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UniFlash serial communication interface.

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: UNIFLASH

Hello,

I am currently looking into how to, in field, update the master and controller application firmware (residing in the on-board FLASH areas).

The device is Concerto F28M36x which supports UniFlash serial communication interface according to: http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/UniFlash_FAQ#1._Where_do_I_find_the_download_links_to_the_latest_version_of_the_software.3F

Another tread (http://e2e.ti.com/support/microcontrollers/c2000/f/171/t/236754.aspx) states that the device has to be set to serial boot mode, and that GPIO0, and GPIO1 be used (for UART).

Ok, so far so good.

Now, what I cannot get my head around is how UniFlash manages to write to flash when the device TRM quite clearly states (6.1) that the ROM bootloader only loads an application to RAM, (or starts an application from flash if one is already there).

How is it possible to write to flash when there is no application firmware there to execute flash API functions from RAM?

My level of confusion has reached new extremes.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers, Anders.

  • Anders Fagerstr��� said:

    Now, what I cannot get my head around is how UniFlash manages to write to flash when the device TRM quite clearly states (6.1) that the ROM bootloader only loads an application to RAM, (or starts an application from flash if one is already there).

    How is it possible to write to flash when there is no application firmware there to execute flash API functions from RAM?

    In this case the application that is downloaded to RAM is a flash programmer - it includes a communications kernel + the flash API.  The boot ROM then transfers control to this application which in turn continues communications with UNIFLASH and makes calls to the flash API to erase/program/etc the flash.

    -Lori

  • Thanks Lori.

    Everything makes sense now ...

     

    Regards,

    Anders.

  • Hello,

    is this flash kernel present in Uniflash or have I to develop it? If positive, does the flash kernel handle also C28 side?

    BR.
    Lorenzo.
  • Lorenzo,

    No, you do not need to develop the flash kernel yourself; UniFlash already includes all necessary files for you to program your F28M36x board serially, for both the M3 and C28 core.

    Thanks,
    Ricky