Group Actions
Engagement
  • Author Author: DaveYoung
  • Date Created: Date Created
  • Views 8133 views
  • Likes 3 likes
  • Comments 15 comments
Related
Recommended

How to Easily Burn a Binary File to an MSP430 Chip Using the LaunchPad

DaveYoung

Often times someone other than the firmware designer on a development team needs to program a TI MSP430 chip.  An analog, apps, or test engineer, client; even an end user does not want to mess around with installing an entire IDE for a released firmware update.  There are too many settings and parameters to worry about, in addition to a heavyweight program which may require a paid license to be installed.

 

Thankfully, a Binary file can be created by Code Composer Studio.  A Binary file has everything a microcontroller needs to know in order to execute the program, and can be sent directly to the chip to be run.   Usign this file, a small computer program called Lite FET-Pro430 by Elprotronic can use the MSP430 Launchpad hardware to program a chip without the user having to face a single line of code. It's easy, free, and best of all, leaves little room for error.

 

The video below shows how to create the Binary file and burn it to a chip.  I'm basing this video on TI's excellent tutorial located here.

 

 

Steps:

  1. Setup CCS to output a binary file.
  2. Download and install Elprotronic's FET-Pro430 Lite software
  3. Open FET-Pro430 Lite
  4. Load the binary file created by CSS
  5. Define the MSP430 Group and the type of chip
  6. Press 'AUTO PROG.'
  7. Press 'RESET'

 

And you're done!

  • in reply to dr.akshay_1980@yahoo.com

    Hi Akshay-

    That is quite a leap from programming a well-documented and understood piece of firmware on a well understood microcontroller.  I've never programmed an ARM926ej, so I don't think I can help you.  However you may be able to scour the web to determine the programmer you need, the pins that need to be connected on the chip for programming, and the IDE that is required.

    Best of luck,

    Dave

  • Hi,Dave

                I really like this methodology of burning the chips of TI,but i do have one question in my mind if you can solve and find a better resource /solution to that .

    I want to know how to write firmware for chinese multimedia players(mp4/mp5 players) and make their binary files and how they are burn into the ROM from the manufacturer.

    How these files are able to boot these players including soc chips from chinese manufacturers like sunplus...ARM926ej  is generally used in these portable players...

    I want to customize these binary image files and want to play with these....kindly provide me players firmware knowledge and which is the development platform for these files?is it some kind of OS..?

    thanks in advance

    Akshay

  • in reply to DAB

    Thank DAB, Gervasi.  I too like the simplicity.  It's even better since TI makes many DIP packages for the MSP430 line.  This method isn't just limited to the chips that come with the launchpad!

  • Getting CCS working isn't trivial if you're not used to it.  Lauchpads are almost free.  This is a nice alternative. 

  • Hi Dave,

     

    Good post.  This approach would be perfect if you need to program a lot of chips with the same program.

     

    I am assuming that you can just pop out the MSP430 chip and put another in its place to do the programming.

     

    Of course if you were going to do a lot of these chips, you could just put a ZIF socket on the Launchpad.

     

    Thanks

    DAB