Creat own MSP430 Launchpad

Albert Alvarez Carulla

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: EK-TM4C123GXL, MSP-FET

Hello,

I'm trying to create an own MSP430 Launhpad version. At this moment I'm working with "emulation" part of the board. I'm using the schematics in "MSP-EXP430G2 LaunchPad Experimenter Board User's Guide" (Rev. 1.5) and I've seen that it uses a MSP430F16X and a AT24C128-10TU-2.7 (I2C EEPROM 128k). My question is: How I implement the firmware into the "on-board emulator"? Where I can found the firmware (if it is OpenSource, of course. But if TI puts the schematics for create your own board, I suppose that also allows to use his firmware...)

Thank you very much for your time.

(PS: I have searched info in the net and in the forum before. If I ask here is because I didn't find an answer that can help me.)

over 10 years ago

0 zrno soli over 10 years ago

Guru 33653 points

If this makes you happy, I don't see any problem, but making copy of LaunchPad that cost 10$ (shipping included), why ?

Anyway, you can check http://goodfet.sourceforge.net

0 Albert Alvarez Carulla over 10 years ago in reply to zrno soli

Prodigy 110 points

I have one already. It's only a summer project that I want to do just for fun. (Money it isn't the problem so to create one will be more expensive than buy it). I will check you link ;) Thanks.

0 Ilmars over 10 years ago

Guru 46710 points

Albert Alvarez Carulla said:
But if TI puts the schematics for create your own board

Totally wrong assumption. Schematics is just part of development board documentation. How would you use development board if you don't know it's schematics?

0 Albert Alvarez Carulla over 10 years ago in reply to Ilmars

Prodigy 110 points

Ok, wrong assumption. Thank you.

0 Yuttanant Suwansiri over 8 years ago in reply to Albert Alvarez Carulla

Prodigy 90 points

I don't have much experience but I also have MSP430 launchpad and EK-TM4C123GXL LaunchPad, but there are some ports that I don't need for my application. I would like to buy something like TM4C1294NCPDTI3 MCU (store.ti.com/TM4C1294NCPDTI3.aspx) and make my own board to make it smaller than the launchpad. Do you have any advice or example, or tutorial where I can start this and how to load the software to the MCU without using the launchpad? Thank you!

0 Ilmars over 8 years ago in reply to Yuttanant Suwansiri

Guru 46710 points

>how to load the software to the MCU without using the launchpad

I would still use my Launchpad to program and debug my custom board as long as target chip is supported by Launchpad ICD. You just need to disconnect target chip on the Launchpad and connect your board to ICD part of Launchpad using (ribbon) cable.

0 old_cow_yellow over 8 years ago

Guru 58965 points

You said "create" but it sounds like "cloning".

I think somewhere in the world there exist a black market for G2LP.

0 Yuttanant Suwansiri over 8 years ago in reply to Ilmars

Prodigy 90 points

Thank you and not a bad idea at all. I've tried to program the msp430 mcu on the launchpad before then move the mcu to my target board, but I just wondering is there a programmer that I can program onto the MCU itself without going through the launchpad (Ex. if I buy an arm cortex m4 mcu, is there a programmer that I can program to the arm mcu?). Thanks!

0 Yuttanant Suwansiri over 8 years ago in reply to old_cow_yellow

Prodigy 90 points

I don't want to clone but I want to be able to buy something like an arm cortex m4 mcu or msp430 mcu without buying launchpad and be able to program it.

0 Dennis Eichmann over 8 years ago in reply to Yuttanant Suwansiri

Guru 74080 points

Why don't you just buy a programmer in that case? For all MSP430 (and 432 in the future) use the MSP-FET, for example.

0 Yuttanant Suwansiri over 8 years ago in reply to Dennis Eichmann

Prodigy 90 points

Thank you so much, that helps a lot :-) can I use it to program arm cortex m4 too? if not, which program would you recommend to program an smd arm cortex mcu?

0 Dennis Eichmann over 8 years ago in reply to Yuttanant Suwansiri

Guru 74080 points

For Cortex M4 you should have a look at the XDS100v2, for example. Look, here is a overview:

But double check if it supports your processor.

Dennis

0 Yuttanant Suwansiri over 8 years ago in reply to Dennis Eichmann

Prodigy 90 points

Thank you so much for your advice :-)

0 Ilmars over 8 years ago in reply to Yuttanant Suwansiri

Guru 46710 points

>is there a programmer that I can program onto the MCU itself
You can use BSL to program MCU without external programming hardware, thou this is more about firmware upgrades in the field, not about development. While developing you would want to use proper in circuit debugger hardware like ICD part of the launchpad or dedicated hardware. There are loads of different ARM CPU JTAG debug hardware round, most popular to mention: J-Link

0 Yuttanant Suwansiri over 8 years ago in reply to Ilmars

Prodigy 90 points

Thank you Llmars, that even makes it clearer for me. I'm just curious why on msp430 launchpad and tm4c123 launchpad, there are additional msp430 and additional tm4c123, are those ICD built in in circuit debugger to debug and program msp430 and tm4c123 MCU via usb connection to a personal pc? I don't have much experience but I'd also like to know how in the real-world industrial application work in programming hundreds or thousands of chips at one time. Do you have a link or video I can read or look at? Thank you!

0 old_cow_yellow over 8 years ago in reply to Yuttanant Suwansiri

Guru 58965 points

"Gang Programmer" from TI and Elprotronic Inc. are just baby steps toward that. The real thing is part of a machine that automatically get chips from tape-reels, program them, and place them on the PCB for wave-soldering.

0 Dennis Eichmann over 8 years ago in reply to Yuttanant Suwansiri

Guru 74080 points

Yuttanant Suwansiri said:
are those ICD built in in circuit debugger to debug and program msp430 and tm4c123 MCU via usb connection to a personal pc?

Exactly! Like the eZ-FET lite, for example.

0 Yuttanant Suwansiri over 8 years ago in reply to old_cow_yellow

Prodigy 90 points

Wow that's so amazing!! I've not worked or get to see that many chips get programmed like that before. I totally learn something new :-) But I'd also like to know what makes the differences between loading the program to the chip via ISP (SPI) vs JTAG vs UART (using Bootloader)?

0 Ilmars over 8 years ago in reply to Yuttanant Suwansiri

Guru 46710 points

>what makes the differences between loading the program to the chip via ISP (SPI) vs JTAG vs UART (using Bootloader)?
From programming perspective there are no difference. Main difference of In Circuit Debugger interface like JTAG - debugging besides programming.

0 Yuttanant Suwansiri over 8 years ago in reply to Ilmars

Prodigy 90 points

Sorry for stupid questions, but is there any ISP (SPI) programmer for tm4c123 arm cortex m4 that TI sells on Ti Store? Does all msp430 and tm4c123 shipped out with bootloader for UART program loading? or you will have to manually load bootloader in order to load program via uart? Thank you.

0 Roberto Romano over 8 years ago in reply to old_cow_yellow

Guru 27285 points

old_cow_yellow said:
The real thing is part of a machine that automatically get chips from tape-reels, program them, and place them on the PCB for wave-soldering.

Or IMHO better the flying nail test machine, when diagnostic check is finished attach to programming test point and load code verify then secure device.

Due to past bad experience on intellectual fee payment, I prefer program final version manually I seen it took just an afternoon for 1Kpieces and is acceptable to me than have 10K unit sold and collect just for 1K. Again other protection trick where developed to avoid uncontrolled overburn.

0 Ilmars over 8 years ago in reply to Yuttanant Suwansiri

Guru 46710 points

Tiva forum supposedly will help regarding tm4c123. Most of the msp430 have BSL firmware on-chip. Further reading: slau319

0 Yuttanant Suwansiri over 8 years ago in reply to Ilmars

Prodigy 90 points

Thank you so much Mr. Llmars and everyone for such a great information.

**Attention** This is a public forum

MSP low-power microcontrollers

MSP low-power microcontroller forum

Creat own MSP430 Launchpad