SD card interfacing with TivaC

PARAG NARKHEDE

Prodigy 80 points

Hello

I want to know what is the maximum size of SD card that can be interfaced with TM4C1294 MCU ?

over 9 years ago

0 Amit Ashara over 9 years ago

TI__Guru**** 244400 points

Hello Parag

I have used a 8GB SD Card with TM4C examples without any issues. The higher limit is something that I have not tried.

Regards
Amit

0 Emmett Bradford over 9 years ago in reply to Amit Ashara

Intellectual 425 points

Hi Amit,

Is there an example design for a 4-bit SD card?

1-bit SD card?

Thanks,

Emmett

0 Amit Ashara over 9 years ago in reply to Emmett Bradford

TI__Guru**** 244400 points

Hello Emmett

There is an application note, however it is under NDA because of some SD Card Organization requirements on royalty (I believe). If you have a TI Account Manager/TI Sales Support, then please reroute the request through the concerned person.

Regards
Amit

0 Pete Carston over 9 years ago in reply to Emmett Bradford

Expert 1100 points

An interesting question Emmett. Amit mentions an NDA and I would guess that this is due to SD being free for SPI mode, but subscription to the SD association for 1bit & 4bit bus modes. As the QSSI ports looked a good match for 4bit SD bus I had a go a writing a driver for it, but when you get to the CRC requirement, despite being helped a lot by the hardware CRC and DMA engines, the need to compute 4 threads of CRC for the block transfers means that things like USB2.0 on the same device becomes a much more attractive prospect.

0 cb1_mobile over 9 years ago in reply to Pete Carston

Guru 117855 points

Pete Carston said:
...need to compute 4 threads of CRC for the block transfers means that things like USB2.0 on the same device becomes a much more attractive prospect.

Feel your pain - yet is it not fair/proper to survey/evaluate (other) ARM MCUs (which likely have longer support history for "such 4 bit bus transfers") and see how "universal" (if at all) that "CRC" limitation appears?

The size restriction imposed here (8GB) may point to (other) short-comings - again a proper survey should prove revealing... On occasion - methods/techniques in use by (others) may find (welcome) homes far from their port of entry. As always - all legal requirements should be investigated & designs should not stray from full/proper compliance...

0 Emmett Bradford over 9 years ago in reply to Amit Ashara

Intellectual 425 points

Thanks Amit,

Does the app note have a number or title that I can reference when asking?

0 Amit Ashara over 9 years ago in reply to Emmett Bradford

TI__Guru**** 244400 points

Hello Emmett,

Yes, it does but it is not a document available on the TI website. It is an internal document and will be made available to you after the required NDA is in place.

Regards
Amit

0 Emmett Bradford over 9 years ago in reply to Amit Ashara

Intellectual 425 points

OK. I just want to be able to ask for it by name.
Thanks,
Emmett

0 Amit Ashara over 9 years ago in reply to Emmett Bradford

TI__Guru**** 244400 points

Hello Emmett,

Even if the name of the document is given, it will not be searchable.

Regards
Amit

0 Pete Carston over 9 years ago in reply to cb1_mobile

Expert 1100 points

Hello cb,

That's not a comment on the capabilities of the TM4C device - the TM4C1294 CRC module works well and is easy to use - but more a comment on the workings of the SD interface. And yes, the 8GB limit is not a limitation of the device either, unless the driver imposed such a limit.

0 cb1_mobile over 9 years ago in reply to Pete Carston

Guru 117855 points

Hi Pete,

I don't doubt your conviction - but (just) how sure are you? Our clients demand that we "compare/contrast" devices from many makers - often subtle differences appear - and it is (unwise) to expect that "one and only one" vendor will always have "best solution."

Without full/proper evaluation of other devices - and their unique drivers - your statement "not a limitation of the device" may not hold!

0 Pete Carston over 9 years ago in reply to cb1_mobile

Expert 1100 points

Hi cb,
Naturally, if you take other devices/manufacturers into consideration, and especially those that have dedicated SD controllers onboard there are currently better options for using SD in SDbus mode.

0 cb1_mobile over 9 years ago in reply to Pete Carston

Guru 117855 points

Hi Pete,

And such (was) my point. But beyond that - methods/techniques of others (may) shed light & benefit those here.

As you surely know - this game involves constant "leapfrogging" - minus regular (multi-vendor) investigation - many key features & improved methods are (sure) to be missed...

0 Emmett Bradford over 9 years ago in reply to Amit Ashara

Intellectual 425 points

Hi Amit,
As you said, I need to contact a TI Account Manager/TI Sales Support.
Don't I need to communicate to that person what it is I want an NDA for?
Thanks,
Emmett

0 Amit Ashara over 9 years ago in reply to Emmett Bradford

TI__Guru**** 244400 points

Hello Emmett,

The NDA would be for not disclosing the document outside of your organization with the fact that your organization is required to have SD Card Association Membership to be able to access the document.

Regards
Amit

0 Pete Carston over 9 years ago in reply to Amit Ashara

Expert 1100 points

Which answers one of my thoughts......How was TI managing to issue an NDA for something protected by SD association membership. So would that mean that really you need to join the SD association, pay your fee, and go direct?

0 Amit Ashara over 9 years ago in reply to Pete Carston

TI__Guru**** 244400 points

Hello Pete,

TI is not issuing an NDA for something protected by SD association, but protecting itself, in case the information gets released by the end-user from their end. So if your organization inadvertently publish the document outside, TI cannot be held liable for damages.

Regards
Amit

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SD card interfacing with TivaC