CCS/TMS570LS1224: TI TMS570 Flashing Through UART Using USB/FTDI

Gabriel Soares

Part Number: TMS570LS1224
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: UNIFLASH

Tool/software: Code Composer Studio

Hi,

I am trying to design a board with the tms570ls1224 IC, and I would like to be able to flash it without needing to provide an external power source. One way I've heard is to use a USB connector, and an FTDI chip on my PCB that communicates to the UART of the tms570. The 570 would then need a bootloader to allow it to be updated via UART, I've found a few sources for thsi online:

http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/TMS570_Hercules_MCU_Bootloader

My question is: what needs to be done on the PC side to be able to flash the IC via USB and UART? Can this be done through CCS?

Thanks,

Gabriel

over 7 years ago

0 QJ Wang over 7 years ago

TI__Guru**** 196566 points

Hello Gabriel,

This is the user guide how to download file to MCU through the UART bootloader.

You can use any HyperTerminal on PC side, for example TeraTerm, or MS HyperTerminal, etc.

www.ti.com/lit/an/spna192/spna192.pdf

0 Gabriel Soares over 7 years ago in reply to QJ Wang

Prodigy 180 points

Hey QJ,

Great, thanks for the link, and can that binary file to be loaded into the flash be generated directly from CCS?

Gabriel

0 QJ Wang over 7 years ago in reply to Gabriel Soares

TI__Guru**** 196566 points

Hell Gabriel,

Yes, HyperTermianl supports the binary file generated from CCS.

0 Keith over 7 years ago in reply to QJ Wang

Intellectual 800 points

A quick follow-on question: are you referring to the .out file? Or does a .bin need to be created from the .out for download/programming?

Thanks,
Keith

0 QJ Wang over 7 years ago in reply to Keith

TI__Guru**** 196566 points

Hi Keith,

The CCS7 can generate both .out file and .bin file.

Add the following command to post-built steps in CCS project property:

"${CCE_INSTALL_ROOT}/utils/tiobj2bin/tiobj2bin.bat" "${BuildArtifactFileName}" "${BuildArtifactFileBaseName}.bin" "${CG_TOOL_ROOT}/bin/armofd.exe" "${CG_TOOL_ROOT}/bin/armhex.exe" "${CCE_INSTALL_ROOT}/utils/tiobj2bin/mkhex4bin.exe"

0 Keith over 7 years ago in reply to QJ Wang

Intellectual 800 points

QJ,

To clarify, is the .out file format only for use when downloading to the board with the debugger? When do I need to use the .bin file format?

thanks,

Keith

0 QJ Wang over 7 years ago in reply to Keith

TI__Guru**** 196566 points

Hi Keith,

The .out file is used by CCS. The uniflash (flash programmer) supports .out format, binary, and hex format.

0 Keith over 7 years ago in reply to QJ Wang

Intellectual 800 points

QJ,

Can you please tell me what image format is needed for use by a bootloader? ie, if a bootloader is running, and the bootloader supports replacing the application image, does the application image need to be in the .out format or in the .bin format?

Is there a doc that describes the difference between .out format and .bin format?

thanks,

Keith

0 QJ Wang over 7 years ago in reply to Keith

TI__Guru**** 196566 points

Hi Keith,

The bootloader example supports binary only.

Here is the introduction of TI ELF format (out file use ELF format):
processors.wiki.ti.com/.../Files_in_CCS_Projects

Arm-based microcontrollers

Arm-based microcontrollers forum

CCS/TMS570LS1224: TI TMS570 Flashing Through UART Using USB/FTDI