topic Using QSPI Flash on imxrt1060 EVK for booting and back-up storage in i.MX RT Crossover MCUs

Using QSPI Flash on imxrt1060 EVK for booting and back-up storage

meetalipatel — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 09:55:20 GMT

I am working on imxrt1060 - EVK board currently. I have a requirement of storing some data as backup (to retain the data every time the system resets). I need to use the on-board QSPI Flash for this purpose. However, when I am trying to write/erase and debug the code in MCUXpresso, a window pops and displays "Break at address "0x0" with no debug information available, or outside of program code.".

I want to know if it is possible to using the Flash memory for both booting and backing up data simultaneously.

If yes, how can I do the same.

Re: Using QSPI Flash on imxrt1060 EVK for booting and back-up storage

igorpadykov — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 03:17:55 GMT

Hi Meetali

for examples of flash memory for both booting and backing (programming flash code is running from SDRAM)
one can look at SDK examples in SDK/../driver_examples/flexspi

Welcome | MCUXpresso SDK Builder
and AN12108 How to Enable Boot from QSPI Flash, AN12183 How to Enable Debugging for FLEXSPI NOR Flash

on documentation link below

https://www.nxp.com/products/processors-and-microcontrollers/arm-based-processors-and-mcus/i.mx-applications-processors/i.mx-rt-series/i.mx-rt1050-crossover-processor-with-arm-cortex-m7-core:i.MX-RT1050?tab=Documentation_Tab

Some memories allow for running xip application and simultaneously perform programming,

"concurrent read-write, also known as read-while-write or RWW" as described in

White Paper: Memory Expansion with Adesto EcoXIP and i.MX RT

on the same documentation link

Best regards
igor
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Re: Using QSPI Flash on imxrt1060 EVK for booting and back-up storage

meetalipatel — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 05:33:37 GMT

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. But I want to use QSPI Flash for both booting and storage purpose. I have referred the example that you mentioned, but it stores the program code in RAM memory and executes from there while storing the data on Flash. I want to perform both the things together on QSPI Flash.

Re: Using QSPI Flash on imxrt1060 EVK for booting and back-up storage

igorpadykov — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 05:37:26 GMT

sorry such functionality currently is not supported. You can try to develop it yourself

using recommended white paper suggestions.

~igor

Re: Using QSPI Flash on imxrt1060 EVK for booting and back-up storage

antoinezen — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 15:55:34 GMT

Hi Igor,

I'm also interested it this topic. I'have read the documents you mention, especially the white paper. If I understand correctly, this is not feasible unless we select a flash that support read-while write. Is that correct ? Or can we do this with another flash (QSPI or Hyperflash) at the expense of having the CPU halted util the write is completed ? Basically, can we test this on the MIMXRT1050-EVK ?

Thanks!

Antoine

Re: Using QSPI Flash on imxrt1060 EVK for booting and back-up storage

igorpadykov — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 01:21:27 GMT

Hi Antoine

yes one can do this with another flash (QSPI or Hyperflash), but programming codes should be

executed from internal processor ram and I am afraid such example is not available in MCUXpresso SDK MXRT1050

projects. White paper just gives more convenient option.

Best regards
igor

Re: Using QSPI Flash on imxrt1060 EVK for booting and back-up storage

antoinezen — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 09:12:48 GMT

Thanks for the clarification. If I program the flash from internal RAM code, then how to write to the flash ? Can I just write to the 0x6000_0000 address space and let the "Program Sequence Engine" of FlexSPI do the job? Or should I send the data sequentially using the IP bus ?

Re: Using QSPI Flash on imxrt1060 EVK for booting and back-up storage

igorpadykov — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 03:10:59 GMT

examples of flash programming can be found in MCUXpresso SDK EVKB-MIMXRT1050

Welcome | MCUXpresso SDK Builder

and appnotes on i.MX RT1050 documentation link

i.MX RT1050 MCU/Applications Crossover Processor | Arm® Cortex®-M7 @600 MHz, 512KB SRAM |NXP

Best regards
igor