1. Boot mode description

1.1. Preface

CT36L/CT36B is shipped with the Linux operating system installed by default.

CT36L/CT36B has flexible startup methods. Under normal circumstances, the CT36L/CT36B development board will not become bricked unless the hardware is damaged.

If an accident occurs during the upgrade process and the bootloader is damaged, making it impossible to re-upgrade, you can still enter MaskRom mode to repair it.

1.2. Firmware acquisition

1.3. Upgrade method

CT36L/CT36B supports firmware upgrade through the following two methods:

  • Use USB cable to upgrade firmware

    Use CT36L/CT36B to connect the motherboard to the computer, and burn the firmware to the motherboard through the upgrade tool.

  • Upgrade firmware using SD card

  • Note 1: SocToolKit tool version 1.7 or higher is required to support the SD card upgrade boot function.

  • Note 2: This function requires the user to run SocToolKit.exe as an administrator (it will ask by default when opening the tool).

  • Insert the successfully created SD card into the device and then restart. The device will enter the U-Boot terminal in the SD card first.

  • If the SD card has an upgrade function, the device will be automatically upgraded.

  • After the upgrade is completed, you need to remove the SD card and restart the device to enter the device system.

1.4. Start memory

CT36L loads the system from memory:

  • SPI FLASH interface

  • SDMMC interface

CT36B loads the system from memory:

  • EMMC interface

  • SDMMC interface

1.5. Startup mode

CT36L/CT36B has two startup modes:

  • Normal mode

  • MaskRom mode

1.5.1. Normal mode

Normal mode is the normal startup process. Each component is loaded in sequence and the system is entered normally.

1.5.2. MaskRom mode

MaskRom mode is used for firmware programming.

***To forcefully enter MaskRom mode, please refer to the chapter “MaskRom Mode”. ***