SLAU319AF July   2010  – September 2022

 

  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

Loadable BSL

For upgrading the BSL functionality, sometimes it is suitable to load a higher version of BSL into the RAM of a device and apply the latest innovations. To do so, use the following BSL commands:

  • RX password (unlock password protection for following commands)
  • RX data block (code of loadable BSL, code section address ≥ 220h)
  • TX data block (for verification)
  • RX data block (get start address from first code section address)
  • Load program counter PC (with start address of loadable BSL)
  • Wait at least 5 ms until the new loaded BSL has executed the initialized routine
  • RX password (unlock password protection for loaded BSL)
  • Perform any command (with loaded BSL)

The following loadable BSLs are available:

  • BL_150S_14x.txt is a complete BSL for the F14x and F13x family with BSL version 1.10. All features of BSL version V1.60 are supported. Because its code size is larger than 1KB, it can be used only in F1x8 and F1x9 devices. The error address buffer address for RX Block, Erase Segment, and Erase Check commands is 021Eh. BL_150S_14x.txt could also be used as a replacement for PATCH.txt.
  • BS_150S_14x.txt is a small BSL with reduced command set for the F14x and F13x family with BSL version 1.10. Because its code size is smaller than 512B, it can be used in F1x4 up to F1x9 devices. The following commands of BSL version V1.60 are supported: Change Baud Rate, RX Block (with online verification), Erase Check, and Load PC. If a TX Block command (redirected to ROM BSL) is needed (for example, for transmitting error address or standalone Verify), the RAM BSL must be invoked again by the Load PC command. The error address buffer address for RX Block and Erase Check commands is 021Eh. BS_150S_14x.txt could also be used as a partial replacement for PATCH.txt. No password is required, as the RX password command is removed.

For more information on downloading a different bootloader, see Application of Bootloader in MSP430 With Flash Hardware and Software Proposal.

Third-party software normally uses loadable BSLs to perform most functions, like online verification, and to improve speed for appropriate devices.