AM625: AM625

Hi Paul,

Have you referred to the AM62x Processor SDK:

https://dr-download.ti.com/software-development/software-development-kit-sdk/MD-PvdSyIiioq/09.00.00.03/tisdk-default-image-am62xx-evm.wic.xz

Building the SDK and verifying it with SD card.

https://software-dl.ti.com/processor-sdk-linux/esd/AM62X/09_00_00_03/exports_AM62SIP/docs/linux/Overview_Building_the_SDK.html

See if these help.

Best Regards,

Suren

Hi Suren, 

Thank you for your response. I will also be building a custom os image for the board. So, your response will be useful when I get to that stage. But my question is more hardware specific. which device/programmer would be used to flash the initial firmware to boot the OS image from the sdcard and which interface on the SoC will the programmer be connected to. I am building a custom board with AM6254 and wondering how the SoC will be flashed after PCB prototyping. Thank you.

Hi Paul,

I am assigning your query to our HW experts to comment. In the meantime, I found this App note that you may want to look:

https://www.ti.com/lit/an/sprad05a/sprad05a.pdf

Best Regards,

Suren

Hi Suren,

Thank you.

Hello Paul,

Additionally please refer to the below TRM section.

Chapter 5
Initialization

This chapter describes the steps for non-secure device initialization.
5.1 Initialization Overview............................................................................................................................................2456
5.2 Boot Process.......................................................................................................................................................... 2459
5.3 Boot Mode Pins.......................................................................................................................................................2464
5.4 Boot Modes............................................................................................................................................................. 2466
5.5 PLL Configuration.................................................................................................................................................. 2493
5.6 Boot Parameter Tables...........................................................................................................................................2495
5.7 Boot Image Format.................................................................................................................................................2505
5.8 Boot Memory Maps.................................................................................................................................................2512

Help me understand the current hardware design stage of the project?

Regards,

Sreenivasa

Thank you Sreenivasa. I will checkout the TRM section.

The project is still at schematic and PCB design stage. That's why I need to understand how to flash the initial firmware onto to AM6254 SoC now so I could make the necessary hardware provision for that in the PCB design.

Please correct me if I am wrong. I am assuming the SoC need a program flashed into it which runs at powerup to configure the necessary registers and peripherals to boot OS images from external memory sources like SD Card etc.

Regards.

Paul

Hello Paul,

Thank you.

Paul Nwoko said:

Please correct me if I am wrong. I am assuming the SoC need a program flashed into it which runs at powerup to configure the necessary registers and peripherals to boot OS images from external memory sources like SD Card etc.

This is correct.

Regards,

Sreenivasa

Hi Sreenivasa,

Thank you for response.

And which programmer is recommended for flashing the SoC?

Does TI provide this firmware? If yes, kindly share.

Regards,

Paul

Hello Puul, 

I am assigning the thread to the expert.

Regards,

Sreenivasa

Hello Sreenivasa,

Thank you for your assistance so far.

Regards,

Paul.

Hi Paul,

Have you configured the PIN Mux, DDR and peripherals as a part of HW design?  Have you used the Sysconfig to configure the system with relevant clocks and peripherals? I would definitely recommend you to review the AM62x Linux Academy sections for Linux System Design and Porting Linux on Custom Hardware.

https://dev.ti.com/tirex/explore/node?node=A__ABFrVT6ayFCBDs5BP1sqkQ__AM62-ACADEMY__uiYMDcq__LATEST

The U-boot is the first step as you review the material. 

Best Regards,

Suren

Hello Suren,

"Have you configured the PIN Mux, DDR and peripherals as a part of HW design?  Have you used the Sysconfig to configure the system with relevant clocks and peripherals?" 

No, I haven't. Still designing the custom board.

Hi Paul,

I would suggest, you try to get the DDR and PinMux done and share the schematics for review, with relevant boot media you want on the custom board.  Our HW team should be able to review your design and then you can start to play with our u-boot (Software) to modify the DDR configuration to see if the board boots up with u-boot. 

https://dev.ti.com/sysconfig/

The SysFW binary is already part of the u-boot build which configures all the PLL's, clocks, etc to get you started on board bring-up. 

Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

Suren

Sure, it helps. Thank you, Suren.

Sorry for responding late. I have already shared the schematics for review.

I am looking forward to the review from your HW team.

One more thing, I noticed there is no ICSP interface on the AM6254. So what device programmer is recommended for this SoC?

Regards,

Paul

Hello Paul,

Thank you.

Paul Nwoko said:

One more thing, I noticed there is no ICSP interface on the AM6254. So what device programmer is recommended for this SoC?

Please elaborate- your query. 

Below are few tools you could consider 

https://www.blackhawk-dsp.com/products/jtag-emulators/usb100v2d

https://www.lauterbach.com/

Regards,

Sreenivasa

Hello Paul, 

We have received the schematics and looking into the schematics.

Paul Nwoko said:

I have already shared the schematics for review.

I am looking forward to the review from your HW team.

Regards,

Sreenivasa

Okay. Typically, microcontrollers do have in-circuit serial programing (ICSP) interface for programming it and programmers supporting ICSP interface for flashing it. For the AM6254, as someone coming from the microcontroller world, I was expecting to see same interface on the SoC.

So, I want to know the standard programing interface for the am62 SoC. Also, since I have to flash some initial firmware during bring up stage to initialize the SoC to boot OS images. So, I need to know the device programmer recommended for that.

I have checked out the XDS100 Debug Probe in the link you shared. The AM6254 is among the device supported.

Thank you for the review in progress. looking forward to your feedback.

Regards,

Paul

Hello Paul, 

Thank you.

I will let suren comment.

For programming the flash on board i would expect you to use UART or the USB DFU boot mode along with uniflash in the Linux environment.

Regards,

Sreenivasa

Alright.

Thank you.

Looking forward to his comment.

Hello Paul, 

Thank you.

Suren can you pls add your comments on the standard programing interface for the am62 SoC.

Regards,

Sreenivasa