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dsap Flashing Instructions (production)

dsap operator use is Windows-only. For command details and developer troubleshooting, see dsap Flashing Instructions (development).

Purpose

Use these instructions on an Assembly Laptop to:

  1. Flash firmware to the MSP430 MCU.
  2. Upload the device certificate bundle to the SARA module.
  3. Set the final device parameters during production.

Prerequisites

Before starting, confirm the following:

  1. The Assembly Laptop has completed the dsap Setup Instructions.
  2. Windows PowerShell is available on the Assembly Laptop.
  3. The assembled device is ready for firmware flashing.
  4. The traveler or work order identifies the required firmware tag.
  5. The traveler or work order identifies the required gel sensing threshold and envelope voltage. [TODO: Need to flesh this out]
  6. The Assembly Laptop has BioT API access configured as described in the setup instructions.
  7. The Assembly Laptop has MSP430 Flasher installed under the standard C:\TI\MSPFlasher_* or C:\TI\MSP430Flasher_* installation directory, or the actual flasher executable path is known for use with dsap mcu --flasher.

Use latest as the firmware tag only when the traveler or work order explicitly authorizes it. Otherwise, use the exact firmware tag provided. Use beta or release candidate firmware tags only when the traveler or work order explicitly lists the exact prerelease tag, such as v1.0.1-beta.1.

Equipment and Materials

Confirm the following equipment and materials are available:

Quantity Equipment Number Description
1 EQT-0001 Sonogen Assembly Laptop
1 EQT-0009 Sonogen Flashing Module
1 EQT-0010 Sonogen Flashing Module Cable
1 EQT-0011 MSP-FET (Flash Emulation Tool)
1 EQT-0012 USB Programming Cable
1 SON-0901 Assembled Device

Flashing Module Switches

Use these Sonogen Flashing Module switches for each operation:

Operation Switch
MCU flashing U2
Certificate upload U3
Parameter setting U4

1. Flash the MCU Firmware

1.1 Prepare the Hardware

  1. Boot the Sonogen Assembly Laptop into Windows.
  2. Connect the MSP-FET to the Assembly Laptop.
  3. Connect the 14-pin connector from the MSP-FET to the Sonogen Flashing Module.
  4. Connect the Sonogen Flashing Module to the assembled device.

Operator STOP: Before continuing, stop and set flashing module switches U2, U3, and U4 up. Do not continue until all three switches are up.

1.2 Find the MSP-FET COM Port

Open Windows PowerShell in the MSP430 Flasher installation directory and run this command:

MSP430Flasher.exe -n NO_TARGET -i DETECT

The command lists connected FET debuggers, checks FET firmware compatibility, and may prompt you to select one. Example output for a FET with up-to-date firmware:

* -----/|------------------------------------------------------------- *
*     / |__                                                            *
*    /_   /   MSP Flasher v1.3.20                                      *
*      | /                                                             *
* -----|/------------------------------------------------------------- *
*
* Evaluating triggers...done
* Executing FET detection sweep:
 - 1: MSP-FET @ COM7
 - Select FET number: 1
* Initializing interface @ COM7...done
* Checking firmware compatibility:
* FET firmware is up to date.
*
* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
* Driver      : closed (No error)
* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
*/

If prompted, enter the number for the MSP-FET. In the example above, enter 1.

Write down only the COM port number for use in section 1.3. For example, write down 7 for COM7. This is for local reference during flashing and is not a traveler record.

1.3 Run dsap mcu

Open Windows PowerShell and run this command, replacing <TAG> with the firmware tag and <PORT> with the MSP-FET COM port number:

dsap mcu <TAG> --port <PORT>

Example:

dsap mcu latest --port 7

Wait for dsap to report that firmware flashing completed successfully. Record the firmware version number from this message on the traveler:

Device flashed with firmware version: <firmware version number>

Do not continue until MCU flashing succeeds.

2. Generate the Serial Number and Certificate Bundle

Open Windows PowerShell and run:

dsap serial --create

Follow the prompts to generate the device serial number and record it on the traveler. dsap serial --create also:

  1. creates a PDF device label under C:\Users\<USER>\dsap\labels;
  2. creates the device object in the BioT cloud;
  3. downloads the certificate bundle and saves it under C:\Users\<USER>\dsap\certificates.

Example output for model SB01, device code M, date 2026-05-18, and sequence number 0001:

Device serial number: SB01M2605180001
          Device UID: (01)10860013789401(21)SB01M2605180001
Device label created: C:\Users\<USER>\dsap\labels\SB01M2605180001.pdf
        Authenticating to BioT ✅
        Setting BioT Unique ID ✅
Downloading certificate bundle ✅
Certificate bundle downloaded: C:\Users\<USER>\dsap\certificates\SB01M2605180001.zip

At the end of the run, dsap prints the full certificate bundle path. Note that path for use in section 3.3. The certificate bundle path and Device UID shown are not traveler records.

Do not continue until dsap serial --create succeeds.

3. Upload Device Certificates

3.1 Prepare the Hardware

  1. Disconnect the 14-pin MSP-FET connector from the Sonogen Flashing Module.
  2. Connect the USB Programming Cable between the Assembly Laptop and the Sonogen Flashing Module.

Operator STOP: Before continuing, stop and flip certificate upload switch U3 down, press the reset button, then flip U3 back up. Do not continue until U3 is back up.

3.2 Find the USB Serial COM Port

  1. Open Device Manager on the Assembly Laptop.
  2. Expand Ports (COM & LPT).
  3. Find the COM port assigned to the USB serial connection.
  4. Note only the number for use in sections 3.3 and 4.2. For example, note 7 for COM7. This is not a traveler record.

3.3 Run dsap sara

Open Windows PowerShell and run this command, replacing <PATH> with the full certificate bundle path and <PORT> with the USB serial COM port number:

dsap sara "<PATH>" --port <PORT>

Example:

dsap sara "C:\Users\<USER>\dsap\certificates\<serial-number>.zip" --port 7

Wait for dsap to report:

SARA configuration successful

Do not continue until certificate upload succeeds.

4. Set Device Parameters

4.1 Prepare the Hardware

  1. Keep the USB Programming Cable connected between the Assembly Laptop and the Sonogen Flashing Module.

Operator STOP: Before continuing, stop and flip parameter setting switch U4 down, press the reset button, then flip U4 back up. Do not continue until U4 is back up.

Use the same USB serial COM port number found in section 3.2.

4.2 Run dsap params

Open Windows PowerShell and run this command, replacing <PORT> with the USB serial COM port number:

dsap params --port <PORT>

Example:

dsap params --port 7

When prompted, enter or confirm the required values:

  1. Client ID from the certificate bundle, unless the traveler or work order requires a different non-empty value.
  2. Gel sensing threshold from the traveler or work order. [TODO: Check this]
  3. Envelope voltage from the traveler or work order. [TODO: Check this]

If the envelope voltage is 0, dsap warns that the device will be a sham device and asks for confirmation. Continue only when the traveler or work order requires a sham device.

Wait for dsap to report that all device parameter-setting steps completed successfully. Do not disconnect the hardware until the port close stage completes.

5. Final Checks

Before releasing the device from this station:

  1. Confirm MCU flashing completed successfully.
  2. Confirm certificate upload completed successfully.
  3. Confirm device parameter setting completed successfully.
  4. Confirm all required items are recorded on the traveler.

6. Troubleshooting Notes

  1. If dsap mcu fails before flashing, verify the firmware tag and the MSP-FET COM port number.
  2. If dsap mcu reports that the MSP430 flash utility is not found, stop and notify Sonogen Development or the station owner.
  3. If Windows does not recognize the MSP-FET, stop and notify Sonogen Development or the station owner. The station owner should verify MSP430 Flasher and the TI MSP430 FET Drivers were installed as a Windows Administrator.
  4. If dsap sara or dsap params cannot open the port, verify the USB serial COM port number in Device Manager.
  5. Enter only the COM port number with --port. Use --port 7, not --port COM7.
  6. If dsap serial --create fails, stop and notify Sonogen Development or the station owner.
  7. If the certificate upload fails while staging certificates, verify that the selected file is the device certificate bundle .zip file.
  8. If dsap params shows the wrong client ID, answer n and enter the correct non-empty value from the traveler or work order. The Client ID must be no more than 32 characters long.

References

  1. dsap Setup Instructions
  2. dsap Flashing Instructions (development)
  3. TI MSP430 FET Drivers page: https://software-dl.ti.com/msp430/msp430_public_sw/mcu/msp430/MSP430_FET_Drivers/latest/index_FDS.html