The Mini-BDM-Pod is a USB-to-BDM interface. It has been designed to run Gordon Doughman's D-Bug12X(Z) firmware.
Latest Updates:
03 Jan 2015 - Second Order of RevB Boards Has Arrived
A new order of Mini-BDM-Pods has arrived. I had reordered the RevB design without changes, as there have been no bugs found so far.
08 Jul 2013 - Bootloader
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<h3>This is where you’ll find the bootloader for the D-Bug12XZ firmware:</h3>
The D-Bug12XZ Firmware needs a bootloader(BDMPgmr bootloader) to run. This piece of firmware is included in Frescale’s LFBDMPGMRFW software package. This software is provided as a windows installer, which must be run. Afterwards the bootloader is located in a directory named “Firmware” within the installation directory (i.e C:\Program Files\Freescale\BDMProgrammer\Firmware\S12XEBoot.S19).
The Bootloader is the only firmware code, which must be programmed into the Mini-BDM-Pod via the “BDM IN” interface. The initial loading and updationg of the D-Bug12XZ Firmware itself can be done with the help of the bootloader via the USB interface.
To invoke the bootloader menu, the “bootloader”-jumper must be closed when the Mini-BDM-Pod is powered up.
08 Jan 2013 - D-Bug12XZv6 released
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<p>Version 6 of the <a href="http://cache.nxp.com/files/soft_dev_tools/software/programmers/D-Bug12XZv6FW.zip" title="D-Bug12XZv6">D-Bug12 Firmware</a> is now available for download at the <a href="http://www.nxp.com/webapp/search/Serp.jsp?QueryText=d-bug12xz&SelectedAsset=Design+Tools">Frescale web site</a> .<br /> <a href="http://cache.nxp.com/files/soft_dev_tools/software/programmers/D-Bug12XZv6FW.zip">D-Bug12XZv6</a> is the new recommended firmware for the Mini-<span class="caps">BDM</span>-Pod.<br /> In addition to the features of the previous version (<a href="http://cache.nxp.com/files/soft_dev_tools/software/programmers/D-Bug12Xv5FW.zip">D-Bug12Xv5</a> ), Verson 6 supports <a href="http://www.nxp.com/webapp/sps/site/taxonomy.jsp?code=S12MAGNIVMCU">NXP’s new MagniV devices</a> (incl. the new S12Z <span class="caps">CPU</span>).</p>
02 Aug 2012 - How Much Does It Cost to Build a Mini-BDM-Pod?
One of the goals of the Mini-BDM-Pod was to make it inexpensive to build. This is the sum of my material costs:
| Item | Unit Cost per No. of Units | Supplier | ||
| 1 | 5 | 10 | ||
| 10 PCBs (EUR 7.70) | 7.70 EUR | 1.54 EUR | 0.77 EUR | Seeed Studio |
| 10 Enclosures (EUR 9.72) | 9.72 EUR | 1.94 EUR | 0.97 EUR | Seeed Studio |
| Shipping (EUR 5.83) | 5.83 EUR | 1.17 EUR | 0.58 EUR | Seeed Studio |
| MC9S12XEQ512 (samples) | 0.93 EUR | 0.93 EUR | 0.93 EUR | Freescale |
| MAX3373 (samples) | free | free | free | Maxim |
| FT232RL | 3.15 EUR | 3.15 EUR | 3.15 EUR | Reichelt |
| Discrete components | 2.67 EUR | 2.67 EUR | 2.67 EUR | Reichelt |
| Shipping (EUR 5.60) | 5.60 EUR | 1.12 EUR | 0.56 EUR | Reichelt |
| Screws (EUR 2.51/50) | 2.51 EUR | 0.50 EUR | 0.25 EUR | Ebay |
| Nuts (EUR 3.45/100) | 3.45 EUR | 0.69 EUR | 0.35 EUR | Ebay |
| Shipping (EUR 1.50) | 1.50 EUR | 0.30 EUR | 0.15 EUR | Ebay |
| Total unit cost | 43.06 EUR | 14.01 EUR | 10.38 EUR | |
| 53.16 USD | 17.30 USD | 12.82 USD | ||
In other words, it cost about 43 Euros (approx. 53 USD) to build the first Mini-BDM-Pod. The second one and all later ones only cost 6.75 Euros (approx. 8.30 USD). If you intend to build larger quantities of Mini-BDM-Pods, you’ll also have to consider the regular price of the MCU (MC9S12XEQ512) and the level shifter (MAX3373).
31 Jul 2012 - RevB Boards Assembled
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<p>The first set of RevB pods has been assembled and tested. D-Bug12X runs just fine on them. No further problems have been found.</p>
06 Jun 2012 - Project Listed on Upverter.com
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<p>The <strong>Mini-<span class="caps">BDM</span>-Pod</strong> project is now listed on <a href="//upverter.com/hotwolf/bf194eb612279394/Mini-BDM-Pod/">upverter.com</a>.</p>
05 Jun 2012 - RevB Boards Have Arrived
The RevB PCBs came in the mail.
29 May 2012 - First Pod Assembled
The first Mini-BDM-Pod (RevA) has been assembled. It is basically working, but it has a severe layout bug: The connections of the MAX3373 level shifter are mixed up:
The RevA PCB is still usable if the level shifter is bypassed, but then it will only suppoert 5V targets.
On my prototye, I soldered in the MAX3373 on pins 1, 2, and 3. I tried to fix the remaining connections with copper wire, but I had to give up when the solder pads came off the PCB. I ended up using the free space for an additional jumper to power the target with the USB’s supply voltage:
Since I broke off the MAX7737s solder pads, I had to connect the target’s BKGD and RESET pins with copper wire.
The new boards (RevB) have already been ordered. I hope I’ll have better luck with those.