MCA527 Firmware Release Notes ============================= Release 25.00 ============= - debugging: The command CMD_QUERY_STATE527 returned a wrong value for auto trigger threshold (offset 100). Release 24.02 ============= - new: Alternative direct mode: "Pulse Integral Analysis 2". Release 24.01 ============= - debugging (OEM version): The command CMD_INIT did not reset the MCA state reliably. (The bug may have existed unnoticed for some time.) - debugging (Micro and MicroE version): The polarity for gating mode "Discard" was mistakenly swapped in a previous firmware version (23.04). Release 24.00 ============= - debugging (Full version): Sometimes the firmware hung up if a reset was performed immediately after switching on the MCA527. The new firmware release prevents this problem, however it can happen that older programs lose the connection to the MCA527 and the connection must be re-established. Newer programs consider this firmware change. - debugging (OEM, Micro, MicroE and Nano version): The command to delete the previous saved MCA state failed (CMD_SAVE_MCA_STATE with parameter 0). Release 23.06 ============= - This firmware release exists for the Full, V and OEM version. - debugging: The new release fixes a bug concerning the Ethernet connection. The MCA527 was sometimes not detectable via Ethernet. Release 23.05 ============= - This firmware release only exists for the MicroE version. - debugging; The new release fixes a bug concerning the extension port. Release 23.04 ============= - This firmware release only exists for the MicroE version. - modification: The new firmware release is able to handle the power module with firmware version 0.9. Release 23.03 ============= - new: List modes 6 and 7. Release 23.02 ============= - debugging: This fixed bug concerned to hardware versions 23.00 and 23.01. The command CMD_SET_PUR crashes the firmware if it changes PUR. - modification: The new firmware release is able to handle the extended detector information written by Mca527di.exe (version 1.01.0000). Note: Older firmware releases might handle something wrong at this extended detector information version. - new: The new firmware release supports an additional option for baseline determination at direct input. Release 23.01 ============= - debugging: The new firmware release fixes inaccuracy of the gating shift. Release 23.00 ============= - modification: Firmware for new hardware versions. Release 22.02 ============= - modification: Additional adjustment due to a newly applied electronic component. This modification is only relevant for MCA527 (Full, Lite/V and OEM version) since construction year 2022. Release 22.01 ============= - debugging: The new release fixes a bug at command CMD_SAVE_MCA_STATE and makes it faster. Release 22.00 ============= - modification: Adjustment due to a newly applied electronic component. This modification is only relevant for MCA527 since construction year 2022. - debugging: This fixed bug concerned only the Micro/MicroE and Nano version and then again only special detector manufacturers. The writing function for the detector infomation failed. Release 21.00 ============= - new: Additional direct mode that uses the Pulse Integral Analysis algorithm. The original direct mode uses the Pulse Peak Analysis algorithm. Release 20.03 ============= - This firmware release only exists for the MicroE version. - new: Optional analog voltage measuring. Release 20.02 ============= - debugging: This fixed bug concerned the Full and OEM version release 20.01. If the USB plug was inserted while the MCA527 was on, the communication was broke off. - new: CMD_COMM_ADD_ON_MODULE (OEM version). Release 20.01 ============= - debugging: This fixed bug concerned only the Micro/MicroE version. The counter 3 (GPIO pin) had a potential problem. - new: The signal edge for the fast trigger input can be switched between rising and falling (Nano version). - new: List mode 4. (See document "Description of the MCA527 Firmware Commands".) Release 20.00 ============= - new: Fast trigger input (Nano version). - new: List mode 4. (Nano version, See document "Description of the MCA527 Firmware Commands".) Release 19.03 ============= - new: minimum event distance (available in the Full, OEM+, Micro+ and MicroE+ version) - new: slow rise evaluation filter (available in the Full, OEM+, Micro+ and MicroE+ version) Release 19.02 ============= - non-public evaluation version Release 19.01 ============= - non-public evaluation version Release 19.00 ============= - non-public evaluation version - new: Minimum event distance. - new: Evaluation filter for signals with slow rise. Release 18.03 ============= - This firmware release only exists for the OEM version. - new: The new release allows the MCA527 OEM to operate a power module that has been developed especially for it. Release 18.02 ============= - This firmware release only exists for the OEM and Micro version. - debugging: The new release removes a bug with command CMD_SAVE_MCA_STATE that resulted from a modification in release 18.00. Release 18.01 ============= - This firmware release only exists for the Micro/MicroE version. - new: The maximum channel resolution of the standard MCA527 Micro/MicroE is 4k now. Release 18.00 ============= - new: The maximum live time preset is 2000000 now. The higher live time is supported by WinSPEC since release 2.04.0001. Release 17.00 ============= - new: Triggering of the measurement by external trigger signals. The new feature is available with MCA527 that have got the coresponding extension port pins. Release 16.06 ============= - debugging: For long measurements despite high counting rate, the variable for adding up the time intervals at them the current trigger value exceeds the trigger threshold overflowed. Since this parameter is a component of the fast dead time, this caused that the total dead time and the counts per second were also incorrectly calculated. Release 16.05 ============= - This firmware release only exists for the Full version. - new: The gating mode 'sort by time' is standard for the Full version now. Release 16.04 ============= - debugging: The command CMD_QUERY_UF6_INFO potentially returned a wrong value for the parameter "Fractional digits of the real time". More precisely, the both highest bytes (byte offset 46) of the parameter were wrong if the two bytes at byte offset 46 returned by the previously executed command were unequal to 0. Release 16.03 ============= - debugging: The command CMD_START_NEW_SWEEP did not clear the freed-up spectrum buffer. Release 16.02 ============= - debugging: This fixed bug concerned the firmware releases from 14.03 to 16.01. The fast dead time was potentially inrorrectly calculated. As a consequence of this, the total dead time and the counts per second were also incorrectly calculated. Release 16.01 ============= - debugging: The commands CMD_QUERY_STATE527_EX2 and CMD_START_NEW_SWEEP did not return the correct MCA state. Release 16.00 ============= - new: The commands CMD_START_NEW_SWEEP, CMD_SET_GATING_TIME_PER_CHANNEL and CMD_QUERY_SPECTRA_EX2 are new. (See document "Description of the MCA527 Firmware Commands".) - new: List mode 5. (See document "Description of the MCA527 Firmware Commands".) - new: The result data arrays of some query commands contain additional values. (See document "Description of the MCA527 Firmware Commands".) - debugging: The parameters o1 and o2 of the command CMD_SET_EXTENSION_OUTPUT were mixed up. (The command works as described now.) Release 15.07 ============= - This firmware release only exists for the OEM and Micro/MicroE version. - new: The new release supports two additional external temperature sensors connected to the two-wire interface (OEM version, Micro/MicroE version already since 15.06). - new: The new command CMD_SAVE_MCA_STATE allows to save the current state of the MCA527 to the EEPROM. (See document "Description of MCA527 Firmware Commands".) - debugging: The value from the second additional external temperature sensor connected to the two-wire interface was wrong (Micro/MicroE version). Release 15.06 ============= - This firmware release only exists for the Micro/MicroE version. - new: The new release enables the use of the pin X4:GPIO as part F of the extension port. - new: The new release supports two additional external temperature sensors connected to the two-wire interface. Release 15.05 ============= - debugging: The new release eliminates a conflict between baseline restoring and LF rejection. If the LF rejection is switched on, the baseline restoring is internally switched off now. - modified: The direct mode should run more stable now. Release 15.04 ============= - changed: The RS485 management was adapted to the further developed hardware (MicroE version). - new: PZC adjustment routine for LF rejection. The new feature is supported by WinSPEC since release 2.03.0021. Release 15.03 ============= - new: The new release enables the Micro version to manage addresses within a RS485 bus system. - debugging: The new release fixes a bug regarding the timestamps recording mode 'edge triggered'. If an event was triggered between 1248.0 and 79891.1 µs after the previous event, the subsequent events were possibly not triggered for up to 12.5 µs. Release 15.02 ============= - new: The new release enables the Micro/MicroE version to handle with a new version of the power module (FW 0.5, HW 0.7). Release 15.01 ============= - debugging: The new release removes a weakness with ICMP, that might have been the cause for occasional breaking off the connection to the MCA527. Release 15.00 ============= - debugging: This fixed bug concerned the Full version and the OEM version. In previous releases of the firmware, certain microSD memory cards were not correctly detected. Release 14.05 ============= - new: The timestamps recording (list mode) is available as an option in the Full, OEM and Micro/MicroE version. - debugging: A modification in release 14.04 had caused a bug regarding the power module. The parameters for pin 3 and 5 of the Sub-D9 connector were read wrongly. The bug affects only the Full version. Release 14.04 ============= - debugging: The new release fixes a bug that has crept in a previous release. In case of very frequently ADC overflow, the bug potentially caused a miscalculated trigger threshold. In case of permanent ADC overflow, the bug caused firmware hang-up. In case of usual ADC overflow, the bug did not caused any noticeable abnormality. - debugging: This fixed bug concerned the Full version and the Lite version. If a measurement was continued after the MCA527 was switched off in between, the firmware crashed. Release 14.03 ============= - new: The new release has been added the new automatic stop condition PRESET_REAL_MILLISECONDS. This new stop condition allows to set the preset real time in milliseconds, and it is usable for firmware repeat modes. The new feature is supported by WinSPEC since release 2.03.0012. Release 14.02 ============= - new: CMD_QUERY_UF6_INFO additionally supplies the fractional digits of the real time as well as the area and area error of the ROIs. - new: gating mode 'sort by time' (Full version, OEM+ version) - debugging: The new release fixes a bug that has crept in a previous releases. The bug caused a corrupted measurement at direct input mode. Release 14.01 ============= - suspended: The timestamps recording (list mode) is suspended until the official launch. - debugging: This fixed bug concerned only the Micro/MicroE version. If the basic fine gain was configured to a value unequal to 1.0000, the fine gain returned by the MCA527 and the effective fine gain set within the MCA527 were different as long as it was set to a new value. Release 14.00 ============= - non-public evaluation version - modification: The data of the timestamps recording (list mode) are compressed now. For it, the program "WinTimestamps" version 1.01.0000 (see software download) is needed. Release 13.08 ============= - non-public evaluation version - new: The new release supports an additional timestamps recording mode (analog high rate counting = AHRC). For it, the program "WinTimestamps" version 1.00.0008 (see software download) is needed. (Timestamps recording is not available on all MCA527 versions.) Release 13.07 ============= - debugging: This fixed bug concerned only the Full version. If the inhibit mode was turned on with CMD_SET_BIAS, the current source on pin 5 on the SUB-D9 connector was not automatically turned off in case it was turned on before. - debugging: In oscilloscope mode, the automatic calculation of the trigger threshold worked incorrectly. - new: trigger filter (4*+1; 4*0; 4*-2; 4*0; 4*+1) - new: The maximum flat top time is 15µs now. Release 13.06 ============= - debugging: A modification of a prevoius release had caused a bug regarding the timestamps recorders. The bug affects only firmware versions that support timestamps recorders. Release 13.05 ============= - new: The new firmware for the Micro version allows to configure the basic state. The basic state is stored in the EEPROM and is established during reset. The tool "MCA-527 Basic State Configurator" (see "http://www.gbs-elektronik.de/en/downloads/sorted-by-category/software/") is intended for it. - debugging: Release 13.04 still contained a crudity concerning bluetooth. The extension port was not disabled for other applications if a bluetooth modul was connected to the extension port. In this way, other applications were able to do settings that would have caused a malfunction of the bluetooth module. - debugging: The automatic measurement stop at preset live time failed if the real time at this point was already higher than 65535 seconds. Release 13.04 ============= - changed: The maximum time per channel (CMD_SET_TIME_PER_CHANNEL527) has been reduced to 42949672 in favor of other requirements. As a result of this change, WinMCS version 2.02.0000 or lower may lose connection if it tries to set the parameter above the new maximum. - changed: The maximum preset live time (CMD_SET_PRESETS) has been reduced to 65535 in favor of an exact preset live time. The previous releases stopped the measurement when the preset live time had been exceeded. The real time was already integer. The new release stops the measurement when the preset live is reached. The real time is no more integer, it contains fractional digits. The fractional digits are returned by CMD_QUERY_STATE527_EX. - improved: The new fast baseline restorer provides a better resolution. - new: The firmware returns the ADC overflows per second (CMD_QUERY_STATE527_EX) now. This parameter notifies a potential too high coarse gain. - new: The firmware for the Full version allows the communication via bluetooth now. We offer a special bluetooth module that can be plugged in the extension port. Release 13.03 ============= - new: The new release supports the timestamps recording (list mode) now. For it, the program "WinTimestamps" (see software download) is needed. (Timestamps recording is not available on all MCA527 versions.) Release 13.02 ============= - new: coarse gain management for Micro version (This release exists only for the Micro version.) Release 13.01 ============= - Created only for testing. There are firmware files with this version number but different features. They was only handed over to particular partners. Release 13.00 ============= - new: dead time for MCS mode - debugging: This fixed bug concerned the firmware releases 12.02, 12.03 and 12.04 of the Full and OEM version. If no microSD memory card was plugged in the MCA527, the firmware did not save the spectra before turning off the MCA527. - debugging: This fixed bug concerned the firmware releases 12.02, 12,03 and 12.04. In repeat mode, the MCS amplitude spectrum of the previous sweep was not returned. Release 12.04 ============= - new: CMD_QUERY_SPECTRA_EX additionally supplies 64 x 16 bit values (previously only 32 x 32 bit). This new option can be used by applications that assume low channel contents. - new: power module management for Micro version Release 12.03 ============= - debugging: The file writing routine is more failure-resistant now. - debugging: The PZC routine within CMD_SET_MEASURE_PZC did not work exactly under certain conditions. - debugging: The firmware hung-up in cases of total input overdrive. - debugging: The firmware may hung up if baseline restoring is off. - new: CMD_QUERY_SPECTRA_EX additionally supplies the sum of the compressed channels now. Release 12.02 ============= - new: file writing on microSD memory card (Full version, OEM version). Release 12.01 ============= - new: The new flag FEATURES_USB_CHARGING_DEFAULT_OFF of the MCA features (CMD_QUERY_STATE527, byte offset 8) indicates whether the USB charger is automatically enabled when the MCA527 is connected to a working high power USB hub. Release 12.00 ============= - modification: The command CMD_SET_STABILISATION has been modified. Now, if the first parameter is equal 0 (turn off), the following parameters are ignored and the stabilisation ROI remains unchanged. The modification avoids a potential invalid parameter error which occured if an application had executed a certain sequence of commands. - new: trigger filter (4*-1; 12*0; 4*+1) in Full version - debugging: MCS repeat mode with gating==sort was aborted. Release 11.16 ============= - debugging: The dead time was potentially calculated incorrectly. - modification: The command CMD_SET_GENERAL_MODE has been minimally modified. The modification refers to the behavior of gain and offset DAC during oscilloscope mode. - debugging: The command CMD_QUERY_STATE527 potentially returned a wrong value for the general MCA mode. Release 11.15 ============= - new: The command CMD_QUERY_SYSTEM_DATA returns the fast dead time of the previous sweep. Release 11.14 ============= - debugging: The stabilization routine did not operate correctly at 'input direct' mode. - modification: The commands CMD_SET_ADC_RES_DISCR, CMD_SET_MCA_INPUT and CMD_SET_STABILISATION have been modified in order to adapt their behavior to the behavior of the corresponding MCA-166 commmands. Release 11.13 ============= - debugging: A modification of a prevoius release had caused a bug in the stabilization routine. The stabilization was not executed. Release 11.12 ============= - improved: The PZC routine is more exact now. Release 11.11 ============= - debugging: The coarse gain 100, 200, 500 and 1000 were not set correctly. Release 11.10 ============= - new: Direct Input Pulse Height Analysis (In the previous releases the routine was only a dummy.) - debugging: The elapsed area was calculated wrong. - debugging: PZC routine Release 11.09 ============= - debugging: The command CMD_SET_GAIN cleared the spectrum and other measuring data. The command does no longer do this because existing software need the new behavior, that is in principle identical to the behavior of the MCA-166. (The software has to keep on considering that the gain does not correspond to the spectrum and other measuring data.) - debugging: The commands CMD_QUERY_SPECTRA and CMD_QUERY_SPECTRA_EX sent wrong spectrum data if the measurement was stopped at suspended state. Release 11.08 ============= - new + debugging: extension port routines Release 11.07 ============= - debugging: CMD_SET_MEASURE_PZC returned error if MCS_INPUT_TTL is set. The command returns OK now. - debugging: In MCS firmware repeat modes, CMD_QUERY_SPECTRA and CMD_QUERY_SPECTRA_EX returned the wrong amplitude spectra. Release 11.06 ============= - new + debugging: some modifications concerning the MCS mode Release 11.05 ============= - non-public evaluation version Release 11.04 ============= - debugging: the returned dead time was 0% instead 100% Release 11.03 ============= - new: modified deadtime calculation - debugging: A modification of a prevoius release has caused a bug in the oscilloscop procedure for rising and/or falling edge. - debugging: QUERY_STATE527::unOffsetDac took forbidden values Release 11.02 ============= - new: modified evaluation routine Release 11.01 ============= - new: modified evaluation routine - new: extension port (in parts) Release 10.03 ============= - debugging: At Lite version, CMD_SET_ADC_RES_DISCR caused an error if it was called with older programs. Release 10.02 ============= - Firmware of the first series