Receiving SPI data via DMA on PIC32 - c

Question

I know that this topic (DMA & SPI) has already been talked about on numerous threads in the microchip forum, actually i've read all the 15 pages in result of the search with keyword "dma" and read all the topics about dma & spi.
And I am still stuck with my problem I hope someone can help me :)
Here is the problem.
My chip is a PIC32MX775F512H.
I am trying to receive (only receive) data using SPI via DMA.
Since you cannot "just" receive in SPI, and that the SPI core starts toggling the SPI clock only if you write into the SPIBUF (SPI1ABUF for me) I am trying to receive my data using 2 DMA channels.
DMA_CHANNEL1 for the transmitting part.
DMA_CHANNEL2 for the receiving part.
I copy pasted the code from http://www.microchip.com/forums/tm.aspx?tree=true&high=&m=562453&mpage=1#
And tried to make it work without any luck. It only receives several bytes (5 or 6).
I've set the Event Enable Flags to DMA_EV_BLOCK_DONE for both dma channels, no interrupt occurs.
Do you have any idea ?
Here is the code I am using :
int Spi_recv_via_DMA(SPI_simple_master_class* SPI_Port, int8u *in_bytes, int16u num_bytes2)
{
DmaChannel dmaTxChn=DMA_CHANNEL1;
DmaChannel dmaRxChn=DMA_CHANNEL2;
SpiChannel spiTxChn=SPI_Port->channel;
int8u dummy_input;
DmaChnOpen(dmaTxChn, DMA_CHN_PRI3, DMA_OPEN_DEFAULT);
DmaChnOpen(dmaRxChn, DMA_CHN_PRI3, DMA_OPEN_DEFAULT);
DmaChnSetEventControl(dmaTxChn, DMA_EV_START_IRQ_EN | DMA_EV_START_IRQ(_SPI1A_RX_IRQ));
DmaChnSetEventControl(dmaRxChn, DMA_EV_START_IRQ_EN | DMA_EV_START_IRQ(_SPI1A_RX_IRQ));
DmaChnClrEvFlags(dmaTxChn, DMA_EV_ALL_EVNTS);
DmaChnClrEvFlags(dmaRxChn, DMA_EV_ALL_EVNTS);
DmaChnSetEvEnableFlags(dmaRxChn, DMA_EV_BLOCK_DONE);
DmaChnSetEvEnableFlags(dmaTxChn, DMA_EV_BLOCK_DONE);
//SpiChnClrTxIntFlag(spiTxChn);
//SpiChnClrRxIntFlag(spiTxChn);
DmaChnSetTxfer(dmaTxChn, tx_dummy_buffer, (void *)&SPI1ABUF, num_bytes2, 1, 1);
DmaChnSetTxfer(dmaRxChn, (void *)&SPI1ABUF, in_bytes, 1, num_bytes2, 1);
while ( (SPI1ASTAT & SPIRBE) == 0)
dummy_input = SPI1ABUF;
SPI1ASTAT &= ~SPIROV;
DmaRxIntFlag = 0;
DmaChnEnable(dmaRxChn);
DmaChnStartTxfer(dmaTxChn, DMA_WAIT_NOT, 0);
while(!DmaRxIntFlag);
return 1;
}
with those two interrupt handlers :
// handler for the DMA channel 1 interrupt
void __ISR(_DMA1_VECTOR, ipl5) DmaHandler1(void)
{
int evFlags; // event flags when getting the interrupt
//LED_On(LED_CFG);
INTClearFlag(INT_SOURCE_DMA(DMA_CHANNEL1)); // acknowledge the INT controller, we're servicing int
evFlags=DmaChnGetEvFlags(DMA_CHANNEL1); // get the event flags
if(evFlags&DMA_EV_BLOCK_DONE)
{ // just a sanity check. we enabled just the DMA_EV_BLOCK_DONE transfer done interrupt
DmaTxIntFlag = 1;
DmaChnClrEvFlags(DMA_CHANNEL1, DMA_EV_BLOCK_DONE);
}
// LED_Off(LED_CFG);
}
void __ISR(_DMA2_VECTOR, ipl5) DmaHandler2(void)
{
int evFlags; // event flags when getting the interrupt
INTClearFlag(INT_SOURCE_DMA(DMA_CHANNEL2)); // acknowledge the INT controller, we're servicing int
evFlags=DmaChnGetEvFlags(DMA_CHANNEL2); // get the event flags
if(evFlags&DMA_EV_BLOCK_DONE)
{ // just a sanity check. we enabled just the DMA_EV_BLOCK_DONE transfer done interrupt
DmaRxIntFlag = 1;
DmaChnClrEvFlags(DMA_CHANNEL2, DMA_EV_BLOCK_DONE);
}
}
So I end up waiting forever at the line : while(!DmaRxIntFlag);
I have put breakpoints in the interrupt vectors, they are never called.
This is the state of several registers during the ever lasting wait :
DMACON 0x0000C800
DMASTAT 0x00000001
I am using SPI1A port, so SPI1ABUF and _SPI1A_RX_IRQ
DCH1SPTR 0x5
DCH1SSIZ 0x2B
DCH2DPTR 0x6
DCH2DSIZ 0x2B
DCH2CON 0x00008083
DCH2ECON 0x1B10
DCH2INT 0x00800C4
DCH2SSA 0x1F805820
DCH2DSA 0x00000620
Channel 1 is used to transmit
Channel 2 is used to receive

Answer 1

You are missing these:
INTEnable(INT_SOURCE_DMA(dmaTxChn), INT_ENABLED); // Tx
INTEnable(INT_SOURCE_DMA(dmaRxChn), INT_ENABLED); // Rx
rigth before
DmaRxIntFlag = 0;
DmaChnEnable(dmaRxChn);
DmaChnStartTxfer(dmaTxChn, DMA_WAIT_NOT, 0);
Good luck!

Answer 2

Are you using the SPI in slave mode? or you are on master mode, trying to read some response for a command?
Have you check the silicon errata for this chip? The dspic 33fj family had an issue where SPI slave mode simply didn't work.
Other than that, I don't think it is a good idea to busy wait for DmaRxIntFlag change. You should configure the DMA transfer and continue with your main loop. The DMA will trigger the interrupt handler.
Hope this helps.