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UCD3138: UCD3138: How to export the Firmware Upgrade Script

Kunseen Yao
Prodigy 30 points
Part Number: UCD3138

I know there is the "Firmware Upgrade Script" (csv file) that could be exported by the Fusion Digital Power Designer for UCD92XX devices. Then we can download the program flash and data flash () by a microcontroller or other "host" (an I2C master), called upgrade foirmware  "in the field".

But I could not find this function for UCD3138. Could it be for the UCD3138 devices?

Thanks for help.

  • 0
    TI__Genius 17090 points

    I'm not familiar with a csv script, and our GUI expert is on spring break this week.  But I am an expert on downloading code to the UCD in the field.

    There are two basic ways to do it:

    1. Return the UCD to ROM mode tand use the dedicated ROM commands to download via PMBus/I2C commands

    2. Use the bootloader flash option with your own bootloader - this is only necessary if you want to have a different download format than supported by the ROM, or if you want to use something other than PMBus, such as a serial interface

    With the UCD3138064 and 128, you have another option - you can actually run the power supply and downloader simultaneously in 1 block of flash while downloading a new program into another block.  They you can switch to the new program, keeping the power supply running all the while.  

    If you want to spell out exactly which of these you want, I can help you with them.

    I'm not sure, but I think the CSV file is only for changing power supply settings, not the underlying program.  So it's really just a series of PMBus commands for things like filter coefficients and fault levels and gains and offsets.  

  • 0 in reply to Ian Bower
    Prodigy 30 points

    Thanks Ian.

    I think the first one (only use the PMBus/I2C commands to do the firmware upgrade in the field) is the work option for my application.

    Thus, we can create the csv/txt file with all PMBus/I2C commands flow for host to implement it.

    Much appreciate your kind support.

    Kunseen Yao

    Attached the csv example:

  • 0 in reply to Kunseen Yao
    TI__Genius 17090 points

    As I thought, the CSV is only a file for updating the parameters, not the firmware.

    It is probably possible to do the firmware upgrade with a very long series of PMBus commands only sent, but that is not how we generally do it.

    We do several verification steps which require the master to receive and evaluate data from the UCD.

    1. Verify the ROM version to make sure the chip is correct and in ROM mode, ready to recieve

    2. After the download, but before writing the checksum - have the ROM calculate the checksum from the UCD program flash and make sure it is the same as our calculated checksum - this verifies that the download is successful

    3.  Do the same for the data flash.

    There are other checks that can be done that are optional.  Right now we do not have a function to generate a .csv file.

    Since the data is just a big memory image, the normal way our customers do the download is to write a program for the master that takes a object code file, either binary or some hex format, and generates the commands to download and verify.  

    I can send you a document on the sequence of commands.  

  • 0 in reply to Ian Bower
    Prodigy 30 points

    Hi Ian,

    Thanks.

    I've got the sequence document from my colleague who talked with Frank in another thread "download 3138 SW using linux iotools".

    Le't close this thread here.

    Thanks for your help again.

    Kunseen Yao