CC2540: CC2540 Port Issue

Hi,

It seems like you are able to load something onto your board with CC Debugger, using SmartRF Flash Programmer.

SmartRF Flash Programmer should also be able to load your application firmware, have you tried it?

Thanks,
Toby

Hi Toby

I didn't try it but i am not sure what settings i should change to upload firmware in flash programmer.
Do i need to choose secondary location for firmware?
Also, How the port will appear?

Hi Ali,

Please refer to this guide: https://e2e.ti.com/support/wireless-connectivity/bluetooth-group/bluetooth/f/bluetooth-forum/961268/cc2540-serial-bootloading

Thanks,
Toby

Hi Ali, In the guide you are following the programming of the CC2540 happens through an FTDI device or another MCU (Arduino something). The COM port you are looking for is thus not associated with the CCDebugger. 

Hi

I am simply following the guide.

First i uploaded the bootloader using CC debugger then i have to upload the firmware.

The firmware will do two jobs(i assume)

1: BLE

2: USB bridge between Arduino and USB port

I am able to do bootloader part but USB port is not showing up through USB.

I need to know where i am doing wrong because without port, I can't upload firmware.

Thanks 

Hi Ali, the point is that you are following using SW and a guide made by someone outside TI. You must direct your questions to the ones who made the product, not TI. 

One more thing, before fabrication the board. I got PCB review from TI so i am not sure if it is PCB issue.

Thanks 

TI have provided you a way to upload FW to the CC2540. Since you have successfully uploaded the boot loader through the CCDebugger, you know that that interface works. This is in fact the default way provided by TI to program the device. Of course TI cannot help you with some third party serial interface boot loader system. How would they know how that is designed and supposed to work? 

Again,

I am not asking to follow the 3rd party. This chip can be use as a bridge. I am sure, TI has solution for it in terms of firmware or something to use this CHIP as a USB bridge.

I just provided that bootloader information so they know what i did successfully.

I will check the link that Toby provided because it's seems like what i am looking for. 

Ok. What do you want the CC2540 to be a bridge between? Is it connected to some other MCU on your board? 

Yes,
Here is the reference schematic.
7711.DFR0351sch.pdf

Ok, and what do you expect to happen when you have programmed the boot loader FW in the CC2540?

It is supposed to let me upload firmware and go into boot mode using BOOT button.
or
It is supposed to show up some port or work as a bridge because i believe that firmware is about BLE Stack and Bridge but bootloader let to upload firmware into the right memory position so whenever i  connect USB, it do the job.

So in other words you are relying on some third party solution. If the boot loader FW is not working as intended you have to ask the boot loader provider for support. 

Alternatively, you can build the FW for the CC2550 yourself and program it directly through the CCDebugger. 

Hi Toby

I am confused about some steps if you can help me to understand plz.
1:
The SBL IAR project can be found in C:\Texas Instruments\BLE-CC254x-1.3.2\Projects\ble\util\SBL.
The EBL IAR project can be found in C:\Texas Instruments\BLE-CC254x-1.3.2\Projects\ble\util\EBL
It's seems like there are supposed to be some files in directory that i couldn't find.
I don't have any files mentioned on these steps.
C:\Texas Instruments\BLE-CC254x-1.4.0\Projects\ble\simpleBLEPeripheral\CC2541DB

I have .bin files that i think has been created on those project steps 1 to 6 from board supplier. Now when i open SerialBoot Tool. It also ask for port and i don't have port. This is the major problem.
I have to upload .bin file but i couldn't find port.
Can i use CCDebugger to do that?

If you're using SmartRF Flash Programmer, you don't need to select a port (as you also show in your original screenshot for it).
Also refer to https://www.ti.com/lit/ug/swru197h/swru197h.pdf?ts=1701883984406&ref_url=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%252F

You can also use SmartRF Flash Programmer with CCDebugger to load firmware onto the CC2540.

Ali Khan said:

Now when i open SerialBoot Tool. It also ask for port and i don't have port.

Have you tried trying all the ports in your Windows Device Manager?

There are 4 ports in device manager. When i connect CC debugger then it not show up under PORTS but CC devices.
I tried all ports but nothing work.
Also, if i use flash programmer then it can only upload .hex file. The flash firmware that i need to upload is in .bin file.
I uploaded bootloader that was available in .hex file.
Now i don't know why port is not showing up
Thanks

You are programming the device with a serial boot loader. It expects you to upload the main FW through a USB connection, NOT CCDebugger. CCDebugger will not appear on your system as a COM port. Have you connected another USB cable to your board?

Hi Toby

I did some further research and found this link
https://e2e.ti.com/support/wireless-connectivity/bluetooth-group/bluetooth/f/bluetooth-forum/274443/ble-cc2540-usb-dongle-unable-to-connect-btool-won-t-find-any-port-to-connect

I have same circuit on board as this dongle so i need CC2540_USBdongle_HostTestRelease_All.hex file 

I believe, it will help me to bring port and usb bridge for communication through usb port.

Thanks

Hi Ali,

Thanks for the update.

I'll need to look into this further, and plan to give you an update in 2-3 business days.

Thanks,
Toby

Hi Toby

Is there any updates?
Thanks

Hi,

Ali Khan said:

I have same circuit on board as this dongle so i need CC2540_USBdongle_HostTestRelease_All.hex file 

I believe, it will help me to bring port and usb bridge for communication through usb port.

According to that E2E post, this is located in BLE-CC254x.

This is available to download: https://www.ti.com/tool/BLE-STACK-ARCHIVE#downloads

The latest version seems to be: "BLE-STACK-CC25X — BLE-STACK V1.4.0 (Support for CC2540/CC2541)"

Thanks,
Toby

Hi Toby

Don't you think 1.5V would be the latest?

Also it is about BLE. 
I need BLE+USB bridge both.
Plz, confirm me if it can do both.
Thanks

Ali Khan said:

Don't you think 1.5V would be the latest?

Yes, you are right. I assumed the latest would be at top of list.

Ali Khan said:

Also it is about BLE. 
I need BLE+USB bridge both.

The naming of it implies both USB and BLE support: CC2540_USBdongle_HostTestRelease_All.hex

Hi Toby

I tried all hex files in that folder.
Neither any port show up nor any Bluetooth.
Although, i got pcb review from TI before fabrication.
Can you help me again to review it if there is any issue with the design?
Especially USB port
Thanks

Ali Khan said:

Although, i got pcb review from TI before fabrication.
Can you help me again to review it if there is any issue with the design?

Requests for HW review may be submitted here: www.ti.com/.../SIMPLELINK-2-4GHZ-DESIGN-REVIEWS

Hi Toby

I sent them for review but in the meantime, Is there anything that i should do to make it work on firmware side.
Thanks

Hi Ali,

It seems you're trying to access the SBL (Serial Bootloader) through USB directly on your CC2540 USB dongle.

This is not possible, since the SBL provided in the CC2540 BLE stack is using either UART or SPI (not USB).

The reason this guide is able to load firmware using the SBL, is that the CC2540 is connected to the SmartRF05 EB, which can convert between USB and UART (this is commonly referred to as a "USB-to-serial" converter. Once this is available, then a tool, (such as the PC tool mentioned in that same guide, "Serial Boot Tool (v.1.3.2) PC application"), can be used to access the SBL residing on the CC2540.
In other words, from the CC2540 perspective, its SBL is being accessed through UART (not USB).

The UART/SPI -based SBL has code available in C:\Texas Instruments\BLE-CC254x-1.4.0\Projects\ble\util\SBL\app.
The serial interface code are called "_sbl_spi.c" and "_sbl_uart.c". In your case, if you want a USB -based interface, then you would create a "_sbl_usb.c" file.
The USB drivers are located here: C:\Texas Instruments\BLE-CC254x-1.4.0\Components\hal\target\CC2540USB\usb

In summary, your use-case would need a system which looks like:

[CC2540/SBL target] <-- [USB] --> [SBL host]

The [SBL host] provided by TI is the "Serial Boot Tool (v.1.3.2) PC application", which interfaces over USB with the SmartRF05 (which then interfaces over UART with the CC2540).
But in your case, it seems you are trying to access the SBL directly with USB, whereas the TI-provided SBL implements UART or SPI interfaces.

Note, if you want to test the USB interface directly to see if it is working, you can load the HostTest FW (USB dongle version) and test it with TI's BTool (C:\Texas Instruments\BLE-CC254x-1.4.0\Accessories\BTool).
With that, the PC should recognize the USB dongle as a USB CDC, and send BLE HCI commands.

Thanks,
Toby

Hi Toby

I uploaded this HEX file and nothing changed.
I downloaded the BTOOL but again no port for this board.

Thanks

How are you programming the device?

I connect CC debugger with my PCB board and power up PCB board through USB port.
Then using flash programmer, i write the file.
it's says successful then I disconnect CC debugger and power cycle.
Nothing shows up. This is schematic. I believe the connection pin with another MCU isn't important to show up port on the computer because it is different than USB dongle. The CC debugger pins are same as USB dongle on my board

Hello E2E community member,

Thanks you for asking your question concerning TI's SimpleLink Devices on the E2E Forum! The subject expert who can best address your inquiry is out of office for the holidays. After returning in early January, they will review your post and provide an initial response within 24 hours.

To ensure quick and efficient resolution of your problem, please make sure you have provided all relevant information related to your request. This may include: SimpleLink SDK version and its dependencies, hardware used, examples being referenced, and steps to reproduce the issue. Please also provide any debug information, screenshots, code snippets, or terminal logs which may help further identify the issue.

Regards,
Jan

Can you check this post? It has similar issue of CC2540 not working with BTool.
e2e.ti.com/.../cc2540-usb-dongle-not-work-with-btool-1-3

Hi Toby

That threads ends because user had no cc debugger.
I have everything and i did all those parts. I am able to upload .hex file as you mentioned above but still i am not able to get PORT in device manager.
Without PORT, i can't have access to USB dongle feature of it.
Plz advise.
Thanks

Hi Toby

I also tried to reversing the USB data wires to check if might be data lines are reversed in the PCB but it didn't work as well.

With the CC2540_USBdongle_HostTestRelease_All.hex, CC2540 should show up in Device Manager as "TI CC2540 USB CDC Serial Port".

Do you have the USB drivers installed for it? If that is not properly installed, then there could be issues.

'''
By the way, if your computer cannot install the driver of "TI CC2540 USB CDC" automatically, you can download it from path "C:\Texas Instruments\BLE-CC254x-1.5.1.1\Accessories\Drivers\ccxxxx_usb_cdc.cat" manually.
'''   -- from https://e2e.ti.com/support/wireless-connectivity/bluetooth-group/bluetooth/f/bluetooth-forum/944292/cc2540-how-to-use-btool-with-cc2540-usb-dongle 

I installed SmartRF_Drivers 1.2 but nothing show up.
Also, to install driver manually, the port detection is necessary. The system do not detect port at all.
if it show yellow sign or something then i can install manually driver.
I don't know what else i can try.

Unfortunately, many threads has no solutions.
https://e2e.ti.com/support/wireless-connectivity/bluetooth-group/bluetooth/f/bluetooth-forum/575140/cc2540-using-cc2540-usb-dongle-with-usb-cdc-on-simplebleperipheral

It seems like a common problem and TI didn't resolve it.

Toby said:

Requests for HW review may be submitted here: www.ti.com/.../SIMPLELINK-2-4GHZ-DESIGN-REVIEWS

Ali Khan said:

I sent them for review but in the meantime, Is there anything that i should do to make it work on firmware side.

We have exhausted the known paths on FW side for the issue described. Have you received any feedback from HW review?

Another suggestion, since this is now related to BTool and Host Test FW, I recommend to start a new E2E thread for this and include this thread for context (this can be done with "Ask a related question") so that a BLE expert may comment.

Hi,
Yes i received it. It seems fine.
I also create a new thread.
Thanks for all your help