Photon Freedom UI Reprogramming Possible???

[ViReN]

While browsing to know if there is any plan of a AAA Sized Photon Light with the New 2X LED (with the UI of Photon....)... I stumbled upon a post...

here is something picked up from the Photon's Forum...
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Keep up the comments and suggestions, since the customer feedback really does help guide future improvements and products. One advantage of the design of the Freedom is that all of the operation instructions for the light are programmed into a single chip (something like 1000+ lines of code if I remember correctly) rather than being hard-wired into the circuit like with the Photon 3. This should make future improvements, "bug fixes", etc. much easier to incorporate into the production line.
Bryan Avery
PhotonLight.com

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Now My Question is that... Can the Guru's Here... ReProgram Photon Freedom ... (is it based on PIC or something similar?)

If yes.. then it would be GrEaT!....

 

[paulr]

I haven't opened up my Freedom but they're almost certainly using mask programmed parts given the volume they make those things in. It's sorta conceivable there's a comparable flash or OTP part that fits in the same footprint, so you could swap them around. But chances are the existing chip is code protected so you'd have to write your own code, or defeat the protection and reverse engineer the existing code.

The thing about the Photon 3 doesn't make sense though. I'm sure they didn't make a big ASIC for the P3.

 

[ViReN]

But It means.. It is Possible through some or the other way....

They might have Masking... and hiding the code....

but it is possible.. right ?

 

[php_44]

I have neither a Photon 3 (do have a photon II /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif) nor a Freedom, but I do know about microcontrollers. Reading between the lines of the Photon forum post, it sounds like the PIII has a mask programmed micro that isn't economically changed. (An engineer writes the program for a part, works till they're happy with it, then submits the binary file to the chip maker with a few thousand $$ fee. The chip maker fabricates huge batches of the chip incorporating the engineer's file, with very low per part cost. But if a single change is needed - you need to re-pay the $$$$$ fee).

The freedom sounds like it is an OTP (one time programmable) part. For these, you buy unprogrammed microcontrollers and load them up with your working binary file either before or after you solder them down. The parts are not as cheap as mask parts, but cheaper than reprogrammable parts. OTP parts can't be changed, and if the mfg did their job - you can't slurp the code back out to look at it.

Yes - it would be possible to change the programming. In a similar fashion, it is possible to turn a power drill into an electric scooter. The question always is, would the time invested be worth the result to you, or are you better off just buying the scooter.

You'd probably just have to throw away the chip in the freedom, and program your own micro. Unless they left it unprotected - then if you can identify it you can buy a programming fixture, slurp the code down, reverse engineer it, modify it, and load it into a new chip. Again, might be cheaper to buy a light that better fits your needs.

If you create a reprogrammable Freedom - I'm sure folks here would be interested! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[ViReN]

sounds good....

Thanks for the advice...

I am no programmer for a PIC... and other Microcontrolers....

but knowing this possible, and knowing that photon freedom has a UI Problem, I had thought if.. there was an easy way to program.... but it seems that .. I will have to wait for Photon (LRI) to make some corrections in UI

 

[PhotonBoy]

ViReN, what flaws or problems do you see with the UI? From what I've read, it seems robust and intuitive, enough so that LRI is using it for their new AA product.

 

[ViReN]

I was reading http://www.photonlight.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1041

[ QUOTE ]

The PhotonIII allowed the used to use a quick burst of light by pushing the front button and you could always keep it in auto off to conserve batteries.

The Freedom Micro has the following problem:

If you want to conserve batteries (by preventing it from turning on in the pocket) you have to put it in signaling mode. When you want just a quick burst of light (like when finding a key hole) you push the buton, and it just light for a second beafore turning itself off and returning to full brightness mode.

So you have to again push the buton, afther you are done you have to multi tap the buton to return to signaling mode.

The PhotonIII is much more convinient and easier to use, in the FM a second button for overiding the circutry should have been included.


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