How to use ST_Link Programmer from STM32F411RE Nucleo Board to Program STM32F303RE Chip

[Zhiyong Wu]

Posted on January 04, 2018 at 03:01

Hi, I have a ST_Link Programmer that was cut off from STM32F411RE Nucleo 64 Board (zero ohms resistors SB12, 13, 14, and 15 have been also removed). I have been use it to program a stand alone STM32F411RE chip with no problem.

Currently I am doing a project that is using STM32F303RE Nucleo 64 Board and I have a custom made PCB with STM32F303RE chip on it. I tried to use the same ST_Link Programmer to program the chip by connect the 6 pins from the programmer to the chips, but it does not work. The pins are connected the same as how I connect my programmer to the nucleo board.

When I connect the programmer to STM32F411RE chip:

Programmer

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

STM32F411RE MCU Chip

 Left Pin from JP1 (next to USB Power)- - - - - - - - -VDDA (Pin 13)SWCLK (CN4-2)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -PA14 (Pin 49)GND (CN4-3)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -VSSA (Pin 12)SWDIO (CN4-4)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -PA13 (Pin 46)NRST (CN4-5)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -NRST (Pin 7)SWO (CN4-6)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -PB3 (Pin 55) With the connection above, I can program my STM32F411RE chip with external ST-Link programmer that I cut off before. Everything works fine.And then I connected the same programmer to my STM32F303RE Chip with exactly the same connections.This time, when I connect the program to my computer, same storage disk (NODE_F303RE (D:)) has jumped out, however, in stead of usual two files ( DETAILS.TXT and MBED.HTM), there is one additional file called FAIL.TXT, and when I opened it out, it shows: The interface firmware FAILED to reset/halt the target MCU.I am not sure how to fixed this, if anyone can help, that would be appreciated.

PS. I have also tried to connect the external programmer to a STM32F303RE Nucleo board with same connection as above, and I was able to program the board. Datasheets show that both STM32F411RE and STM32F303RE are similar and has almost the same pins. One possible reason that I can think of is that the STM32F303RE chip that I bought is faulty.

Thank you

[Tesla DeLorean]

Posted on January 05, 2018 at 18:29

Going to need critically at the custom board. If you exposed USART1 PA9/PA10 you should try the System Loader (BOOT0=High, Reset) by sending the 0x7F pattern at 9600 8E1, and checking for the 0x7F response byte.

Check VDD/VDDA

Check NRST logic level

Check part orientation and pin numbering in design

[Zhiyong Wu]

Posted on January 17, 2018 at 06:50

All checked, just wondering the connections that I  mentioned in the question is correct or not.

[Zhiyong Wu]

Posted on January 17, 2018 at 06:51

Hey T J, Could you please show me how you connect the chip with programming board? Just wondering if there is any difference in the connections that may cause the problem.

[T J]

Posted on January 17, 2018 at 07:31

[Zhiyong Wu]

Posted on January 29, 2018 at 06:20

I tried with the programmer that I cut off from Nucleo STM32F303RE Board. it did not give me the FAIL.TXT, however, when I program the chip with Keil, it said that: No Target has been found. I am not sure what is going on tho.

Programmer from STM32F411RE Nucleo board with STM32F411RE: No FAIL.TXT, Programmable

Programmer from STM32F411RE Nucleo Board with STM32F303RE: FAIL.TXT, Not Programmable

Programmer from STM32F411RE Nucleo Board with nothing: FAIL.TXT

Programmer from STM32F303RE Nucleo Board with STM32F411RE: No FAIL.TXT, Programmable

Programmer from STM32F303RE Nucleo Board with STM32F303RE: No FAIL.TXT, Not Programmable

Programmer from STM32F303RE Nucleo Board with nothing: No FAIL.TXT

Any Idea will be helpful. Thank you.

[T J]

Posted on January 29, 2018 at 07:00

It looks like you have 2x 303RE boards, maybe one of them is faulty.

[Zhiyong Wu]

Posted on January 29, 2018 at 07:27

I have one programmer cut off from 411RE Board, one programmer cut off from 303RE Board, one 411RE stand alone chip, one 303RE stand alone chip. and I am trying to use the programmer to program the chip, with 411RE chip, it is working, but not the 303RE chip

[T J]

Posted on January 29, 2018 at 09:21

I seems to me that your 303 chip may be dead already, as you suspected at the start of this question.

can you order / try another chip ?

PB11 is the only pin that is different between the 303RE and 411RE

[Zhiyong Wu]

Posted on March 07, 2018 at 06:54

Hi T J! I finally found the solution. The chip is not faulty. I purchased another working 303RE board, desolder the chip and test, it was not working, and then I solder the chip back to the board, the board is still working. So I checked the schematic diagram of the board and finally found the solution.

All other connection are good. But for STM32F303RE, we need to connect VDD and VDDA together to supply power to both of them. Once I did that, I am able to program the stand alone chip.