Hi all.

Say I want to build my own PSoC5 development board - then what are my options for programming the PSoC5 device?

I know that I can buy the miniProg3, but it seems expensive and I want to be able to program my development board (PSoC5 device) only using a USB-cable. 

Is there some kind of chip available, which I could mount on my development board? Or what about bootloader opportunities - what are they?

Thanks 

Bootloader -

http://www.cypress.com/?rID=55745

http://www.cypress.com/?rID=41002

http://www.cypress.com/?rID=50230

http://www.cypress.com/?rID=57561

Regards, Dana.

Take a look at this one too:

AN73054 - PSoC® 3 / PSoC 5 Programming Using an External Microcontroller (HSSP)

Regards,

Rolf

 Link: http://www.cypress.com/?rID=57435

 Problem is, my board being a development-board, I have to be able to debug! I can't do that with a bootloader?.. 

I need some kind of miniprog3-chip?

Since the MiniProg3 must not be connected to your board after programming and debugging, but a USB-chip will always be needed on every board at least for programming the solution with the miniprog3 can be less costly after some boards.

Bob

There are no options to debug your target PSoC3/5 other then using a Miniprog3.

There's a 132 pin FPGA on the Miniprog3 with propietary HDL for debugging. To design this onto your own dev. board is definitely not cheaper then using a Miniprog3.

There's also no user accessible driver to perform the debugging functions.

The best way is to design the 10 pin Samtec FTSH-105-01-L-DV-K onto your board and use the Miniprog3 for debugging.

Regards,

Rolf

@Rolf

You are not quite right, debugging for PSoC5 also works with a FX2 bridge which is commonly used on many development kits as FirstTouch, -30 and -50. This is what I was referring to when I tried to explain that it might be cheaper to use one miniprog instead of one FX2 for every board.

Bob

 What is a FX2 bridge?? Google didn't help my much :) 

@Bob,

Yes you are right. I wasn't aware of the debugging possibility of the FirstTouch kits.

It would be nice if Cypress would release it's firmware so people can make their own on board debugger :)

@Texton,

The FX2 chip is an USB host controller.

http://www.cypress.com/?id=193

Regards,

Rolf

I'm quite sure that Cypress will release the code for the FX2 bridge which is a programmable USB interface which is used on many different Cypress DVKs to provide a connection from Creator-software to the board including dubug capabilities.

You may look at the schematics for any of the DVK-boards, to see the interconnections. The FX2 is a cypress-chip as well and if you file a technical case I'm sure you'll get the sources.

Bob

Bob,

I made a request to cypress at the start of this year for access to the FX2 Bridge firmware and I was declined. :-( (I wanted to build FX2 into my design).

I have to use Miniprog-3 for debugging. The 5-Pin interface only allows programming, your need the 10 Pin interface for debugging. 

-kenny

@SpiderKenny

I'd suggest to try that once more, just to show Cypress that there are more than one interested in.

One of my (always very helpful) contacts at Cypress is Jim Davis (jfmd@cypress.com) so I'd suggest to talk to him.

And there is always Matt Landrum (mdl@cypress.com) who has an ear for customer queries concerned with software.

Bob

@SpiderKenney

Why not start a thread in Creator Forum asking for the forum users to comment about

the need for this capability. I think its a very good idea. Maybe you can drive change

on this issue.

Regards, Dana.

 I guess Cypress is just giving the FW away, take a look at your PSoC Programmer folder 

C:\Program Files\Cypress\Programmer\3.16\Service\ftk_3_simfw.hex

Regards,

Rolf

And even if they didn't, the firmware is either stored in the external Eeprom and/or loaded through USB, as there's no FLASH / ROM inside the FX2LP....

Rolf.

 Yes. You can use the firmware available in the path mentioned by Rolf. You might need to write the VID & PID of DVKProg5 into your EEPROM connected to the FX2. So when it is connected to PC, it will download the hex file from the above location and will act as a programmer/debugger for PSoC 5.

Note: You can't do this on your production boards as the VID/PID are proprietry to Cypress.

So using firmware is great for educational purposes. If one wants to use it commercially, he should contact Cypress. 

Regards, Rolf

I did a post in Creator forum about the importance to the community

for this capability. Just a suggestion but comment on the post for

those of you that concur, see if we can generate some attention at

Cypress.

http://www.cypress.com/?app=forum&id=2492&rID=72003

Regards, Dana.

It is really easy to build a cheap programmer/debugger based on the EZ-USB FX2 chips. I found out about it about a year ago and posted my findings on dangerousprototypes.com. http://dangerousprototypes.com/2011/11/11/ez-usb-fx1-based-psoc-35-programmer/

I first used an FX1 (cheaper than the FX2) and then went on and used a FX2. it workes like a charm We use it always on out university and have been able to program/debug like 7 different PSOC3s and PSOC5s (would like to try more but I don't have them :P)

we use it at my university but I really doubt you can use it on commercial products without permission. Althought, the guy from the FreeSOC boards on kickstarter is using it. I wonder if he has permission to use it. (I really doubt he developed his own firmware).

 BTW, you can't use Cypress VID/PID. But you can modify some EZ-USB FX2 driver (.inf) files (2 lines) to allow it to service your own VID/PID and upload the programmer firmware automagically.