SWRA647A January   2019  – September 2020 CC3130 , CC3135

 

  1.   Trademarks
  2. 1Production Line Overview
  3. 2Programming the CC313x in the Production Line
  4. 3Creating the Gang Image
  5. 4Programming Directly Through SPI
  6. 5Programming Over UART
    1. 5.1 Using the Uniflash CLI
    2. 5.2 Using Embedded Programming
    3. 5.3 Configuration of the UART
    4. 5.4 UART Hardware Connection Using the FTDI Emulation Board
  7. 6Over-the-Air Programming
  8. 7Production Line RF Testing
    1. 7.1 Testing Software Options
      1. 7.1.1 MCU-Controlled RF Testing
      2. 7.1.2 Testing With an Access Point
  9. 8Revision History

2 Programming the CC313x in the Production Line

Production with the CC313x device requires a file system to be created on the serial flash for proper operation. At the minimum, this includes the service pack that contains the necessary software updates and additional features. Configuration files may also be written, which provide an initial configuration for the device upon startup. Security certificates and other content such as web pages, images, scripts, and so forth, can also be included. Although most of this content is usually written during production, all content including the host program and the service pack can be continuously updated over the lifetime of the product.

All CC313x devices must initially be programmed with a gang image. The gang image usually contains all of the data content necessary for a functional product. The serial flash vendor may be able to pre-program the serial flash parts with the gang image before they are sent to the manufacturer. There are two methods of loading the gang image onto the CC313x serial flash:

  • UART programming – A PC-based utility or embedded device can be used for indirectly programming the serial flash through UART.
  • Direct SPI programming – Write directly to the serial flash through SPI, using an external off-the-shelf programming tool.

Programming through UART has the benefit of using the same hardware interface and tools used for development and debugging in the production line. Programming the serial flash directly through SPI has the benefit of having a faster time in performing the write operations, since programming through the UART interface has a limitation of communicating at a speed of 921600 bps. A dedicated external programmer is required for programming over SPI. A single SPI programming tool may be capable of programming multiple serial flash devices simultaneously, whereas a separate programming device is required for programming each device through UART. Upon boot, the CC313x device detects the presence of a gang image, and converts it to the target file system of the device. This formatting process is performed exclusively by the SimpleLink™ device, and does not require any inputs from external interfaces. It does, however, extend the duration of the first power-up. The formatted file system is created alongside the gang image. Thus, the serial flash needs to contain both the gang image and the file system. The gang image is retained to allow for factory default restore functionality. See SimpleLink™ Wi-Fi® CC3x3x Serial Flash for more details about serial flash usage in CC313x devices.

Generally, a single gang image is used per product release. There are some device-specific parameters that can be reconfigured through Uniflash CLI during the programming phase. Additional files can be added to the serial flash using the MCU program afterwards. If the MCU program can perform over-the-air programming, the serial flash contents can be updated by downloading content from the internet or from a local connection. Loading more content through serial interface is also possible if the MCU program allows for it.

Configure the gang image correctly for production, because some things cannot be updated through over the air updating:

  • The gang image should be configured for production mode.
  • The Trusted Root-Certificate Catalog used should be the production version.
  • Do not use the dummy certificates and keys provided in the certificate-playground of the SDK for production.
  • The formatted serial flash size cannot be changed.