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Support  Arrow Forward  RB-x40  Arrow Forward  Updating the Response Pad’s Firmware

Version History

The RB-x40 models represent Cedrus’ fifth generation of response pads. They are built on the XID (eXperimental Interface Device) version 2 platform. The microcontroller contains firmware (another name for software) that is occasionally updated to add new features or fix bugs.

Version

Changes and Additions

Release Date

2.0.0

Initial firmware when RB-x40 models first shipped

Aug 2014

2.0.1

Adds support for output to m-pod 

 Jan 9, 2017

2.0.5

Adds advanced digital output commands, e.g. pulse table

 June 23, 2017

2.2.0

Adds support for new signal flow features

Oct 11, 2018

2.2.1

Adds ‘ig’ command (keyboard auto repeat) and ‘ip’ (pause output) commands

Nov 13, 2018

2.2.2

Fixes bug that prevented USB output when in PST SRB / E-Prime mode

Feb 1, 2019

2.2.6

‘Delay’ value for One Shot filter now measured from onset instead of offset

Mar 2, 2021

2.2.7

‘Delay’ value for One Shot filter can now be saved to flash memory

Sep 1, 2021

Step 1 – Downloading the Necessary Files

Two files will need to be downloaded. The first one is the firmware itself. We recommend that you save it on the desktop to make it easier to find later on:

Download RB-x40 firmware (1MB)

Microsoft Edge users: the firmware file should have a .HEX file extension. For some reason, the Edge browser changes it to .MAN. You will need to rename it back to .HEX.

The second file is a utility program called Xidon (pronounced Zydon) that will allow you to communicate with the response pad. Even though available for both Mac and Windows, only the Windows version is capable of updating the firmware on the response pad. This is because Xidon relies on a utility software that is provided by the chip maker that produces the microcontroller, and that utility software works only on Windows.

Download Xidon 2  (22MB)

Run the installer after downloading it.

Step 2 – Updating the Firmware

  • The switches on the back of the response pad need to be all in the down position. If they are not, disconnect the response pad from the computer by disconnecting the USB cable, set all switches in the down position, and reconnect the response pad to computer.
  • Run Xidon.
    Open a Windows Explorer window, then go to C: drive > Program Files (x86) > Xidon folder, and double-click on xidon.exe.
  • In the main window, click on the Search for Device button on the left. Xidon should find the response pad. If it does not, the most likely reason would be that the USB driver needs to be installed.
  • From the Device menu, choose Update Firmware. This will accomplish two things: it will send a command to put the response pad in a special mode, and it will launch the utility software that will actually update the firmware.
    Note: at this point, the response pad is not useable until you disconnect and reconnect it.
  • If you do not see a dialog like the one on the right, proceed to step F. If you do, click on the Download and install this feature link to proceed and follow the prompts. The manufacturer’s software utility requires the Windows .NET Framework 3.5 feature be installed.
    Important: once the installation is complete, you need to:
    1. Reset the response pad; disconnect it from the computer and reconnect it.
    2. Exit Xidon and restart with
    step B above.
  • In the software utility, click on the Open Hex File button:

  • The utility will open a dialog prompting you to locate the .hex file. This is the file that you downloaded earlier; select it and then click on Open.


  • Click on the Program/Verify button. The firmware updating will proceed.
  • The updating is complete when the utility software displays “Erase/Program/Verify Completed Successfully”.
  • The response pad cannot be used until it is reset; you need to disconnect and reconnect it.
  • Exit the utility software.
  • Exit Xidon; it cannot “see” the response pad until it you exit and re-run it. 

If you do not have another response pad that needs updating, delete the .hex file.

Step 3 –Restoring the Internal Model ID

The process of updating the firmware makes the response pad loose its internal model ID, i.e. whether it’s an RB-740 or RB-840. The default is RB-540. If you are using another model:

  • The switches on the back of the response pad need to still be all in the down position. 
  • Run Xidon.
    Open a Windows Explorer window, then go to C: drive > Program Files (x86) > Xidon folder, and double-click on xidon.exe.
  • In the main window, click on the Search for Device button on the left. Xidon should find the response pad. 
  • From the Device menu, choose Update Model. A dialog appears. Select your response pad model and click on OK.

This completes the updating of the response pad firmware.


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Last revision: Sep 1, 2021

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