TMS320F280025C: Generating the TI FEE configuration files using HALCoGen

Akila Sadhasivan

Part Number: TMS320F280025C
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: HALCOGEN, C2000WARE

I am trying to understand if it will be feasible for us to use the flash as EEPROM for run time monitor data storage.

I believe TI FEE driver will be useful to accomplish this. I am looking into the document called, TI FEE Driver User Guide.

It says, that the user needs to generate the following two configuration files using HALCoGen to deploy and use TI FEE Driver.
a. ti_fee_cfg.h
b. ti_fee_cfg.c

I ran Halcogen and tried to create new project. It does not show me the processor family, TNS320 to choose. How do I generate these files using Halcogen?

over 3 years ago

0 Ibukun Olumuyiwa over 3 years ago

TI__Genius 11081 points

Hello Akila,

HALCoGen does not have support for C2000 devices. It is designed for our Hercules microcontrollers (TMS570 series).

To program data into the flash, you will need to use the C2000 Flash API provided as part of C2000ware. C2000ware also provides examples for your reference. For more information, please see: Flash — C2000 Software Guide (ti.com)

Thanks,
Ibukun

0 Akila Sadhasivan over 3 years ago in reply to Ibukun Olumuyiwa

Expert 1200 points

What about the mention in the following link.

https://e2e.ti.com/support/microcontrollers/c2000-microcontrollers-group/c2000/f/c2000-microcontrollers-forum/1006789/launchxl-f280025c-emulated-eeprom?tisearch=e2e-sitesearch&keymatch=MS320F280025C%252525253A%2525252520eeprom%2525252520%2525252528emulation%2525252529

0 Ibukun Olumuyiwa over 3 years ago in reply to Akila Sadhasivan

TI__Genius 11081 points

This is simply saying that you can use the example code included in the HALCoGen package as a reference for developing your own EEPROM software; however, you would need to translate the code in this example to use C2000 - using the C2000 Flash API instead of the FEE driver you reference above; and taking note that C28x uses 16-bit addressing.

+1 Akila Sadhasivan over 3 years ago in reply to Ibukun Olumuyiwa

Expert 1200 points

Do you mean I would have to write FEE driver using Flash API?

+1 Ibukun Olumuyiwa over 3 years ago in reply to Akila Sadhasivan

TI__Genius 11081 points

Hello Akila,

The Flash API is the driver for flash memory on C2000 products - there is no "FEE" driver for C2000. It contains easy to use functions for programming, erasing and verifying flash data. The Halcogen example is just a reference for how one could implement EEPROM emulation; you can perform all the same operations done in that example using Flash API functions.

Best regards,
Ibukun

0 Akila Sadhasivan over 3 years ago in reply to Ibukun Olumuyiwa

Expert 1200 points

I don’t see any "FEE" driver code in the example. I only see the example code showing how the FEE driver APIs can be used. I am sure I am not looking at the right directory or file. Please advise. Exactly, where is the FEE driver code?

0 Ibukun Olumuyiwa over 3 years ago in reply to Akila Sadhasivan

TI__Genius 11081 points

Akila,

The idea is not for you to replicate/implement the FEE driver code, but rather to use the C2000 API in place of it. Are there specific things in the example that you are not able to find equivalent functionality in the C2000 Flash API for? If there are certain function calls to the FEE driver that you are not able to replicate, we can try to provide guidance.

Best regards,
Ibukun

0 Akila Sadhasivan over 3 years ago in reply to Ibukun Olumuyiwa

Expert 1200 points

Thank you for your support. I am not that far ahead in development yet. I might need your support if and when I start implementing. I am still trying to convince ourselves that this is the right way to go about. Currently, we are using external FRAM device to store 4Kbyte worth of telemetry data that we write every 100msec. In future, we might have to store more telemetry data. Not sure saving this in flash to eliminate FRAM usage is a good idea. Any advice is appreciated.

0 Ibukun Olumuyiwa over 3 years ago in reply to Akila Sadhasivan

TI__Genius 11081 points

Hello Akila,

There are a few primary concerns you will need to be aware of in considering Flash as a datalogging resource ("EEPROM emulation"):

1. Flash programming times: ensure that the Flash programming time in the device data sheet meets your system requirement.

2. In comparison to FRAM, Flash program and erase requires much more power (potentially dozens of mA). See the data sheet under "System Current Consumption".

3. Flash memory, and especially embedded flash, has a limited number of possible write/erase cycles due to the inherent nature of the technology. Because erase times will gradually increase over time, you must budget for this in your system design considerations as well. At a certain point, the sector could become too depleted and erase no longer works. We currently specify our devices to work up to 20,000 write/erase cycles for a single sector. Please refer to the device data sheet under "Flash Parameters" for details on erase times and rated write/erase cycles. In comparison, FRAM memory has much higher write/erase endurance, typically on the order of 1e11 or more cycles.

The advantages that Flash has over FRAM are these:

- Much higher temperature operating range: FRAM loses retention ability at high temperatures due to thermal depolarization. Due to this, most FRAM devices are not rated for operation above 85 C.
- For embedded applications, Flash typically offers a faster access time than FRAM.

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TMS320F280025C: Generating the TI FEE configuration files using HALCoGen