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MSP430FR5994: High low power mode current draw

Part Number: MSP430FR5994
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: ENERGYTRACE,

Hi there,

I am very new to code composer studio, as well as these Texas Instruments boards, so I apologise if I make any mistakes. My problem is with using low power modes. I am running the code "msp430fr599x_lpm4.c" provided by Texas Instruments by merely copying and pasting the code into my project. The code is as follows:

/* --COPYRIGHT--,BSD_EX
 * Copyright (c) 2015, Texas Instruments Incorporated
 * All rights reserved.
 *
 * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
 * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
 * are met:
 *
 * *  Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
 *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 *
 * *  Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
 *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
 *    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
 *
 * *  Neither the name of Texas Instruments Incorporated nor the names of
 *    its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
 *    from this software without specific prior written permission.
 *
 * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
 * AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
 * THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
 * PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR
 * CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
 * EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
 * PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS;
 * OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY,
 * WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR
 * OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE,
 * EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 *
 *******************************************************************************
 *
 *                       MSP430 CODE EXAMPLE DISCLAIMER
 *
 * MSP430 code examples are self-contained low-level programs that typically
 * demonstrate a single peripheral function or device feature in a highly
 * concise manner. For this the code may rely on the device's power-on default
 * register values and settings such as the clock configuration and care must
 * be taken when combining code from several examples to avoid potential side
 * effects. Also see www.ti.com/grace for a GUI- and www.ti.com/msp430ware
 * for an API functional library-approach to peripheral configuration.
 *
 * --/COPYRIGHT--*/
//******************************************************************************
//   MSP430FR5x9x Demo - Enters LPM4
//
//   Description: Device enters LPM4
//   NOTE: The MSP-TS430PN80B target socket module drives an LED that can result
//   in high power numbers when turned ON. Measure current with LED jumper JP9
//   disconnected. Also, the board's built-in I2C BSL pull-up resistors should
//   be disabled by removing JP17 and JP18 to further minimize current
//   consumption.
//
//          MSP430FR5994
//         ---------------
//     /|\|               |
//      | |               |
//      --|RST            |
//        |               |
//        |               |
//
//   William Goh
//   Texas Instruments Inc.
//   October 2015
//   Built with IAR Embedded Workbench V6.30 & Code Composer Studio V6.1
//******************************************************************************
#include <msp430.h>

int main(void)
{
    WDTCTL = WDTPW | WDTHOLD;               // Stop WDT

    // Configure GPIO
    P1OUT = 0;
    P1DIR = 0xFF;

    P2OUT = 0;
    P2DIR = 0xFF;

    P3OUT = 0;
    P3DIR = 0xFF;

    P4OUT = 0;
    P4DIR = 0xFF;

    P5OUT = 0;
    P5DIR = 0xFF;

    P6OUT = 0;
    P6DIR = 0xFF;

    P7OUT = 0;
    P7DIR = 0xFF;

    P8OUT = 0;
    P8DIR = 0xFF;

    PJOUT = 0;
    PJDIR = 0xFFFF;

    // Disable the GPIO power-on default high-impedance mode to activate
    // previously configured port settings
    PM5CTL0 &= ~LOCKLPM5;

    // Clock System Setup
    CSCTL0_H = CSKEY_H;                     // Unlock CS registers
    CSCTL1 = DCOFSEL_6;                     // Set DCO to 8MHz
    CSCTL2 = SELA__VLOCLK | SELS__DCOCLK | SELM__DCOCLK;  // Set SMCLK = MCLK = DCO
                                            // ACLK = VLOCLK
    CSCTL3 = DIVA__1 | DIVS__1 | DIVM__1;   // set all dividers
    CSCTL0_H = 0;                           // Lock CS registers

    __bis_SR_register(LPM4_bits);
    __no_operation();                       // For debugger
}

When I run the debugger on this code, along with Energy Trace for 60 seconds I get the following results:


This is far higher power consumption than I expected. At first I thought it may not be going into low power mode, but Energy Trace++ shows that it is in fact in Low Power Mode 4 for the entire duration of the 60 seconds:

So my question is, what on Earth is going on? Or is this the expected results? A picture of my board is below (Note LED101 and LED102 are on, I believe these show the status of the eZ-FET and I am not sure you can turn them off), should I re-arrange the jumpers or something?:

Thanks for you help :).

  • Hi Lachlan!

    First, you will want to have the jumpers connected so that you can program your board. When you are ready to program your board, click the debug icon (the "bug" in the top bar).

    After your board is programmed, you will want to remove the Spy-Bi-Wire jumpers (SBWTDIO/SBWTCK). The eZ-FET debug probe is connected through these jumpers and they can influence your power consumption. You will also want to remove the 5V jumper and J7 (the LED jumper). At this point, the only jumpers you should have on your board are the 3.3V and GND jumpers.

    Next, navigate to Run > Free Run. When you do this, the debug logic of the MCU is not accessed while measuring power consumption.

    Open energy trace and take a power measurement. Let me know if you don't see the results you expect.

    Here are some documents for reference:
    www.ti.com/.../slau157ar.pdf (look at section 4 for EnergyTrace info)
     (MSP430FR5994 LaunchPad Page)

    Thanks!

    -Mitch

  • Thanks Mitch,

    I have debugged with the attached jumpers, then proceeded to remove these before using the "Free Run" command. The Energy++ profile shows I am definitely still in Low Power 4 Mode; however, my EnergyTrace profile still looks like this:

    I am really not sure where I am going wrong. The code is very simple and taken from the Texas Instrument website as shown above. Please let me know if there is anything else I can try, as the system I am implementing this for is very reliant on low power consumption.

  • If you remove the super cap jumper do you still get the same power consumption?

    -Mitch
  • Yes, unfortunately the jumpers and Free Run seem to have had little effect on the consumption. For some more information, this is being powered straight from a PC with a USB connector, I am using Code Composer Studio, and both LED101 and LED102 are remaining on. Not sure if anyone of this is relevant.
  • Just want to double check - the super cap jumper (J8) is definitely off?
  • All jumpers except 3.3V and GND have been removed after the debugging process.
  • Can you reset the MCU by pushing the reset button? If this doesn't work, can you reprogram the device and try the process again?
  • I have done so, to no avail. However, should I see some sort of visual communication when the device is reset? I clicked the reset button (S3) and assumed that reset the device?
  • Hey Lachlan,

    Yes, S3 will reset the device even though no LEDs will fire.

    After programming the board and putting it into freerun mode, I have my board populated as shown below:

    I have highlighted the jumpers that I removed.

    I got the following power measurements:

    Double check everything and let me know if this helps.

    Thanks!

    -Mitch

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