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CC3200: UART module connection causes error while using Uniflash

Part Number: CC3200
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: UNIFLASH, ,

Hi, I use the CC3200 launchpad Rev4.1 and Uniflash 3.4.0.00003.

I recently bought a UART - USB module which you can check with this link. 

This module uses FTDI's FT232RL chip and supports 921600 baud rate.

The Uniflash Wiki says that "Currently, no automatic detection of COM port is supported and the baud rate supported is 921,600 only.".

So I believe I configured the correct settings.

I've connected both the launchpad and the UART module. Before testing it with the Uniflash, I debugged the "timer_cc" example which prints the frequency via the terminal program.

Report("Frequency : %d Hz\n\n\r",g_ulFreq);
// I used a terminal program like Putty and that terminal showed this message when I connected the launchpad like the above picture
// (except the SOP2 pin)
// In this case, the baud rate was 115200

However, when I tried to use the Uniflash, it returned an error. I pressed the "Format" button. The following message appeared.

The application UART worked fine. However, the Uniflash shows the "No device USB ports were found".

Are there additional settings to be done to use the Uniflash with this FTDI UART module?

  • Hi David,

    Because in your configuration is not automatically restarted CC3200, my question is: Have you reset CC3200 by button SW1 before you try format serial flash by Uniflash?

    Also please check your hardware. There is no reason why your board with FT232RL should not work. I use cable with same FTDI chip and it works well. Few hints:
    - are not exchanged RX/TX lines?
    - wrong contact at your breadboard or wrong wires (too long, damaged, etc.)

    BTW... you don't need set baudrate in device manager.

    Jan
  • Hi, Jan.

    (Ref. CC3200 Launchpad Rev4.1's schematic)

    Hnz said:
    please check your hardware.

    First, I haven't exchanged RX/TX lines. I have successfully received UART messages using the CC3200's examples.

    I used the timer_cc example. You can check the detail on my first thread of this question.

    Hnz said:
    Have you reset CC3200 by button SW1 before you try format serial flash by Uniflash?

    I didn't reset the CC3200. In the above schematic, looks like the FT2232D chip resets CC3200 using the ADBUS5 pin.

    However, my configuration using the breadboard doesn't control the reset pin.

    1. Then if I press the reset button manually, will it work?

    2. Is there a way not to press the reset button to make it work?

    I think connecting pins between my FT232RL module and the CC3200 will do the trick.

    However, I don't know which one to connect. Can you help me with this?

  • Hello David,

    For a start, try to reset manually in order to make sure Uniflash works.

    The way Uniflash works with the automatic reset is that it first tries to detect TI template on the FTDI. If you don't have the template programmed to the FTDI, it would not work anyway.

    Regards,

    Shlomi

  • Hi, Shlomi. I pressed the reset button. Formatting with Uniflash has worked. Also, the bin file programming worked.

    Then... At mass production, what Jig should I make to flash the serial memory via UART?

    Or is there an alternative way to flash my custom binary file at mass production?

    In my custom PCB, I use the W25Q80BLUXIG 1MB memory. The estimated quatity is 10k PCBs.

    One CC3200 and one W25Q80BLUXIG is populated per PCB.

    P.S.) Happy new year to Shlomi, Jan, and the rest of the E2E members. It's the last working day of year 2016!

  • Hi,

    Manufacturing procedure depends on type CC3200 (QFN or MOD version). Production line guide you find here - processors.wiki.ti.com/.../CC31xx_&_CC32xx_Production_Line_Guide

    - in case of QFN version of CC3200 you can use UART programming using Uniflash (or embedded programming) or Gang programming

    - in case of CC3200MOD you can use only UART programming using Uniflash (or embedded programming)

    1. For bigger series with QFN version is my recommendation use Gang programming. In this case is serial flash programmed before assembling to PCB by external programming hardware.

    2. In case of bigger series with CC200MOD is best way CLI version of Uniflash. At your PCB you will heave pin headers or test pints for connecting external hardware with FT2232 chip. And you will have this header (test points for pogo pins) at your PCB - SOP02, RESET, TX, RX, GND, (Ucc?).

    Finally link to embedded programming of CC3200 - www.ti.com/.../embedded-programming

    Jan

  • HI, Jan. I should have specified in detail; I use the QFN CC3200 chip.

    The Uniflash program is an independant program from CCS. Similar to this,

    do I use an independant program when trying the Gang programming?
  • Hi David,

    For Gang programming you use same program as you upload by Uniflash.

    By the Uniflash you create gang image and this image you upload into serial flash before assembling to PCB. After first boot CC3200 detect Gang image in serial flash and extract this image and create standard filesystem in serial flash. Extracting Gang image and creating file system take few seconds after first boot of CC3200. Before shipment to customer you can update firmware using OTA update or your own updating code.

    Jan