Launchpad TUSB3410 and MSP430F1612 firmware source code

I just noticed that the forum software auto hyperlinks part numbers.  That's a great touch :)  There's no way for me to know who did that over at TI, but I still want to say thanks for doing that.

Jason Spence said:

I just noticed that the forum software auto hyperlinks part numbers

I don't think that TI will ever release this info. As much as GM would release the source code for their motor controller. It's an intellectual property that does not need to be shared with anyone. The FET is a tool and provided as-is. And I think, the firmware is a big part of what makes the FET cost $99 (you could build the plain hardware for less than half of it).

Youst out of curiosity: why did you ask?

Like I said, I want to still be able to use my launchpad with CCS, but I also want the option to have it emulate other USB devices under control of an MSP430 on the launchpad board.

Hi Jason,

that's no problem! All you need to do is buying an MSP-FET430UIF for reading out the firmware of the Launchpad's MSP430F1612. The TUSB3410 acts as a USB to UART bridge; as long as you keep its original firmware everything is fine. You can even change the PID and VID by using the software available from TI.

The MSP430F1612 should be programmed to 'bypass mode' simply passing the data from the launchpads MCU to the USB port.

When you want to use your launchpad as 'launchpad' again you can use the FET for restoring it's firmware.

Rgds
aBUGSworstnightmare

P.S. When placing your MSP-FEt430UIF order you should by a few more Launchpads too :-)! 

 I already have the binary firmware, I'd like the source code to it so I don't have to reverse engineer it and port it to easily modifiable assembler from scratch :)

Jason Spence said:

 I already have the binary firmware, I'd like the source code

I can understand your request, but it is not likely that TI will release it to the public. Keeping the source code of teh FET firmware as well as the source fo rthe MSP430 lib undisclosed is all that keep dozends of competitors from flooding the market with cheap (and probably - but not necessarily - shakey) clones of the FET.

The JTAG protocol itself is released, so you can design your own FET and write your own firmware. And for the older parallel or serial FET, there is also a variant of the MSP430 lib available (part of the free mspgcc toolchain), so you can take this to develop a firmware counterpart for the FET.

If you are really interested and have the time, you can indeed run the Launchpad fully opensource.

For source code to the TUSB3410 have a look at

http://svn.navi.cx/misc/trunk/{tusb,psxcard,therm,wasabi}

For the MSP430F1612, have a look at GoodFET

http://goodfet.sourceforge.net/

You need to make few trivial modifications to the GoodFET software.

and you need a another Launchpad (or GoodFET) to install the program on the Lauchpad.

Happy hacking

/Peter

Hi,

i have launchpad too and I have the MSPFET and my question is , can I program the MSP4301612 on the launchpad using the test points provided? To clear the question, I know

that MSP4301612 has only Jpins and that means that it needs JTAG and i have it but must the M4301612 disconnected from the circuit or its ok?? and must I connect theUSB as

a power or not??

I was trying to use the MSP flasher but it seems that has problems and I dont know if the problem is from the program or the Hardware and as the launchpad is an open source,

i can know what are the J pins and connect them. I hope you understand my issue(s).

Thank you in advance

Ahmed

Hi Ahmed,

Yes you can reprogram the msp430f1612, you need a jtag programmer

I wrapped up a simple parallel port jtag adapter and replaced the TI firmware with the goodfet firmware,

The required patches should be in the goodfet source-code tree now,

have a look at thttp://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?forum_name=goodfet-devel

/Peter

Peter Lorenzen82159 said:

Yes you can reprogram the msp430f1612, you need a jtag programmer

In any case, IAR or CCS can update the 1612 through USB without need for any additional FET. So a FET obviously isn't needed. It is, however, the 'straight' way to do an update - if the JTAG fuse wasn't blown on the 1612.