The tool "flashes" the PIC18F458 chip with the new instruction set. Recommendation

: In software and firmware development, a patch is a set of changes or fixes made to an existing software or firmware. Patching a hex file implies that modifications have been made to update, fix, or enhance the firmware.

Background and Purpose of Firmware Patching Firmware is the low-level software stored in a device’s nonvolatile memory that controls hardware behavior. For OP-COM, firmware determines how the USB interface, microcontroller, and CAN/ISO protocols are handled and what responses are returned to the diagnostic PC software. Reasons users patch OP-COM firmware include:

: When working correctly, this firmware supports: Reading and clearing Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs). Live data sensor monitoring.