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TM4C1294 production programmer

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: EK-TM4C1294XL, EK-TM4C123GXL, TM4C1294NCPDT, LMFLASHPROGRAMMER, SEGGER, LM3S8971

Hello!

Suggest me please a production programmer for TM4C1294, which can work with LMFlash Programmer tool or can programm the User Register of this micro.

We used for this purpose a part of development boards before (EK-TM4C1294XL and EK-TM4C123GXL) but something was wrong, and both of these programmers was broken. 

Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

  • Hello Vyacheslav,

    Elpotronic has a production programmer, which can be used to program the User Registers.

    Regards
    Amit
  • Hi, VP

    Use CCS development suite to write C/+ code to program the registers in the TM4c processor.
    The CCS dev suite and example code for a custom flash programmer DFU tool is included in Tivaware TM4c1294 download.

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

  • Hello BP101, Thank you for response !

    I don't realize what do you mean. And now I have even more questions than before :)

    Do I understand correctly, that for using DFU tool, which allows us to download our softwae over usb interface, we have to download DFU bootloader into device first? We do not use USB interface on our device, where TM4C1294 is installed.
    And what we have to do, if our programm is written in C, not in C+?

    Actually, we would like to have a hardware flash programmer with JTAG, which allows us additionally to program User Register.
  • Hi, Amit!

    Do you mean FlashPro-ARM-TI ? Or some other?
  • >we have to download DFU boot loader into device first?
    A ROM boot loader is built into TM4C1294 check the TM4C1294NCPDT datasheet for how/why. The ICDI TM4C123 uses the JTAG pins to flash the TM4C1294. In production one might choose to use USB flashing of code on an factory erased flash memory and or install the JATG pin header pads, both would be more prudent.

    >And what we have to do, if our program is written in C, not in C+?
    Sorry CCS compiler handles C+ in tool chain, GNU and mostly C.

  • Hello Vyacheslav

    Yes, that is correct.

    Regards
    Amit
  • Hello, BP101.

    Could you give some link or recommendations on how to implement programming of User Registers and download firmware into TM4C1294 by using XDS100v2? Is this possible essentially?

  • Hi VP,

    The CCS studio installer package is included in the 3GB firmware download. Once you install CCS there is an built in getting started Explorer tab with links to Wiki articles and other resources. The DL also has PDF on using the Tivaware firmware programming library in prewritten C functions.

    The link above post will get you started.

    Good luck and Have Fun exploring! :)

  • The fact that something "can be done" (after suitable/sufficient "exploration") somehow seems non-optimal for your requested, "Production Programming."

    Usually the production/final test/verify group seek something, "Quick, easy, foolproof, near automatic!"   (even multi-ganged - when volumes warrant)   I cannot recall when "complexity & exploration" proved suitable for production...

  • Hello cb1, Vycacheslav,

    Production Programmers ought to be simpler than CCS download!!!

    Regards
    Amit
  • Hi Amit,

    Indeed! Suggestion of so complex (exploratory even) a method proves unsound for "Production."
  • Hello cb1,

    That is why the suggestion of the 3rd party Flash Programmer. To Vyacheslav's earlier post (I would not too late), the serial boot loader is now almost ready (legal pending) along with the application note and code example.

    Regards
    Amit
  • Hi Amit,

    >the serial boot loader is now almost ready (legal pending) along with the application note and code example.

    What is "the new" serial boot loader, does it differ from the old serial boot loader binary file transfer methods?

    Guessing is Gang Banger flash programming tool for hot insertion of binary file into TM4c series chip without need of PCB. Haven't been in the CCS explorer in a while and no mention of a new serial BL this forum home page. Baffled to what you are describing here.
  • Hello BP101,

    This is the PC application that will complement the LMFlashProgrammer for addition of I2C and SSI as Boot Loader interface. This will have code released on the TI web site for the embedded controller to augment the Bulk Device and give more clarity on the sequencing of events for the boot loader.

    Regards
    Amit
  • Hi Amit,

    The Uni-flash tool some are using in production having a few issues. Do like the Uni-flash GUI tool talks to boot loader via USB DFU. Was recently helping a user trying to get LMFP to respond to BootP requests over Ethernet without resolve.

    Seems as if the boot loader does not assert the PT_THREAD background operation for some reason after the BootP request is sent out. A BootP response is necessary to change over to TFTP client mode so LMFP will read/transfer the binary. LMFP progress clarity events window will help tremendously in that process so we get some feed back on the connection. Recently have the very same issue. BootP request is confirmed to be sent out but no server response is detected on Wire Shark.

    https://e2e.ti.com/support/development_tools/code_composer_studio/f/81/t/450304

  • yes, and might I suggest looking at Segger as well. They do make production programmers, including a model that stands alone. For our current volume we've found that the standard pro version works with a small touch of automation. You'll have to verify that they'll meet all your requirements though.

    Robert
  • Hello, sir. I am an ordinary student now in learning MSP430 microcontroller, my English is very poor, I use a translator to your message, the web page is English looked at me very difficult, can help us if you can contact me? APP "QQ" can be used in China? On my QQ number 593154139.
  • BP101, do you have an experience on how to insert a value for User Register into output programm file? If so, could you specify the certain document, where this process is described, please? I can't find this by myself.

    For production programming we decided to purchase the professional programmer from Elprotronic
  • Do you mean to program the MAC address USER registers? USER registers are protected but can be unlocked and programmed directly. Back awhile ago I modified the boot loader (bl_config.h) and the application to upload the MAC into the USER registers, so it is possible to modify USER 0/1 on the fly.

    Forced to do that modification for LM3S8971 as the PCB only had JTAG and XDS100v2 could not be used with LMFlashProgrammer to access the USER registers.

    Document: TM4C1294NCPDT