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  • MSP430™ Flash Devices Bootloader (BSL)

    • SLAU319AF July   2010  – September 2022

       

  • CONTENTS
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  • MSP430™ Flash Devices Bootloader (BSL)
  1.   Abstract - MSP430™ Flash Devices Bootloader (BSL)
  2.   Trademarks
  3. 1Introduction
    1. 1.1 Supplementary Online Information
    2. 1.2 Overview of BSL Features
    3. 1.3 BSL Invocation
      1. 1.3.1 Hardware BSL Invocation
        1. 1.3.1.1 MSP430 Devices With Shared JTAG Pins
          1. 1.3.1.1.1 Factors That Prevent BSL Invocation With Shared JTAG Pins
        2. 1.3.1.2 MSP430 Flash Devices With Dedicated JTAG Pins
          1. 1.3.1.2.1 Factors That Prevent BSL Invocation With Dedicated JTAG Pins
        3. 1.3.1.3 Devices With USB
      2. 1.3.2 Software BSL Invocation
    4. 1.4 UART Protocol
    5. 1.5 USB Protocol
  4. 2Bootloader Protocol – 1xx, 2xx, and 4xx Families
    1. 2.1 Synchronization Sequence
    2. 2.2 Commands
      1. 2.2.1 Unprotected Commands
      2. 2.2.2 Password Protected Commands
    3. 2.3 Programming Flow
    4. 2.4 Data Frame
      1. 2.4.1 Data-Stream Structure
      2. 2.4.2 Checksum
      3. 2.4.3 Example Sequence
      4. 2.4.4 Commands – Detailed Description
        1. 2.4.4.1  General
        2. 2.4.4.2  RX Data Block
        3. 2.4.4.3  RX Password
        4. 2.4.4.4  Mass Erase
        5. 2.4.4.5  Erase Segment
        6. 2.4.4.6  Erase Main or Info
        7. 2.4.4.7  Erase Check
        8. 2.4.4.8  Change Baud Rate
        9. 2.4.4.9  Set Memory Offset
        10. 2.4.4.10 Load PC
        11. 2.4.4.11 TX Data Block
        12. 2.4.4.12 TX BSL Version
    5. 2.5 Loadable BSL
    6. 2.6 Exiting the BSL
    7. 2.7 Password Protection
    8. 2.8 Code Protection Fuse
    9. 2.9 BSL Internal Settings and Resources
      1. 2.9.1 Chip Identification and BSL Version
      2. 2.9.2 Vectors to Call the BSL Externally
      3. 2.9.3 Initialization Status
      4. 2.9.4 Memory Allocation and Resources
  5. 3Bootloader Protocol – F5xx and F6xx Families
    1. 3.1 BSL Data Packet
    2. 3.2 UART Peripheral Interface (PI)
      1. 3.2.1 Wrapper
      2. 3.2.2 Abbreviations
      3. 3.2.3 Messages
      4. 3.2.4 Interface Specific Commands
        1. 3.2.4.1 Change Baud Rate
    3. 3.3 I2C Peripheral Interface
      1. 3.3.1 I2C Protocol Definition
      2. 3.3.2 Basic Protocol With Byte Level Acknowledge
      3. 3.3.3 I2C Protocol for BSL - Read From Slave
      4. 3.3.4 Acknowledge (ACK)
      5. 3.3.5 Wrapper
    4. 3.4 USB Peripheral Interface
      1. 3.4.1 Wrapper
      2. 3.4.2 Hardware Requirements
    5. 3.5 BSL Core Command Structure
      1. 3.5.1 Abbreviations
      2. 3.5.2 Command Descriptions
    6. 3.6 BSL Security
      1. 3.6.1 Protected Commands
      2. 3.6.2 RAM Erase
    7. 3.7 BSL Core Responses
      1. 3.7.1 Abbreviations
      2. 3.7.2 BSL Core Messages
      3. 3.7.3 BSL Version Number
      4. 3.7.4 Example Sequences for UART BSL
    8. 3.8 BSL Public Functions and Z-Area
      1. 3.8.1 Starting the BSL From an External Application
      2. 3.8.2 Return to BSL Function Description
  6. 4Bootloader Hardware
    1. 4.1 Hardware Description
      1. 4.1.1 Power Supply
      2. 4.1.2 Serial Interface
        1. 4.1.2.1 Level Shifting
        2. 4.1.2.2 Control of RST/NMI and TEST or TCK Pins
      3. 4.1.3 Target Connector
      4. 4.1.4 Parts List
  7. 5Differences Between Devices and Bootloader Versions
    1. 5.1 1xx, 2xx, and 4xx BSL Versions
    2. 5.2 Special Consideration for ROM BSL Version 1.10
    3. 5.3 1xx, 2xx, and 4xx BSL Known Issues
    4. 5.4 Special Note on the MSP430F14x Device Family BSL
    5. 5.5 F5xx and F6xx Flash-Based BSL Versions
  8. 6Bootloader PCB Layout Suggestion
  9. 7Revision History
  10. IMPORTANT NOTICE
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USER'S GUIDE

MSP430™ Flash Devices Bootloader (BSL)

1 Abstract - MSP430™ Flash Devices Bootloader (BSL)

The MSP430™ bootloader (BSL) (formerly known as the bootstrap loader) allows users to communicate with embedded memory in the MSP430 microcontroller (MCU) during the prototyping phase, final production, and in service. Both the programmable memory (flash memory) and the data memory (RAM) can be modified as required. Do not confuse the bootloader with the bootstrap loader programs found in some digital signal processors (DSPs) that automatically load program code (and data) from external memory to the internal memory of the DSP.

To use the bootloader, a specific BSL entry sequence must be applied. An added sequence of commands initiates the desired function. A bootloading session can be exited by continuing operation at a defined user program address or by the reset condition.

If the device is secured by disabling JTAG, it is still possible to use the BSL. Access to the MSP430 MCU memory through the BSL is protected against misuse by the BSL password. The BSL password is equal to the content of the interrupt vector table on the device.

Trademarks

MSP430™ and TI E2E™ are trademarks of Texas Instruments.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

1 Introduction

The bootloader provides a method to program the flash memory during MSP430 project development and updates. It can be activated by a utility that sends commands using the UART protocol. The BSL enables the user to control the activity of the MSP430 MCU and to exchange data using a personal computer or other device.

To avoid accidental overwriting of the BSL code, this code is stored in a secure memory location, either ROM or specially protected flash. To prevent unwanted source readout, any BSL command that directly or indirectly allows data reading is password protected.

To invoke the bootloader, a BSL entry sequence must be applied to dedicated pins. After that, a synchronization character, followed by the data frame of a specific command, initiates the desired function.

1.1 Supplementary Online Information

As a compliment to this document, visit Bootloader (BSL) for MSP low-power microcontrollers. This page contains links to additional BSL user's guides, source code, firmware images, and the BSL scripter with documentation and code examples.

Additional support is provided by the TI E2E™ support forums.

1.2 Overview of BSL Features

Table 1-1 summarizes the BSL features of the MSP430 MCUs, organized by device family.

Table 1-1 BSL Overview
MSP430
F20xx, G2xx0, G2xx1, G2xx2, I20xx F1xx, F2xx, F4xx, G2xx3 F5xx, F6xx(1) FR5xx, FR6xx FR231x, FR242x,FR243x FR25xx, FR263x FR215x, FR235x, FR247x, FR267x FR20xx, FR21xx, FR41xx
Non-USB USB Factory Crypto-Boot-loader(4)
General BSL memory type No BSL ROM Flash(2) Flash(2) ROM FRAM ROM ROM ROM
BSL memory size N/A 1 KB 2 KB 2 KB 2 KB 4 KB 3 KB 3 KB 1 KB
Peripheral configured by TLV ✔ ✔ ✔
User configuration ✔
UART ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
I2C ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
SPI
USB ✔
Protocol '1xx, 2xx, 4xx' protocol ✔
'5xx, 6xx' protocol ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Invoke mechanism Entry sequence on I/Os Sequence on TEST/RST ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
PUR pin tied to VUSB ✔
Sequence on defined I/O ✔
Empty reset vector invokes BSL ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Calling BSL from software application ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Invalid or incomplete application ✔
Tools Support Hardware MSP-BSL 'Rocket' ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
MSP-FET ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
USB cable ✔
USB-to-Serial Converter(3) ✔
Software(4) BSL Scripter ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
BSLDEMO ✔
MSPBSL library ✔ UART only ✔ UART only ✔
Security Password protection 32 byte 32 byte(5) 32 byte 32 byte 32 byte 32 byte 32 byte
Mass erase on incorrect password(6) ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Completely disable the BSL using signature or erasing the BSL ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
BSL payload encryption ✔
Update of IP protected regions through boot code
Authenticated encryption ✔
Additional security ✔(7)
(1) Refer to the device-specific data sheet for the available TI BSL protocol on these devices. TI provides a specific BSL protocol for each flash device.
(2) BSL in flash memory allows to replace the BSL with a custom version.
(3) The USB-to-Serial Converter is compatible with BSLDEMO. The invocation signal is generated on the DTR pin for the RESET pin, and on the RTS pin for the TEST pin.
(4) All BSL software collateral (application, examples, source code, and firmware images) is available in the BSL tool folder.
The MSP430 USB developers package includes additional USB BSL sample applications.
(5) F543x (non A) has a 16-byte password.
(6) Some devices can disable mass erase on incorrect password. See the device family user's guide.
(7) Firmware validation through CRC.

 
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