From Texas Instruments Embedded Processors Wiki

Version 1.2 July 2010

Introduction

The MSP430 5xx One Day Workshop is a quick introduction to the MSP430 5xx generation including:

• Introduction to the 5xx generation offerings
• Hands-on experience with the MSP-EXP430F5438 Experimenter Board
• Using the MSP430 CCS tool chain
• Operating the 5xx core in active and low-power modes
• A mixed-signal application optimized for ultra-low power

Lab exercises are included in each section.

Attend a Live Workshop

You can find the workshop schedule and enrollment information for a live MSP430 workshop here: [1]

View This Workshop On-line

A video of the presentation and labs for this workshop is available here[2]

Running The Labs

In order to run the labs, you will need:

• A Windows XP/Vista/7 PC with two free USB ports
• Adobe Reader [3]
• Code Composer Studio 4.1
• MSP-EXP430F5438(A) Experimenter Board (MSP-EXP430F5438)
• MSP430 USB Debugging Interface [4]
• USB to mini-usb cable
• Multimeter with j-cables to measure current consumption.
• 1 x MSP430F5438A silicon (non-A revisions are unacceptable)

Workshop Contents

1. Introduction to the MSP430F5xx
2. 5xx Active & Low Power Mode Operation
3. A Mixed-Signal Application Example
4. Using Hardware Timers to Conserve Power
5. A Fully-optimized ADC12 Routine
6. MSP430 Tools, Resources and Conclusion

The complete workbook is available here: [5]

Workshop Videos

You can view the entire workshop here

1. Introduction[6] - Lab 1[7]
2. 5xx Active and Low Power Mode Operation[8]
3. A Mixed-Signal Application Example[9]
4. Using Hardware Timers to Conserve Power[10]
5. A Fully-optimized ADC12 Routine[11]
6. MSP430 Tools, Resources and Conclusion[12]

Technical Details

Here are some technical details that fall somewhat outside the boundaries of a typical one day workshop that might be nice to know during development:

Portable Code Composer Projects

    http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/Portable_Projects

FAQ Issues With The Tool Chain

We have seen the following behaviors ...

• If the FET programmer tool is not being recognized when you press the debug button, make sure you have terminated the current debugging session then

1. Disconnect the FET
2. Reconnect the FET

Chances are that the FET will become recognized.

• DO NOT UNPLUG the USB <> mini-USB cable in Labs 3 - 5 if the CCS terminal window is open. This will cause a CCS crash.
• If CCS experiences a crash and then does not allow you to re-open that workspace

1. Open the Windows Task Manager
2. End the process javaw.exe
3. Click 'Cancel' on the workspace selection window
4. Re-open CCS

If you are still unable to open a terminal window, then either

1. Open a workspace in a new folder and re-import the projects ...OR...
2. Re-start your PC.

• If opening the CCS terminal window freezes CCS, open another workspace and re-import the project. Note we have only seen this on Lenovo laptops.

1. Download and Run the program
2. HALT or TERMINATE the project
3. Open and make a connection the terminal window
4. RUN the code and see the streaming temp & vcc data.

• If you open the terminal window and you don't see the COM port as an available option

1. Disconnect the COM port in the terminal window
2. Close the terminal window
3. Disconnect the USB <> mini-USB cable
4. Connect the USB <> mini-USB cable
5. Check that the MSP-EXP430F5438 Experimenter Board has enumarated as a COM port and verify the COMxx value
6. Open the CCS terminal window

... we also wish that there was a Refresh button on the terminal window eclipse plug-in.

In general, if things are consistently failing, close all the active programs, unplug everything, then plug everything back in and restart the software.

Lost USB JTAG connection when using terminal

When using the terminal application some customers have reported that the JTAG connection is lost. Most likely this is caused by incorrectly setting the COM port to the one used by the FET. Recreate the terminal connection with the correct COM port and the problem should be corrected.

Instructor Materials version 1.2 July 2010

Updated materials are available below:

• Presentation PowerPoint slides here: [13]
• Workbook pdf, ready for printing here: [14]
• The workshop installation flash drive contents are in a zipped file here: [15]

 Unzip the file onto the flash drive. It will be a folder named MSP430 containing the documents, labs and USB driver.
 You will also need to place a copy of the CCS 4.1 installation files on the drive, available here: CCS Download

• Alternately, you can have student perform the installations before the class. See this document to them a week or so beforehand. processors.wiki.ti.com/images/7/7b/MSP430_Workshop_Installation_Steps.pdf

Hardware to be Provided by the Instructor

As an instructor, you are expected to provide USB cables, F5438A chips, and multimeters with J cables. Customers will take home the USB cable and F5438A chip. Here are some recommended places to order these items:

• USB to mini-usb cable ($0.64 in qty 50+ [16]
• Multimeter with j-cables to measure current consumption
• 1 x MSP430F5438A silicon

For technical support on MSP430 please post your questions on The MSP430 Forum. Please post only comments about the article MSP430 5xx One Day Workshop here.

	Links
	ARM Microcontroller MCU ARM Processor Digital Media Processor Digital Signal Processing Microcontroller MCU Multi Core Processor Ultra Low Power DSP 8 bit Microcontroller MCU 16 bit Microcontroller MCU 32 bit Microcontroller MCU

Comments

Comments on MSP430 5xx One Day Workshop

Kevin Vap said ...

  while(voltage > 10)

  while(voltage >= 10)