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bq20z70 firmware upgrade and dataflash

Teemu
Prodigy 150 points

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: BQ20Z70

Hi,

I'm currently trying to evaluate the bq20z70. Is there any reason why I should try to upgrade the firmware in the device (currently it is 1.01 version, and it seems that at least 1.60 is available). However, I don't know where to get the latest firmware. I assume that the firmware files are named .SENC, although the pages also call them "chemistry files". In my bqEasy folder I can see that there is a .ENCR (this is the default dataflash file?) file for  version 1.62, but I cannot find the .SENC file version for that anywhere.

Just want to make sure I won't ruin my evaluation board by doing something wrong... already got a warning of mismatch with .DFI file once, which made me bit wary =).

  • 0
    TI__Genius 10275 points

    Yes, you should definitely upgrade the firmware.  V1.01 is a very old version. I have attached V1.60, which is our latest released firmware for bq20z70.

    bq20z70_v160.zip
  • 0 in reply to Chase7071949597
    Prodigy 150 points

    Thanks, upgraded to v1.60 without trouble.

    I'd still like to clear few things about the data flash in bqEasy software and the different configuration files used. I've figured out what the buttons in section 1B. mean, but later on after the step by step configuration and calibration there is a "Read DFI" button in section 3F. At this point, the description in the screen suggests that the configuration values are stored in the bq20z70, and need to be saved into a DFI file in the PC. So during the Configuration in Section 2. the values are actually written into bq20z70 every time you press OK?

    Further, I've read that .DFI and .ROM files are pretty similar, only .ROM has some additional header lines. However, what are the differences in their use? Another file that is yet again used for storing part of configuration is the "Golden Pack" file, which according some messages in this forum only contains public setting values same as seen in the Data Flash screen in the evaluation software. So this means that there are three different ways to save the configuration. My understanding currently is following:

    .ROM file:

    A file that is device specific, sort of "exact" copy or backup of the current configuration including the calibration and settings. Can this file be used after firmware upgrade?

    .DFI file:

    Little less exact copy (how much less?). Can be used to transfer configuration between firmware upgrades? Is calibration contained here?

    A golden pack file (.DFI?):

    A file that contains the general configuration (e.g. maximum voltage thresholds and such). Used for making high level configuration copies to enable production. Doesn't contain calibration(?) so if used to transfer settings, calibration is still needed? But what confuses me is that it is suggested that it is a .DFI file, though the documentation states that it should contain less information. I haven't gotten this far in my tests yet, so don't really know how much different it is. It is offered after the learn cycles in section 5C. in the bqEasy.

     

  • 0 in reply to Teemu
    TI__Expert 3865 points

    .ROM file vs .DFI file

    Same: Both contains the entire data flash image, which includes both public and private data

    Different: .ROM has additional header information related to the device type, FW version, size of data flash, etc

    Usage: Both file formats can be used to store golden pack image. Golden pack image is a complete data flash image with configured data ready to be port to a different pcb using the same battery pack configuration. The newly programmed pcb (programmed with golden pack image) will still need to go through calibration.

    If you're using MTester (mainly use in production), you will need to a .ROM file because MTester only support .ROM file. If you're using bqEASY (mainly used on bench evaluation), you can have a .ROM or .DFI. Although the primary support format in bqEASY is .DFI, the newer release of the tool does allow read/write a .ROM file.

    Golden pack file/image

    When we talk about golden pack file/image, we are referring to the complete data flash image with configured data, and learned Qmax and Ra Tables. It can be either in .ROM or .DFI format. The file that only has the public data flash data is called a .gg file. When you use a .gg file to transfer the configured data to a different battery pack, the chemistry data (which is partially private) will be missing. User will have to use bqEASY or bqCHEM to program the chemistry data separately.

    Either if you use the complete data flash image (.ROM or .DFI) or use the .gg file + program chemistry separately to transfer the information to a 2nd battery pack, you should run calibration on the new pack. This is because the calibration values on your original pack may not be optimized for your 2nd pack.

    bqEASY

    When you're clicking "OK" from step 2A to 2G, the information is only saved in the .ezy (bqEASY project file) and the program memory. bqEASY will not program the data into the device until you reach the last step of the configuration section, step 2H. Once you click "OK" in step 2H, bqEASY will pop-up a message board, telling you it is now ready to program the configuration data to the device. Click "OK" again and the data will be written to the device.

    The calibration section (section 3) in bqEASY refer the user to use the "Calibrate" screen of the EVSW to calibrate the device. Calibration data is written to the device through the Calibrate screen of the EVSW. Click "OK" from step 3A to 3E will not cause bqEASY to write/read anything to the device. The action only allows bqEASY to know that the required calibration is completed or not. When you get to the last step of section 3, step 3F, the device is now configured and calibrated, bqEASY simply save a copy of the data flash image at this point - that's what the "Read DFI" button for in step 3F.

    At this point. before you can create a golden pack image, you will need to update the chemistry data (section 4 in bqEASY), allow the device to learn Qmax and Ra tables (section 5 of bqEASY).