TMS320F28234: TMS320F28234 firmware debug process doesn’t work with SDFlash(Version 1.65.00) when using the COM5 or bigger no. than COM5

Liping,

I believe this post is related to the post here https://e2e.ti.com/support/microcontrollers/c2000-microcontrollers-group/c2000/f/c2000-microcontrollers-forum/1008067/tms320f28234-burning-problem let me know if you want me to combine these threads.

I am unsure of the limitation of the SD Flash utility as it pertains to the max number of COM ports supported.  As Vamsi indicated in the post above Spectrum Digital is no longer in business and this tool is no longer supported.

With that said, I'd like to see if this is an issue with the COM ports on the machine on as defined in SDOPT.cfg file.   I assume to use COM5 you have added an additional line with C5 and associated PORTAddr.

Instead of adding a new line can we re-use an existing, and simply change the EmuPortAddr = 0xC5 and try that?  For instance we could replace EmuPortAddr for Emulator Id = C1 define with C5.  I'd like to see if this works.  This might tell us if there is a limitation on the number of defines in the file or if the EmuPortAddr = 0xC5 is invalid.

I have made the change below for you to C/P to sdopt.cfg.

[EmulatorId=C1]
EmuPortAddr=0xC5
EmuPortMode=RS232
EmuProductName=SERIAL_FLASH
[EmulatorId=C2]
EmuPortAddr=0xC2
EmuPortMode=RS232
EmuProductName=SERIAL_FLASH
[EmulatorId=C3]
EmuPortAddr=0xC3
EmuPortMode=RS232
EmuProductName=SERIAL_FLASH
[EmulatorId=C4]
EmuPortAddr=0xC4
EmuPortMode=RS232
EmuProductName=SERIAL_FLASH

Thanks for your reply.

1. The two posts are the same question,you can combine them.

2. I have changed the EmuPortAddr = 0xC5  in SDOPT.cfg file,and tried to debug the IC,it still doesn't work,the IC can not be connected.

I hope that you can continue to help me,thanks.

I open the project file F28234SerialFlash-C1.sdp,the emulator information is as follow.I also changed it to C1 or C5,it still doesn't work.

Liping,

Thanks for trying this out.  Is it possible to force Windows to re-assign the Silicon Labs USB to UART to COM1, 2, 3, or 4?  I realize this isn't fixing the SD Flash, but this should also fix the issue.

If this is a limitation of SD Flash, we do not have access to the source code to try and change anything.  Have you had a chance to try the C2PROG utility?

Best,
Matthew

Matthew,

The thing is we want to debug 8 PCBAs at the same time, so we must use serial port COM5 to COM8.

USB TO UART to COM is not so stable,the COM port number will be changed randomly,so we choose to use DB9 to UART to COM.

As I said in the enclosure,we must use SDFlash,because the C2PROG utility must add the password when debug the IC,but the password is not permitted to showed to the workers.

Best,
Jerry

Liping,

I understand the issue/situation needing the extra COM ports.  Given that the examples included from SDFlash/Serial only list 4 COM ports and our experiment I'm beginning to think this is a limitation of the utility.  I'm unsure how we can solve this given that the source code is un-owned by TI.

I know this is a different platform entirely, but have you considered the C2000-GANG from Elprotronic?  This supports 8 devices in parallel and can be used as standalone tool w/o a PC.  This would protect any passwords as well.

https://www.ti.com/tool/C2000-GANG

Best,

Matthew

Matthew,

I appreciate your help.

I have downloaded the C2000-GANG,however there are  3 issues which prevent me step forward.

1.The first one is the C2000-GANG just use JTAG interface to debug,while our PCBA use the UART protocol ,please find connector J5 in the following picture.

2.Our PCBA debug process can be divided into two steps: DSP  and FPGA,the FPGA debug process use the protocol and software developed by our R&D,so the FPGA debug process can not be impliment by C2000-GANG.

3.The SDFlash need to load the project .SDP or .OUT files,while the C2000-GANG loads the .HEX files,how to  convert the SDFlash project files to the files the C2000-GANG needed?

Liping,

Matthew is currently out of the office until July 8th.

I will see if another expert can provide some guidance before then.

-Tommy

Thanks,I have started the purchasing process,if anything update ,I will let you know.

-Jerry