Current consumption issue of nRF21540 when using antenna 2

RE: Current consumption issue of nRF21540 when using antenna 2

Kazi Afroza Sultana — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 10:54:13 GMT

Hello,

There is a workaround here https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/errata_nRF21540_Rev2/page/ERR/nRF21540/Rev2/latest/anomaly_540_13.html. I need to check if it is implemented in the mpsl driver.

You can check the trace codes for the devices (7%) with higher current draw, if these are earlier than stated in these errata then you should expect higher current draw for these devices:

https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/errata_nRF21540_Rev2/page/ERR/nRF21540/Rev2/latest/anomaly_540_14.html

RE: Current consumption issue of nRF21540 when using antenna 2

Noah_iR — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:26:54 GMT

It seems a little different from my case.

We are using BLE and all control of nrf21540 is handled by mpsl/fem of NCS.

The our application does not separately handle sleep/wake up, but NCS controls it according to the set advertising interval. In other words, the user does not do anything separately.

Every thing works well except for the current consumption on some units.

I assigned pins for nrf21540 fem like :

nrf_radio_fem: nrf21540_fem {

compatible = "nordic,nrf21540-fem";

tx-en-gpios = <&gpio1 13 GPIO_ACTIVE_HIGH>;

rx-en-gpios = <&gpio0 30 GPIO_ACTIVE_HIGH>;

pdn-gpios = <&gpio1 10 GPIO_ACTIVE_HIGH>;

ant-sel-gpios = <&gpio0 2 GPIO_ACTIVE_LOW>;

mode-gpios = <&gpio1 11 GPIO_ACTIVE_HIGH>;

supply-voltage-mv = <3300>;

spi-if = <&nrf_radio_fem_spi>;

};

and here is my confing setting for FEM

# for FEM temperature compensation

CONFIG_SPI=y

CONFIG_SENSOR=y

CONFIG_TEMP_NRF5=y

# BLE tx power

CONFIG_BT_CTLR_TX_PWR_ANTENNA=10

CONFIG_MPSL_FEM_NRF21540_GPIO_SPI=y

CONFIG_MPSL_FEM_BUILTIN_POWER_MODEL_UPDATE_PERIOD=3600000

CONFIG_MPSL_FEM_NRF21540_RUNTIME_PA_GAIN_CONTROL=y

If you set it like this, NCS will automatically control FEM for each advertising cycle set in appcore.

I think ANT_SEL should also be controlled by NCS according to Workaround, but it seems to always have a fixed value.

RE: Current consumption issue of nRF21540 when using antenna 2

Kazi Afroza Sultana — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 12:38:54 GMT

Hello,

There is a previous case about controlling ANT_SEL pin https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/91220/ncs-and-nrf21540-with-custom-protocol?ReplyFilter=Answers&ReplySortBy=Answers&ReplySortOrder=Descending;, you can look at. It may help.

BR
Kazi