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Configuring TPS25751DREFR. Hardware setup

Phillip Mobley
Prodigy 60 points
Part Number: TPS25751DREFR
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: TPS25751

Tool/software:

Hello all,

I am currently using the TPS25751DREFR in a source-only application and am working on the schematic. It is mostly based on the evaluation board schematic and the application notes in the datasheet. I understand that I need to flash the device using TI's utility, which I already have a link for, and I have a general idea of the necessary settings to configure it as a source-only device.

One aspect that isn’t entirely clear to me is the schematic connection needed to upload the configuration file to the TPS25751DREFR. I have a 64K EEPROM connected to store the configuration after the initial flash.

From the evaluation board schematic, it appears the microcontroller (uC) is connected to the USB-C data lines, and the instructions mention connecting a USB-C to USB-A (or USB-C) cable from the uC to the PC.

My questions are as follows:

  1. Is it necessary to use a TI microcontroller to flash the TPS25751DREFR? My assumption is that the uC on the evaluation board already has a project set up to send the flash data to the TPS25751DREFR. Can any uC be used, or is the TI uC specifically required?

  2. Is there a way to flash the TPS25751DREFR without using a microcontroller?

  3. Lastly, does the TPS25751DREFR automatically save the configuration to the EEPROM on the initial flash?

Thank you for your help.

  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 35736 points

    Hi Phillip,

    Phillip Mobley said:
    Is it necessary to use a TI microcontroller to flash the TPS25751DREFR? My assumption is that the uC on the evaluation board already has a project set up to send the flash data to the TPS25751DREFR. Can any uC be used, or is the TI uC specifically required?

    The TI MCU is not required to flash TPS25751, the EVM uses it for ease of access to flash directly from the GUI. The TPS25751 config is loaded either through an EEPROM containing the PD full flash binary or through an EC loading the config via Patch Burst Mode sequencing.

    Phillip Mobley said:
    Is there a way to flash the TPS25751DREFR without using a microcontroller?

    You can use an EEPROM to store the full flash binary and upon boot-up, TPS25751 will read from the EEPROM for the configuration settings. 

    Phillip Mobley said:
    Lastly, does the TPS25751DREFR automatically save the configuration to the EEPROM on the initial flash?

    Upon boot-up, TPS25751 reads from the EEPROM and store the configuration into the PD SRAM. If the PD re-boots, it will lose the configuration memory and will need to be re-loaded upon the next bootup. 

    Let us know if you have any further questions or concerns! 

    Thanks and Regards,

    Raymond Lin

  • 0 in reply to Raymond Lin
    Prodigy 60 points

    Hello Raymond, Thank you for your feedback.

    I understand that the PD controller can load the config from EEPROM which is good. I do have an EEPROM chip on the schematic.

    Since I am making a prototype with this, I will want to change configurations based on needs or for debugging. Once I finalize what I want, I will find a way to pre-load the config onto the EEPROM chip.

    However, for prototypes, if I want to change the config on the fly, my guess is is that I will need to use the GUI interface. And with that, will I need a uC on the board or is there some way to directly flash the config to the PD controller and have it save the config to the EEPROM?

  • +1 in reply to Phillip Mobley
    TI__Mastermind 35736 points

    HI Phillip,

    The GUI is purely for generating the PD config that you need to load onto the EEPROM. We recommend using a tool like the Aardvark Adapter + Flash Center to flash the PD binary configuration onto the EEPROM, there are also many cheaper options for I2C programmer on the market that are not as overkill as the Aardvark adapter. To flash the EEPROM you'll need to expose the I2C lines through headers or test points that can be connected to the I2C programmer. 

    Thanks and Regards,

    Raymond Lin