Serial Reprogramming without Boot-Mode-Select Hardware on Texas Instruments TMS320F283xD Digital Signal Processor

Author(s):

Franklin Shedleski

Abstract:

Modern devices employ microcontrollers to perform many computational tasks. Due to the complexity of these tasks, it is necessary to enable in-place software upgrades. Many form-factor designs do not allow for the standard JTAG programming interface; thus, the implementation of an alternative firmware upgrade path is required. Out of the box, the TMS320F2837xD supports reprogramming over serial by requiring an end user to flip dip switches on the development card. Many applications cannot expose these dip switches to the end user; therefore, an alternative method of putting the device in serial programming mode is required. In this technical note, I present a full software solution leveraging the device’s boot rom so that an untrained end user can upgrade device firmware with a simple button click in a user interface.