GALEP 5 Mobile Device Programmer

GALEP 5 - The diminutive palmsized programmer with a 60,000 device output: 
 
The new GALEP-5 is the first palmsized self-powered universal device programmer. Due to its size and power supply independence, a GALEP-5 is the ideal solution for development and service. Its high speed permits it to double as a fast production programmer in ganged arrays.  And with its JTAG debugging capabilities the Galep 5 can also be used for microcontroller development. That's a versatile talent in a programmer - for the lowest price per device in the industry!

Supported Devices:

GALEP-5 is a universal programmer for devices of the following types: EPROM, EEPROM, FLASH memory, serial EEPROM, NV-RAM, LPC, FPGA, PLD, EPLD, GAL, PALCE, PIC, Microcontroller (MCU). More than 60,000 device algorithms are currently supported. Additionally, GALEP's JTAG player can program SVF/JAM data into all existing and future devices that have a JTAG port.
 

Ultra-Compact, USB-Powered Design:

The GALEP-5 device programmer fits into your jacket pocket and weighs less than 200g, compared to the 3 - 4 lbs weight of other programmers.  Galep 5 has three-way power (rech. batteries, conventional power plug, and powered via USB from the PC).

Standard operation is completely powered via the USB bus and does not normally require any additional power supply. When the programmable device consumes more than 500 mA, (e.g. for a few old NMOS devices and microcontrollers), the included power adapter or the rechargeable batteries (6xAAA) can be used.

Extremely Fast Programming:

GALEP-5 is uncompromisingly designed for speed. An internal 200 MIPS ARM-9 processor handles the data transfer; while a 50,000 gates FPGA (user-programmable logic) controls the pin drivers and accelerates programming algorithms by setting up device-dependent state machines and UARTs.

This level of hardware acceleration makes GALEP-5 one of the fastest device programmers on the market today. For instance, a MB91F467 Fujitsu Microcontroller (8 Mb) requires only 19 seconds for a serial program/verify cycle. A 256 Mb NOR Flash (28F256P30) is programmed and verified in 170 seconds. An internal 64 MByte RAM serves as data storage permitting transfer of data once only, to then program multiple devices.

48 High-Speed pin drivers - advanced internal architecture:

A custom-designed pin-driver IC implemented to all pins on the socket, guarantees optimal signal quality at the output pins. This is the design innovation that permits the extremely small size and low power consumption of the GALEP programmers. Each of the 48 pins can generate the following signals:

• Logical high between 1.2V .. 5.0V
• Logical input, threshold 0.5V … 5.0V
• Three programming voltages between 1.3V .. 25.0V
• Three switchable resistors for pullup and pulldown
• Adjustable clock rate
• Ground
• Switching regulators for programming voltages controlled by D/A converters in 100 mV steps.
• Further D/A converters control logic levels and input threshold.
• All voltages permanently monitored by independent circuits.

Switching regulators for programming voltages are controlled by D/A converters in 100 mV steps. Further D/A converters are used to control the logic levels and the input threshold. For maximum protection of the programmable device, all voltages are permanently monitored by an independent circuit.

In System (ISP) Programming:

Signals for In-System Programming (ISP) can be taken from a separately available ISP adapter or directly from the 48-pin ZIF socket. Help files provide information about the wiring of the target system for any supported components.

GalepX software - some unique features:

The software is available in versions for Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7, and LINUX. A Macintosh version is pending in 2011. Besides basic functions such as erase, read, program and compare, split and shuffle, it features easy-to-use configuration options for any special functions required by the selected device.

GalepX software supports all common file formats, such as binary, Hex, JEDEC, and JTAG. Mass production is supported by providing statistics functions and serial number generation.

JTAG Support:

Delete, program and verify components with JTAG interface (joint test action group, IEEE Std. 1149.1 ). The following formats are supported: SVF-Script in XSVF(Xilinx) format; JAM byte code player (ALTERA).

Batch mode: Run GALEP-5 from the command line (it also sets up a virtual IP address on your network), or implement GALEP commands in your own production software. The programmer can be completely controlled by a set of powerful batch commands.

Updates:

The software is permanently improved for supporting new components.

A JTAG Debugger is built into the programmer:

With GALEP-5 you can debug any Microcontrollers with a JTAG interface that are supported by the OpenOCD (On Chip Debugger) software - ARM7, ARM9, XScale, and Cortex-M3 MCUs.

The chip to debug is merely inserted into GALEP's programming socket or connected to the GALEP via a cable or ISP adapter. Additionally you can easily define test algorithms for in-circuit testing of complete circuit boards (Boundary Scan) for small series production. Your palmsize GALEP-5 programmer becomes a complete development, test and production system!

Security:

Prior to each function, GALEP checks the power consumption, correct positioning, and the contacts of all pins of the selected component. This effectively prevents any accidental damage to the component or the programmer.

Galep 5 obtains maximum efficiency in Socket Requirements:

GALEP-5 programs any supported devices in a DIL socket up to 48 Pins, between 300 … 600 MIL (ca. 7,5 … 16 mm) width, without needing any additional adapter. Universal socket adapters are available for all components ranging up to 48 pins. Only one adapter per socket is required.  A tiny programmer with a highly efficient socket adapter footprint.

Few adapters = small system costs!

Adapters for components with more than 48 pins are also available for this palmsize model. In the case of these device groups, because the pin capacity of the programmer is smaller than the pin count of these higher pincount components, such adapters are necessarily specialized.

If you need to program components with a high pin count frequently, a GALEP-5D (with 60, 120 or 240 pin-drivers) provide even greater socket efficiencies.

All GALEP-4 adapters are also completely compatible with the new GALEP-5. Adapters for the following sockets are available: SOIC, SOP, TSOP, SSOP, TSSOP, PLCC, QFP, TQFP, MLF.

Conitec has focused design efforts on producing a majority of fully universal sockets for the palm-sized GALEP 5. While the Galep 5 is priced in the lowest end of universal gang programming (networkable) tools, it has one of the largest device libraries, some of the most advanced internal architecture, and is highly efficient in socket requirements :

ONE GALEP-5 adapter 210911 - HANDLES ALL QFP DEVICES TO 44 PIN
ONE GALEP-5 adapter 210912 - HANDLES ALL PSOP  DEVICES TO 44 PIN
ONE GALEP-5 adapter 210913 - HANDLES ALL TQFP-44 & QFP-44 DEV. TO 44 PIN
ONE GALEP-5 adapter 210914 - HANDLES ALL TSOP DEVICES TO 48 PIN

A note on the GALEP 5D models, equipped with "master modules":

"Master modules" reduce socket adapter requirements notably over time, especially in the higher pin count packages and when clients want to set up gang-programming systems.

Therefore separating out master-module equipped programmers (see comparative chart) helps to obtain a clearer comparative picture of what's compared to what in this production-class programmer segment. 
 
In the master-module-equipped programmers below, the Galep gang programmer models stand out for their  very compact, low power architecture. The Galep programmers in this line up are the only ones to use a custom designed, low-power integrated circuit design, which is what permits their ultra-compact size.

Galep programmers require no cooling vents or fans, due to this custom designed pin-driver IC. The high end Galep 5D's (60, 120 and 240 pin) are built into a single-milled block of aluminum barely an inch tall, and require no ventilation.

Comparable Master Module equipped programmers - weighing 3-5 kg use 5-10 year old technology:

1) Dxxx-XX- - 3980xpi ( 88 pins - 15,000 devices supported - current pricing is unclear - wt 5 kg). **
2) Hxxx Sxxxxx - - ALL 100  ( 68 pins - 12,000 devices supported - $995.00 - wt 4 kg)
3) Axxxx - - Pxxxx U44+  ( 13,000 devices supported - $1,495.00 - wt 3 kg)
4) Xxxxxx - - Sxxxxxxx 5000  ( 144 pins - 66,000 devices supported - $1,995 - wt 4 kg)

** ( N.B. - This is a 10 year old programmer design -  )

A note on device libraries and accounting methodology:

Some programmer manufacturers list each minor sub-type of every supported device as a separate "supported device", which greatly expands the aspect of their published device libraries.

For instance, the same GAL16-V8 device made by Lattice appears up to 400 (!) times in some manufacturer device lists. It’s important to distinguish therefore that the advertised number of devices unless clearly broken down by the manufacturer into accounting methods, is not necessarily a clear benchmark for comparison.

Following is an example of device support inflation:

To put prospective programmer purchasers on guard, here is an extract from a competing programmer manufacturer's device list :

1) GAL16LV8 [CX0001]
2) GAL16LV8@PLCC20 [CX2020]
3) GAL16LV8C [CX0001]
4) GAL16LV8C@PLCC20 [CX2020]
5) GAL16LV8D [CX0001]
6) GAL16LV8D@PLCC20 [CX2020]
7) GAL16LV8Z [CX0001]
8) GAL16LV8Z@PLCC20 [CX2020]
9) GAL16LV8ZD [CX0001]
10) GAL16LV8ZD@PLCC20 [CX2020]
11) GAL16V8 [CX0001]
12) GAL16V8@PLCC20 [CX2020]
13) GAL16V8@SOIC20 [CX1033]
14) GAL16V8A [CX0001]
15) GAL16V8A@PLCC20 [CX2020]
16) GAL16V8A@SOIC20 [CX1033]
17) GAL16V8B [CX0001]
18) GAL16V8B@PLCC20 [CX2020]
19) GAL16V8B@SOIC20 [CX1033]
20) GAL16V8C [CX0001]
21) GAL16V8C@PLCC20 [CX2020]
22) GAL16V8C@SOIC20 [CX1033]
23) GAL16V8D [CX0001]
24) GAL16V8D@PLCC20 [CX2020]
25) GAL16V8D@SOIC20 [CX1033]
26) GAL16V8Z [CX0001]
27) GAL16V8Z@PLCC20 [CX2020]
 

At first glance, the Conitec device list for this group appears to be much shorter. The equivalent Conitec GAL device support is listed.

However, this 12 item list of GAL's supported by the Conitec GALEP programmers, actually produces 28 devices also - but it is presented in a consolidated, rationalized format for easier device look-up.