Looking for advice on mixing ARM and xmos
Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2021 3:05 pm
Looks like I will need to use an ARM device in a new project together with xmos devices.
I'll need to provide for in-system reprogramming, and I'm planning to provide an xTAG in the product with its USB port exposed. I'm hoping the QSPI flash for the xmos subsystem to also contain an image for the ARM system. At boot, the xmos and ARM devices both boot from their respective flash devices, and then an xmos device downloads an executable image to the ARM device, which runs it from RAM.
The problems with this approach are:
1) No in-system debug for the ARM subsystem - which isn't a problem for field upgrades.
2) No in-system update of the ARM boot loader, which again shouldn't be a problem if it's simple enough.
Regarding point 2, it would be possible to download an image to the ARM system that it then uses to upgrade itself, but this has some risks - e.g. bricking due to power failure.
Have you tried doing something like this? Any pitfalls or advice?
Thanks!
I'll need to provide for in-system reprogramming, and I'm planning to provide an xTAG in the product with its USB port exposed. I'm hoping the QSPI flash for the xmos subsystem to also contain an image for the ARM system. At boot, the xmos and ARM devices both boot from their respective flash devices, and then an xmos device downloads an executable image to the ARM device, which runs it from RAM.
The problems with this approach are:
1) No in-system debug for the ARM subsystem - which isn't a problem for field upgrades.
2) No in-system update of the ARM boot loader, which again shouldn't be a problem if it's simple enough.
Regarding point 2, it would be possible to download an image to the ARM system that it then uses to upgrade itself, but this has some risks - e.g. bricking due to power failure.
Have you tried doing something like this? Any pitfalls or advice?
Thanks!