IWR6843AOP: 3DPC Backup image @META IMAGE 4 slot overwrites SBL image utility

Sergi Domingo

Part Number: IWR6843AOP
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: UNIFLASH,

Hi everyone:

I'm trying to implement a second stage bootloader SBL on an 3D People Counting based project. The idea is to be able updating People Counting image through the UART.

I was reading and testing some information present in the documentation /mmwave_sdk_03_06_00_00-LTS/packages/ti/utils/sbl/docs/SBL_design.pdf

On the 4.10 Running the application section indicates to specifically flash (Uniflash Tool) sbl image @ 1st Meta Image slot and backup image @ 4th slot. I'm not sure I do understand how this works.

The problem occurs when I set IWR6843AOP in run mode. I was expecting the bootloader to start and after 90 ticks the backup image to run, but the backup images seem to overwrite the bootloader and start directly.

Most likely I'm missing something regarding the external flash memory configuration or so.

Thanks in advance.

Sergi

over 2 years ago

0 Angie Mitchell over 2 years ago

TI__Genius 10730 points

Hi Sergi,

Thanks for reaching out on our e2e forums. I am looking into this issue and will get back to you by the end of the week. You seem to be following the guide correctly so I need to research this behavior further.

Thank you,

Angie

0 Sergi Domingo over 2 years ago in reply to Angie Mitchell

Prodigy 30 points

I tried to flash the sbl image without the backup image. Then, transfer the main metaimage through UART and works fine. In that case, you lose the backup functionality. Might be a size issue due to the 4th slot simultaneous flashing... Idk, let's see what you figure out. Thanks for the research.

Cheers,

Sergi

0 Sergi Domingo over 2 years ago

Prodigy 30 points

https://e2e.ti.com/support/sensors-group/sensors/f/sensors-forum/933401/compiler-iwr6443-second-boot-loader-question

This solves the problem but then SBL_METAIMAGE_OFFSET + my updated meta-image size overlaps with the back-up image.

Any idea what options do I have?

Thank you,

Sergi

0 Angie Mitchell over 2 years ago in reply to Sergi Domingo

TI__Genius 10730 points

Hi Sergio,

Can you please share the sizes of your images?

Thanks,

Angie

0 Sergi Domingo over 2 years ago in reply to Angie Mitchell

Prodigy 30 points

Sure. They are modified 3D_people_count_68xx.bin meta images of 611.57KB. I'm reading about memory flash sectors, something is telling me that the problem is related to the flash erase process. I may be wrong.

Thanks,

Sergi

+1 Angie Mitchell over 2 years ago in reply to Sergi Domingo

TI__Genius 10730 points

Hi Sergi,

That should be an ok size of the spaces -- can you try using the 1st and 3rd slot? Each slot is at an offset of 512KB so that should give enough space.

On the Settings & Utilities tab please be sure to select the setting to format the sFLASH:

Thanks,

Angie

0 Sergi Domingo over 2 years ago in reply to Angie Mitchell

Prodigy 30 points

Hi Angie,

I followed your instructions, but in addition I also had to make some modifications on the code:

sbl.h

#define SBL_BACKUP_IMAGE_OFFSET 0x00100000U

sbl.c

#define SBL_ERASE_SIZE_KB 768U

The first definition sets the SBL backup image start at the following address, matching with the third slot of Uniflash flashing tool. The second definition allows you to modify erase size in order not to overlap and damage the backup image.

Once this is done, everything works as expected.

Thank you for your help.

Sergi

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IWR6843AOP: 3DPC Backup image @META IMAGE 4 slot overwrites SBL image utility