MSP430 USB Bootloader and Programmer

The answer is NO, with the conditions that you have given.

The MSP430G2xxx devices do not contain a USB interface on the chip. So any solution to reprogram via USB *will* require additional hardware.

Tim Torpedo said:

is it possible to programm the MSP430G2553 via USB with no additional hardware? If so, are there any tutorials? I am able to flash the MSP430G2253 via the launchpad but in my project I am working on, it should only receive power in per usb and should be flashable via usb.

It is possible, but you must write your own loader. USB software part is here...

http://forum.43oh.com/topic/2962-bit-bang-usb-on-msp430g2452/

If this is too complicated for you, than USB-UART bridge solution with on-chip BSL can be used...

http://sustburbia.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/the-great-msp430-bootloader-swindle.html

http://sustburbia.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/the-great-msp430-bootloader-swindle.html

Silly me, obviously I need a USB interface, thanks for the answer :).

Thanks, this helps me for now. I will read into it and report back again in a few days when I am more knowledgable ;).

zrno soli said:

It is possible, but you must write your own loader. USB software part is here...

http://forum.43oh.com/topic/2962-bit-bang-usb-on-msp430g2452/

I checked again, and you don't need to write USB BSL for 2xx value line without USB hardware module. It is done.

https://github.com/simpleavr/boot430

I agree with Brian's reply. "The answer is no."

To begin with, if you use the +5V from USB to power your MSP430G2553 "without any external hardware", you are exceeding the "Absolute Maximum Rating"of +4.1V of that chip. Even if this does not physically destroy you chip, it is way outside the "Recommended Operating Condition" of +1.8V to +3.6V.

As for the multiple-MHz sub-Volt bidirectional differential serial interface of the USB, there is absolutely no chance the MSP430G2553 chip can handle that "without any external hardware".

So.... "no additional hardware" means you're ok with a separate USB/UART chip and voltage regulator? If so that's fine. But that's not what you asked.

But.... if you're going to add the expense of those extra parts, then why not use a MSP430F5xx device with USB built in? You get the USB and voltage regulation from 5V for free with the processor. Adding up all the parts, using one MSP might be a cheaper and more elegant solution.

Hey, I also stumbled about this, however I won't be able to use the UART for communication anymore, don't I?

I am sorry and I see the point that I did not specify my requirements clearly enough. Yeah, I am totally fine with a separate USB/UART chip and voltage regulator. As far as I understood, it is not possible to use the UART of the MSP430G2553 for both, communication to other devices and programming.

I looked into the datasheet of the msp430f5521, however there are also other devices connected on my pcb such that I won't really profit from the built-in voltage regulation.

Since I need to use UART for communication with the other device on the pcb and I want to be able to program the msp430g2553, I am probably forced to switch to another microcontroller, right?

Tim Torpedo said:

Since I need to use UART for communication with the other device on the pcb and I want to be able to program the msp430g2553, I am probably forced to switch to another microcontroller, right?

Do you want to communicate with other device while programming the chip itself at the same time? That is a tall order for any Flash based MSP chip.

If you do not need to do both at the same time, MSP430G2553 probably can do that.

Oh, did not know one can do that. The programming should happen when the MSP430G2553 is not in operating mode, thus if it is possible to do that, sure. I then would use the boot loader and circuit as found here: github.com/.../boot430. Do I need to take special care of something or can I just branch the UART connection to the other device?