BOOST-DRV8711: DRV8711 EVM GUI configuration error

Bobby Zhang

Part Number: BOOST-DRV8711
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: MSP430G2553, DRV8711

Hi,

I had the BOOST-DRV8711 EVM and MSP430G2553 Board as TI recommend, and I can connect and download firmware with CCS. However, when I connect my stepper motor with the BOOST EVM and power on, my motor doesn't work, and the FAULT LED on the BOOST EVM is always bright.

I cannot set any function of the EVM on the GUI. Several errors show that the GUI cannot get access to MSP430 memory, and one of the screenshot is as follows:

So I post my problem online and seek for help from engineers. Thanks for all who view my problem.

Gengyu Zhang

over 4 years ago

0 Hector Hernandez Luque over 4 years ago

TI__Expert 8980 points

Hi user,

Are you following the steps outlined in section four of the EVM User's Guide to setup firmware and GUI correctly?

http://www.ti.com/lit/ug/slvu967/slvu967.pdf

Are you utilizing the correct Launchpad?

Did you make sure you are connecting the Launchpad to the EVM correctly (e.g. not misaligned on the Launchpad to EVM pins).

Is the power supply current limited too low or the voltage set at an incorrect value?

0 Bobby Zhang over 4 years ago in reply to Hector Hernandez Luque

Prodigy 70 points

Hi Hector,

I just followed the Section four in BOOST-DRV8711 User's Guide when I failed to run my stepper motor.

I just use the Launchpad that TI recommend in Figure 2 in User's Guide, i.e. MSP430G2553 Launchpad. And the pin of Launchpad and DRV8711 EVM aligned correctly.

I think MSP430 didn't communicate with DRV8711 correctly. With the help of logic analyzer, I saw that after downloading the code by CCS, MSP430 could send out SPI message to DRV8711 but always received 0xFF. After initializing, DRV8711 should be configured to indexer mode, but my logic analyzer showed that there was no pulse signal generated by MSP430, resulting that the motor did not rotate.

But I have no idea why the GUI cannot configure DRV8711.

Thanks for your help.

Best Regards,

Gengyu(Bobby) Zhang

0 Hector Hernandez Luque over 4 years ago in reply to Bobby Zhang

TI__Expert 8980 points

Hi user,

Ok, good to know about the logic analyzer.

I will setup GUI, FW, Launchpad and EVM on my end and get back to you.

0 Hector Hernandez Luque over 4 years ago in reply to Hector Hernandez Luque

TI__Expert 8980 points

Hi user,

I have not had the chance to play with the EVM, GUI, and Launchpad. It will have to be done next week.

As for your end, can you please do a sanity check on power to the boosterpack:

Are you providing power to the EVM? It is provided through connector J6.

Have you probed essential EVM nodes to verify the driver is functioning correctly? You can probe:

VM = to the power supply voltage
J1's 3V3 marked pin voltage reads 3V3.
Measure nSLEEP to verify it is 3V3.

Those pins, along with Reset, can be found as a reference below this sentence:

0 Bobby Zhang over 4 years ago in reply to Hector Hernandez Luque

Prodigy 70 points

Hi Hector,

I just made the test about the pin as you mentioned.

The 3V3 and VM pin are working normally, but the nSleep pin and reset pin read 0V.

I think this is the reason why the chip doesn't work, but I cannot figure out why my GUI cannot communicate with my EVM and Launchpad. Just as the first figure shows, there are always problems with reading memory blocks.

Thanks for your help.

Best Regards,

Gengyu(Bobby) Zhang

0 Hector Hernandez Luque over 4 years ago in reply to Bobby Zhang

TI__Expert 8980 points

Hi Bobby,

Thank you very much. As a secondary check on your setup, please verify that you have loaded the correct firmware on the Launchpad:

http://www.ti.com/lit/zip/slvc575

Have you also tried test without motor connected and with a different Launchpad.

Additionally, note that if nSLEEP = 0V, that means the driver is not turning on. We cannot conclude with this information that there is a device issue.

On my end, I will test EVM with a Launchpad loaded with correct firmware and I will get back to you.

0 Hector Hernandez Luque over 4 years ago in reply to Hector Hernandez Luque

TI__Expert 8980 points

Hi Bobby,

I was to replicate your issue and corrected it on my end.

NOTE - This EVM will have nFAULT low (LED ON) until it is cleared by the firmware. It can be cleared by toggling nSLEEP on the GUI

To replicate issue:

I populated jumpers J5-P1.0, J6-P1.6 and populated jumpers J3-RXD, J3-TXD in a vertical orientation.

To clear the issue and do a successful GUI connection:

I removed jumpers J5-P1.0, J6-P1.6 and populated jumpers J3-RXD, J3-TXD in a horizontal orientation.

You can see the instructions on how to setup the jumpers on section 3.2.1 Example Using MSP-EXP430G2.

0 Bobby Zhang over 4 years ago in reply to Hector Hernandez Luque

Prodigy 70 points

Hi Hector,

The jumpers on my launchpad is just as you mentioned.

But I still cannot communicate with GUI. Do you think it is possible that there are some hardware issue with my launchpad or evm. I just applied from ti staff so i think it is quite impossible to have hardware issue but i cannot confirm that.

Thanks for your help.

Best Regards,

Gengyu(Bobby) Zhang

0 Hector Hernandez Luque over 4 years ago in reply to Bobby Zhang

TI__Expert 8980 points

Hi Bobby,

I think I have an idea what is going on...

We are using the same microcontroller board, yet not the same revision. I have an older revision, you have a newer one. My version appears appears to not be sold anymore:

http://www.ti.com/tool/MSP-EXP430G2

Meanwhile, you are using this one, which one would expect to be compatible with the older version:

http://www.ti.com/tool/msp-exp430g2et

Now, I think I can get you working. Please follow these instructions for the arrows numbered 1 and 2, respectively:

Set the jumper horizontally instead of vertically.
Set the jumper vetically instead of horizontally.

0 Bobby Zhang over 4 years ago in reply to Hector Hernandez Luque

Prodigy 70 points

Hi Hector,

I did as you guided but still meet the following problem.

And there are several malformed response packet with data 0x05.

Thanks for your help.

Best Regards,

Gengyu(Bobby) Zhang

0 Hector Hernandez Luque over 4 years ago in reply to Bobby Zhang

TI__Expert 8980 points

Hi Bobby,

There was an error in my instructions. Apologies. You did have the 3V3, RXD and TXD pins in correct orientation before my suggested change (horizontal).

Between each board, the main differences I see is the addition of the SBW and 5V5 jumpers in that jumper header block and the P2.1, P2.3, and P2.5 jumpers.

I am ordering the launchpad you are using to test out and see if it can work with the EVM. It will take a couple of days to be delivered to me

In the meantime, can you order one of the discontinued boards from a distributor and test it out? It is the launchpad we know works with the GUI and EVM.

Search for MSP-EXP430G2 online and there are some in stock at distributors.

0 Hector Hernandez Luque over 4 years ago in reply to Hector Hernandez Luque

TI__Expert 8980 points

Hi Bobby,

I found an e2e where someone was able to get the board you are utilizing with the GUI and the EVM by turning off the FIFO button on the windows com config. I am working with MSP430 team to understand how the person did this step and why it causes the GUI to work slowly after turning off the button.

https://e2e.ti.com/support/microcontrollers/msp430/f/166/t/795896