1.2 UART Fail Safe Bootloader

This example application shows how to use the Bootloader Library to bootload an application on device having dual flash bank feature using UART protocol.

Bootloader Application

• This is a fail safe bootloader application which resides from

  • The starting location of both the banks of device flash memory region for SAM devices with dual bank support

  • The starting location of the Boot flash memory region for PIC32M devices with dual bank support

• It uses the Virtual Com port of the device (EDBG port or External USB to UART converters) to receive application binary from host PC

• It calls the bootloader_Tasks() function which receives application to be programmed into opposite bank of flash memory over UART channel

• Trigger methods

  • It uses the On board Switch as bootloader trigger pin to force enter the bootloader at reset of device

  • It checks for bootloader request pattern (0x5048434D) from the starting 16 Bytes of RAM to force enter bootloader at reset of device

Test Application

• This is a test application which resides from

  • The end of bootloader size in device flash memory for SAM devices with dual bank support

  • The start of Program Flash memory for PIC32MZ, PIC32MK devices with dual bank support

    • The last ROW of each bank is reserved for storing the serial number which is updated by bootloader after every firmware upgrade

• It will be loaded into flash memory by bootloader application

• It blinks an LED and provides console output

• It uses the On board Switch to trigger the bootloader from firmware (May not be supported on all devices)

  • Once the switch is pressed it loads first 16 bytes of RAM with bootloader request pattern (0x5048434D) and resets the device

Development Kits

The following table provides links to documentation on how to build and run UART Fail Safe bootloader on different development kits