AM263P4: QSPI S25FL128S Flash writing trouble

Jeeuk Chang

Prodigy 240 points

Part Number: AM263P4
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: AM2634, TMDSCNCD263, UNIFLASH, SYSCONFIG

Tool/software:

Hi, TI experts.

I have some troubles in using QSPI flash memory S25FL128S with AM263P4 custom board.

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I designed my custom test board of AM2634 with S25FL128S like TI TMDSCNCD263 evaluation board.

It seems that there was no problems in flash writing via TI uart_uniflash and in QSPI boot.

And I changed AM2634 to AM263P4 for some reasons.

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In order to use QSPI S25FL128S with AM263P4, I should modify two SBL program - sbl_uart_uniflash and sbl_ospi_multicore_elf.

Unfortunately S25FL128S does not support SFDP function.

This is the flash setting of sysconfig in TI sbl_uart_uniflash of AM2634 for comparison. (MCU+SDK AM263x 10.01.00.31)

I loaded JSON file (source\sysconfig\board\.meta\flash\S25FL128SA_ospi.json) for making AM263P4 sysconfig settings.

- Flash Device : Custom Flash

- Name : S25FL128SA

- load JSON file

- Protocol 1S-1S-4S

- Quad Enable Type : 1

- OSPI pin setting modifications

This is the my flash setting of sysconfig in a custom sbl_uart_uniflash of AM263P4. (MCU+SDK AM263Px 10.02.00.15)

With this flash modification and deleting EEPROM setting / FLASH reset, LED blinking example worked at QSPI(4s) boot.

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I made my big application and loaded it with flash offset 0x81000 but it failed.

I changed the offset by 0x1000 and found that depending on the offset, it might either succeed or fail.

And depending on the application (maybe size), it might either succeed or fail also.

The offset 0x0 did not make a fail in flashing a file.

With JTAG uniflash program with the same modification sequences, the flashing always succeeded only after chip erase.

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For comparison, I tried to loading the "sbl_null.release.tiimage" file with the other offset by 0x1000 at my custom AM2634 board and TI TMDSCNCD263 evaluation board. (UART uniflash)

Surprisingly it failed sometimes.

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I do not know how to solve this problem.

1. Why does flashing fail with the other offset by 0x1000 at TI TMDSCNCD263 board?

2. What is the error in AM263P4 and S25FL128S sysconfig setting?

3. Is "--operation=flash-phy-tuning-data" needed for S25FL128S in AM263P4 UART uniflash?

4. Any other check points?

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Best regards,

Jeeuk Chang

2 months ago

0 Nilabh Anand 2 months ago

TI__Mastermind 44514 points

Jeeuk Chang said:
2. What is the error in AM263P4 and S25FL128S sysconfig setting?

Can you try disabling the 4Byte addressing mode

Also make sure your OSPI clock is running at 50Mhz or less.

Jeeuk Chang said:
3. Is "--operation=flash-phy-tuning-data" needed for S25FL128S in AM263P4 UART uniflash?

No this step is not applicable to S25FL128S flash, this step is applicable to only to OSPI flash running at high speed.

0 Jeeuk Chang 2 months ago in reply to Nilabh Anand

Prodigy 240 points

Hi, Nilabh Anand.

I tried to changing below settings but it did not work.

- Write/Page Program Command

- Enable 4 Byte Addressing

0 Jeeuk Chang 2 months ago in reply to Nilabh Anand

Prodigy 240 points

I omitted checking OSPI clock speed.

As shown my sysconfig setting, actual OSPI clock speed measured was 25 MHz. (100 MHz / 4)

0 Nilabh Anand 2 months ago in reply to Jeeuk Chang

TI__Mastermind 44514 points

Hi Jeeuk,

We have tested this on AM263Px, it works fine.

It may point to :1. faulty HW connections?

Can you run flash diagnostics example: https://software-dl.ti.com/mcu-plus-sdk/esd/AM263PX/latest/exports/docs/api_guide_am263px/EXAMPLES_DRIVERS_OSPI_FLASH_DIAG.html

Do you the tests passing?

0 Nilabh Anand 2 months ago in reply to Nilabh Anand

TI__Mastermind 44514 points

If that is passing, then you can run the OSPI flash io example (may need modification as this is a custom board, remove flash reset api and other things from syscfg which you are not using on your board)

The try to follow this FAQ for sequential testing:

software-dl.ti.com/.../EXAMPLES_DRIVERS_OSPI_FLASH_DIAG.html

0 Jeeuk Chang 2 months ago in reply to Nilabh Anand

Prodigy 240 points

Hi Nilabh Anand.

I tested flash-diagnostics example 3 weeks ago.

S25FL128S Flash does not support SFDP function.

The output is below.

And I modified OSPI flash io example and tested it today as you suggested.

The result shows just "All tests have passed!!".

I also tested the program by changing "APP_OSPI_FLASH_OFFSET_BASE" value.

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Most program that TI provides for flashing and booting of AM2634 and AM263P4 use "Block Erase" except flashing for OSPI boot.

For example, mcelf_sbl_ospi.cfg is below.

"--operation=flash" will erase the flash by block size and the offset should be multiple of block size.

"--operation=flash-sector-write" will erase the flash by sector size and the offset should be multiple of block size.

Block size is 64 kB (0x10000) and sector size is 4 kB (0x1000) in sysconfig settings of S25FL128SAGNFI000.

Unlike AM2634 mcelf_sbl_qspi.cfg, AM263P4 mcelf_sbl_ospi.cfg use sector erase function because flash offset of the application is 0x81000.

(0x80000~0x80FFF is defined as FLASH BOOTINFO at SBL OSPI and is reserved intentionally.)

Unfortunately S25FL128S does not support 4 kB sector erase command at 0x81000 region in my understanding from its datasheet.

(S25FL128S datasheet, page 47~49, page 112~113)

In order to avoiding modification of uniflash or sbl ospi, I am considering replacing QSPI flash memory.

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Then, I have new questions about OSPI boot of AM263P4.

What is the region of 0x80000~0x80FFF in flash memory?

When are the data of that region flashing and when are the data used?

+1 Nilabh Anand 2 months ago in reply to Jeeuk Chang

TI__Mastermind 44514 points

Hi Jeeuk,

Jeeuk Chang said:
Then, I have new questions about OSPI boot of AM263P4.

What is the region of 0x80000~0x80FFF in flash memory?

When are the data of that region flashing and when are the data used?

This the OSPI PHY tuning data, you can read more about it here: www.ti.com/.../spract2.pdf

0 Jeeuk Chang 2 months ago in reply to Nilabh Anand

Prodigy 240 points

Hi, Nilabh Anand.

I replaced S25FL128S with IS25LP128 which have 4 kB erase command working at entire flash area.

After modifying some flash settings of sysconfig (JSON loading is not sufficient), my custom AM263P4 board works with no problems.

It would be better to notify that one should consider 4 kB erase function working from 0x81000 address when selecting flash memory.

Regard,

Jeeuk Chang

0 Nilabh Anand 2 months ago in reply to Jeeuk Chang

TI__Mastermind 44514 points

Glad to know that Jeeuk, Sure I will ask the team to include that as a feedback in flash selection guide.

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AM263P4: QSPI S25FL128S Flash writing trouble