AM3359 EtherCAT

WhiteHorse

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: AM3359, TIDEP0001, SYSBIOS, UNIFLASH, TMDSICE3359

Hi e2e,

We have a customer starting a new design with several AM3359 CPUs connected via EtherCAT. They purchased the TIDEP0001: EtherCAT Communications Development Platform and have that up and running and their evaluation is going well. They are developing their own board based on the schematic for the TIDEP0001. They are thinking ahead to production and how best to program their image into system Flash in production. They don’t want to buy programmed Flash since their application could change a lot. Currently they are using CCS to load their application and they never change the boot loader. CCS is not intended for production use, nor do they want to purchase multiple copies of CCS for production and they don’t want production to have all the capability that CCS has. They would like to load their application via Ethernet. What would be the best way to do this on a new board with blank Flash memory?

They also want to understand how the PRU code which is concatenated with the application code is actually loaded into the PRU. Not sure if you would have time to have a conference call with Varian, but if you are available I can set it up.

Finally, they want to know what SPI Flash devices are supported on the AM3359. I don't believe the AM3359 limits which Flash can be used, but the software that programs the Flash is limited to those devices that it has algorithms to support. Is this correct? What software programs Flash in the EthCAT Communications Development Platform?

Thanks for your help.

over 7 years ago

0 Biser Gatchev-XID over 7 years ago

TI__Guru**** 393215 points

Hi,

I will notify the ISDK team to look at this.

0 WhiteHorse over 7 years ago in reply to Biser Gatchev-XID

Genius 4430 points

Thanks for your help!

0 Paula Carrillo over 7 years ago

TI__Mastermind 32565 points

Hi WH, do you think using SD for flashing the boards in production could work for your customer? if so, please check C:\TI\sysbios_ind_sdk_2.1.1.2\sdk\starterware\docs\UserGuide_02_01_01_01.pdf section: "StarterWare Booting And Flashing" for more details

thank you,
Paula

0 WhiteHorse over 7 years ago in reply to Paula Carrillo

Genius 4430 points

Hi Paula,
I thought about that. I'll check with the customer and get back with you. Could you respond to the PRU question as well? Thanks, WH

0 Paula Carrillo over 7 years ago in reply to WhiteHorse

TI__Mastermind 32565 points

Hi WH, sorry I miss your PRU question before..
PRU code is included as header files which are include in the application

From EtherCAT tiescutils.c
// get the firmware loaded as header files!
#include "ecat_frame_handler_bin.h" // EtherCAT frame handler
#include "ecat_host_interface_bin.h" // EtherCAT host interface

processors.wiki.ti.com/.../PRU_ICSS_EtherCAT_firmware_API_guide

thank you,
Paula

0 WhiteHorse over 7 years ago in reply to Paula Carrillo

Genius 4430 points

Hi Paula,

Thanks for the details on the PRU. I checked with the customer and they want to load the initial image into SPI Flash via Ethernet. How would they go about that? WH

0 Paula Carrillo over 7 years ago in reply to WhiteHorse

TI__Mastermind 32565 points

Hi WH, I found this link: processors.wiki.ti.com/.../Sitara_Uniflash_Quick_Start_Guide
thank you,
Paula

0 WhiteHorse over 7 years ago in reply to Paula Carrillo

Genius 4430 points

Hi Paula,

That was a great article. I have asked the customer to review it. I believe it describes exactly want they want to do. In this process the boot loader in the ROM of the AM335x is used. The customer asked what Flash manufacturers are supported by the boot loader. I am looking for that information now. If you could provide a link that would provide more details that would help immensely. Thanks for all of your help. WH

0 Paula Carrillo over 7 years ago in reply to WhiteHorse

TI__Mastermind 32565 points

Hi WH, About supported Flash manufactures I don't know, but I will ask our HW experts.

thank you,
Paula

0 WhiteHorse over 7 years ago in reply to Paula Carrillo

Genius 4430 points

Hi Paula,

We are back on the issues around initial loading of an image into a board with a blank SPI Flash. You had provided a link to a page with details to help with this. The link was: processors.wiki.ti.com/.../Sitara_Uniflash_Quick_Start_Guide. This information is specific to Linux. This customer does not plan to use Linux. They plan to use TI RTOS, Starterware and EtherCAT drivers used on the TIDEP0001 - EtherCAT Communications Development Platform. Therefore, the directions provided at the link to create an image didn’t apply to this customer so they still need help with creating an image. Also, is it possible to use Uniflash to program an image onto TI’s TIDEP0001? Details about how to program an image into the TIDEP001 using Uniflash would be helpful to this customer.

Thanks for your help.

Regards,

0 Paula Carrillo over 7 years ago in reply to WhiteHorse

TI__Mastermind 32565 points

WH, I think it should still work, we just need to use a different "boot" and "image" created using Sysbios Ind SDK, but I will try to get confirmation from the creators of uniflash tool.

thank you,

Paula

0 WhiteHorse over 7 years ago in reply to Paula Carrillo

Genius 4430 points

Paula, Thanks for your reply!

I found our that the customer is not using the TIDEP0001: EtherCAT Communications Development Platform. They are using the TMDSICE3359 AM3359 Industrial Communications Engine board. Sorry for the wrong information. The customer's board is based on TI's TMDSICE3359. Could you also comment on the trade-offs between loading an initial image using USB vs Ethernet using Uniflash? They plan to program several hundred boards annually. In this volume what physical interface would be easiest to use?

Thanks for your help.

0 RonB over 7 years ago in reply to WhiteHorse

TI__Mastermind 30276 points

WH,

If Ethernet is available, I've found it easier to use than USB. Whichever you choose, you need to make sure that the board can use the appropriate boot order as described in chapter 26 of the TRM.

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