In-application bootloader of a sensor firmware through nRF52832.

[polimarte]

Hi to everyone!

I am working (with Keil uVision) on a custom PCB that includes the NRF52832 (MDBT42Q module) and some sensors from MAXIM INTEGRATED. There is a Sensor Hub (MAX32664C, a pre-programmed microcontroller with firmware drivers and algorithms), MAXM86161 (Optical Module) and an accelerometer (KX-122). The MAX32664 is pre-programmed with bootloader firmware which accepts in-application programming of the Maxim supplied application algorithm/firmware file (.msbl, a sort of  .bin file). Each page of this file includes 16 CRC bytes, so there are 8208 bytes per page sent in the payload of the message. I am struggling to find solutions to upload a new version of the mslb file on the MAX32664 through the nRFR52832. I am wondering if there is a smart method to write long sequences of bytes included in an external file. The first steps that I should perform are shown in the picture below. Here the columns are HOST COMMAND (sequence of bytes to send), COMMAND DESCRIPTION, READ MAX32664 RESPONSE, RESPONSE DESCRIPTION. 

Thanks for help I am looking forward to resolve the issue together. 

Polimarte

[Vidar Berg]

Hello,

I am wondering if there is a smart method to write long sequences of bytes included in an external file

How to you plan to retreive this file? I think would have started with the DFU transfer protocol implementation on the nRF as the first step, then figure out how to actually receive the update binary externally  afterwards (over BLE, etc). For testing, you can use Jlink commander (jlink.exe) to load the .msbl binary to a fixed location in FLASH on your nRF52.

Best regards,

Vidar

[polimarte]

Hi Vidar, thanks for the answer!

Vidar Berg said:

I think would have started with the DFU transfer protocol implementation on the nRF as the first step,

I probably have a lack of basic knowledge on this subject, can you further explain this? 

Vidar Berg said:

then figure out how to actually receive the update binary externally  afterwards

 
I have exposed pin on my PCB (SWDIO,SWCLK and other pins for drive the sensors), so that would not be a problem.

I really appreciate your help, 

polimarte

[Vidar Berg]

Hi,

What I meant is that you could maybe start trying to implement the Maxim DFU protocol over I2C on the nRF side and worry about how to actually receive the .msbl file later (assuming you want the capability to push updates after the device has been deployed out in the field?), but maybe that's the step you are stuck at.

Have you managed to send any of the i2c commands to the slave, and in that case, did you receive any error responses?