Can’t Generate DT File with Orin Nano Pinmux Spreadsheet

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties generating Device Tree (DT) files using the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board’s pinmux spreadsheet. The primary symptom reported is a BASIC syntax error with the message "Symbol expected" when attempting to generate the DT files. This issue arises when users click the "Generate DT" button on the spreadsheet without making any changes.

The problem has been reported in various contexts, including:

• Operating Systems: Users have mentioned using both Ubuntu with LibreOffice and Windows with Excel.
• Software: The issue occurs during the setup phase while trying to configure GPIO pins for toggling between 3.3V and 0V using the Jetson.GPIO Python library.
• Frequency: Multiple users have consistently encountered this issue, indicating it is not isolated to a single user or environment.
• Impact: This problem significantly hampers users’ ability to configure GPIO pins, which is critical for their projects involving hardware interaction.

Additional context includes users successfully generating DT files on Windows but facing issues when transferring these files to their Linux environments for further configuration and flashing.

Possible Causes

• Software Incompatibility: The use of different spreadsheet applications (LibreOffice vs. Excel) may lead to discrepancies in file formatting, causing syntax errors during DT file generation.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect paths or filenames in configuration files (e.g., jetson-orin-nano-devkit.conf) could lead to installation errors when attempting to flash the generated DT files.

• Driver Issues: Incompatibilities or bugs within the SDK Manager or JetPack installation process might prevent successful flashing of the generated DT files.

• Environmental Factors: Issues such as insufficient power supply or improper recovery mode setup could contribute to installation failures.

• User Misconfigurations: Users might overlook essential steps in the documentation, leading to errors during the setup process.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify Spreadsheet Compatibility:

   • Ensure that you are using Microsoft Excel on Windows for generating the DT files, as this has been reported to work successfully by multiple users.

2. Check Generated Files:

   • After generating the files, confirm that they are named correctly:
     • padvoltage.dtsi
     • pinmux.dtsi
     • gpio.dtsi

3. File Placement:

   • Copy the generated files to the appropriate directories:
     • padvoltage.dtsi and pinmux.dtsi should be placed in <l4t_top>/bootloader/generic/BCT/
     • gpio.dtsi should go into <l4t_top>/bootloader/

4. Modify Configuration Files:

   • Update your jetson-orin-nano-devkit.conf file as follows:

     PINMUX_CONFIG="pinmux.dtsi";
     PMC_CONFIG="padvoltage.dtsi";
     

5. Ensure Correct Path Resolution:

   • Replace <l4t_top> with the actual path of your Linux_for_Tegra folder, typically located at:

     ~/nvidia/nvidia_sdk/JetPack_6.0_DP_Linux_DP_JETSON_ORIN_NANO_TARGETS/Linux_for_Tegra/
     

6. Reboot and Recovery Mode Setup:

   • Place your Orin Nano in recovery mode and connect it via USB-C to your Ubuntu machine.

7. Run SDK Manager:

   • Attempt to run SDK Manager again. If you encounter errors, check the logs for specific issues.

8. Isolate GPIO Configuration:

   • If installation fails after modifying GPIO configurations, revert changes and try modifying one GPIO pin at a time to identify problematic configurations.

9. Consult Documentation:

   • Refer to Nvidia’s official documentation for guidance on pinmux configuration and troubleshooting steps:

     https://docs.nvidia.com/jetson/archives/r35.3.1/DeveloperGuide/text/HR/JetsonModuleAdaptationAndBringUp/JetsonOrinNxNanoSeries.html#changing-the-pinmux
     

10. Reflash if Necessary:

    • If all else fails, consider deleting existing BSP configurations and starting fresh, ensuring all steps are meticulously followed.

11. Community Support:

    • Engage with community forums for additional insights or similar experiences that may provide further solutions.

By following these troubleshooting steps, users can systematically address issues related to generating DT files and configuring GPIO pins on their Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev boards.