ESP32-S3 USB Usage

[frankcohen]

Board

Reflections ESP32-S3-Mini custom board, similar to Adafruit Feather S3

Device Description

I'm building an ESP32-based wrist watch to show movies of my kids. It's an open-source platform (https://github.com/frankcohen/ReflectionsOS). I'm using the built-in USB support in ESP32-S3 and building code using Arduino IDE 2.1.0. I haven't written my own board definition yet, so I'm using the Adafruit Feather ESP32-S3 No PSRAM board.

Hardware Configuration

USB port is connected to the normal ESP32-S3 pins for communication, power, and reset.

Version

v2.0.9

IDE Name

Arduino IDE 2.1.0

Operating System

MacOS 13.3.1 (Ventura)

Flash frequency

80 Mhz

PSRAM enabled

no

Upload speed

921600

Description

Most of the time I have to go through these steps to get the board to accept a new code upload:

• Hold Boot down, press and release Reset (Reset is closer USB port)
• From pop-up "Select other board and port", choose Adafruit Feather ESP32-S3 No PSRAM and USB port
• Upload
• Press Boot, then press Reset
• Re-open the Serial Monitor

esptool.py reports "Hard resetting via RTS pin..." yet I need to press Boot, then press Reset to get the sketch to run. Espressif appears aware of this problem and has no solution yet. #6762

CDC support is incompatible with TinyUSB. That doesn't bother me yet. I'm expecting I will soon enable Over The Air OTA uploads and will use USB only for providing power.

I'd like to move on to Platform.IO and JTAG debugging. That just seems like another can of worms. The Platform.IO interface seems confusing to me, and I'm thinking I'll have the same USB problems.

What are you using? Am I missing something?

-Frank

Sketch

#include <Arduino.h>

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  Serial.setDebugOutput(true);
  long time = millis();
  while (!Serial && ( millis() < time + 5000) ); // wait up to 5 seconds for Arduino Serial Monitor  
  delay(2000);
  Serial.println(" ");
  Serial.println("Test");

}

int i = 0;

void loop() {
  Serial.println( i++ );
  delay(500);
}

Debug Message

Sketch uses 359541 bytes (17%) of program storage space. Maximum is 2097152 bytes.
Global variables use 43028 bytes (13%) of dynamic memory, leaving 284652 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 327680 bytes.
Performing 1200-bps touch reset on serial port /dev/cu.usbmodem14301
Waiting for upload port...
No upload port found, using /dev/cu.usbmodem14301 as fallback
"/Users/frankcohen/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp32/tools/esptool_py/4.5.1/esptool" --chip esp32s3 --port "/dev/cu.usbmodem14301" --baud 921600  --before default_reset --after hard_reset write_flash  -z --flash_mode dio --flash_freq 80m --flash_size 8MB 0x0 "/private/var/folders/8y/z6t4zfcs2611ddcwsm1cg1080000gn/T/arduino/sketches/D4A47B7A0DB94325FA4038B7D88EA811/AccelGestureDTW.ino.bootloader.bin" 0x8000 "/private/var/folders/8y/z6t4zfcs2611ddcwsm1cg1080000gn/T/arduino/sketches/D4A47B7A0DB94325FA4038B7D88EA811/AccelGestureDTW.ino.partitions.bin" 0xe000 "/Users/frankcohen/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp32/hardware/esp32/2.0.9/tools/partitions/boot_app0.bin" 0x10000 "/private/var/folders/8y/z6t4zfcs2611ddcwsm1cg1080000gn/T/arduino/sketches/D4A47B7A0DB94325FA4038B7D88EA811/AccelGestureDTW.ino.bin" 0x410000 "/Users/frankcohen/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp32/hardware/esp32/2.0.9/variants/adafruit_feather_esp32s3_nopsram/tinyuf2.bin"
esptool.py v4.5.1
Serial port /dev/cu.usbmodem14301
Connecting...
Chip is ESP32-S3 (revision v0.1)
Features: WiFi, BLE
Crystal is 40MHz
MAC: 60:55:f9:f5:7e:14
Uploading stub...
Running stub...
Stub running...
Changing baud rate to 921600
Changed.
Configuring flash size...
Flash will be erased from 0x00000000 to 0x00005fff...
Flash will be erased from 0x00008000 to 0x00008fff...
Flash will be erased from 0x0000e000 to 0x0000ffff...
Flash will be erased from 0x00010000 to 0x00067fff...
Flash will be erased from 0x00410000 to 0x00438fff...
Compressed 22624 bytes to 14245...
Writing at 0x00000000... (100 %)
Wrote 22624 bytes (14245 compressed) at 0x00000000 in 0.4 seconds (effective 417.7 kbit/s)...
Hash of data verified.
Compressed 3072 bytes to 136...
Writing at 0x00008000... (100 %)
Wrote 3072 bytes (136 compressed) at 0x00008000 in 0.1 seconds (effective 487.2 kbit/s)...
Hash of data verified.
Compressed 8192 bytes to 47...
Writing at 0x0000e000... (100 %)
Wrote 8192 bytes (47 compressed) at 0x0000e000 in 0.1 seconds (effective 638.0 kbit/s)...
Hash of data verified.
Compressed 359904 bytes to 209872...
Writing at 0x00010000... (7 %)
Writing at 0x0001a3be... (15 %)
Writing at 0x0002740f... (23 %)
Writing at 0x0002ca1b... (30 %)
Writing at 0x000327c2... (38 %)
Writing at 0x0003818e... (46 %)
Writing at 0x0003d919... (53 %)
Writing at 0x00042ed4... (61 %)
Writing at 0x00047f74... (69 %)
Writing at 0x0004d21a... (76 %)
Writing at 0x00052749... (84 %)
Writing at 0x0005ac36... (92 %)
Writing at 0x000634e7... (100 %)
Wrote 359904 bytes (209872 compressed) at 0x00010000 in 3.9 seconds (effective 744.8 kbit/s)...
Hash of data verified.
Compressed 165536 bytes to 106746...
Writing at 0x00410000... (14 %)
Writing at 0x00418667... (28 %)
Writing at 0x0041dbce... (42 %)
Writing at 0x0042459a... (57 %)
Writing at 0x0042a572... (71 %)
Writing at 0x0042feab... (85 %)
Writing at 0x004352c0... (100 %)
Wrote 165536 bytes (106746 compressed) at 0x00410000 in 1.9 seconds (effective 686.3 kbit/s)...
Hash of data verified.

Leaving...
Hard resetting via RTS pin...

Other Steps to Reproduce

I also tried to run esptool.py directly, same result... the cannot get a response from the ESP32-S3.

I have checked existing issues, online documentation and the Troubleshooting Guide

• I confirm I have checked existing issues, online documentation and Troubleshooting guide.

[me-no-dev]

You are using the OTG USB peripheral, instead of the integrated CDC+JTAG. That port can not reset from download mode. If you do not need the USB for things other than serial port and JTAG, I suggest you switch to use that mode. You can also use the ESP32-S3 Dev Board definition, because it offers all options and does not use a custom bootloaders, etc., like the Adafruit boards. They are mostly meant to be used with MSC UF2 (drop a file in a USB storage device)

[frankcohen]

Thanks for the reply @me-no-dev. I received an ESP32-S3-DevKitM-1 board. I connect it to my Mac Book Pro over USB, and not the UART. I select ESP32-S3-USB-OTG and the port. Yet, I cannot get the board to upload code. I get an error. Here is the behavior I see in Arduino IDE 2.1:

Sketch uses 258301 bytes (19%) of program storage space. Maximum is 1310720 bytes.
Global variables use 19496 bytes (5%) of dynamic memory, leaving 308184 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 327680 bytes.
Performing 1200-bps touch reset on serial port /dev/cu.usbmodem1234561
Waiting for upload port...
No upload port found, using /dev/cu.usbmodem1234561 as fallback
"/Users/frankcohen/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp32/tools/esptool_py/4.5.1/esptool" --chip esp32s3 --port "/dev/cu.usbmodem1234561" --baud 921600  --before default_reset --after hard_reset write_flash  -z --flash_mode dio --flash_freq 80m --flash_size 8MB 0x0 "/private/var/folders/8y/z6t4zfcs2611ddcwsm1cg1080000gn/T/arduino/sketches/7E6873437A0CB0B0CF5921C73E32951B/sketch_may21a.ino.bootloader.bin" 0x8000 "/private/var/folders/8y/z6t4zfcs2611ddcwsm1cg1080000gn/T/arduino/sketches/7E6873437A0CB0B0CF5921C73E32951B/sketch_may21a.ino.partitions.bin" 0xe000 "/Users/frankcohen/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp32/hardware/esp32/2.0.9/tools/partitions/boot_app0.bin" 0x10000 "/private/var/folders/8y/z6t4zfcs2611ddcwsm1cg1080000gn/T/arduino/sketches/7E6873437A0CB0B0CF5921C73E32951B/sketch_may21a.ino.bin" 
esptool.py v4.5.1
Serial port /dev/cu.usbmodem1234561
Connecting......................................

A fatal error occurred: Failed to connect to ESP32-S3: No serial data received.
For troubleshooting steps visit: https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esptool/en/latest/troubleshooting.html
Failed uploading: uploading error: exit status 2

I see this in the Serial monitor:

�[0;32mI (2121188) example: log -> USB�[0m
example: print -> stdout
example: print -> stderr
�[0;32mI (2122688) example: log -> USB�[0m
example: print -> stdout
example: print -> stderr
�[0;32mI (2124188) example: log -> USB�[0m
example: print -> stdout
example: print -> stderr

How do I upload a sketch and let it run without pressing buttons?

-Frank

[dsilletti]

please follow this guide, for the 1st upload you must put the board in DFU mode manually, the it will put the device in DFU, upload and reset the board automatically using the embedded USB controller in the ESP32-S3 https://www.hackster.io/hanguyen92205/program-debug-esp32s3-via-usb-serial-onchip-with-arduino-eeead3

[SuGlider]

@frankcohen - In order to make the S3 work seamless for uploading and reseting the board after uploading, please use the USB HW (JTAG/CDC) configuration. It can be selected in the IDE Menu:

USB Mode ==> Hardware CDC and JTAG
USB CDC On Boot ==> Enabled
Upload Mode ==> UART0 / Hardware CDC

Upload any sketch to activate it for the next time.
Serial will work in the USB CDC port of the board.
Serial0 is UART 0, Serial 1 is UART 1 and so on.

[frankcohen]

Thank you Rodrigo, very kind to post these instructions. May I ask you another question: I have an Espressif ESP-Prog board for JTAG debugging. I connect it to GPIO39, 40, 41, 42. What are the Arduino IDE settings to use that?

…

-Frank

On May 25, 2023, at 1:57 PM, Rodrigo Garcia ***@***.***> wrote: @frankcohen <https://github.com/frankcohen> - In order to make the S3 work seamless for uploading and reseting the board after uploading, please use the USB HW (JTAG/CDC) configuration. It can be selected in the IDE Menu: USB Mode ==> Hardware CDC and JTAG USB CDC On Boot ==> Enabled Upload Mode ==> UART0 / Hardware CDC Upload any sketch to activate it for the next time. Serial will work in the USB CDC port of the board. Serial0 is UART 0, Serial 1 is UART 1 and so on. <https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/65977697/241057982-56c1f114-01f9-4163-8a7c-4826a38898aa.png> — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#8237 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABUEWMIHHN7DX35KDXRWTFLXH7BVFANCNFSM6AAAAAAYJ6XWIU>. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.

[SuGlider]

@frankcohen - The ESP32-S3 doesn't need the ESP-PROG because it already has the JTAG USB.
Please follow the instructions that can be found in the documentation:
https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-idf/en/latest/esp32s3/api-guides/jtag-debugging/index.html
https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-idf/en/latest/esp32s3/api-guides/jtag-debugging/configure-builtin-jtag.html

As for the new IDE 2.1.0, it is necessary to:

1. Select the ESP32-S3 DevKit board
2. Select the USB port
3. Enable CDC on Boot (IDE Board Menu)
4. Select "Upload Mode" as "UART0 / Hardware CDC"
5. Select "USB Mode" as "Hardware CDC and JTAG"
6. Select "JTAG Adapter" as "Integrated USB JTAG"
7. Select and load the Sketch that will be debugged
8. Build and Upload it
9. Press the Debug "play" button to open the DEBUG window
10. Press the Green "play" button and wait for OpenOCD and dbg to start in the "Debug Console"
11. Add the BREAKPOINTS
12. Use the DEBUG UI as desired

Some Images of my IDE may help:

Menu Options:

Screenshot of the Debugger in Action:

[SuGlider]

@frankcohen - I hope that the ESP32-S3 USB stops frustrating you now. Let me know.

[sblantipodi]

@SuGlider ESP32-S3 USB works really bad...
it destroyed the usability with tools like ESP Web Tools.

[SuGlider]

@SuGlider ESP32-S3 USB works really bad... it destroyed the usability with tools like ESP Web Tools.

I'll test the Web USB uploading.
Beside it, could you use the USB JTAG as uploading port, like as with a plain UART?
Did it work as JTAG debugging tool within the Arduino IDE?
All this information will help the community and also will be used as base for a future FAQ about the S3.

[SuGlider]

@frankcohen - About ESP Web Tools:

1. I can select the USB JTAG port and connect to the S3, seeing the logs, including debug log messages (see screenshots)
   
   

2. I can also reset the device from the ESP Web Tools:
   

3. I also can't upload Tasmota for the S3 using their ESP WEB TOOL.
   

When using the USB JTAG port, I see that it can't detect correctly the device.
This can be an issue with the TS scripts...

4. By other hand, I can use the same USB JTAG to upload a C3, which uses exactly the same digital design for this USB port from the S3. I have used an Espressif Tool: https://espressif.github.io/esp-launchpad/?flashConfigURL=https://espressif.github.io/esp-matter/launchpad.toml