MSP430 SERIAL BOOTLOADER HOW TO DO IT

I did this in Keil toolset by using simple linker commands to locate the App. I am trying to use a bootloader in C which can get data from a serial port and update the Flash with application code. Have used Keil compiler before. I am new to CCS and TI MSP430. CCS linker and boot loader.

Processors with flash memory have a 1K serial bootloader ROM at addresses 0x0C00 to 0x0FFF. If there is 2K of RAM, it extends from address 0x0200 to 0x9FF. I tested using a terminal program and I see the correct response. The MSP432 has been completely erased, so the ROM bootloader should start on reset. The standard method of programming would be spy-bi-wire, which does not use the serial.Other Parts Discussed in Thread: UNIFLASH, MSP-EXP432E401Y, I am trying to use UniFlash to program the MSP432 using a standard USB-Serial converter. However unclear, obfuscating, archaic documentation, spread very thinly over the web has made this little micro the poor relation of the microcontroller world.Yes, for any msp430 that had a bootloader with serial upload capability.

A Serial Boot Loader - resident on almost all MSP430 devices - known as BSL3. But this doesn't need to be the case, there is sufficient flash space in the boot block of most micros to put a more sophisticated bootloader program - one which is actually capable of running some interpreted commands and presenting a more human friendly face to the user.The MSP may be programmed by one or more of the following interfaces:1. In my search for an alternative MSP430 programmer, I found this interesting approach from Flying Camp DesignВ - a programmer that is literally not much more complicated than an FTDI cable - just an FT232R on a small pcb.Bootloaders are usually designed to be small, and not particularly human-friendly, because they are normally talking to some proprietary application running on the pc.

Msp430 Serial Bootloader How To Do It

The hardware needed in the form of a USB - Serial converter should be part of every hobbyist's or Engineer's toolkit.The protocol is simple, as is the 2 signal start-up sequence - and at a pinch, if you didn't have a serial converter that supports DTR (eg FTDI cable) you could hack an Arduino or Launchpad to generate the start-up sequence. I bought two of these from Mouser - I am still trying to find the correct software to make them work.The BSL feature that comes with almost all MSP430 devices is great at doing what it was intended for - a very simple means of getting your hex file into the MSP430's flash.The resources needed to make this work are trivial, and it could make a great addition to any application that needs the ability to modify the flash memory.Unfortunately, the documentation has been obfuscated and made more compex than needs-be by JTAG and SpyByWire (for debugging) - and so few people are aware what a simple facility BSL is to use. In desperation I found a FET-Pro 430 reduced to $50 on ebay.You don't need an $11 Olimex MSP-BSP 'Rocket' Programmer. These modular devices are available from ebay for a couple of dollars - and a variety to choose from.The one above comes with a set of double ended leads - so you can easily make up your own custom cable.Programming the MSP430 really is that cheap and easy - using free software and a USB to serial module costing under $2 - finding out how to do it - from the information spread over the web it - was so very much harder.You don't need a $300 JTAG Programmer. It breaks out all of the common RS232 signals - including RTS and DTR which we need. I have subsequently used the CH340G on some of my other projects.For my experimentation, however, I used a SiLabs CP2102 device mounted on a small pcb - solely because I had it lying about.

A Universal Microcontroller & FPGA Breakout Board. Experimenting with New Devices - Part 1 Experimenting With New Devices - Part 2 That's almost all you need for a bootloading interface!ChipStick - an 11mm x 40mm MSP430FR2433 Dev Board Below, on the left is the CH340G, its accompanying 12MHz crystal and a couple of 22pF capacitors. However, it is still nice to know how the simple low-level bootloader scheme works.The Great MSP430 Bootloader Swindle - Part 2This looks at the hardware and PC applications needed to make the simple BSL work.I have also implemented the CH340G bootloader circuit on my latest MSP430 board.