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nathancrum

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  1. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from DeepBlueSky in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    @@DeepBlueSky - I've had success getting an MSP430F5529 to write to an SD card, but it's running on two AA's.  SD cards can take anywhere from 30 to 100mA to drive so yea - not very practical on a limited power budget.  I doubt you could even get it to operate with the internal resistance of a coin cell.
     
    I'm actually using external FRAM for that reason on a project at work.  Cypress makes a range of chips from 256kb? up to 2Mbit.  It's expensive compared to SD cards or even flash, but far superior to both for power efficiency and it's also a LOT faster than flash so you can write your data and go back to sleep fast.
     
    The internal 64kB of FRAM on the FR5969 can hold a fair bit of data if you're clever about packing it in efficiently, but it's possible we'll offer external flash or FRAM add-on's in the future too.  For now most of the ideas revolve around buffering a certain amount of data internally and then either passing that on over WiFi or BTLE at regular intervals.
     
    Regarding the LCD - it is a Sharp LS013B7DH03 128x128 graphic "Memory LCD".  It is part of the same family as the 96x96 display TI sells as a booster pack, but that panel is being discontinued.  The 128x128 display is also MUCH better contrast and as the pixel count would imply - provides more detail.  It already has a working library we've uploaded to our Storm Ninja branch of Energia - it uses most of the guts of the previous 96x96 library, but I've rewritten it to be more power efficient and added some more capabilities like supporting images from TI's image reformer utility (part of their grlib library).
     
    We chose these specific LCD's over others because they're such insanely low power.  Try any regular LCD and you'll see it draw anywhere from several hundred uA to a few mA.  We tried using e-ink at first, but compared to the Memory LCD's it's actually a moot point.  I literally cannot measure the current draw of this screen using a 6.5 digit Rigol DM3068 DMM.  It's active spec is 50uA, but when it's idle it must consume almost nothing because it doesn't even register in the nA.  That insane power performance is what we wanted for this platform - you can leave the screen on basically indefinitely and the coin cell would last years.
  2. Like
    nathancrum reacted to DeepBlueSky in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    Nice project. I've heard a msp430g2553 has problems to get a SD card working (to e.g. log data). So this would work with your project then? Any work done for raw LCD support so it/or a certain type kind of works out of the box?
  3. Like
    nathancrum reacted to bluehash in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    Nice! Was browsing through your website yesterday.
  4. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from vinicius.jlantunes in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    Hi guys.  It's been awhile since we've posted on this project, but progress has been steadily moving on.  We're working with the Rev 3 prototypes at this point and I think we're pretty close to a final product.  Patrick is going to be out at the Bay Area Maker Faire next week showing them off.
     
    We're also trying to upload stuff as it's stable to github - a few demo projects and an Android app for bluetooth:
    https://github.com/ApparentlyConnected
     
    Shurikens (daughterboards) have expanded now to include a sensor board (RGB, accel & temp), a relay board, an AC rectifier board for use with a current clamp in addition to newer revisions of the LCD, Wifi, and BTLE shurikens.
     
    What kind of demo projects do you guys think would be best to show off the FRAM and low power capabilities of the MSP430FR5969?  Or what demos would you just like to show how it works?
     
    /Nathan








  5. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from bluehash in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    Hi guys.  It's been awhile since we've posted on this project, but progress has been steadily moving on.  We're working with the Rev 3 prototypes at this point and I think we're pretty close to a final product.  Patrick is going to be out at the Bay Area Maker Faire next week showing them off.
     
    We're also trying to upload stuff as it's stable to github - a few demo projects and an Android app for bluetooth:
    https://github.com/ApparentlyConnected
     
    Shurikens (daughterboards) have expanded now to include a sensor board (RGB, accel & temp), a relay board, an AC rectifier board for use with a current clamp in addition to newer revisions of the LCD, Wifi, and BTLE shurikens.
     
    What kind of demo projects do you guys think would be best to show off the FRAM and low power capabilities of the MSP430FR5969?  Or what demos would you just like to show how it works?
     
    /Nathan








  6. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from DeepBlueSky in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    Hi guys.  It's been awhile since we've posted on this project, but progress has been steadily moving on.  We're working with the Rev 3 prototypes at this point and I think we're pretty close to a final product.  Patrick is going to be out at the Bay Area Maker Faire next week showing them off.
     
    We're also trying to upload stuff as it's stable to github - a few demo projects and an Android app for bluetooth:
    https://github.com/ApparentlyConnected
     
    Shurikens (daughterboards) have expanded now to include a sensor board (RGB, accel & temp), a relay board, an AC rectifier board for use with a current clamp in addition to newer revisions of the LCD, Wifi, and BTLE shurikens.
     
    What kind of demo projects do you guys think would be best to show off the FRAM and low power capabilities of the MSP430FR5969?  Or what demos would you just like to show how it works?
     
    /Nathan








  7. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from bluehash in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    @@bluehash Thanks - we're already having fun playing with it and really impressed with the Sharp LS013B7DH03.  The mirrory finish on the 96px one from the BoosterPack is sort of a novelty, but the contrast on the 128px H03 is much nicer on the eyes overall.
     
    Next I'm working on a Bluetooth LE shuriken and Android app and @@Patrick is working on a WiFi expansion and internet upload.  Weeeee!
  8. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from pine in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    FYI - made some more progress on the Energia graphics library and have added a bitmap interpreter for the TI Image Reformer tool in the MSP430 graphics library package.  Adding any custom image to a project just got a lot easier. (edit) And I am loving this screen - the contrast is awesome.
  9. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from bluehash in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    FYI - We've also forked the Energia github and have pushed these changes already.  Hopefully we can resolve the driver issues in the future, but for now it's functioning separately.
    https://github.com/ApparentlyConnected/Energia
     
    We've also started adding libraries for our Shurikens (daughter boards) like the Sharp 128x128px LS013B7DH03 Memory LCD.  On deck are the bluetooth (Microchip RN4020) and WiFi (Microchip RN171) modules.

     
    Unfortunately the existing libraries like SPI aren't abstracted enough to be cross compatible (we're using different UARTs, pins, etc) so some more work will need to be done to either make them universal or port for the FR5969 LP and other MSP430's, but it shouldn't take much to make them useful for anyone who wants to use these peripherals with Energia.
  10. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from bluehash in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    FYI - made some more progress on the Energia graphics library and have added a bitmap interpreter for the TI Image Reformer tool in the MSP430 graphics library package.  Adding any custom image to a project just got a lot easier. (edit) And I am loving this screen - the contrast is awesome.
  11. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from bluehash in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    @@greeeg - you are the man.
     
    So - I was counting on CCS to update the firmware and it was erroring out without attempting to fix anything.  I was able to flash the BSL firmware using flasher, but every time I tried to flash the FW_3_3_0_6 firmware it failed verification.  So - I tried flashing only the BSL_1_1 firmware.  Then I plugged the ezFET into USB and tried erasing the target using MSPFlasher.  That's when it did this:
    c:\ti\MSP430Flasher_1.3.2>MSP430Flasher.exe -e ERASE_ALL * -----/|-------------------------------------------------------------------- * * / |__ * * /_ / MSP430 Flasher v1.3.2 * * | / * * -----|/-------------------------------------------------------------------- * * Evaluating triggers...done * Checking for available FET debuggers: * Corrupted USB FET firmware detected. Starting recovery. * ********************************************************* * * * * Initializing Update Bootloader. * * Programming new firmware: * * |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 100% * * Update was successfully finished. * * * ********************************************************* * * Exit Update Bootlader and reboot firmware. * USB FET recovery completed.* Found USB FET @ COM3. <- Selected YAY!!  Then it proceeded to do a firmware update
    * Initializing interface @ COM3...done * Checking firmware compatibility: * The firmware of your FET is outdated. - Would you like to update it? (Y/N): y * ********************************************************* * * * * Initializing Update Bootloader. * * Programming new firmware: * * |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 100% * * Update was successfully finished. * * * ********************************************************* * * Exit Update Bootlader and reboot firmware. * FET firmware is up to date. Double YAY!  Now it works fine with both MSP430Flasher and CCS - everything is A-ok.
     
    So I guess the key is to flash the BSL and let the programmers do the rest.  I haven't checked if I can just flash the BSL and use CCS to update the firmware the first time, but at least I have a working procedure.
  12. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from bluehash in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    FYI - first dev prototypes are built.  The processor module is fine, but we're still debugging the ezfet lite circuitry - getting this error when connected to CCS:
    "Error initializing emulator: Could not set device Vcc" Don't know what's wrong.  The programmer is basically a pin-for-pin copy of the ezfet lite reference using a 3.3V regulator.  We flashed it using the MSP430Flasher command line tool, the EZFET_LITE_Rev1_1_FW_3_3_0_6 firmware and an FR5969 Launchpad via SBW.  It seems to work, but generates a verification error and then we get the above error on connecting to CCS.  
     
    Is there something separate we have to do with the BSL or is that part of the production firmware?  We're basically stumped at this point.  Any help would be appreciated.






  13. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from greeeg in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    Attached is the schematic.  It probably looks pretty *cough* familiar.  
    Storm Ninja Base PCB Schematic.pdf
  14. Like
    nathancrum reacted to greeeg in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    @@nathancrum, you need to flash the BSL to allow the ezFET to update itself. If that isn't there, the FET behaves strangely since it continues on with 2 different firmwares on the PC&FET.
     
    Are you using the bsl/flash unlock flag when flashing the BSL?
  15. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from tripwire in MSP430FR5969 DCO Accuracy   
    Just as an FYI - I was concerned about using the built in DCO in the FR5969 for UART because the spec sheet says although it's factory trimmed, it's still +/-3.5%.  Generally it needs to be within 2% for a UART to work correctly so I measured the two FR5969's I have on our 2.4GHz frequency counter and this is what I got.
     
    2 is obviously not a big sample size, but the frequency trimmed DCO on the FR series looks pretty good @ room temp and 8MHz or under.  I found another doc from TI that's a comparison between F5xxx and FR5xxx and it mentions the DCO is generally within 2% "within a restricted temperature range" and within 3.5 in the full temperature range (-40C to 85C).
     
    I may need to re-measure at 4C because that's typically where our project will be operating.  

  16. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from yosh in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    Layout for the programmer attached.  As mentioned this is in the form factor of the UNO, but it's actually an eZ-FET lite programmer using the MSP430F5528.  It includes the F5528, micro-USB, 4 LEDs (2 for the ezFET, 2 for UART), a regulator and a breakout for standard JFET.
     
    ...and before you ask, yes the product name is Storm Ninja.  For those unaware, it's a joke from one of our favorite shows - Archer.

  17. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from yosh in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    @@spirilis - Right now the processor module has standard 0.1" headers so you can pop it on a breadboard.  We could use smaller, but the limiting factor for size is the CR2032 anyway.  IO includes 14 digital I/O's, 6 analog, UART, I2C, SPI and SBW (26 pins in all, one NC).
     
    @@Rei Vilo - Yes similar idea.  Although I don't know why, but I haven't seen any micro-form-factor Arduinos like that based on the AVR equivalent to the MSP430FRxxxx - the XMega processors:
    http://www.atmel.com/products/microcontrollers/avr/avr_xmega.aspx
     
    There are also a few low-power libraries for Arduino, but they're fragmented and don't seem to provide the ease of use of LMP3 on the MSP430's.  Plus none of them have FRAM to allow you to leverage the equivalent of LMP3.5 and 4.5.  The biggest problem though is none of them are really aimed at being low power - so even if all they have is a regulator or some other secondary IC on them, usually it has a quiescent current of several mA - making sleep irrelevant.
     
    @@yosh - basic renderings attached.  The processor module is currently 1.2" x 1.42".  It includes two low mA LED's, an int/ext power jumper, a CR2032, a 32kHz crystal and of course the FR5969.

  18. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from dpharris in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    Layout for the programmer attached.  As mentioned this is in the form factor of the UNO, but it's actually an eZ-FET lite programmer using the MSP430F5528.  It includes the F5528, micro-USB, 4 LEDs (2 for the ezFET, 2 for UART), a regulator and a breakout for standard JFET.
     
    ...and before you ask, yes the product name is Storm Ninja.  For those unaware, it's a joke from one of our favorite shows - Archer.

  19. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from spirilis in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    @@spirilis - Right now the processor module has standard 0.1" headers so you can pop it on a breadboard.  We could use smaller, but the limiting factor for size is the CR2032 anyway.  IO includes 14 digital I/O's, 6 analog, UART, I2C, SPI and SBW (26 pins in all, one NC).
     
    @@Rei Vilo - Yes similar idea.  Although I don't know why, but I haven't seen any micro-form-factor Arduinos like that based on the AVR equivalent to the MSP430FRxxxx - the XMega processors:
    http://www.atmel.com/products/microcontrollers/avr/avr_xmega.aspx
     
    There are also a few low-power libraries for Arduino, but they're fragmented and don't seem to provide the ease of use of LMP3 on the MSP430's.  Plus none of them have FRAM to allow you to leverage the equivalent of LMP3.5 and 4.5.  The biggest problem though is none of them are really aimed at being low power - so even if all they have is a regulator or some other secondary IC on them, usually it has a quiescent current of several mA - making sleep irrelevant.
     
    @@yosh - basic renderings attached.  The processor module is currently 1.2" x 1.42".  It includes two low mA LED's, an int/ext power jumper, a CR2032, a 32kHz crystal and of course the FR5969.

  20. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from pine in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    Hi Guys,
     
    My name is Nathan.  I've lurked around here on 43oh a bit, but this is my first official post.  I've been working with the MSP430FR5969 for several months now and I've quickly grown to really like it.  It seems to me TI's FRAM processors should really be getting more exposure for battery powered development in both professional and maker communities.
     
    To that end - I was hoping to get some feedback on a product idea.  We've packaged the FR5969 into a tiny coin-cell powered module.  The module can operate as a stand-alone processor or it can plug into an UNO-form-factor breakout board with an eZ-FET lite programmer, allowing you to program it with CCS or Energia.
     
    We're waiting on the first PCB's to debug the base product right now, but the goal would eventually be to offer with with a handful of matching small daughter-boards to add WiFi, BTLE and either the Sharp LS013B4DN04 hybrid screen or an e-ink display - all except the WiFi would be powered directly by the coin cell (WiFi would require a couple AAA's).  It might make sense to have a few sensor boards too depending on interest level (humidity/temp, compass, GPS, accel, gyro, prox, etc.)
     
    Does that make sense?  Any thoughts?  Is this a product you think people would be interested in?  It doesn't seem like anyone is offering really well-packaged small, ULP, battery powered MCU modules, especially with Arduino code compatibility and this would fill a good niche (certainly one I have some uses for anyway).
     
    Anyway - I'd appreciate any feedback or suggestions.  Thanks.
     
    NC
  21. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from greeeg in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    Hi Guys,
     
    My name is Nathan.  I've lurked around here on 43oh a bit, but this is my first official post.  I've been working with the MSP430FR5969 for several months now and I've quickly grown to really like it.  It seems to me TI's FRAM processors should really be getting more exposure for battery powered development in both professional and maker communities.
     
    To that end - I was hoping to get some feedback on a product idea.  We've packaged the FR5969 into a tiny coin-cell powered module.  The module can operate as a stand-alone processor or it can plug into an UNO-form-factor breakout board with an eZ-FET lite programmer, allowing you to program it with CCS or Energia.
     
    We're waiting on the first PCB's to debug the base product right now, but the goal would eventually be to offer with with a handful of matching small daughter-boards to add WiFi, BTLE and either the Sharp LS013B4DN04 hybrid screen or an e-ink display - all except the WiFi would be powered directly by the coin cell (WiFi would require a couple AAA's).  It might make sense to have a few sensor boards too depending on interest level (humidity/temp, compass, GPS, accel, gyro, prox, etc.)
     
    Does that make sense?  Any thoughts?  Is this a product you think people would be interested in?  It doesn't seem like anyone is offering really well-packaged small, ULP, battery powered MCU modules, especially with Arduino code compatibility and this would fill a good niche (certainly one I have some uses for anyway).
     
    Anyway - I'd appreciate any feedback or suggestions.  Thanks.
     
    NC
  22. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from CorB in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    Hi Guys,
     
    My name is Nathan.  I've lurked around here on 43oh a bit, but this is my first official post.  I've been working with the MSP430FR5969 for several months now and I've quickly grown to really like it.  It seems to me TI's FRAM processors should really be getting more exposure for battery powered development in both professional and maker communities.
     
    To that end - I was hoping to get some feedback on a product idea.  We've packaged the FR5969 into a tiny coin-cell powered module.  The module can operate as a stand-alone processor or it can plug into an UNO-form-factor breakout board with an eZ-FET lite programmer, allowing you to program it with CCS or Energia.
     
    We're waiting on the first PCB's to debug the base product right now, but the goal would eventually be to offer with with a handful of matching small daughter-boards to add WiFi, BTLE and either the Sharp LS013B4DN04 hybrid screen or an e-ink display - all except the WiFi would be powered directly by the coin cell (WiFi would require a couple AAA's).  It might make sense to have a few sensor boards too depending on interest level (humidity/temp, compass, GPS, accel, gyro, prox, etc.)
     
    Does that make sense?  Any thoughts?  Is this a product you think people would be interested in?  It doesn't seem like anyone is offering really well-packaged small, ULP, battery powered MCU modules, especially with Arduino code compatibility and this would fill a good niche (certainly one I have some uses for anyway).
     
    Anyway - I'd appreciate any feedback or suggestions.  Thanks.
     
    NC
  23. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from Automate in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    Hi Guys,
     
    My name is Nathan.  I've lurked around here on 43oh a bit, but this is my first official post.  I've been working with the MSP430FR5969 for several months now and I've quickly grown to really like it.  It seems to me TI's FRAM processors should really be getting more exposure for battery powered development in both professional and maker communities.
     
    To that end - I was hoping to get some feedback on a product idea.  We've packaged the FR5969 into a tiny coin-cell powered module.  The module can operate as a stand-alone processor or it can plug into an UNO-form-factor breakout board with an eZ-FET lite programmer, allowing you to program it with CCS or Energia.
     
    We're waiting on the first PCB's to debug the base product right now, but the goal would eventually be to offer with with a handful of matching small daughter-boards to add WiFi, BTLE and either the Sharp LS013B4DN04 hybrid screen or an e-ink display - all except the WiFi would be powered directly by the coin cell (WiFi would require a couple AAA's).  It might make sense to have a few sensor boards too depending on interest level (humidity/temp, compass, GPS, accel, gyro, prox, etc.)
     
    Does that make sense?  Any thoughts?  Is this a product you think people would be interested in?  It doesn't seem like anyone is offering really well-packaged small, ULP, battery powered MCU modules, especially with Arduino code compatibility and this would fill a good niche (certainly one I have some uses for anyway).
     
    Anyway - I'd appreciate any feedback or suggestions.  Thanks.
     
    NC
  24. Like
    nathancrum got a reaction from dubnet in New Dev Platform for MSP430FR5969   
    Hi Guys,
     
    My name is Nathan.  I've lurked around here on 43oh a bit, but this is my first official post.  I've been working with the MSP430FR5969 for several months now and I've quickly grown to really like it.  It seems to me TI's FRAM processors should really be getting more exposure for battery powered development in both professional and maker communities.
     
    To that end - I was hoping to get some feedback on a product idea.  We've packaged the FR5969 into a tiny coin-cell powered module.  The module can operate as a stand-alone processor or it can plug into an UNO-form-factor breakout board with an eZ-FET lite programmer, allowing you to program it with CCS or Energia.
     
    We're waiting on the first PCB's to debug the base product right now, but the goal would eventually be to offer with with a handful of matching small daughter-boards to add WiFi, BTLE and either the Sharp LS013B4DN04 hybrid screen or an e-ink display - all except the WiFi would be powered directly by the coin cell (WiFi would require a couple AAA's).  It might make sense to have a few sensor boards too depending on interest level (humidity/temp, compass, GPS, accel, gyro, prox, etc.)
     
    Does that make sense?  Any thoughts?  Is this a product you think people would be interested in?  It doesn't seem like anyone is offering really well-packaged small, ULP, battery powered MCU modules, especially with Arduino code compatibility and this would fill a good niche (certainly one I have some uses for anyway).
     
    Anyway - I'd appreciate any feedback or suggestions.  Thanks.
     
    NC
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