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Programming MSP430 with Stellaris Launchpad

luk_p
Prodigy 20 points


Hi,

I would like to design a battery-powered device, that is why I became interested in MSP430 for the first time in my life. Unfortunately I don't have a programmer, but I do have Stellaris Launchpad EK-LM4F120XL board with JTAG pins and from what I've read there is an option "DEBUG OUT" processors.wiki.ti.com/.../Stellaris_LM4F120_LaunchPad_Debug_How_To.
which allows you to use it as a programmer. Unfortunately I can' t find out if in-circuit debug interface (ICDI) on this board will work with MSP430 processors. From what I read they use Spy-By-Wire protocol (2 connections), but I see that there is also an option to use 4 connections. I'm asking for help. Is there a possibility to use Stellaris Launchpad to program the MSP430 family processors?


  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 49692 points

    Hello Dan,

    I wouldn't recommend using the Stellaris LaunchPad to program MSP430 devices. Plus, I don't think it's possible especially since the on-board debugger is ARM-based whereas the MSP430 debuggers are not. The SBW interface on the Stellaris LaunchPad allows other tools to program it rather than just the on-board ICDI.

    I would recommend looking through the available MSP430 LaunchPads and ordering one to use for your development. They're relatively inexpensive and would save you time. These LaunchPads come with on-board debuggers as well.

    https://www.ti.com/microcontrollers/msp430-ultra-low-power-mcus/design-development.html

    Regards,

    James

  • 0
    Expert 2996 points

    Dan:

    Just to elaborate a bit on James' advice, here's my opinion.

    Using the programmer-debugger which is provided with a Stellaris LaunchPad is not going to be able to load your firmware program into an MSP430. The Stellaris is a 32-bit processor while an MSP430 is 16-bit processor, so the programmer-debugger for the Stellaris is designed to load a 32-bit firmware image into a 32-bit memory address space, while the MSP430 programmer-debugger is designed to load a 16-bit image into a 16-bit address space.

    Don't let the perception that a 16-bit processor is inferior to an 32-bit processor. It was either an 8 or 16-bit processor which handled the program for the Minuteman missile flight computer.

    Whatever your objective is for using a microcontroller, I see that one of your requirements is to power it with a battery. An MSP430 only needs 1.8 to 3.6 volts DC to operate. So all is needed is to connect a couple of AAA batteries to the power terminals of the MSP430, and its running your program with ease. You can add some code to your program that monitors the voltage level coming into the microcontroller that triggers an LED to warn of a low battery. Additionally, an MSP430 is far less complicated to learn and program than the Stellaris.

    Good luck with your endeavour.

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