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Original question:
Hi,
In the past i was using tiva-c for my embedded porjects, but right now i need a smaller board for my last project. Can anyone recommend a board that can be developed from code composer an is smaller then tiva c for example the size of an soic8 breakout board.
balauroiu radu said:...right now i need a smaller board for my (next) project. Can anyone recommend a board that can be developed from code composer an is smaller then tiva c for example the size of an soic8 breakout board.
Probably not - is it not a fact that '64 QFP' is the 'smallest sized Tiva/TM4C MCU?' Placing a 64 pin device while routing (even) half (the number) of MCU pins to the pcb's edges is sure to, 'Exceed the size of an 8 pin soic breakout board.'
If you can 'shield this post from vendor's eyes' - you may consider, 'Alien ARM Cortex M0s/M0+s - which (are available) in reduced pin count packages - even 8 pin soics! Do note - that such size reduction significantly reduces the number of MCU pins - available for your application. As usual - Engineering often demands 'trade-offs' - it is rare to find a 'Solution' which: Meets 'Everyone's Requirements' - at 'All times.'
I'm 'away' from the office at the moment - staff will provide several comparison photos (upon their arrival tomorrow) which should aid your grasp of 'typical MCU board sizes.' The photo below reveals a (past) 'LM3S' MCU in a 64 QFP package - developed by my firm - and which is significantly 'smaller' than the vendor's 'TM4C123 LPad' - which is believed to be their 'most size-reduced Development Board.' Do note that the vendor's LPad includes a 2nd MCU - which serves the ICDI (programming/debugging functions) - which is not present upon my firm's board. (Instead we program/debug via 'J-Link & IAR's 'Pro' IDE' - which attaches to the '10 pin, 0.050" pitch header - - located near the bottom of the vertically placed (right) pcb, below.)
In contrast - the vendor's TM4C123 LPad measures 65x50 mm - our board (above) is 60x28mm. Tomorrow staff will provide an 'A-B' photo comparison.
Note that - on the 'flip side' of this MCU board may (optionally) reside a small 'Graphic or Text' LCD or OLED Display Module. (Note: 96x64 OLED shown)
Bob,
Thank you - hopefully of interest to those here - comes now 2 added photos - one revealing (your firm's '123 LPad' - contrasted to one of our (many) custom boards) and then a board dating to, 'Pre 2010' - designed/built by predecessor (and acquired) firm - Luminary Micro Systems - similarly compared.
That earlier board contained 2 items of note: - one a 48 pin QFP (LM3S811) AND a 'tiny, Graphic (96x16) OLED.' (one here (may) have had (some) influence in the display's inclusion...)
It should be noted that (almost) ALL of my firm's boards support:
Follows now the photo comparison between, 'One of our custom MCU-Display pcbs and ... ... 'Godzilla!' (aka: EK-TM4C123 LPad) Pay no attention to the 'smoke/fire' which arrived w/the 'beast.'
And - here (today) is the 'EK-LM3S811 Eval Board' (uber-rare ... believe that we were 'gifted these' in/around 2007...)
While 'Several sightings of 'Godzilla' were reported' - no buildings (nor people) were harmed (but for fire) - yet the, "Requests for 'higher square footage' (Required for Tech Office Space - to accommodate such (LARGE) Eval Boards) were - very much in evidence..." Go figure...
balauroiu radu said:... can be flashed/debugged with Tiva-C launchpad using code composer ?
Our board employs the (more recent) 'space saving - 10 pin (0.050" pitch) JTAG Header' (clearly noted - w/in the photos) - so if you can properly mate to that you should be (almost) fine. (Do note that this reduced pitch board header employs 'thinner pins' than those found on the LPads - thus a 'normal connecting lead w/female socket' - may not yield a secure connection.) Several header/connector vendors produce 'mating female sockets' for the (now almost standard) 10 pin, 0.050" pitch, JTAG Header.
Suggest that you familiarize yourself (first) w/the various, 'JTAG Connection Methods' - this vendor has produced a nice, 'JTAG Connector Comparison write-up' - which much boosts your understanding... As your, 'Method of Connecting to the 'mini 10 pin JTAG Header' is 'unknown' (and is critical) - that must (first) be resolved... (Note that we normally produce/provide product to OEMs - who have 'long mastered' this 'latest/greatest' 'Mini JTAG Header Connection.')
Photo best illustrates:
