PX41CX

[goosnarrggh]

(06-07-2023 04:33 PM)agarza Wrote:  

(06-07-2023 11:39 AM)rprosperi Wrote:  Thanks but not sure I follow the 2 statements - above it says "...can hold about 18 pages of extra modules in it's flash memory". Does this mean the Flash can hold a 'library' of 18 images, but only 1 or 2 can be 'plugged-in' to the 41 for use at a time?

What I mean is that in flash memory you can store up to 18 pages (18 4K ROMS).
In RAM you could, in theory, store an additional 2 pages ( of 4K ROMS). But I'm not sure if this is practical, since there are plenty of modules that use more than 2 pages.

I have only tested it loading these modules : Advantage Pac (3 pages), Stat, Math , Games, Survey, Finance and Aviation. All loaded at the same time (pages 8 thru f).

Perhaps you could come up with a scheme to allow those "plugged in" modules to be installed as hex file overlays, rather than being linked into the main application hex file?

When the device is first programmed from an erased state, the main hex file could be programmed in the main address rage, and all the "slots" for individual modules could be "blank" (all 0xFF's) which hopefully could be safely interpreted as meaning "unplugged".

When you want to "plug in" a module, you'd need to decide which "slot" you want to install it in, then modify the base address of its hex overlay to have the appropriate start address. Then use Microchip Studio to program that hex file into its selected slot *without* erasing the rest of the chip.

Rinse and repeat for each additional module you want to plug in.

Problems would arise, however, when the time came to "un-plug" a module after it was already installed. Because I don't think Microchip Studio's programming interface offers an option to selectively erase just one region of Flash memory, it's all or nothing. So I guess you'd have no choice but to erase the whole chip, re-program the main code again, and start over with installing your new selection of modules.