English
Language : 

SLAU330A Datasheet, PDF (24/36 Pages) Texas Instruments – MSP-EXP430F5529 Experimenter Board
Frequently Asked Questions, References, and Schematics
5 Frequently Asked Questions, References, and Schematics
www.ti.com
5.1 Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which devices can be programmed with the Experimenter Board?
The MSP-EXP430F5529 board is designed specifically to demonstrate the MSP430F5529.
2. The MSP430F5529 is no longer accessible via JTAG. Is something wrong with the device?
Verify that the jumpers are configured correctly. See Section 4 for jumper configuration.
Verify that the target device is powered properly.
If the target is powered locally, verify that the supplied VCC is sufficient to power the board. Check the
device data sheet for the specification.
3. I did every step in the previous question but still could not use or communicate with the device.
Improper programming of the device could lead to a JTAG total lockup condition. The cause of this
problem might be an incorrect device selection when creating a new project in CCS (select
MSP430F5529) or programming the device without a stable power source (low battery, switching the
Power Selector while programming, or absence of the MSP430 power jumper JP6 during
programming).
To solve this, completely reset the device. First unplug all power sources and connections (JTAG and
USB cables). Set the Power Selector Switch to FET mode. Use a jumper cable to briefly short one of
the GND test points with the 430 PWR test point. The device should now be released from the lockup
state.
4. Does the Experimenter board protect against blowing the JTAG fuse of the target device?
No. Fuse blow capability is inherent to all flash-based MSP430 devices to protect user's intellectual
property. Care must be taken to avoid the enabling of the fuse blow option during programming,
because blowing the fuse would prevent further access to the MSP430 device via JTAG.
5. I am measuring system current in the range of 30 mA, is this normal?
The LCD and the LCD backlight require a large amount of current (approximately 20 mA to 25 mA) to
operate. This results in a total system current consumption in the range of 30 mA. If the LCD backlight
is on, 30 mA is considered normal.
To ensure the board is OK, disable the LCD and the LCD backlight and measure the current again.
The entire board current consumption should not exceed 10 mA at this state. Note that the current
consumption of the board could vary greatly depending on the optimization of the board configurations
and the applications.
The expected current consumption for the MSP430F5529 in standby mode (LPM3), for example, is
~2 μA. Operating at 1 MHz, the total current consumption should not exceed ~280 μA.
6. I have trouble reading the LCD clearly. Why is the LCD contrast setting so low?
The LCD contrast is highly dependent on the voltage of the system. Changing power source from USB
(3.3 V) to batteries (~3 V) could drastically reduce the contrast. Fortunately, the LCD driver supports
adjustable contrast. The specific instruction can be found in the LCD user's guide. The
MSP-EXP430F5529 software also provides the function to adjust the contrast using the wheel (see
Section 2.8).
7. When I run the example code, nothing happens on the LCD.
Verify that all jumpers are installed correctly and the 14-pin JTAG cable are properly connected.
5.2 References
• MSP430x5xx/MSP430x6xx Family User's Guide (SLAU208)
• Code Composer Studio (CCStudio) Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
(http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/msp-ccstudio.html)
• MSP430 Interface to CC1100/2500 Code Library (PDF: SLAA325) (Associated Files: SLAA325.ZIP)
24
MSP-EXP430F5529 Experimenter Board
SLAU330A – May 2011 – Revised June 2011
Copyright © 2011, Texas Instruments Incorporated
Submit Documentation Feedback