USB STM32 HxCFloppyEmulator firmware upgrade v3.0.8.2a + Alpha 3.0.20.1a (HFE + HFEv3 + ADF + ST + IMG file format support)

Cumulative modifications since the last stable firmware version :

7 August 2017: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.20.1a

- Low level I2C & LCD IO redesigned and optimized.
- Long names are now scrolling on the LCD during floppy emulation.
- Short name image type identification issue fixed.
- USB "Hot plug" support fixed in autoboot/"file selector" mode.

4 August 2017: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.19.2a

- New buttons behaviour and better debouncing filter. Navigation user-experience should be better now.
- Disk Eject function : Press both buttons to eject the disk. Working in indexed, autoboot mode, and normal mode.
- "Eject at power up" option added.
- Support up to 999 Images in autoboot mode (with the File selector) (Use the new CFG file and selector to use this feature)
- LCD : Display refresh improvements.
- New CFG file format : Some new flags and no more slots/disk drive limitation.
- Some critical parts rewritten in assembly. Huge code speed improvement -> Better HD density reliability. ED density to be tested .
- Code size reduced.
- Advanced USB mass storage cache implemented to improve read/write reliability.
(Btw : Now when track size can be stored into the SRAM, the emulator will not read forever the data from the stick but use the cached data instead).
- IMG/ST file write support done.
- Huge RAW (*.ADF/*.ST/*.IMG) Write performance enhancement (Write 2 tracks at once !)
- RAW *.IMG files can be used in indexed mode : Name the files DSKA0000.IMG,DSKA0001.IMG,DSKA0002.IMG,...
- HFE write performance enhancement.
- "Autoboot.hfe not found" message added.
- 7 segments display "dots" glitch fixed.
- 128 & 256 bytes sectors support added in raw mode.
- FM support : Write to HFE file fixed.
- FM support : Raw (*.dsk) read/write support.
- New File format support (WIP) : HFEv3. Can now support copy protected images converted from IPF and others similar formats !
Variable bitrate supported (CopyLock & SpeedLock). Weak/Flakey bits support to be added !
- Fix IPF support for these games: Jim Power, Z-Out,Xenon 2,Ghosts'n Goblins,Rainbow Islands,B.A.T II and probably some others !
- Slot number printed on the second line during slot search with an LCD.
- XCopy write issue fixed.
- Sound buzzer output on the "JB" jumper position. You can connect a piezo or a magnetic buzzer (transistor needed for the magnetic version).
The sound output can be disabled or enabled into the selector settings.
(Note : Please remove these old sound mod using directly the step signal, they are producing reliability problems...)
- Mixed track format/density write support fixed (To be tested!).

Current direct images support : *.HFE (RW),*.HFE V3 (RW) (early write support), *.ADF (RW), *.ST (RW), *.IMG (RW).
Note : HFE files is a multiplatorms floppy image format supporting many systems and disk formats.

Selector software :
- New Bootblock for the Amiga version : The file selector is now "trackloaded" and start faster.
- Speed up the sub-directory change/browsing.
- Can start an image from the slot page with the F7 key.
- The File selector is now available under Windows and Linux ! : You can now edit the list from a PC !. (Compatible with all SD/USB HxC drives !)
To launch it : HXCFEMNG -disk:[SD/USB drive letter:]
See the selector readme file for more details.
This is a new selection solution for all others machines without native file selector available.
- Linux/Windows version : You can now import from txt file / export to txt file / auto populate / check / fix and clear your slots configuration.
Very useful for fast populating and compilations duplication
- Windows version : Fix big size (>8GB) usb stick/sd access issue.
- populateslots option : autoboot.hfe filtered.
07 aug 2017:
- Fix the config file access error when the file haven't the archive flag set.

Converter / HxC Software :
- WIP : HFEv3 Import/export support added. This format support copy protections (variable bitrate protections and soon weakbits protections).

Thanks to all alpha/beta testers for testing the firmware and reporting the issues !

src/url: http://hxc2001.free.fr/floppy_drive_emu ... l#download

Work in progress / Alpha Firmware version :

Cumulative modifications since the last stable firmware version :

11 August 2017: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.22.1a

- Step signal : Faster irq.
- Write gate : glitch filter fixed.

11 August 2017: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.21.6a

- LCD Display : Set the CGRAM address at init/reinit.

10 August 2017: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.21.5a

- LCD Display : Automatic screen recovery/reinit.

10 August 2017: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.21.4a

- LCD Display : Screen updater optimized.

9 August 2017: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.21.3a

- Indexed/Selector mode : Fix the UP/DOWN buttons behavior.
- Attempt to fix the OLED mod support.

9 August 2017: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.21.2a

- LCD Display : Fix possible blackout/garbages issue.

8 August 2017: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.21.1a

- LCD Display : Refresh rate adjusted and I2C dead lock issue fixed.

- Normal / direct browsing mode :

Auto selecting the current image or subfolder if you don't
press the buttons during than 4 seconds. If needed, the file name
scroll during the delay time.
This modification make the additional select button optional.
Of course the LCD still needed for this mode.

- Indexed/selector mode :

Delay added before selecting the image. Browsing through the slots
is smoother. If needed, the file name scroll during the delay time.

- 7 segments display :
New error/message codes :
"FAt" : Fat init error.
"NFL" : No file. Empty stick ?
"CFG" : Config file not found !
"cFG" : Bad config file !
"Nor" : Warning -> in Normal/Direct browsing mode. You should use a LCD screen.
"AUt" : Autoboot.hfe not found.
"Err" : File image error !
"Ldr" : Into the bootloader.

- Config file save : Before writing to the disk, check that this is really needed.
(Parameters change check)

Je trouve ça décevant qu'il y n'ait plus grand chose de fait pour le HxC SD depuis 2013...

Bien au contraire: C'est signe que le produit est stable et mature. Connaissant applications sensibles où il est utilisé, c'est important. Un firmware qui change tous les 4 matins, ça fait vraiment mauvais genre dans beaucoup de domaines ! C'est "ok" dans la première phase de vie, mais après ce n'est plus acceptable.

Là une usine qui a acheté le lecteur il y a quelques années aura une garantie que le comportement/fonctionnement sera 100% identique s'il en reprend aujourd'hui. Et ça, ça n'a pas de prix pour beaucoup.

Le gotek me permet de m'amuser un peu plus, car cette contrainte est beaucoup moins forte...

20 August 2017: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.24.1a

- GPIOs access speed up (IRQ latency reduced).
- Write flux decoder speed up (+50%).
- I2C/LCD low level routines optimized and prepared to support the incoming OLED screen support.
( + I2C transmission issues fixed)
- User interface : Fix the printed total number of slot in autoboot and indexed mode.
- Indexed mode + LCD : The file name is printed (Fix).

17 August 2017: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.23.5a

- Fix format/track write issues introduced by the v3.0.23.3a

17 August 2017: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.23.3a

- Write descriptors and write pipeline added :
The drive can now "capture" a new floppy write while it is writing
previous write(s) to the stick.

Cumulative modifications since the last stable firmware version :

11 September 2017: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.26.6a

- Fix early adopter bootloader support (Before june 2015)

9 September 2017: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.26.4a

- Fix write support with non contigus/fragmented tracks into the image (usb stick fragmentation issue).

6 September 2017: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.26.3a

- SSD1306 OLED screen support fully working and enabled.
You can now connect an SSD1306 based 128x32 OLED screen.

These screens are compatible with this firmware : http://www.ebay.com/itm/302110929185 ( IIC Interface ! )

You can connect the screen directly to the J7 connector. (additional pull-up resistors NOT required.)

- GND, VCC 3V3, SCL and SDA position on J7 :



! > Take care with the 3.3V and GND while connecting the screen. Any mistake may damage the screen ! < !

3 September 2017: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.25.1a

- Disk change signal delay reduced when swapping the images.

- Faster HFE write :
- HFE write cache size extended.
- Huge write back function optimization.

- Write flux decoder buffer size reduced to optimize the write latency (ACA500 ARIII support) .

- SSD1306 OLED support (W.I.P!) : SSD1306 Init and mire test.

- Floppy Interface assertion/deassertion IRQ completely turned into assembly.

- USB Stack optimization.

9 October 2017: Firmware STM32 USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.31.1a

- Amstrad CPC DSK direct support added (Old and new format) : Read only for the moment.
Write support and simple copy protections support incoming .

-> Support direct des DSK avec le firmware HxC Gotek. En lecture seule pour le moment, mais l'écriture va arriver assez vite .