How to get started?

[faacuunndoo]

I don't know why, but I can't find the information that I want. I want to get started with the MCF52255. I want to know how to program it, what programmer I need. What is the minimal hardware? Recommended PCB layout? Type of connection used in programming? Is it jtag? Any information that you can give me, I will be very happy

Cheers

[yibbidy]

Hi Leonel,

You can purchase the TWR-MCF5225X: ColdFire MCF5225X Connectivity Tower System for USD119.  It contains everything that you need to get going, including an inbuilt hardware debugger.  At it's webpage it has documentation including schematics and PCB layout examples etc:

TWR-MCF5225X: ColdFire MCF5225X Connectivity Tower System Module

You could also try searching at Freescale for M52259DEMO and M52259EVB.  Although these aren't made anymore as the above system replaced them, you will find more hardware and software examples.

Also, Axiom make a development module for USD135, CMM-52259-DEV | Axiom Manufacturing | Electronic Manufacturing Design Development PCB Assembly .  You will need to purchase or make a debugger though as it is not built in to this board.  The hardware debugger is not JTAG it is BDM (Background Debug Mode).   P&E make a good debugger for USD119 P&E Microcomputer Systems - USB Multilink Universal - USB Multilink Universal All-In-One Development... but you can also buy an open source version called a USBDM or OSBDM which you can usually get on eBay.  These debuggers will work with other Freescale microprocessors.

Good luck!

Shaun

[faacuunndoo]

Thanks for your reply Shaun. But I want to use the Mcf52 in a product, so the dev-kit is not so useful. Where I live is almost impossible get finished product such as programmers and dev-boards. If you get it, it cost 10 times more than it should.

And we don't have budget that is used for programmers (bad english sorry)

There is any schematic to make my own programmer?

We are testing a lot of microcontrollers to see which fits better in our product. The Coldfire seems a great micro, it has almost everything we need. I don't want to ruin this opportunity for a simple programmer.

Regards

[yibbidy · Accepted solution]

I've been thinking, if you have limited resources, perhaps the best programmer is the TBLCF as it can be made at home on a single sided PCB.  Check out this project, although it uses the MCF52231, the article has a good description of how to build the TBLCF:

http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCoQFjAA&url=http%3A%...

http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CDIQFjAB&url=http%3A%...

Sorry about the long links, these files used to be at freescale.com but I can't find them anymore.

Regards, Shaun

[faacuunndoo]

Will this one program a Coldfire v2? It says that programs Coldfire but I don't know if Colfire and Coldfirw v2 has the same protocol.

TBLCF open source debugging cable

Thanks!

[yibbidy]

I didn't realise that the JB16 was no longer manufactured.  If you have trouble getting one, send me an email with your address and I'll send you a couple.  I checked my stock list and I have a couple of spares.

The Coldfire comes in roughly four versions, V1 through V4.  The TBLCF will program V2 through V4, but not V1 as it uses a different protocol.

Shaun

[faacuunndoo]

Thanks! You really cleared my way! I have so many questions, I will try to drop them by pieces!

I am checking the USBDM JMxx, I will try to find the parts in my country and assemble it soon as possible.

I am trying to check if I can make it with the JM32 instead of JM60, I saw the JM32 in a catalog from a local shop, but not the JM60.

Facundo

[yibbidy]

Just remember, if you use the JM60 then you will need a S08 programmer to program the USB bootloader into it.  The JB16 and JS16 devices have a boot loader in ROM so that you don't need a programmer.  If you use the JM60 you will need a programmer to program the programmer so to speak :smileyhappy:  At least for the first time.

Also I wouldn't recommend using a JM32 instead of a JM60.  The USBDM has the algorithms to program not just the Coldfire V2-4, but also the Coldfire V1, S08, DSC's etc, and probably needs more than 32kB.

Shaun

[faacuunndoo]

The problem is that I don't know I can get those micros. Tomorrow I'll be calling local (well, no local, 600km away) electronic shops, depending on the prices and the availability I will be assembling one or the other.

Bye!

Edit: I love this board http://ufpr.dl.sourceforge.net/project/usbdm/Version%204.10.5/Hardware/USBDM_CF_JMxxCLD.pdf I will try to remake the JS16 ColdFire PCB with those headers, but female, so I can plug it in directly to my board.

I hope double-sided homemade PCB not be a problem hahaha

Bye!

Edit: I found this, what it means with "early ColdFire"

"The BDM uses asychronous communication with the target i.e. the BDM signals are not synchronized with the target clock. This means that the BDM should not be used with early Coldfire targets. Check the description of the BDM interface timing in the appropriate Coldfire Processor manual to determine if this limitation applies."

I don't understand why in the Js16 Coldfire connector is so little, and in the datasheet it has a lot of connections.

[yibbidy]

Make sure that you are going to make the USBDM_CF_JS16 project, and not the USBDM_JS16, as the USBDM_JS16 does not support the Coldfire V2-4, only CF V1 and S08 etc.  You were probably going to to this anyway but I just wanted to make sure.

The USBDM_CF_JS16 only has ten pins for the BDM header, whereas you have probably seen that most BDM's and development boards have a 26 pin header.  This is because only the first ten pins of the 26 pin header are used for basic debugging, the remainder are used only on high end debuggers to allow recording of the processor's state in real time, particularly for code coverage.  These signal DDATA[3..0] and PST[3..0] are not needed for normal debuggers.  You are free to use these as I/O pins.  In fact the 100 pin parts do not have these pins brought out.

Double sided home made boards are not that hard, you just need to be careful as the holes are not plated through - if a track goes to a pin on the top layer under a through hole connector or socket, you still need to be able to solder it on the top layer.

Regards, Shaun

[faacuunndoo]

Thanks Shaun! You always have the right answers! With you in the forum, start with Freescale will be so much easier!

[faacuunndoo]

That micro is not longer manufactured :s I will try to find it anyways

[faacuunndoo]

Thank you very much! I am on my tablet, I will check the links better when I get home. The TBLCF's source files are there?

Thank you again!

[yibbidy]

Hi Leonel,

Yes, you can make your own programmer.  Most of the open source programmers are based on a S08JM60 microcontroller which has a USB port.  The problem is that you need a S08 compatible programmer to put the bootloader code into it, so you can then update the firmware with the Coldfire programming algorithm over USB.  If you can borrow an S08 programmer for a short time or buy one cheaply on eBay or here (http://www.fasttech.com/product/1003400-usbdm-osbdm-v495-freescale-usb-emulator) then this project with all design files available might work for you: http://usbdm.sourceforge.net/USBDM_V4.9/USBDM_CF_JMxx/html/index.html

Otherwise you will need to find a programmer based on the S08JB16 or the newer S08JS16, which can be programmed over USB from the start (they have an inbuilt bootloader).  Search for TBLCF in this forum for a Coldfire programmer based on the S08JB16.  That project is a bit old now but you can find a newer project here: http://usbdm.sourceforge.net/.

You can find an excellent single board computer project based on the 52259, along with all of the design files and firmware etc here: http://hlaidet.pagesperso-orange.fr/DigibutlerK3.htm

Good Luck!

Shaun