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CC3100 - Bed-of-nail programmer for mass programming

Enrico Migliore
Intellectual 690 points
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: CC3100, UNIFLASH, CC31XXEMUBOOST

Hi,

we need to build a CC3100 custom programmer.

The custom programmer circuit will be soldered on a bed-of-nail board.

The bed-of-nail board will be permanently connected to a PC and will program our CC3100 boards.

We'll be using Uniflash.

Question 1

Is the CC31XXEMUBOOST mandatory for plain programming?

Question 2

Are there any schematics for a plain UART programmer?

Best Regards,

Enrico Migliore

P.S.

CC31XXEMUBOOST is too big for our bed-of-nail box

  • 0
    TI__Guru 64555 points

    Hi,

    Basically, you need to connect to the UART interface of the CC3xxx device.

    The EMUBOOST contains additonal circuitry but what you really need is a level shifter to adjust the voltage levels and phase. The eval board is using an FTDI chipset for this purpose but it can be any other level shifter as well. For FTDI, the VCP is used meaning a simple COM port is used. You can refer to the Embedded Programming package for some more details.

    http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/CC31xx_%26_CC32xx_Embedded_Programming_Tool

    Regards,

    Shlomi

  • 0 in reply to Shlomi Itzhak
    Intellectual 690 points

    Hi,

    thank you for your reply.

    PC flasher utilities use the RTS pin of the RS232 connector to reset the microcontroller that has to be flashed.

    Question 1

    Can Uniflash program the CC3100 chip by the RS232 connector of the PC?

    Question 2

    Does the Uniflash software use the RTS pin to reset the CC3100?

    I'm trying to understand whether I have to put the FTDI chip on the bed-of-nail board or not.

    Best Regards,

    Enrico Migliore

  • 0 in reply to Enrico Migliore
    TI__Guru 64555 points

    Hi,

    Q1: you cannot directly connect the PC RS232 to the device because the hardware interfaces are not compatible.

    For the device, TTL serial (transistor-transistor logic) is used. Serial communication at a TTL level will always remain between the limits of 0V and Vcc, which is often 5V or 3.3V. A logic high ('1') is represented by Vcc, while a logic low ('0') is 0V.

    The serial port on your computer complies with the RS232 standard. By the RS-232 standard a logic high ('1') is represented by a negative voltage – anywhere from -3 to -25V – while a logic low ('0') transmits a positive voltage that can be anywhere from +3 to +25V. On most PCs these signals swing from -13 to +13V.

    Q2: reset is not tight to RTS line. nHib is a separate pin used for device reset.

    Botton line, you need a converter (level shifter) for your board.

    Regards,

    Shlomi

  • 0 in reply to Shlomi Itzhak
    Intellectual 690 points
    Hi,

    > you cannot directly connect the PC RS232 to the device because the hardware interfaces are not compatible.
    Yes, sure.
    I forgot to mention that I'll be using an RS232-to-CMOS level shifter.


    > Q2: reset is not tight to RTS line. nHib is a separate pin used for device reset.

    Which pin of the RS232 connector does Uniflash use to reset the CC3100 chip?


    Best Regards,
    Enrico Migliore
  • 0 in reply to Enrico Migliore
    TI__Guru 64555 points

    Hi,

    No pin of RS232 is used for device reset.

    Instead, Uniflash uses a pin on another one of the 4 interfaces exposed by FTDI.

    The FTDI on EMUBOOST exposes 4 ports. One of them is used as VCP for COM port. Another port (D2xx, not VCP) exposes nHib for reset. This is used by Uniflash for device You can do something similar.

    Shlomi