Cannot update TDC1000-C2000EVM firmware through GUI

Daniel Reich

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: TDC1000

After acquiring TDC 1000-C2000EVM board I installed the software and the driver, connected the board to my computer and launched the GUI. I got the message: "Firmware Rev 1.32 is detected. GUI needs Rev 1.42 of later. Update to the latest firmware in install folder via debug tab firmware update button". Unfortunately the debug tab doesn't have firmware update button. Please help.

over 8 years ago

0 Vishy Viswanathan over 8 years ago

TI__Mastermind 21685 points

Daniel,

Sorry we don't support in the TDC1000_C2000EVM GUI the capability to update firmware. You can update the firmware in two different ways:
a) Using CCS: You can find the TDC1000_C2000EVM Firmware source code with CCS project files under the installation folder
C:\Program Files (x86)\Texas Instruments\TDC1000_C2000\Firmware
b) Using a flash programming tool like C2Prog. It can be downloaded for free from the following link
www.codeskin.com/c2prog-download

Either way, you need the XDS100v2 dongle
www.ti.com/.../tmdsemu100v2u-14t

Thanks,
Vishy

0 Daniel Reich over 8 years ago in reply to Vishy Viswanathan

Prodigy 40 points

Vishy,
TI sent me the board a couple of weeks ago with old firmware. I downloaded the software from TI site. I paid for the board $100. Now I have to buy a dongle for $79 just to download the new firmware and through it out. Is that right?
Daniel Reich,
Autonetic, LLC

0 Vishy Viswanathan over 8 years ago in reply to Daniel Reich

TI__Mastermind 21685 points

Daniel,
I am sorry about this. You can still use v1.32 and continue the evaluation. Looking at the "Readme.txt" file, the v1.42 fixes an overflow handling issue in firmware when measuring time of flight greater than 546us (16bit high resolution timer using 120MHz clock). And the GUI should continue to work with this older firmware.
Thanks,
Vishy

0 Daniel Reich over 8 years ago in reply to Vishy Viswanathan

Prodigy 40 points

Vishy,
TOF of 546us is only 400 mm of level. My goal is measuring level of mix in hoppers of ice cream machines. This level can considerably exceed 400 mm.
Thanks,
Daniel

0 Vishy Viswanathan over 8 years ago in reply to Daniel Reich

TI__Mastermind 21685 points

Daniel,
Overflow handling is there in v1.32 as well so you should be able to measure levels exceeding 400mm. There were some corner cases that improved in v1.42.
I am checking internally with some c2000 folks how we can help you on updating the firmware. Any code development/debugging requires this dongle.
Thanks,
Vishy

0 willism biter over 8 years ago in reply to Vishy Viswanathan

Prodigy 30 points

I also bought the board to evaluate the TDC1000 (not the msp430) . Like Daniel, I also want to measure much more than 400 mm.
Daniel, were you successful in getting longer times? Vishy- what is current status of using the older firmware?
Bill

0 Vishy Viswanathan over 8 years ago in reply to willism biter

TI__Mastermind 21685 points

Bill,

You can use v1.32 firmware to evaluate.

The EVM firmware hex file is part of your GUI installation folder
C:\Program Files (x86)\Texas Instruments\TDC1000_C2000\Firmware.

The EVM firmware source code zip is also in that folder. In that zip, there’s a “TDC1000_level_PC_Commn\Debug” folder that contains all the previous and current hex files.

For any firmware update or CCS based code development/debugging you need the XDS100v2 dongle
www.ti.com/.../tmdsemu100v2u-14t

Thanks,
Vishy

0 willism biter over 8 years ago in reply to Vishy Viswanathan

Prodigy 30 points

Vishy, I'm getting a "ghost" return at about 35 microseconds. Very confusing but is not connected with transducer. . It triggers the stop on the board and appears as a signal on the compin TP when viewed with an oscilloscope. . However, it has nothing to do with the transducer. removing the transducer entirely still show the signal. And measuring on the pz element itself, there's no evidence of this signal. I'm using the SMD10T2R111WL element.

I've tried multiple settings on the software and its still there. Is this common or just my board?

thanks

0 Matthew Minasi over 8 years ago in reply to willism biter

TI__Expert 4725 points

Bill,

We need to see a scope shot showing the following signals: Start (TP23), Stop (TP22), and COMPIN (TP21) as well as your register settings to help diagnose your issue.

In the meantime I recommend you read my app note (http://www.ti.com/lit/pdf/snaa270) as I walk through the entire echo chain signals and how to configure the TDC1000.

Best regards,

Matt