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USBCPD-APPLICATION-CUSTOMIZATION-TOOL: multiple Bugs and/or annoyances

Joel Rupp
Prodigy 30 points
Part Number: USBCPD-APPLICATION-CUSTOMIZATION-TOOL
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: TPS26750EVM

Tool/software:

I'm trying to configure the TPS26750EVM with the USBCPD-APPLICATION-CUSTOMIZATION-TOOL, and there are multiple bugs that I've noticed.

Firstly, there is a function in the tool, which automatically connects to the EVM when it gets attached. There is a bug, that is always connects to the first port (lowest in order). So when i connect the EVM it shows up as COM8, but the tool tries to connect to COM3, which is the lowest in order, which is also the default when loading up the tool. This bug not only makes this feature useless, but you also have to disconnect and reconnect the port, which takes longer than just connecting it.

The frequent timeouts of the tool are also very annoying. When not doing anything in the tool for a longer time (e.g. when measuring something), the tool times out, and all button get disabled (greyed out). This leaves you in a state, where you can't even save (export) your current configuration, but you have to reload the page for the tool to work again. So you lose all your progress, from your last save on.

When configuring the source PDOs, there are two bugs. The first one is, that the configured current for PPS PDOs is sometimes wrong. For example, i configure a PPS PDO with 5-21V and 3A. When uploading it to the tool, and checking the sent PDOs with a POWER-Z KM003C, the maximum current shows up as 9.4A. Or when configuring it with 5A, it shows up as 11.4A in the analyzer. Its always the first PPS PDO, when using multiple PPS PDOs, the second one is always fine.

The other "bug" if that's the right name for it, refers to the order of the source PDOs. The "Verify PDO" should verify, that the PDOs are in correct order, as specified in 6.4.1.4 of the USB-PD specification. The order is:

  1. vSafe5V
  2. fixed PDOs, ordered from lowest to highest voltage
  3. Battery supply PDOs, ordered from lowest to highest voltage
  4. Variable Supply (non-Battery) PDOs, ordered from lowest to highest voltage
  5. SPR AVS APDOs, ordered from lowest to highest voltage
  6. PPS APDOs, , ordered from lowest to highest voltage

The "Verify PDO" function wrongly orders them. For example, when having 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 15V/3A, 20V/3A and a PPS PDO 5-21V/3A, the tool tries to put the PPS PDO between the 15V/3A and 20V/3A, which makes no sense, as it should stay at the last position.

The last bug that I've noticed so far, is that i can't set the "Load Step" to 500mA/us, but only to 150mA/us. The technical reference manual specifies that this should be possible. 

Are all of these things even bugs, or are some user errors (error 40 Slight smile)?

  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 29822 points

    Hi Joel, 

    Thank you for reaching out!

    I am looking into this and will get back to you with feedback by Thursday. 

    Best Regards, 

    Aya Khedr

  • +1 in reply to Aya Khedr
    TI__Mastermind 29822 points

    Hi Joel, 

    Thank you for your feedback. 

    1- The EVM Port can be selected in Options --> Serial Port Configuration in the GUI without having to disconnect and reconnect the port.

    2-  I recommend using the Native Application (See section 3 in the TPS26750EVM User Guide on how to download). The Native Application will not time-out frequently. 

    3- 

    Joel Rupp said:
    When configuring the source PDOs, there are two bugs. The first one is, that the configured current for PPS PDOs is sometimes wrong. For example, i configure a PPS PDO with 5-21V and 3A. When uploading it to the tool, and checking the sent PDOs with a POWER-Z KM003C, the maximum current shows up as 9.4A. Or when configuring it with 5A, it shows up as 11.4A in the analyzer. Its always the first PPS PDO, when using multiple PPS PDOs, the second one is always fine

    Could you please provide the json file along with Power-Z logs of this behavior? 

    4- 

    Joel Rupp said:
    . The "Verify PDO" should verify, that the PDOs are in correct order, as specified in 6.4.1.4 of the USB-PD specification.

    Yes, your understanding is correct. This is a known bug that will be resolved in the next GUI release. 

    5- 

    Joel Rupp said:
    The last bug that I've noticed so far, is that i can't set the "Load Step" to 500mA/us, but only to 150mA/us. The technical reference manual specifies that this should be possible

    Correct. We currently only advertise the 150mA/us option. I will look into adding the 500mA/us option in the next release.

    Best Regards, 

    Aya Khedr 

  • 0 in reply to Aya Khedr
    Prodigy 30 points

    1. The tool ignores the port selected in the settings, and always tries to connect to the lowest port when connecting a new port. For example when power cycling the evm, I disconnect the programming cable and then reconnect it. The tool then tries to connect to com3 insted of com8, which i selected in the options.

    2. Thanks for the hint, I must've overlooked that possibility. That works fine.

    3. Here are the config file and the POWER-Z logs:tps26750-wrong-pps-current.zip

    Kind regards,
    Joel Rupp

  • +1 in reply to Joel Rupp
    TI__Mastermind 37855 points

    Hi Joel,

    Joel Rupp said:
    1. The tool ignores the port selected in the settings, and always tries to connect to the lowest port when connecting a new port. For example when power cycling the evm, I disconnect the programming cable and then reconnect it. The tool then tries to connect to com3 insted of com8, which i selected in the options.

    Interesting, I have not seen this issue. I have seen alternate COM ports get selected, but changing it in "Options->Serial Port Settings" always seems to work on my end.

    I did some testing, and saw that when I set up the TPS26750EVM and got it connected, disconnecting it would trigger the GUI to go to the "Hardware Disconnected" state and on replug, the GUI attempts to connect to the incorrect COM port.

    I'm able to easily set the correct COM port by using the setting above, but it is a little confusing as it appears like the correct COM port was selected.

    This is a screen shot of the Serial Port Config menu after I have reconnected. You might think it is connected to COM4(TI) here, but it actually connects to COM7 for some reason. (I see the connection status message in the bottom connect to COM7). The only thing I was able to do at this point was select COM4(TI) in the Serial Port Config menu and hit "OK", and then I saw the connection status update to connect to COM4.

    Unfortunately this does seem like a bug, so I'll reach out to the team to see if it is possible address it in a future version of the GUI.

    Joel Rupp said:
    3. Here are the config file and the POWER-Z logs:tps26750-wrong-pps-current.zip

    I loaded your config to an EVM and replicated the test on my end. Do you have any other PPS sink devices or any other PD analyzers?

    I also saw the PowerZ displaying the 9.4-A on my end, but when I connected a TotalPhase PD analyzer in series, it reports a different PPS current than the one the PowerZ reports.

    I tested this with 3 different analyzers, and all reported 3-A, so this appears to be a PowerZ issue.

    Thanks and Regards,

    Chris

  • 0 in reply to Christopher Lim1
    Prodigy 30 points

    Thanks for the thorough investigation Christopher.

    The COM-Port issue has been driving me nuts, so its at least nice to see, that this is now forwarded to the development team, and might get fixed in the future.

    Unfortunately i only have the POWER-Z analyzer, but I might find another PPS-Device to try, and then i'll let you know. Meanwhile i will forward this issue to POWER-Z, as it seems to be on their end, and not yours.

  • 0 in reply to Joel Rupp
    TI__Mastermind 37855 points

    Thanks for the feedback Joel. I will close this thread now, but feel free to re-open or submit a new thread if you need additional support.

    Thanks and Regards,

    Chris