Saturday, June 22, 2013

LC-32GA8 – LC-32BV8 – LC-37GA8 – LC-37BV8 - SHARP LCD TV - RS-232C METHOD - SOFTWARE UPDATE PROCEDURE


SOFTWARE UPDATE
There are 3 methods to update software in the VCTp: I2C method, RS-232C HyperTerminal and RS-232C Tera Term method.
RS-232C method is allowed when the TV is working properly and the action should be only software upgrade.
I2C method is required when the VCTp flash is empty or corrupted (it means, any software inside IC running).
RS-232C Method Description (HyperTerminal).
The hardware tools requirement are:
  • A Modem-null (Cross type) DB9 female to DB9 female cable.
  • An adaptor DB9 male to mini-Din 9 pin male cable (Sharp Code: QCNWGA015WJPZ)
  • Make the connections as indicated in the figure:

Before using RS-232C updating method is necessary to configure a Terminal PC software. HyperTerminal has been selected as a Terminal software because it’s include in all Windows versions as an accessory, and you can find it inside “Accessories\Communications” folder. For this reason, please follow carefully the next steps:
  • First time HyperTerminal is used, it’s necessary to configure some settings. Follows next action to configure two connection: low speed (9600bps) and high speed (115200bps).
  • Create a New Connection file with name “P55_9600bps”.
  • Select a free COM port and select the Port Settings properties as follows:
  • Click on “File\Properties” menu for selecting the General and ASCII properties as follows:
  • Select “New Connection” in the File Menu.
  • Answer “Yes” to close current connection and “Yes” to save session “P55_9600bps”.
  • Create a new connection with the name “P55_115200bps”.
  • Select a the same COM port used in item 2 and select the Port Settings properties as follows
  • Select the same General and ASCII properties as item 3.
  • Close HyperTerminal session, answering  “Yes” to close current connection and  “Yes” to save session “P55_115200bps”.
  • To start updating session, click over “P55_9600bps” icon that you can find in the “START\All programs\Accessories\Communications\HyperTerminal\HyperTerminal” folder and follow next procedure:
  • Check the connection between TV set and PC, sending a wrong command, as for example: “aaa”. TV set returns an “ERR” label as an syntaxes ERROR (Not correct order or sequence).

  • Send the command “DWMD” to enter TV set in Download Mode. The TV set answer sending same symbol continuously. If this symbol character doesn’t appear, don’t worry and pass to next step.
  • Close this connection and open “P55_115200bps” connection clicking over the “P55_115200bps” that you can find in “START\All programs\Accessories\ Communications\HyperTerminal\HyperTerminal” folder.
  • Using “Transfer\Send file…” menu, select desired file (.bin format) and the transmission protocol (Xmodem) as show below:

  • After press “Send” button the updating process starts as follows:
  • When flash update process finishes, the “Flash Programming Complete” label appears in the screen.

VERY IMPORTANT: During the updating time, please don’t use the PC for other purposes, in order to abolish communication problems between TV set and PC. If TV set was not updated properly, the TV won’t have the software to start-up again, and you must follow the “I2C method” to update another time the TV set.