NRF52840 UART1 not working in SDK 14

[Jeffrey Haynes]

I'm trying to run two UARTs out of my NRF52840. Do you have an example in which both SoftDevice UARTs are used? The Nordic Infocenter SDK 14.0.0 documentation lists one of the advantages of the new serial port library as multi-instance capability, but there is no example demonstrating such usage.

I started in SDK 12 and wrote my own alternative to app_uart that would allow multiple UART instances. After enabling UART0 and UART1 in the SDK config, I was unable to get both working at the same time. When I initialized a single UART using the board's default TX/RX pins (6 & 8 for pca10056) and NRF_UARTE0 (0x0002000) I was able to see all my serial data come through fine. However, switching to use NRF_UARTE1 (0x40028000) causes the app to crash and restart on attempting to read or write data, despite my using the same pins and configuration parameters as with UART0.

I've seen other questions regarding similar issues, and the general response was that the SDK 14 serial class would resolve this issue. However, I have since downloaded SDK 14 and am seeing the same behavior. I can initialize one UART port with nrf_serial_init, provided the serial port instance uses NRF_UARTE0/NRF_UART0, but again the same parameters do not work with NRF_UARTE1.

[Jakub Rzeszutko]

Update 06.09.2018 :

Below example is available in SDK15.1 and following under location: sdk\nrf5\examples\peripheral\serial_uartes

I tested it on my NRF52840 DK (PCA10056).

There is following concept: PC -> UARTE0 -> UARTE1 -> PC

Simply open nrf_serial example: nRF5_SDK_14.0.0_3bcc1f7\examples\peripheral\serial for pca10056.

Replace main.c with attached main.c.

In SDK config set both UARTs to use EASY DMA:

Now run terminal like PuTTY with baud rate == 115200 and start typing text. You shall be able to see echo on the screen.

IMPORTANT! Connect PINs P0.27 with P0.26 (UARTE0 TX with UARTE1 RX).

-------------------

UPDATE for SDK15 users:

In order to make it work you need to replace:

• main.c
• sdk_config
• nrf_serial.c
• nrf_serial.h

with attached files: 

example_SDK15_fixed.zip

[vernon]

Hi Jakub,

It seems that it is blocking while reading data from UART, and sometimes the UART0 not worked instantly and received after the interaction of UART1, is it possible to read without blocking.

Thanks,

Vernon

[Jakub Rzeszutko]

Hi,
This example has been prepared "ad hoc" just to prove that data flows through both UARTE instances.

May you please a bit more clarify your test scenario? I will try to update my example afterwards.

[Gianmarco Scarpelli]

Hi Vernon,

I have the same problem, we are developing an application on the nRF52840, we are using Keil as compiler. I have used the example project serial_uartes with SDK15.1. I begin by recieving data from the first uart and it works fine. When i beginning to receive data from second uart both the uart stop to work.
In the example I modified only the receive and trasmision pins and the baude rate of one of the two uart (the first uart is 9600, the second 115200). What do you think? ( I attached sdk_config.h file )

7167.sdk_config.h

/**
 * Copyright (c) 2018, Nordic Semiconductor ASA
 *
 * All rights reserved.
 *
 * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification,
 * are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
 *
 * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
 *    list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 *
 * 2. Redistributions in binary form, except as embedded into a Nordic
 *    Semiconductor ASA integrated circuit in a product or a software update for
 *    such product, must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of
 *    conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other
 *    materials provided with the distribution.
 *
 * 3. Neither the name of Nordic Semiconductor ASA nor the names of its
 *    contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this
 *    software without specific prior written permission.
 *
 * 4. This software, with or without modification, must only be used with a
 *    Nordic Semiconductor ASA integrated circuit.
 *
 * 5. Any software provided in binary form under this license must not be reverse
 *    engineered, decompiled, modified and/or disassembled.
 *
 * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY NORDIC SEMICONDUCTOR ASA "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS
 * OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
 * OF MERCHANTABILITY, NONINFRINGEMENT, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
 * DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL NORDIC SEMICONDUCTOR ASA OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
 * LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
 * CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE
 * GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
 * HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
 * LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT
 * OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 *
 */
#include <stdint.h>
#include <stdbool.h>
#include <stddef.h>

#include "nrf.h"
#include "nrf_drv_clock.h"
#include "nrf_gpio.h"
#include "nrf_delay.h"
#include "nrf_log.h"
#include "nrf_log_ctrl.h"
#include "nrf_drv_power.h"
#include "nrf_serial.h"
#include "app_timer.h"


#include "app_error.h"
#include "app_util.h"
#include "boards.h"

/** @file
 * @defgroup nrf_serial_uartes_example main.c
 * @{
 * @ingroup nrf_serial_uartes_example
 * @brief Example of @ref nrf_serial usage. Loopback example using two UARTE peripherals.
 *        Please short Arduino SCL and SDA GPIOs to start transmission.
 *
 */

#define OP_QUEUES_SIZE          3
#define APP_TIMER_PRESCALER     NRF_SERIAL_APP_TIMER_PRESCALER

static void sleep_handler(void)
{
    __WFE();
    __SEV();
    __WFE();
}

NRF_SERIAL_DRV_UART_CONFIG_DEF(m_uarte0_drv_config,
                      RX_PIN_NUMBER, TX_PIN_NUMBER,
                      RTS_PIN_NUMBER, CTS_PIN_NUMBER,
                      NRF_UART_HWFC_DISABLED, NRF_UART_PARITY_EXCLUDED,
                      NRF_UART_BAUDRATE_9600,
                      UART_DEFAULT_CONFIG_IRQ_PRIORITY);

NRF_SERIAL_DRV_UART_CONFIG_DEF(m_uarte1_drv_config,
                      3, 4,
                      RTS_PIN_NUMBER, CTS_PIN_NUMBER,
                      NRF_UART_HWFC_DISABLED, NRF_UART_PARITY_EXCLUDED,
                      NRF_UART_BAUDRATE_115200,
                      UART_DEFAULT_CONFIG_IRQ_PRIORITY);


#define SERIAL_FIFO_TX_SIZE 32
#define SERIAL_FIFO_RX_SIZE 32

NRF_SERIAL_QUEUES_DEF(serial0_queues, SERIAL_FIFO_TX_SIZE, SERIAL_FIFO_RX_SIZE);
NRF_SERIAL_QUEUES_DEF(serial1_queues, SERIAL_FIFO_TX_SIZE, SERIAL_FIFO_RX_SIZE);


#define SERIAL_BUFF_TX_SIZE 1
#define SERIAL_BUFF_RX_SIZE 1

NRF_SERIAL_BUFFERS_DEF(serial0_buffs, SERIAL_BUFF_TX_SIZE, SERIAL_BUFF_RX_SIZE);
NRF_SERIAL_BUFFERS_DEF(serial1_buffs, SERIAL_BUFF_TX_SIZE, SERIAL_BUFF_RX_SIZE);


NRF_SERIAL_CONFIG_DEF(serial0_config, NRF_SERIAL_MODE_DMA,
                      &serial0_queues, &serial0_buffs, NULL, sleep_handler);
NRF_SERIAL_CONFIG_DEF(serial1_config, NRF_SERIAL_MODE_DMA,
                      &serial1_queues, &serial1_buffs, NULL, sleep_handler);


NRF_SERIAL_UART_DEF(serial0_uarte, 0);
NRF_SERIAL_UART_DEF(serial1_uarte, 1);


int main(void)
{
    ret_code_t ret;

    ret = nrf_drv_clock_init();
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(ret);
    ret = nrf_drv_power_init(NULL);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(ret);

    nrf_drv_clock_lfclk_request(NULL);
    ret = app_timer_init();
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(ret);

    // Initialize LEDs and buttons.
    bsp_board_init(BSP_INIT_LEDS | BSP_INIT_BUTTONS);

    ret = nrf_serial_init(&serial0_uarte, &m_uarte0_drv_config, &serial0_config);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(ret);

    ret = nrf_serial_init(&serial1_uarte, &m_uarte1_drv_config, &serial1_config);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(ret);
	
		char	tmp_buff_send [ 10 ] = { 0x50 , 0x00 , 0x05 , 0x23 , 0x04 , 0x64 , 0x03 , 0x01 , 0x00 , 0x14 } ;
		
		// Attivo la funzione autolistcard
		( void ) nrf_serial_write ( &serial1_uarte , &tmp_buff_send , 10 , NULL , 100 ) ;

    static char tx_message[] = "Hello nrf_serial!\n\r";

    ret = nrf_serial_write(&serial0_uarte,
                           tx_message,
                           strlen(tx_message),
                           NULL,
                           NRF_SERIAL_MAX_TIMEOUT);
    (void)nrf_serial_flush(&serial1_uarte, 0);

    while (true)
    {
        char c;
        ret = nrf_serial_read(&serial0_uarte, &c, sizeof(c), NULL, 1);
        if (ret != NRF_SUCCESS)
        {
            continue;
        }
        (void)nrf_serial_write(&serial0_uarte, &c, sizeof(c), NULL, 0);
        (void)nrf_serial_flush(&serial0_uarte, 0);

        ret = nrf_serial_read(&serial1_uarte, &c, sizeof(c), NULL, 1);
        if (ret != NRF_SUCCESS)
        {
            continue;
        }
        (void)nrf_serial_write(&serial0_uarte, &c, sizeof(c), NULL, 0);
        (void)nrf_serial_flush(&serial1_uarte, 0);
    }
}

/** @} */

[Jørgen Holmefjord]

Please post your issue in a new question. Also include any error codes you are getting, or information about where the application get stuck.

[vernon]

Hi Gianmarco,

yes, it happened to my project the same as you, I didn't know how it occurred also, and when I stop debugging, it went to the app_error_fault_handler, the error ID is 0x01(see the following shot), hope someone could solve this issue as soon as possible.