programmer can be found under the “Hardware” directory in “Software and Tools” on Nuvoton’s official website. Refer to the user manual for detailed usage methods.

Fig. 1 Nu-Link-Gang mass production programmer

Fig. 2 Nu-Link-Gang mass production programmer adapter

1. Nu-Link-Gang programmer setting

Programming voltage selection: Use the programming voltage selection switches to switch the programming voltage (Fig. 3).

The four programming units have their respective selection switches; different programming voltages can be set separately.

Fig. 3 Programming voltage selection

Programming mode: Flip the switch to Single Start for individual programming or All Start for concurrent programming (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4 Programming mode switch

2. Nu-Link-Gang connection

Connect power to the Nu-Link-Gang programmer, and connect it to the computer through USB. Nu-Link-Gang has four USB slots that correspond to the four programming units; programming setting has to be done separately for the four USB slots.

3. Programming setting
   1. Press the connect button to connect to the Nu-Link-Gang programmer.
   2. Load the file to the program: You can choose to load an APROM, data Flash, LDROM, or SPROM file.
   3. Set configuration bits: For example, clock source or under-voltage voltage value, etc., or you can choose to perform secure encryption.
   4. Programming: Choose according to the loading position.
   5. Programming options: Select offline ICP mode.
   6. Start: Press start to save the file and settings into the Nu-Link-Gang programmer.

You can also choose export to save the settings into an ICP project file, and this ICP file can be imported in the future to restore all settings.

Fig. 5 Nu-Link-Gang ICP setting steps

4. Chip connection
   1. Insert the adapter: Align the adapter with the fixed base and programmer base and press tightly.
   2. Place chip: Place the chip into the socket.
   3. Use fixtures (use only when there is no adapter): Connect the five pins (Fig. 6) of the programmer base; the VCC voltage is the setting for programming voltage selection.

Fig. 6 Programmer base pin table

5. Mass programming
   1. Press the power switch.
   2. Start programming: Press the corresponding programming button according to the programming mode settings in steps 1-2.
   3. Change chip: When the status indicator is on, it means programming was completed, and the chip can be changed.

Fig. 7 Mass programming steps

Nuvoton’s ICP programming software provides a simple GUI interface, allowing customers to complete online ICP or offline ICP quickly. To meet customers’ needs for mass production, Nuvoton also provides the one-to-many Nu-Link-Gang programmer that helps mass production processes to achieve optimized efficiency. Nuvoton’s ecosystem has sufficient tools for the development stage and mass production stage, and the upgrading stage. Solutions provided by Nuvoton for the upgrade stage will be introduced next time.