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How To Change Default BSL From USB to UART

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: MSP430F5522

Hello All,

I have a question - if the default 5xx or 6xx part has a USB I/F and the default BSL is USB - is there any way; short of programming the part to use UART vs. USB, to make the default BSL UART instead of USB?  

I haven't found anything yet - maybe I have missed something.

Thanks,
John W. 

  • Hi,

    you need to program the UART BSL manually to the MSP430 device with the default USB BSL. You might want to check the associated files of SLAA450B : http://software-dl.ti.com/msp430/msp430_public_sw/mcu/msp430/CustomBSL/latest/index_FDS.html

    You might want to check the following wiki also to be able to get access to your BSL memory:

    http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/MSP430_FAQ#How_to_enable_the_access_to_BSL_Flash_memory_in_MSP430F5xx.2F6xx_devices_.3F

  • Hello Leo,

    Yes, I have gone through all available documentation and code.

    I have a production requirement in which it would be great if the default BSL is UART and not USB.  We are using the '5522 and need the default BSL to be via the UART.

    I was hoping there was a way to make this happen by not having to program the part a priori.  Like maybe a special sequence on TEST/RST or maybe a special pull-up/pull-down in the circuit someplace.

    By having to program the part initially we've missed the boat so to speak by saving a production step.  This particular board mates with another board in our design in which we program that via USB.  I want to rely on the hardware BSL for reliability and current resources are such I can't rely on the issues with the flash programming only approach.

    Thanks,
    John W. 

  • Hi John,

    unfortunatelly for the MSP430F5522 you are using, the default pre-programmed BSL is the USB BSL, and if you want to use UART BSL, you would need to program it by yourself.

  • Hello Leo,

    Well - that's OK.

    The Elprotronic programmers are fast.

    Thanks!
    John W. 

  • May I suggest that TI provide some means to have the UART BSL be available on USB devices as well as the USB BSL.  We are in exactly the same position as the original poster and it is a surprise and moderate nuisance that we cannot use the BSL.  The design has two microcontrollers on 1 pcb, and we would really like to program the other one, only, and have it load the MSP430 at first power-on.  There will be many thousands made and it will cost real money in manufacturing to not be able to do this.

    Thanks,

    Jesse

  • Jesse,

    Both are available - but the USB BSL is the default.  Unfortunately, you have to program it first - which is the issue - and I totally understand.

    We're in the same boat right now.

    I played with sending the programming commands over the UART BSL lines with a device that has the USB BSL enabled - I think I got it to go into BSL mode once - but it wouldn't program.

    Well, maybe both can be invoked soon by a command sequence or toggling an external pin in a set pattern - or even some pull-up / pull-down setting to set the default BSL to be either USB or UART.

    Another issue that I am having is we're trying to get two USB based devices to invoke the BSL simultaneously - but something doesn't seem to work - it is either the Microsoft USB enumeration driver or something else.

    Also - it seems pulling PUR high and hitting reset isn't enough - the USB module has to be completely power cycled.  We didn't glean that from the docs and I've asked previously to see a hardware state machine for BSL - but mostly received rhetoric for my request. 

    Regards,
    John 

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