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bq34z100 unsealing issues

Matteo Rigamonti
Expert 1170 points
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: BQEVSW, BQ34Z100, BQMTESTER

Good morning,

recently I had to unseal some battery packs for changing some configuration parameters and I followed the standard procedure I found in a post  (I haven't changed any default access keys):

+ Disable Scanning in bqEVSW

+ Type 0414 into the data entry area of the Control field. Press Enter on the computer.

+ Type 3672 into the Control field. <Enter>

+ Select the Refresh button to see if the SS flag turns green.

+ If is does, then follow the same process to enter the Full Access pass codes. ffff ffff

+ If it does not clear, then the device may be bad or there could be a problem between the computer and GUI.

By applying such a procedure, it seems the bq34z100 has been unsealed (i.e. flags FAS and SS turn off and flash data become readable), but it is not completely true. In fact the device automatically switch back again to a sealed mode if:

  • I send a reset command (0041)
  • I disconnect (and connect again);the circuit from battery pack
  • I flash it with a new .rom file

So it seems the bq34z100 remember forever once it has been sealed and it can't switch back in a full unseal mode anymore.

Moreover this situation is still more complicate when I try to flash it with a new .rom file (by using, for example, the "bq Single Station Tester" tool). If the bq34z100 has been previously sealed and unsealed, it is no more possible to overwrite all parameters of its flash memory and the tester tool reports an error. If the update of "Dynamic Pack Data" (i.e. serial no., lot no. and production date) are not flagged into the tester tool, the writing procedure can be passed. If I would like to overwrite also such data (i.e. if I want to write both a new the flash image and a new serial number), an error occurs.

Everything goes well if the bq34z100 is completely virgin, i.e. if no previous sealing and unsealing procedure have been done on it.

Please let me understand if this behavior is correct (and why) or if I'm doing something wrong. I think a procedure for completely restoring the unsealed mode should exist.

Thank you

Matteo

  • 0
    TI__Guru 73830 points

    Matteo,

    That performance is expected. A word in flash memory is changed after the Seal Command has been sent and you cannot reset that word. The pack can be temporarily unsealed, but it will Seal automatically after a reset occurs. You should not create a golden senc file from a pack that has been sealed, because the new packs will be sealed as well. If you have such a golden senc file, then you can send it to me an is will change the word in flash back to its virgin value and return the senc file to you. You can then use that as your golden senc file.

    Tom

  • 0 in reply to ThomasCosby
    Expert 1170 points

    Thank you Tom for your answer.

    Is also the second one behavior expected?

    So once a pack has been sealed, it is possible to overwrite its flash with a new senc file, except parameters like serial no., lot no. and production date. Do you confirm?

    Fortunately my senc file was not created from an already sealed pack. The problem is that I have to overwrite some pack already sealed because I've found an error into their configuration.

    Thank you

    Matteo

  • 0 in reply to Matteo Rigamonti
    TI__Guru 73830 points

    If the pack is sealed, then you will not be able to load a new senc file or change DF parameters. If you unseal the pack, then you can load a new senc file and change DF parameters. I confirmed that yo can change the Serial Number and Manufacturing Date, if you unseal the pack.

  • 0 in reply to ThomasCosby
    Expert 1170 points

    Hi Tom,

    I've checked once again, but I haven't obtained what you say.

    I try to report exactly what I've done, so we can avoid misunderstandings and, maybe, you can better understand if I'm doing something wrong.

    1 - I've used the bqEVSW for unsealing the pack (accordingly to the procedure already reported in my first post). After such a procedure, the screenshot of bqEVSW confirms the pack has been unsealed (and also I can read the data flash):

    2 - I've used the bq Single Station Tester to transfer the golden rom file on the unsealed device. First of all, I've configured the manufacturing data accordingly to the following screenshot:

    Then I've launched the test, but it hasn't been passed:

    And the error code 65558 means (from bqMTester user manual): "Failed to write manufacturer data".

    3 - I've used again the bqEVSW to unseal the pack

    4 - I've used again the bq Single Station Tester. In this case I've disabled all Dynamic Pack Data (i.e. manufacturing data):

    And in this case the test has been passed:

    This result does not match with what you wrote in your last post. Is there any error?

    Or definitely is it not possible to overwrite the manufacturing data once the pack has been sealed for the first time?

    Thank you

    Matteo

  • 0 in reply to Matteo Rigamonti
    TI__Guru 73830 points

    I re-verified that you can write the Manufacturer Data to an Unseal Device that was previously Sealed. The problem is that you cannot perform the load ROM and update the parameters in the same test. The bqMTester must reset the device after performing one of the functions and this seals the device and prevents the other task from writing to flash. You can perform both functions in the same test, if the device has never been sealed.

  • 0 in reply to ThomasCosby
    Expert 1170 points

    Hi Tom,

    that's correct. I've tested separately the rom file update and manufacturer data update and both procedure work well.

    One more question ... I've noted after the manufactured data update by means of the bq single Station Tester it is not possible to use the bqEVSW because no connected devices are detected. It is necessary to remove power supply from the bq34z100 and apply it again in order to restore its communication with the bqEVSW.

    Is that correct? Is that true not only for bqEVSW but also for other system using IIC bus?

    So in production it is mandatory to disconnect the battery back from the bq34z100 board after flashing its configuration file and manufacturer data, otherwise it is no more possible to monitor it by its IIC interface. Right?

    Thank you again

    Matteo.

  • 0 in reply to Matteo Rigamonti
    TI__Guru 73830 points

    Matteo

    The bqMTester leaves the device in ROM mode. Removing the battery will return it to normal mode or you should be able to send the 08 command like you normally do when using the bqEVSW. You cannot send this command with bqMTester. You can also reset the device by temporarily shorting the REG25 to VSS, but you may not have access to that circuit.

    Tom