Re: [RFC PATCH 1/2] dt-bindings: pwm: imx: Allow switching PWM output between PWM and GPIO
From: Michal VokÃÄ
Date: Wed Aug 22 2018 - 03:03:12 EST
On 22.8.2018 08:14, Lothar WaÃmann wrote:
Michal VokÃÄ <michal.vokac@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Output of the PWM block of i.MX SoCs is always zero volts when the block
is disabled. This can caue issues when inverted PWM polarity is needed.
With inverted polarity a duty cycle = 0% corresponds to solid high level
on the output. If the PWM is dissabled its output instantly goes to solid
zero which corresponds to duty cycle = 100%.
To have a trully inverted PWM output configure the PWM pad as a GPIO
with pull-up. Then switch the pad to PWM output whenever non-zero
duty cycle is needed.
Signed-off-by: Michal VokÃÄ <michal.vokac@xxxxxxxxx>
---
Documentation/devicetree/bindings/pwm/imx-pwm.txt | 44 +++++++++++++++++++++++
1 file changed, 44 insertions(+)
diff --git a/Documentation/devicetree/bindings/pwm/imx-pwm.txt b/Documentation/devicetree/bindings/pwm/imx-pwm.txt
index c61bdf8..3b1bc4c 100644
--- a/Documentation/devicetree/bindings/pwm/imx-pwm.txt
+++ b/Documentation/devicetree/bindings/pwm/imx-pwm.txt
@@ -14,6 +14,12 @@ See the clock consumer binding,
Documentation/devicetree/bindings/clock/clock-bindings.txt
- interrupts: The interrupt for the pwm controller
+Optional properties:
+- pinctrl: For i.MX27 and newer SoCs. Add extra pinctrl to configure the PWM
+ pin to gpio function. It allows control over the pin output level when the
+ PWM block is disabled. This is meant to be used if inverted polarity of the
+ PWM signal is required. See "Inverted PWM output" section bellow.
+
Example:
pwm1: pwm@53fb4000 {
@@ -25,3 +31,41 @@ pwm1: pwm@53fb4000 {
clock-names = "ipg", "per";
interrupts = <61>;
};
+
+Inverted PWM output
+-------------------
+
+The i.MX SoC has such limitation that whenever a pad is configured as a PWM
+output, the output level is always zero volts when the PWM block is disabled.
+The zero output level is actively driven by the output stage of the PWM block
+and can not be overridden by pull-up. It also does not matter what PWM polarity
+a PWM client (e.g. backlight) requested.
+
+To gain control of the PWM output level in disabled state two pinctrl states
+can be used. The "default" state and the "pwm" state. In the default state the
The "default" function of a PWM is to deliver a PWM signal. So it is
more sensible to me to have the PWM function as "default" and a "gpio"
function as alternative state.
Yes, I totally agree that using "default" for PWM and "gpio" as the
alternative function seems more sensible. That is actually how I started.
Then I realized that that way you end up with the PWM pad set to zero
until the first call of imx_pwm_apply_v2 where you can select the GPIO
function. On my system that first call is made by pwm-backlight more than
3s after pinctrl init.
I suggested to use the "default" state as a GPIO function as the only way
how to get a truly inverted PWM output all the time from power-up to
power-down.
In my opinion it is up to the DTÂauthor what pad configuration he uses for
each pinctrl function as he knows what the HW really needs. I see that this
approach is kind of controversial but I hope that with good documentation
this would not be a problem. And as I wrote in the intro, it is absolutely
optional. If you do not need it, you do not use it.
+PWM output is configured as a GPIO with pull-up. In the "pwm" state the output
+is configured as a PWM output. This setup assures that the PWM output is at
+the required level that corresponds to duty cycle = 0 when PWM is disabled.
+E.g. at boot.
+
+Example:
+
+&pwm1 {
+ pinctrl-names = "default", "pwm";
+ pinctrl-0 = <&pinctrl_backlight_gpio>;
+ pinctrl-1 = <&pinctrl_backlight_pwm>;
+}
+
+pinctrl_backlight_gpio: pwm1grp-gpio {
+ fsl,pins = <
+ /* GPIO with 22kOhm pull-up */
+ MX6QDL_PAD_GPIO_9__GPIO1_IO09 0xF008
+ >;
+};
+
+pinctrl_backlight_pwm: pwm1grp-pwm {
+ fsl,pins = <
+ /* PWM output */
+ MX6QDL_PAD_GPIO_9__PWM1_OUT 0x8
+ >;
+};