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

1 Abstract - MSP430™ Flash Devices Bootloader (BSL)

The MSP430™ bootloader (BSL) (formerly known as the bootstrap loader) allows users to communicate with embedded memory in the MSP430 microcontroller (MCU) during the prototyping phase, final production, and in service. Both the programmable memory (flash memory) and the data memory (RAM) can be modified as required. Do not confuse the bootloader with the bootstrap loader programs found in some digital signal processors (DSPs) that automatically load program code (and data) from external memory to the internal memory of the DSP.

To use the bootloader, a specific BSL entry sequence must be applied. An added sequence of commands initiates the desired function. A bootloading session can be exited by continuing operation at a defined user program address or by the reset condition.

If the device is secured by disabling JTAG, it is still possible to use the BSL. Access to the MSP430 MCU memory through the BSL is protected against misuse by the BSL password. The BSL password is equal to the content of the interrupt vector table on the device.