This reference design illustrates Live Firmware Update (LFU) without device reset on two C2000™ real-time MCUs, one with hardware features supporting LFU. LFU is illustrated on both the C28x CPU and the Control Law Accelerator (CLA). The software available with this design helps accelerate your time to market. LFU without device reset is an important consideration for high availability systems similar to Server power supply units (PSU), where downtime needs to be minimized. This reference design also has an example that illustrates Firmware Over-the-Air (FOTA) functionality.
TIDM-02011 | Design Folder |
TIDM-DC-DC-BUCK | Product Folder |
TMS320F28003x,TMS320F28004x | Product Folder |
BOOSTXL-BUCKCONV | Product Folder |
LAUNCHXL-F280039C,LAUNCHXL-F280049C | Product Folder |
C2000WARE-DIGITALPOWER-SDK | Software Folder |
Example for FOTA
In applications similar to server power supply, metering, and so on, the system is desired to be run continuously to reduce downtime. But typically, during firmware upgrades, due to bug fixes, new features, and or performance improvements, the system is removed from service causing downtime for associated entities as well. This can be handled with redundant modules but with an increase in total system cost. An alternate approach, called Live Firmware Update (LFU), allows updating the firmware while the system is still operating. Switching to new firmware can be done either with or without resetting the device, with the latter being more complex.
This reference guide presents details on LFU without Device Reset using two Flash banks on a TMS320F28003x or TMS320F28004x device, detailing the specific challenges involved and suggestions on how to address them. LFU is implemented on the C2000™ Digital Power Buck Converter BoosterPack reference design. The document illustrates LFU capabilities with the main control loop running on either the C28x CPU or the CLA.