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LP8764-Q1: Scalable PMIC GUI 3.0 does not list any serial ports

Stephen Wells
Prodigy 220 points
Part Number: LP8764-Q1
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: MSP-EXP432E401Y, UNIFLASH

I am trying to configure a LP876411 PMIC,
(The I2C interface is tested and can be used to read and write registers via a RPi) 

The chip is not intuitive to program, so I am trying this Scalable PMIC GUI to understand it better.
To connect, I have the MSP-EXP432E401Y to bridge USB to I2C (No PMIC EVM's are available).
The dev board appears in the device manager along side a functional CH340 USB serial dongle:

When I try to connect using the Scalable PMIC GUI application, it attempts to connect, then fails. The option window appears but no serial ports available in the drop down:

Each time I press refresh the LED on the CH340 flashes, so the application is scanning ports.

  • 0
    TI__Expert 6440 points

    Hi Stephe,

    Have you flashed MSP-EXP432E401Y firmware with GUI? I'm not sure will that work automatically before you force upload Scalable GUI firmware first time to MSP device. 

    Because this GUI needs custom firmware to MSP this might be the reason you are not able to connect MSP device as well with GUI. 

    Also make sure you are connecting to correct end of the MSP-EXP432E401Y board.

    To flash MSP432 firmware you will need Unilfash tool and connect XDS110 end and make sure you have jumpers installed to connect XDS to MSP and run firmware update.

    The easiest way would be still to get EVM and use that for programming bridge. 

    3073.aevm_1_0_3_6.txt

    Br, Jari

  • 0
    Prodigy 220 points

    Ji Jari,

    Thanks for support, however, after firmware update of XDS110 to v3 & download of MSP432 image the Scalable GUI application still does not see any serial ports.

    Upgrade results:

    Device Manager after upgrade:

    Scalable PMIC GUI:

    Thanks for your support!

    It is strange to me that the UniFlash application can use the serial port interfaces ok, but PMIC GUI cannot. I guess, it uses a different API.
    Please help to resolve.

  • 0 in reply to Stephen Wells
    TI__Expert 6440 points

    Hi Stephen,

    That is interesting. You are positive you have connected to the right location USB cable? Are you seeing any lights coming up? I think voltage to the MSP432 side is provided through some jumpers. Please see attached figure. 

    Br, Jari

  • 0 in reply to Stephen Wells
    Prodigy 220 points

    Today I installed the XDS110 driver + PMIC GUI on a new PC. Still same problem - no "Serial ports" in dropdown (as above).

    Is it possible:

    • Any way to debug this failure to find a serial port? MUST BE A COMMON PROBLEM!
    • Could MSP-EXP432E401Y XDS110 firmware v3.0.0.26 be corrupt? UniFlash performed update, how to force update again?
    • Jumper setting is incorrect (see below)? I have the MSP-EXP432E401Y board setup as default.
      There is no traffic on the XDS110 Rx/Tx lines during connection process.
    • I2C setup incorrect? GND & 5V from J13, PB2 is SCK, PB3 is SDA (Pullups are on my prototype)
    • Power into LP876411 Quiic connector is 5V @ 6mA.

    Picture of setup:

    This is a frustrating experience, need to know how to escalate - please help.

  • 0 in reply to Jari Niemela13
    Prodigy 220 points

    Darn, I thought that was it (user error) but . . . .

    Plugging into the MSP UART does not power the board so, It needs both USB ports to be connected (Power through XDS110).
    I now see ACCtrl & ACCtrl Console in PC ports list as COM15/16. PuTTY opens these ok, but not GUI:


    Could it be I have to power the EVM from external 5V and not use the XDS110 USB?

  • 0 in reply to Stephen Wells
    TI__Expert 6440 points

    Hi Stephen,

    Please see my figure above. You must have USB connected to only to U7. This same board has two different part. The upper part which is the XDS110 which is debug probe to upload firmware to lower part MSP432 device. After firmware is in then you disconnect those three (3) jumpers between upper and lower part to avoid conflict. If you have upper part connected this will keep lower in reset on something else which allows debug connection only with debugger.

    • Any way to debug this failure to find a serial port? MUST BE A COMMON PROBLEM!
    • We would propose to use EVM for connection since this it the supported way going forward. Using Launchpad for connection is not recommended.
    • Could MSP-EXP432E401Y XDS110 firmware v3.0.0.26 be corrupt? UniFlash performed update, how to force update again?
    • I don't think so
    • Jumper setting is incorrect (see below)? I have the MSP-EXP432E401Y board setup as default.
      There is no traffic on the XDS110 Rx/Tx lines during connection process.
    • You must connect USB only to lower part. And make sure jumpers like in my figure.
    • I2C setup incorrect? GND & 5V from J13, PB2 is SCK, PB3 is SDA (Pullups are on my prototype)
    • Looks ok.
    • Power into LP876411 Quiic connector is 5V @ 6mA.

    If you want to escalate please contact your local TI sales office. 

    But like mentioned using EVM for connection would the recommended way. 

    Br, Jari

  • 0 in reply to Jari Niemela13
    Prodigy 220 points

    Hi Jari,

    I gave up with the PC's I have been using (corporate contamination)  switched to another new Windows 11 PC. Story is very different.

    Plugging into both ends on the MSP-EXP432E401Y now only creates 2 virtual UART ports (no XDS110), these appear as COM3 & COM4. They appear as regular serial ports (no unique names so NOT ACCtrl or ACCtrl Console.

    Now the Scalable PMIC GUI has no problem finding the ports and connecting to the LP876411 device, I can see all the registers and download to NVM. Success at last!

    I have noticed (To add clarity):

    It appears the XDS110 end must be connected to power up the MSP430 side 3.3V & 5V rails, but can be removed and the MSP-430 end will stay powering everything after Scalable PMIC GUI connects. (I have not checked why, but this is obviously ok).

    Switching back to my corporate PC:
    I still get 4 USB ports: 2 as XDS110 and 2 as ACCtrl (see above), (obviously this is not what we want and Scalable GUI will not connect).
    So, if I select properties and uninstall device and check the "deleting driver" box, then the 2 ports are removed. Then, disconnecting the MSP430 end USB, and reconnecting (whilst XDS110 end is still powering the board), the serial ports come up on device manager as below (so looking like any other UART device).
    Now, launching the Scalable PMIC GUI failed to connect first time, but after rescan, it succeeded as below:

    So, now I disconnect everything, reboot the corporate PC and check to see if it still works - and yes success.

    Loose ends:

    Did the ACCtrl port identifier come from the "out of the box" MSP-EXP432E401Y boards stock image? If so, maybe I missed the documentation that says to delete driver. I have seen this ACCtrl in other forum threads.
    I think there is some driver issue, a "Virtual COM Port" appears on both PC's device manager when the MSP430 end is connected.

    So case closed.

    Thanks very much for your support and apologize for user error, frustration and confusion by me. Its always satisfying to finally climb out of the holes we dig! Hopefully others can benefit from my experience.

    Now I have to program NVM.