MSP430 and Hyper Terminal Connection

Hi Melissa!

In general, you cannot connect the UART-pins of a microcontroller to the DB9-connector of a PC because the voltages of the signals do not match - your board would probably die. To establish a connection you have to use a UART-RS232-adapter. This is normally done by an IC like the MAX232 (MAX3232 is better suited for the MSP because it runs at voltages about 3V, too). Have a look at it's datasheet if interested. You can also purchase cables for that.

Nowadays you would normally go for the USB type, which emulates a serial COM-port. This is often done via the FT232, which converts your UART-signals to a USB datastream and handles all of the communication with the PC for you. There are cables or little adapter-boards available, too.

But to come back to your experimenters board: It already has an assembled UART-USB-converter, the TUSB3410. Via JP5 you can connect P5.6 (UCA1TXD) and P5.7 (UCA1RXD) to the converter. The TUSB3410 should create a COM-port in the device manager of your PC, too, which can be used to communicate with your board.

Aren't there any sample programs for the board that use the serial connection?

If you want to use the DB9-connector you have to get an adapter like this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MAX3232-RS232-to-TTL-Serial-Port-Converter-Module-DB9-Connector-MAX232-/141268615846

Dennis

Hi Dennis, 

Thanks for your reply. Please correct me if I am wrong. You  are advising that I can use "JP5 " to talk to PC via DB9. DB9 on one end of the cable and the other end goes to "JP5". Am I right? And I will not need any MAX232 chips.

I thought that if I am not using any handshaking signals and just using "RXD" and TXD", I can directly interface the MSP430F5438A 's pins 53 and 54 ( TXD and RXD ) to the 9 pin serial port available on the PC.

MSP430f5438A will send the data to the TUSB3410 via "JP4" (SCL, SDA and RST). 

Can I use the on board USB mini connector "X2" to connect to Hyper Terminal ? The other end of this cable will go to the USB port of the PC.

Are there any example code to do this?

Melissa

Hi Melissa!

I'm not familiar with this board, so I don't know about the example programs.

But you misunderstood my explanation. You can't connect one end of the DB9 to the PC and the other to JP5. This might ruine your board. The PC works with positive and negative voltages up to +/-15V, while the MSP is about 3V / 3.3V (did'nt have a look at the voltage regulator on that board). If you want to connect JP5 you need some kind of converter between PC and MSP.

There is no need to use the handshake signals, Rx and Tx are enough as long as your written software handles the communication fast enough.

JP4 connects the TUSB via I²C to the MCU, JP5 connects the TUSB via UART to the MCU. I haven't worked with this chip before and did not have a look at the datasheet, but this chip seems to be able to handle both.

You should have a look at the datasheet and the schematic of the expirementers board.

Anyway - if you want to use the DB9, a conversion of the signals is needed.

Dennis

Hi Dennis, 

So, I will use the on board USB connector " x2" to PC. Am I right?

Melissa

Yes!

Have a look at this document:

http://www.ti.com/lit/ug/slau263i/slau263i.pdf

5.2.3 describes a sample program for using the UART.

Hi Dennis, 

Is it possible to get MAX232 Driver off the shelve and use it directly with MSP430F5438A? The thing is that I need to make my own board using MSP430F5438A and I can not put the USB chip on it. 

Do you any device that I can buy off the shelve to interface MSP430F5438A's RXD and TXD to PC via DPB9?

Thanks for your patience.

Melissa 

What do  you think abou this one 

http://www.mikroe.com/downloads/get/1276/max232_manual_v100.pdf

I will just not use the CTS and RTS pins. But I do not have +5V. I have 3.3 V available

Melissa

Yes this one would fit if, as you have mentioned on your own, it wouldn't need 5V. Therefore the MAX3232 was made.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA2PY1FX2002

Maybe have a look on ebay.

You can also built up a discrete solution like this one:

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/449

Schematic is downloadable.

Dennis

The Sparkfun solution mentioned by Dennis is an elegant and easy solution. I have used one in the past with F5529, and I recommend it. You really do not need to build up the discrete solution if you buy the board and have room to attach and run with it...