golden file from BQ34Z100 to BQ34Z100-G1

Matteo

You should not have to repeat the optimization cycle, because the golden Ra table and Qmax values should still be applicable. We do not have a tool to import the data flash from the original device to the -G1 device, so you will have to enter the data flash parameters manually.

• Program the -G1 srec.
• Update the Pack Configuration register to set the VOLSEL bit and update the Number of Series cells.
• Calibrate the voltage.
• Import the ChemID
• Update the data flash parameters manually.
• Save to golden srec file.

You can use bqProduction to program the srec to new packs.

Tom

Hi Tom,

thank you for your reply. I'm not sure to have well understood each step, so I try to explain what I should do for each step and I add some questions where something is not clear to me.

1 - Program the -G1 srec.

By using the tool bqstudio I have to insert each single parameters by taking the same values I had in the BQ34Z100 golden file. I can do in this way:

• by means of the bq Evaluation Software with the EV2400 I can access to the BQ34Z100 parameters (after programming it with my .ROM golden file) and I can Export them into a .gg file. Unfortunately the bqstudio tool seems to don't work with BQ34Z100
• I have to edit such a .gg file for adding some new parameters and for removing some others. In fact the BQ34Z100-G1 has some different parameters, compared to the BQ34Z100 (see attached file for a line by line comparison parameters comparison BQ34Z100 - BQ34Z100G1.xlsx). I suppose new necessary parameters have to be added into the .GG file, while the no more used parameters can be removed
• by means of the bqstudio tool and the EV2400 I can connect to the BQ34z100-G1 for uploading the new .gg file. Unfortunately the bq Evaluation Software doesn't work with the BQ34Z100-R1, so each device requires a different tool for accessing, setting, uploading and exporting data.

2 - Update the Pack Configuration register to set the VOLSEL bit and update the Number of Series cells.

the number of series cell should already be included into the above .GG file, so, maybe, it is not necessary to edit it.

What about the VOLSEL? Why should I set such a bit? How can I do it?

3 - Calibrate the voltage.

By means of the bqstudio tool I can perform a voltage calibration

4 - Import the ChemID

I see in the new .GG file for the BQ34Z100-G1 the parameter Chem ID does not exist, so how can I set the chemical? By means of the bqstudio tool? How?

5 - Update the data flash parameters manually.

I supposed this was the step 1. I'm not understanding...

6 - Save to golden srec file.

By means of the bqstudio tool it is possible to export such a file

Once I've obtained the .SREC file, I have some problem for using it.

As I wrote in my previous post, the EV2300 drivers installation procedures on my Win7 64bit PC doesn't work. I tried several times, but there are no way. On another Win7 64bit PC it works, but on my PC it is impossible. Maybe in my first tentative I made some mistake (e.g. I didn't force the installation as admin user) but I also removed the installed drivers (from Win control panel - programs - "Windows drivers - Texas Instruments (APLOADER)....") without any success.

In any case I would like to ask for a confirmation: does the bqProduction tool work only with the EV2300? Is yes, it is quite surprising: the BQ34Z100-G1 is newer than BQ34Z100, but it requires an older tool for programming it. And such an older tool is not officially supported under Win7 and successive os, i.e. all the o.s. existing when the BQ34Z100-G1 appeared on the market.

Just in case there are no ways with my PC to use the bqProduction tool, is it possible to use the bqStudio with its "programming" features? Or such a programming operation is not suitable and everything should be manually done as explained into the 6 steps above?

Thank you in advance for your further support, but, to be honest, this forum is the only real support we can obtain (no documents, no direct access to any specialist, no specific help desk, ....)

Regards

Matteo

Hello,
beside the TI provided tools incompatibility between BQ34Z100 and BQ34Z100-G1, as I pointed out in my previous post, there is also a different configuration parameters set.
In BQ34Z100-G1 some parameters disappeared and it is quite strange (why does TI removed some configuration parameters? are them unnecessary or there was no enough memory space?). But for the BQ34Z100-G1 there are also some new parameters: where is it possible to find any explanation about their meaning? I can mention, for example:
- Cycle Delta
- Res Current
- Maximum Qmax Change
- Design Resistance
- Reference Grid
- Max Res Scale
- Min Res Scale
- Smooth Relax Time
In fact, for setting proper values, it is necessary to understand their meaning.

Moreover, in the BQ34Z100-G1 also commands set has been changed:
- some standard commands have been deleted
- a standard command has been changed (0x03)
- a subcommand (Current() ) has been deleted (maybe, not clear)
- some extended commands have been deleted
- some extended command have been changed (i.e., by using the same command, you obtain a completely different result!)
This is a very serious issue! And it is not a good practice for creating a "replaceable" component: all applications containing such changed commands must be reviewed and changed.

TI, on the BQ34Z100 webpage says: "Replaced By BQ34Z100-G1 – The device has the SAME FUNCTIONALITY and PINOUT as the compared device but is NOT an exact equivalent.", but I cannot see any help for users that are migrating from the NRND BQ34Z100 to the suggested replacement BQ34Z100-G1. And for each aspect of such a migration, there are a lot of issues!!!

Thank you for any help

Matteo

Matteo,
Yes, converting to the -G1 firmware does take some manual data entry, but the new firmware does provide better performance. We did have to remove some commands to free up memory space for the smoothing feature. I am also in the process of updating the Configuring the Data flash document to help with the new parameters.
Tom

Thanks, but when such a document will be available???
My boards with the BQ34Z100-G1 (replacement of the BQ34Z100) are currently under test and on the next week I have to confirm the production. How can I do?
Normally the documentation for users should be available when a component appears on the market, not several months later...

And what about production tools? Any plan to release some official tools compatible with current existing operating systems?

Matteo

Again about the production tool...

I tried to install the bqProduction SBB tool on another PC, together with unofficial Win7 drivers for the EV2300 (on my PC they don't work and there is no help about such an issue!!!). Drivers work and bqProduction starts and recognize the connected EV2300.

So I configure such a tool for writing the .srec file I've created on the BQ34Z100-G1, but, when I press the "save configuration" button, a message says that I have to chose the specific "device bzq container". The problem: a specific container for the BQ34Z100-G1 does not exist and a further message says to contact TI service.

Strange: by following the suggestion received from a TI member (above posts), I got to the conclusion I have to contact the TI service. Maybe something has gone wrong... Please help me!!!

But another approach I would like to follow consists of developing by myself a "production software tool" for the BQ34Z100-G1. Does exist any AN or any other document for explaining me:

• how to upload a .SREC file to the BQ34Z100-G1?
• how to perform, step by step, each calibration operation?

I think this approach can be useful also for other users because it is quite common each manufacturer would develop test sequences and test tools for electronic boards accordingly to their standards.

Thank you again for any help

Matteo

Matteo

I will help you to resolve the bqProduction issues off-line.

Tom

Here are some comments to your questions.

2 - Update the Pack Configuration register to set the VOLSEL bit and update the Number of Series cells.

the number of series cell should already be included into the above .GG file, so, maybe, it is not necessary to edit it.

What about the VOLSEL? Why should I set such a bit? How can I do it?

[ANS]  The VOLSEL bit is located in the Pack Cfg register.

4 - Import the ChemID

I see in the new .GG file for the BQ34Z100-G1 the parameter Chem ID does not exist, so how can I set the chemical? By means of the bqstudio tool? How?

[ANS]  You will need to find a ChemID match using our online GPCCHEM tool. Search for GPCCHEM on the TI website.

5 - Update the data flash parameters manually.

I supposed this was the step 1. I'm not understanding...

[ANS]  You can export a gg file from the old device and use this file as reference to type them into the Data Memory on bqStudio after the new firmware has been programmed.