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en:unicard:firmware



Firmware


Name of the file with firmware

     The Unicard firmware is distributed in files “unicard.app”. If there is additional text after “unicard”, it marks the type of computer the firmware is intended for. Currently (as of 05/2021), Unicard firmware is available for 4 types of SHARP computers:

Computer type Firmware Name
MZ700 EU (07/2018) unicard700_eu.zip
MZ700 JP (07/2018) unicard700_jp.zip
MZ800 v0.23 (05/2021) unicard800.zip
MZ1500 v0.23 (05/2021) unicard1500.zip


When updating firmware it is necessary to work with extracted files unicard*.app.


Firmware Update

     The firmware update is done by the Unicard without the need for a JTAG programmer. All you need is a SHARP computer with a Unicard and a prepared SD card. If the Unicard firmware has different parameters than the new firmware on the SD card, the bootloader will update the firmware automatically after turning on the computer.

Preparing the SD card

  1. format the SD card to file system FAT32
  2. choose correct firmware based on the computer type (unicard700_EU.app, unicard700_JP.app, unicard800.app, unicard1500.app)
  3. copy firmware to SD card's root
  4. rename firmware to unicard.app

Update

     Insert the SD card into the SHARP computer and turn it on. If everything is OK, you will see information about the update's progress on the monitor. After it is finished, a standard booting of the computer will occur. File unicard.app can be left in the SD card's root. If the bootloader finds a match between the current firmware and the firmware on the SD card, it will not update.

Progress of the Unicard firmware update

Limitations of firmware update

     There are two limitations for firmware update:

  • the checksum of the firmware must match
  • the parameters of the new firmware must be different from the parameters of the current Unicard's firmware


If needed, it is no problem to update an older version of the firmware over the newer one.


The structure of the firmware files

     Every file containig Unicard firmware is composed of a header of 512byte and its own coded firmware.

The header of the Unicard firmware

Description of the header's structure

Offset Meaning Contents Length
0 byte identification signature UNICARD_ 8 byte
9 byte version n 1 byte
10 byte separator of version and subversion . 1 byte
11 byte subversion nn 2 byte
13 byte file size including header (unsigned long) nn nn nn nn 4 byte
17 byte checksum of the firmware file (unsigned long) nn nn nn nn 4 byte
21 byte CR LF 0D0A 2 byte
23 byte identification of computer MZ_ID - currently:
  • MZ700_EU
  • MZ700_JP
  • MZ800
  • MZ1500
MZ_ID depends on the length of MZ_ID
23 byte + length of MZ_ID CR LF 0D0A 2 byte
23 byte + length of MZ_ID + 2 byte unused free what is left to 512 byte

     The reader may send a suggestion on using the free bytes in the firmware header. Current idea from Bohouš - which modification, who translated it; what did they have for lunch and what the weather was like, as well as a forecast for the following week. I suggested an ode to Bohouš, leaving some space for a few praising rhymes for Mikeš and Martin :-D.

Firmware structure description

     From the 513. byte (0x0200H), there is the Unicard firmware code itself. This code is encrypted, the firmware therefore cannot be dirrecty reviewed. As mentioned in the header's description, the file contains a checksum, which prevents any possibility of a damaged firmware being used to update. When updating, the check sum is compared and if it does not match with the checksum mentioned in the header, the update will not happen.

en/unicard/firmware.txt · Last modified: 2021/06/04 10:24 by admin