Erasing UICR register in application code

RE: Erasing UICR register in application code

Jørgen Holmefjord — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 15:30:22 GMT

Is the softdevice enabled when you call these functions? Note that if the softdevice is enabled, the call will return and generate an event on completion. If you write right after erasing, the erase operation might not be completed yet. You are not checking the return values from the function calls.

RE: Erasing UICR register in application code

Dhiraj — Sat, 23 Dec 2017 03:24:19 GMT

Hello Jorgen,

It doesn't work. I used above mentioned code snippet. It shows data to be '-1'

RE: Erasing UICR register in application code

Jørgen Holmefjord — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 11:23:24 GMT

I don't understand what you mean by your last commend. Does it work when you use the softdevice API?

RE: Erasing UICR register in application code

Dhiraj — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 08:50:59 GMT

uint32_t addr; uint32_t patwr=0x1F00; uint32_t *addrloc; const uint32_t *dataloc;

addr = (uint32_t) 0x3B000; //(uint32_t *)(pg_size * pg_num);
 addrloc = &addr;
 dataloc = &patwr;

 sd_flash_page_erase(addr);
 sd_flash_write(addrloc,dataloc, 32);

RE: Erasing UICR register in application code

Jørgen Holmefjord — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 12:22:12 GMT

Are you erasing/writing while the softdevice is enabled? Note that access to the NVMC peripheral is restricted when the softdevice is enabled, and should only be accessed throught the softdevice flash API.

RE: Erasing UICR register in application code

Dhiraj — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 09:09:25 GMT

static void flash_page_erase(uint32_t * page_address) { // Turn on flash erase enable and wait until the NVMC is ready: NRF_NVMC->CONFIG = (NVMC_CONFIG_WEN_Een << NVMC_CONFIG_WEN_Pos);

    while (NRF_NVMC->READY == NVMC_READY_READY_Busy)
    {
        // Do nothing.
    }

    // Erase page:
    NRF_NVMC->ERASEPAGE = (uint32_t)page_address;

    while (NRF_NVMC->READY == NVMC_READY_READY_Busy)
    {
        // Do nothing.
    }

    // Turn off flash erase enable and wait until the NVMC is ready:
    NRF_NVMC->CONFIG &= ~(NVMC_CONFIG_WEN_Een << NVMC_CONFIG_WEN_Pos);

    while (NRF_NVMC->READY == NVMC_READY_READY_Busy)
    {
        // Do nothing.
    }
}

static void flash_word_write(uint32_t * address, uint32_t value)
{
    // Turn on flash write enable and wait until the NVMC is ready:
    NRF_NVMC->CONFIG = (NVMC_CONFIG_WEN_Wen << NVMC_CONFIG_WEN_Pos);

    while (NRF_NVMC->READY == NVMC_READY_READY_Busy)
    {
        // Do nothing.
    }

    *address = value;

    while (NRF_NVMC->READY == NVMC_READY_READY_Busy)
    {
        // Do nothing.
    }

    // Turn off flash write enable and wait until the NVMC is ready:
    NRF_NVMC->CONFIG = (NVMC_CONFIG_WEN_Ren << NVMC_CONFIG_WEN_Pos);

    while (NRF_NVMC->READY == NVMC_READY_READY_Busy)
    {
        // Do nothing.
    }
}

I am using above function to erase and write data to location 0x0003B000 (1 page below bootloader). But device isn't advertising. When I disable erasing, the device is advertising. Does that means I am erasing wrong location?

RE: Erasing UICR register in application code

Jørgen Holmefjord — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 15:37:41 GMT

Please have a look at the Memory layout and Preserving application data sections in the SDK 11 BLE DFU Bootloader documentation.

RE: Erasing UICR register in application code

Dhiraj — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 03:57:14 GMT

Thank you for reply, Jorgen. I am using nrf51822 with 256KB flash and 32KB ram with SDK11, S130 (108kb I guess), with a dfu bootloader (16kb). I have to store only two data (each 4kb). Which addresses will be the best suitable addresses to write the two data?

RE: Erasing UICR register in application code

Jørgen Holmefjord — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 14:34:50 GMT

You should make sure your application does not overwrite the flash area where the data is stored. In order to overwrite written data, you will have to perform an erase. If your application, or you do not erase the flash, the data will not be overwritten. The best approach is to place the data in the upper region of flash, and reduce the flash size settings in your project to avoid that the application grows into this area.

RE: Erasing UICR register in application code

Dhiraj — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 04:57:38 GMT

Can I use particular area of flash memory to write data? So that even if application code is updated, the particular reserved area will not be erased.

RE: Erasing UICR register in application code

Jørgen Holmefjord — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 12:48:52 GMT

No, you need to erase whole chip or switch to nRF52 series.

RE: Erasing UICR register in application code

Dhiraj — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 14:51:21 GMT

Is there any other way to achieve the same?

RE: Erasing UICR register in application code

Jørgen Holmefjord — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 14:52:09 GMT

If it does not work, you probably does not have a chip with pre-programmed factory code, as mentioned in the post.

RE: Erasing UICR register in application code

Dhiraj — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 06:18:05 GMT

Hello John,

Thank you for your reply. I tried erasing the UICR using following code:

NRF_NVMC->CONFIG = NVMC_CONFIG_WEN_Een << NVMC_CONFIG_WEN_Pos;

while (NRF_NVMC->READY == NVMC_READY_READY_Busy){}

NRF_NVMC->ERASEUICR = 1;

while (NRF_NVMC->READY == NVMC_READY_READY_Busy){}

But it doesn`t work. I followed this forum :devzone.nordicsemi.com/.../ which mentions that ERASEUICR is not available functionality on all chip configurations. It is only available when there is a pre-programmed factory code is present in the chip.

RE: Erasing UICR register in application code

John — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 21:44:58 GMT

On the nRF51822 you cannot programatically erase the UICR. If you go to a newer variant such as the nRF52840, there is a ERASEUICR register in the NVM controller. I haven't checked the nRF52832 to see if it supports that register as well.