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TPS65185 EVM kit fail: The USB-to-GPIO adapter gets bricked by the TPS65185 software

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: TPS65185, USB2GPIO-LOADER-SW, USB2ANY, TPS65185EVM, IPG-UI

Hi All,

I'm trying to get my TPS65185 EVM kit working, which includes a USB-to-GPIO adapter (also known as "USB Interface Driver" and "HPA172")

The kit software offered to update the firmware for the adapter, which I agreed to. The adapter never came back from the firmware flash. No green light anymore, windows shows "Unknown Device". 

This is the kit I'm using (sorta beside the point, but): http://www.ti.com/tool/tps65185evm

The USB-to-GPIO Adapter (USB Interface Adapter) home page is: http://www.ti.com/tool/usb-to-gpio

I've tried several things to try and resurrect this device.

  • None of the software I could find for the adapter would talk to the adapter, or load the correct windows driver.
  • Found a firmware burner for the USB-to-GPIO (USB to GPIO EVM Firmware Loader - USB2GPIO-LOADER-SW - TI Software Folder http://www.ti.com/tool/usb2gpio-loader-sw ) -- it refused to see the USB-to-GPIO device
  • I bought another eval kit, only $10, and tried again on a clean machine. Tried to skip the firmware update, and the 65185 tool would not let me proceed. (Stupidly, I tried again, and it did the Exact Same Thing (tm). Now I have TWO bricked adapters.

So, I'm a little frustrated and could use some help.

  • Q: Can anyone provide me with a working Windows 7 or 8 driver for the USB-to-GPIO (USB Interface Adapter, HPA172) ?
  • Q: Your TPS65185 kit software insists on updating the driver for the adapter, before it will proceed.
  • Q: Is the existing bricked adapter permanently bricked? Can it be flashed to resurrect it? If so, how? 

Thanks for any help, folks

Mike Hermann

  • HI Mike,

    Sorry, to hear that you are having troubles with the USB-to-GPIO interface. Let's try to get you setup and going.

    First, are you using Windows 7 or 8? We use Windows 7 here so, there is a lot of verification with that OS. We have tried our newer GUIs with Windows 8 and it worked but, that was on just a few machine so far.

    Secondly, can you try using your USB-to-GPIO with the TPS6572xGUI?  www.ti.com/lit/zip/slvc449 

    USB-to-GPIO brick error during firmware flash does happen and is a known error. Therefore, this 2nd point will likely not work either but, worth a try.

    I am going to send this post over to our software and GUI experts and see if they can provide any help. We do have a new USB2ANY interface which is much more reliable but, it will not support the TPS65185GUI. You will have to use the datasheet to communicate with device if we go this option.

  • Hi Michael,

    Thanks for the assistance, I appreciate it. Here are the answers to your questions.

    PS: so I have just received a #3 third TPS65185EVM kit, with fresh adapter. This is in addition to the previous two kits, both of which have adapters bricked by TPS65185 EVM GUI.

    Q: Which Windows OS?

    I am using a Windows 8.1 machine.

    Q: Can you try the TPS6572xGUI?

    Downloaded and runs. Tried with new adapter from new TPS65185 EVM. Also asks to update firmware. Here is a screenshot.

    I am hesitant to let it update the firmware, so I have not done that as yet.

    Additional information:

    • I am using ythje TPS65185 EVM bundle with GUI found here: http://www.ti.com/tool/tps65185evm
    • I retested new kit on Windows 8.1, same problem. It insists on firmware upgrade for adapter before the GUI will function normally. Here is a screen shot. 
    • I declined to let the GUI reprogram the interface unit.
    • I tested new kit on a Windows 7 (w7 home premium) laptop we use for testing. Same error, as with screenshot.
    • Previous two units were bricked on a windows 7 desktop machine, a couple months ago
    • I tried the bricked units #1 and #2 with your TPS6572X GUI. Neither attempt resulted in a request to flash the adapter, instead, on each attempt, the GUI displayed a message "No USB Bridge Attached" in the status bar of the app

    Best Regards,

    Mike Hermann

  • Mike,

    1. After the firmware update, what is the order that you do? (Which do you do first?... click "OK" or unplug USB-to-GPIO box?)
    2. When restarting the GUI do you close the GUI and reopen or click "Run"?
    3. Do you have the USB2GPIO box plugged into the EVM? Disconnect it if possible.

  • Hi Michael,

    question 1: My colleague tells me that what happened with the last two adapters, was that he clicked "update firmware" button in the TPS65185 GUI, and that the GUI never returned a "firmware/programming complete" message or dialog box.

    Subsequently the GUI refused to recognize the adapter, windows displays the adapter as "unknown device", etc.

    question 2: never got there in the GUI, programming never successful.

    question 3: not sure what you mean. Are you suggesting that programming, if done, should be done without the TPS65185 board connected to the the adapter?

    I have NOT performed the firmware update on the recently received and still working unit #3. Are you suggesting I go ahead and allow TPS65185 GUI to attempt a reprogram with unit #3? 

    If it does brick, will TI repair or replace the bricked unit(s)?

    Best Regards,

    Mike Hermann

  • Hi all,

    Exactly same problem here, using windows 7 and failed update firmware.

    Display as unknown device in windows.

    How to resolve this problem?

    Best Regards,

    WEI-CHUN

  • And I also just got bit with exactly this same problem with the TPS65185EVM. Win 7 64 setup.

    Was this ever resolved?

    And is there anyway to unbrick the USB-to-GPIO adapter?


    Thanks
    Henry Ott
  • No, I don't think the USBtoGPIO box is supported anymore. If you are looking to just communicate with the device via I2C we can see about adding the TPS65185 to the IPG-UI support which uses the USBtoANY box and is supported. Plus this new GUI supports all OS's even Macs since it is HTML based. I will see if I can get this device added to the support list and follow up with you.
  • Same problem here. So to summarize: The software bricks the device and there is no possibility to recover it, right?
  • I never heard of a workaround.

      Tried a few things on my own to unbrick the usb box, but eventually just gave up and shelved the USB interface and connected to the ref. board directly with my own micro.

       Really wish I'd known about the issue beforehand, just to save all my  wasted time and effort.

        I do hope TI is not still selling/providing this basically unusable configuration.  

         

  • Hello all,

    I have found a similar problem with the USB Interface Adapter. The way I found to unbrick my device was to install the BQ2416x EVM software and perform a firmware update as requsted by the TPS65185 GUI tool. After updating the firmware, i used the TPS65185 GUI tool again for the firmware re-flashing. I also used the most recent TPS65185 GUI tool.

  • Pedro Rodrigues6 said:

    ... The way I found to unbrick my device was to...

    I can confirm that the procedure described above works on an freshly shipped, unbricked unit. I.e.

    1. Update the USB-GPIO adapter firmware with the BQ2416x EVM's software:  This brings the firmware version from 1.0.x to 49.y.z (I don't recall the exact numbers).
    2. Update the firmware again, this time using the TPS65185EVM software. This safely bumps the firmware version yet again.

    @TI Why don't you just ship the HPA172 with a more recent firmware? Your software saves time when developing/debugging, why not enable us to use it? 

  • We are working internally to update the modules and provide new firmware. Thank you for bringing it to our notice.

    Regards,
    Jay
  • Hi,

    My story start the same as previous posts. Today morning receive TPS65185 kit, connect HPA172 to Windows 10 x64 computer and after update firmware have brick.
    Search with google, TI to resolve but nothing.
    But now all works fine.

    ATTENTION: Need reboot Windows 10 with enable install drivers without digital signature !

    0. Disconnect HPA172 (brick)
    1. Download from TI sllc160a.zip
    2. Unpack and install it (C:\TI\TI USB Apploader Drivers)
    3. Download attached file HPA172.bin and copy it to installed AppLoader folder amd64 (for 64) or x86 (for 32)

    so you have 3 files in amd64 (or x86) folder

    ApLoader.sys
    Apploader.inf
    HPA172.bin

    /cfs-file/__key/communityserver-discussions-components-files/196/2476.HPA172.zip

    4. Open  Apploader.inf in text editor and replace text TUSBXXXX.BIN to HPA172.bin
    5. Connect your brick HPA172 to computer, open Device Manager and see unknown device with USB\VID_0451&PID_2136
    6. Click Update driver, browse for drivers C:\TI\TI USB Apploader Drivers\amd64 (or x86), Agree with install unsigned driver.
    7. After complete installation, reconnect HPA172 and see HID device with HID\VID_0451&PID_5F00
    8. Start TPS65185.exe

    Best regards
    Mitek

    P.S. After complete check you can recovery EEPROM via USB-TO-GPIO Firmware Loader

    and original HPA172-FW 1.0.11

    /cfs-file/__key/communityserver-discussions-components-files/196/7266.HPA172_2D00_1.0.11.zip

    Start USB-TO-GPIO Firmware Loader.exe
    Load image HPA172-1.0.11.BIN
    and Update.

    Now you can remove AppLoader drivers (via Device Manager - View hidden devices in Other devices group) and enable driver signature back.

    P.P.S. TI need fix file EEProm Image 1.0.11 (gpio write fix)
    Need remove first 4 bytes.