SLAU330B May   2011  – April 2017

 

  1.   Read This First
    1.     If You Need Assistance
    2.     Related Documentation from Texas Instruments
    3.     Trademarks
  2.   MSP-EXP430F5529 Experimenter's Board
    1. 1 Getting Started
      1. 1.1 MSP-EXP430F5529 Experimenter's Board Introduction
      2. 1.2 Kit Contents
    2. 2 User Experience Software
      1. 2.1 Introduction
      2. 2.2 Main Menu
      3. 2.3 Clock
      4. 2.4 Games
      5. 2.5 Power Tests
      6. 2.6 Demo Apps
      7. 2.7 SD Card Access
      8. 2.8 Settings Menu
    3. 3 Software Installation and Debugging
      1. 3.1 Software
      2. 3.2 Download the Required Software
      3. 3.3 Working With the Example Software
        1. 3.3.1 Basic Code Structure
    4. 4 MSP-EXP430F5529 Hardware
      1. 4.1 Hardware Overview
      2. 4.2 Jumper Settings and Power
      3. 4.3 eZ-FET Emulator
      4. 4.4 MSP-EXP430F5529 Hardware Components
        1. 4.4.1 Dot-Matrix LCD
        2. 4.4.2 Push Buttons, Potentiometer, and LEDs
        3. 4.4.3 Wireless Evaluation Module Interface
        4. 4.4.4 eZ430-RF2500T Interface
        5. 4.4.5 3-Axis Accelerometer
        6. 4.4.6 Pin Access Headers
    5. 5 Frequently Asked Questions, References, and Schematics
      1. 5.1 Frequently Asked Questions
      2. 5.2 References
      3. 5.3 Schematics and BOM
  3.   Revision History

5.1 Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Which devices can be programmed with the Experimenter's Board?

    2. The MSP-EXP430F5529 board is designed specifically to demonstrate the MSP430F5529.

  2. The MSP430F5529 is no longer accessible through JTAG. Is something wrong with the device?

    3. Verify that the jumpers are configured correctly. See Section 4 for jumper configuration.

    Verify that the target device is powered properly.

    If the target is powered locally, verify that the supplied VCC is sufficient to power the board. Check the device data sheet for the specification.

  3. I did every step in the previous question but still could not use or communicate with the device.

    4. Improper programming of the device could lead to a JTAG total lockup condition. The cause of this problem might be an incorrect device selection when creating a new project in CCS (select MSP430F5529) or programming the device without a stable power source (low battery, switching the Power Selector while programming, or absence of the MSP430 power jumper JP6 during programming).

    To solve this, completely reset the device. First unplug all power sources and connections (JTAG and USB cables). Set the Power Selector Switch to FET mode. Use a jumper cable to briefly short one of the GND test points with the 430 PWR test point. The device should now be released from the lockup state.

  4. Does the Experimenter board protect against blowing the JTAG fuse of the target device?

    5. No. Fuse blow capability is inherent to all flash-based MSP430 devices to protect user's intellectual property. Care must be taken to avoid the enabling of the fuse blow option during programming, because blowing the fuse would prevent further access to the MSP430 device through JTAG.

  5. I am measuring system current in the range of 30 mA, is this normal?

    6. The LCD and the LCD backlight require a large amount of current (approximately 20 mA to 25 mA) to operate. This results in a total system current consumption in the range of 30 mA. If the LCD backlight is on, 30 mA is considered normal.

    To ensure the board is OK, disable the LCD and the LCD backlight and measure the current again. The entire board current consumption should not exceed 10 mA at this state. Note that the current consumption of the board could vary greatly depending on the optimization of the board configurations and the applications.

    The expected current consumption for the MSP430F5529 in standby mode (LPM3), for example, is approximately 2 μA. Operating at 1 MHz, the total current consumption should not exceed approximately 280 μA.

  6. I have trouble reading the LCD clearly. Why is the LCD contrast setting so low?

    7. The LCD contrast is highly dependent on the voltage of the system. Changing power source from USB (3.3 V) to batteries (approximately 3 V) could drastically reduce the contrast. Fortunately, the LCD driver supports adjustable contrast. The specific instruction can be found in the LCD user's guide. The MSP-EXP430F5529 software also provides the function to adjust the contrast using the wheel (see Section 2.8).

  7. When I run the example code, nothing happens on the LCD.

    8. Verify that all jumpers are installed correctly and the 14-pin JTAG cable are properly connected.