RT1176 Custom Board – LED blink app does not run after reset

[JoshuaV]

I am working on a custom i.MX RT1176 board (based very closely on the FMU design, same memory set up). I am trying to bring up the MCU by blinking a simple LED. The LED is on GPIO_AD_33, which I have configured using the MCUXpresso Config Tools to GPIO10_IO00.

What I have done so far:

1. Project setup

   • Created a simple LED blink project in MCUXpresso IDE using the SDK for MIMXRT1176.

   • Configured GPIO as output and toggled it every 1s using SysTick.

   • Used MCUXpresso Config Tools 25.06 to configure the pins

2. Binary output

   • The project builds successfully and produces a .bin file.

3. Programming method

   • Since this is a custom board, I only have USB-C access to the serial downloader.

   • I used the NXP Secure Provisioning Tool (blhost) to erase flash, write the AXF and binary from the project build.

   • All operations succeed with status 0x0 Success.

4. The issue

   • After power-cycling the board, nothing happens.

     • I verified the programmed image by using blhost read-memory commands at the FlexSPI NOR addresses. The data at 0x30000400 (FCB), 0x30000600 (image version), and 0x30001000 (application image) matches what I expect

   • The LED on GPIO_AD_33 does not blink.

   • The board always re-enters Serial Downloader mode.

   • I do not have JTAG/SWD access, only USB-C serial downloader.This is the first time I have posted in a forum so I apologize if my ettiquette is off. Thank you. 

[Littell]

Do you really have a board design that doesn't include SWD/JTAG? If so, you should fire the designer immediately for abject incompetence - you're guaranteed a miserable experience in trying to develop for that brick.

[JoshuaV]

lol I will fire myself. It’s a hobby board. I’m new to this. Definitely a learning experience for me. I solved the issue. My problem was that I was selecting “Full FDCB” which for whatever reason was not allowing the program to start properly. 

[Littell]

A hobby board? Hahaha, you tend to swing for the fence, don't you?

On a hobby board I'd submit it's even more important to design in debug facilities (GPIO's, LED's, JTAG/SWD) from beginning so you can get on with the fun stuff and not get wrapped around the axle with time-wasting silliness. Good luck to you - these RT's are riddled with quirks and the further you step away from the EVKB the more problems you'll have. Been there...got the scars.

[carlos_o]

Hi @JoshuaV 

Apologies the late reply.

Could you confirm the boot mode of your pins? 

After downloading the program to your board remember to change the boot mode to internal boot