SLAU358Q September 2011 – October 2019
The MSP Gang Programmer for the MSP430 and MSP432 microcontrollers can program up to eight of the same MSP flash or FRAM devices at one time. The MSP Gang Programmer connects to a host PC using a standard RS-232 or USB connection and provides flexible programming options that allow the user to fully customize the process. Figure 1-1 shows a top-level view of the MSP Gang Programmer.
The MSP Gang Programmer is not a gang programmer in the traditional sense, in that there are not eight sockets to program target devices. Instead, the MSP Gang Programmer connects to target devices that are mounted in the final circuit or system. The MSP Gang Programmer accesses the target devices through connectors that use JTAG, Serial-Wire Debug (SWD), Spy-Bi-Wire (SBW), or bootloader (BSL) signals.
The MSP Gang Programmer includes an expansion board, called the Gang Splitter, that connects the MSP Gang Programmer to multiple target devices. Eight cables connect the Gang Splitter to eight target devices (through JTAG, SWD, SBW, or BSL connectors). For MSP432 MCUs, an adapter kit (MSP-GANG-432ADPTR) can convert from 14-pin JTAG connectors to 20-pin Arm connectors.
Section 2 describes how to use the MSP Gang Programmer to program target devices. This chapter describes the modes of operation and how to choose the method of programming. This chapter also describes the user interface that defines how to program the target device.
Section 3 describes firmware commands that give low-level control of the programming process. The commands correspond to specific actions that the programmer can perform. The MSP Gang Programmer connects to a host computer through a RS-232 or USB port to receive the commands. Often, you must use the commands in groups or in a specific order to ensure proper behavior.
Section 4 describes Gang430.dll, MSP-GANG.dll, and the functions that are available through them.
Section 5 contains an I/O schematic that shows how signals from the MSP Gang Programmer go to each target device through an MSP-standard JTAG, SWD, SBW, or BSL connector. To make a traditional gang programmer, you can change the circuit to connect the signals to the target device pins directly through a socket.