IoT of Tiva TM4C129ENCPDT

Hello Bailin

IoT is a concept. There is no single device that implements this concept. An analogous example is that I bought a car, but the salesperson did not mention it has a door. That does not mean that the car does not have a door.

When we say it is IoT enabled, means that a user can use the Ethernet MAC+PHY to implement an IoT device. This is shown in the qs_iot example that comes as part of TivaWare, which is the associated software.

The CC3100 BoosterPack and EK-TM4C1294XL example code is also part of TivaWare.

Hi Amit,

Thanks for your reply.

IoT is a concept. When talking about IoT, people always think that it is related to wireless or WiFi though it is not necessary. I thought that IoT enabled on TM4C129ENCPDT meant that something on the chip related to WiFi functions was turned on or enabled or ready for use. From your reply, I know that it is not the case.

Regards,

Bailin

Hello Bailin

True, a lot of IoT devices that come out show that they are wireless. However there are wired IoT devices as well and it can be awfully confusing.

Hi Amit,

Thanks.

From the schematic of EK-TM4C1294XL, TM4C123 is used for debugging and programming. If the standard 20-pin JTAG of TM4C1294 is used for debugging and programming through a host USB without TM4C123, what is the part number of a standalone debugging/programming box with the JTAG interface?

Kind regards,

Bailin

Hello Bailin

Having the TM4C123 micro for programming and debugging reduces the cost for the user who is evaluating the device in terms of buying a separate JTAG debug unit. Now for debugging via an external debug probe is possible on the EK-TM4C1294XL.

More info in the following application note.

www.ti.com/.../spma075.pdf

Hi Amit,

Thank you for your reply.

The space and cost won't allow me to add a TM4C123 to my target board. In this case, only a low cost 20-pin header will be included on the PCB for debugging and programming. Therefore an external JTAG debugging and programming tool is required to connect a host PC to my target boards. What external JTAG debugging and programming can you recommend?

Stellaris microprocessors are disastrous so that TI made them obsolete a few years ago and we have to update our designs to replace them. I hope that Tiva series microprocessors won't repeat the similar problem. Can anybody from TI either from marketing or design or production confirm that Tiva series microprocessors don't have major problems and won't be made obsolete in a foreseeable future? 

Many thanks and kind regards,

Bailin

Hello Bailin

TM4C devices are in production and we do not see any reason to obsolete them in the forseeable future. As for the issues I would ask you to check the Errata document and see if any of the issues are a major showstopper for you.

Bailin,

For "reasonably low quantities" and for development, you can use XDS100v2 (TMDSEMU100V2U-ARM), populating the mating connector on your production boards.

You can also actually use the TM4C123 mcu of the EK-TM4C1294XL as a debugger tool, just make a cable to connect the U6 header to your external custom board, and shut down the 1294 Tiva. From my experience, it is a bit less efficient than the XDS100 but it does the job.

A nice reasonable solution for higher quantities is to add test-pads underneath your product board, and manufacture a programming jig with spring-loaded pins that "touch" those test pads on that board. Doing this, you can program and test your finished products without having a connector on your board, which becomes "safer" to curious people and also saves space and money.

Bruno

Hello Bruno

Simply providing XDS100 would do the trick.

Hi Bruno,

Thank you very much indeed for your very good solutions.

Kind regards,

Bailin

Hi Amit,

Thank you very much.

Kind regards,

Bailin