• State Resolved
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 7 replies
  • Answers 3 answers
  • Subscribers 79 subscribers
  • Views 883 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Support feedback
Options
Options
Similar topics

This thread has been locked.

If you have a related question, please click the "Ask a related question" button in the top right corner. The newly created question will be automatically linked to this question.

Original question:

TPS25982: Microprocessor for monitoring of power through eFuses TPS259827L

MSP430FR2355: Replace EV2400 with MSP430FR2355 LaunchPad™ Development Kit in my evaluation setup

Carl Olen
Expert 1160 points
Part Number: MSP430FR2355
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: BQ24770, EV2400, MSP-EXP430FR2355, MSP430F5529, BQSTUDIO, BOOSTXL-BATPAKMKII

Hi Matt and MSP low-power microcontroller forum,

I am developing an MSP host-controlled battery charger & gauge system.  I currently have a working setup with a bq24770 charger, bq40z50R2 gauge and an EV2400 host module.  As I get closer to selecting parts, I would like to replace the MSP430F5529IPN mixed-signal processor (contained within my EV2400) with the MSP430FR2355.  So, for my evaluation setup, I would like to replace the EV2400 with the MSP430FR2355 LaunchPad™ Development Kit (MSP‑EXP430FR2355).

Can I get the MSP-EXP430FR2355 to fulfill all the functions that are done by the EV2400 in my present setup?  Please see the attached diagram and let me know your thoughts/suggestions on how to do this.

Thanks,

Carl OlenNewBatteryConcept_EvaluationSetup3.pdf

  • 0
    TI__Genius 14655 points

    Hi Carl,

    I presume that when you say you'd like to have the MSP-EXP430FR2355 fulfill all the functions that are done by the EV2400, you mean that you would like to have the FR2355 fulfill the functions of the F5529 within the EV2400? There are other components within the EV2400 PC interface board that cant just be replaced by the Launchpad, such as the on-board power muxes, level translators, and LDO regulators.

    The MSP430F5529 was specifically picked for this PC interface board because of its built-in support for USB communication to the computer. If you were to replace the MSP430F5529 with the MSP430FR2355, you would need another chip to act as a USB bridge from the MCU to the PC.

    Best regards,

    Matt

  • 0 in reply to Matt Calvo
    Expert 1160 points

    Matt, thanks. 

    I guess what I really need is a minimal reference design for host-controller in this NVDC charger/gauge system.  I don't necessarily need everything that the EV2400 supplies.

    The setup I have now is not optimal anyway.  I have to jockey bqStudio back and forth between the charger and the gauge.  And I have to disconnect the SMBus from the gauge to allow bqStudio to select the charger.  I'd like to replace bqStudio with a more bare-bones monitoring/control program that could interact with BOTH/EITHER the charger and gauge as needed over the SMBus, with minimal display on the PC.  So, I guess I will still need the USB bridge chip.

    Can you recommend a "USB bridge" chip to go with the MSP430FR2355?

    Thanks,

    Carl

  • 0 in reply to Carl Olen
    TI__Genius 14655 points

    Carl,

    There are many USB to Serial bridges on the market. You will have to choose one based on your preference as there are too many options to recommend a specific one. There are UART-to-USB, SPI-to-USB, I2C-to-USB and others that you can choose from based on your system requirements and available serial peripherals.

    Best regards,

    Matt

  • 0 in reply to Matt Calvo
    Expert 1160 points

    Matt, this is kind of a "needle in a haystack" answer. 

    Can you at least give a couple of examples of USB bridge chips that might work with the msp430fr2355 so that I may learn about them?  I am not familiar with these USB bridge interfaces so, I have no preferences.  I need to come up to speed on something.

    My host-controlled, NVDC charger/gauge sub-system is isolated within our overall system.  I only need the USB to PC connection to occasionally monitor the charger or gauge, read/write registers and program/edit the subsystem code.  In normal use, this USB to PC link will not be connected. 

    I am still learning about a lot of my subsystem's details, requirements, etc.  I can ask better questions once I come up to speed.

    Is there an example reference design for a host-controlled NVDC charger/gauge system from which I can learn?

    Please let me know.

    Thanks,

    Carl Olen

  • 0 in reply to Carl Olen
    TI__Genius 16840 points

    Hi Carl,

    In regards to your answer about a USB bridge:

    * The MSP-EXP430FR2355 has an eZ-FET circuitry which can be used not only to program the device but to act as a "backchannel UART". The MSP430FR2355 can communicate to it via UART and the eZ-FET will act as a Virtual COM bridge. Check more details in SLAU647.

    * Optionally, you can use a USB-to-UART bridge such as the TUSB3410.

    Note that having these bridges doesn't mean that you will be able to talk to the current GUI.  To talk to BQStudio, you would have to write a compatible protocol, perhaps define the same VID/PID, etc.

    But if I understood correctly, you mostly want some simpler communication to the PC. Both of the bridges above will act as USB VCP/CDC which mean that you can open a terminal (such as Teraterm) to communicate to them, or you can create a GUI or script to talk to them (i.e. Python Pyserial library). From the MSP430 side, you will use it as a simple UART communication.

    It's also important to mention that, although I don't know the EV2400 well enough, I assume it's acting more like a "dumb" bridge just translating commands from the GUI to I2C/SMBus, and if I understand correctly, you want the MSP430 to actually configure/control the gauge in standalone mode, and only report to the PC as needed, is that correct?

    As you can see from this thread, unfortunately, I'm not aware of an actual SMBus example for these devices.

    In addition to the examples mentioned in the above thread, we have some code examples in MSP430Ware for BOOSTXL-BATPAKMKII which has an I2C BQ27441.

    I hope this helps but please let us know if you have any additional comments or questions.

    By the way, it's interesting to see that you are planning to use FR2355. Do you have any particular plans for the Smart Analog Combo?

    Regards,

    Luis R

  • 0 in reply to Luis RC
    Expert 1160 points

    Luis, thanks.  This gives me quite a bit to work on for a while.  I have been playing with the back-channel USB from the LaunchPad via the Ez-FET.

    I don't have plans yet for the Smart Analog Combos yet.  Matt suggested this microprocessor envisioning that I might find the SOCs useful.

    I'm mainly striving to get a working evaluation setup going for my host-controlled, NVDC Charger + Smart Battery system using the MSP430FR2355, the bq24770 SMBus NVDC Charger and a "Smart Battery" using 3S3P Li-Ion batteries and a bq40z50R2 gauge.  As I go along, I'm learning a lot about these systems, and learning how to ask better questions.

    For example, I'm trying to learn more about the exact role the microprocessor plays in a host-controlled NVDC Charger/Smart Battery system, in general.  Then, I can better spell out exactly what I need for my application.

    Thanks again,

    Carl

  • 0 in reply to Carl Olen
    TI__Genius 16840 points

    Sounds good Carl.

    Please keep us updated and let us know if you have additional questions.

    We'll close the thread for now but feel free to re-open or open a new one if needed.

    Regards,

    Luis R

**Attention** This is a public forum