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SPI communication failure between nRF52840 Preview DK and Arduino UNO

Hello DevZone, 

I am doing a simple test for SPI communication between nRF52840 DK(SPI master) and Arduino UNO(slave). 

The Nordic program is based on SDK 14.2.0 spi example, I only change the TEST_STRING from "Nordic" to "N" and PIN number according to Arduino PIN map.

/**
 * Copyright (c) 2015 - 2017, 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
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 * 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 "nrf_drv_spi.h"
#include "app_util_platform.h"
#include "nrf_gpio.h"
#include "nrf_delay.h"
#include "boards.h"
#include "app_error.h"
#include <string.h>
#include "nrf_log.h"
#include "nrf_log_ctrl.h"
#include "nrf_log_default_backends.h"

#define SPI_INSTANCE  0 /**< SPI instance index. */
static const nrf_drv_spi_t spi = NRF_DRV_SPI_INSTANCE(SPI_INSTANCE);  /**< SPI instance. */
static volatile bool spi_xfer_done;  /**< Flag used to indicate that SPI instance completed the transfer. */

//#define TEST_STRING "N"
static uint8_t       m_tx_buf[] = {'N'};           /**< TX buffer. */
static uint8_t       m_rx_buf[2];    /**< RX buffer. */
static const uint8_t m_length = sizeof(m_tx_buf);        /**< Transfer length. */

/**
 * @brief SPI user event handler.
 * @param event
 */
void spi_event_handler(nrf_drv_spi_evt_t const * p_event,
                       void *                    p_context)
{
    spi_xfer_done = true;
    NRF_LOG_INFO("Transfer completed.");
    if (m_rx_buf[0] != 0)
    {
        NRF_LOG_INFO(" Received:");
        NRF_LOG_HEXDUMP_INFO(m_rx_buf, strlen((const char *)m_rx_buf));
    }
}

int main(void)
{
    bsp_board_leds_init();

    APP_ERROR_CHECK(NRF_LOG_INIT(NULL));
    NRF_LOG_DEFAULT_BACKENDS_INIT();
    
    NRF_LOG_INFO("SPI example.");

    nrf_drv_spi_config_t spi_config = NRF_DRV_SPI_DEFAULT_CONFIG;
    spi_config.ss_pin   = 44; //SPI_SS_PIN;
    spi_config.miso_pin = 46; //SPI_MISO_PIN;
    spi_config.mosi_pin = 45; //SPI_MOSI_PIN;
    spi_config.sck_pin  = 47; //SPI_SCK_PIN;

    spi_config.irq_priority = APP_IRQ_PRIORITY_LOW;
    spi_config.orc          = 0xCC;
    spi_config.frequency    = NRF_DRV_SPI_FREQ_500K;
    spi_config.mode         = NRF_DRV_SPI_MODE_0;
    spi_config.bit_order    = NRF_DRV_SPI_BIT_ORDER_MSB_FIRST;

    APP_ERROR_CHECK(nrf_drv_spi_init(&spi, &spi_config, spi_event_handler, NULL));

    while (1)
    {
        // Reset rx buffer and transfer done flag
        memset(m_rx_buf, 0, m_length);
        spi_xfer_done = false;

        APP_ERROR_CHECK(nrf_drv_spi_transfer(&spi, m_tx_buf, m_length, m_rx_buf, m_length));

        while (!spi_xfer_done)
        {
            __WFE();
        }

        NRF_LOG_FLUSH();

        bsp_board_led_invert(BSP_BOARD_LED_0);
        nrf_delay_ms(200);
    }
}

and a Arduino slave example code:

// what to do with incoming data
volatile byte command = 0;
int select_slave = 0; //1: selected, 2: not selected

void setup (void)
  {

  Serial.begin (9600);
  Serial.println ("This is SPI slave test");
  // have to send on master in, *slave out*
  pinMode(MISO, OUTPUT);

  // turn on SPI in slave mode
  SPCR |= _BV(SPE);

  // turn on interrupts
  SPCR |= _BV(SPIE);

  }  // end of setup


// SPI interrupt routine
ISR (SPI_STC_vect)
  {
  byte c = SPDR;

  if(command == 0)
  {
    SPDR = 0;
  }
  else
  {
    SPDR = c;
    Serial.print ("Rx is:");
    Serial.println (c, DEC);
    Serial.print ("Tx is:");
    Serial.println (c, DEC);
    
  }
  
  }  // end of interrupt service routine (ISR) SPI_STC_vect

void loop (void)
  {

    // if SPI not active, clear current command
    if (digitalRead (SS) == HIGH)
    {
      command = 0;
      if(select_slave!=2)
      { Serial.println("Slave is not selected");
      select_slave = 2;}
    }
    else
    {
      command = 1;
      if(select_slave!=1)
      { Serial.println("**Slave is selected");
      select_slave = 1;}
    }
  }  // end of loop

As I set SPDR to the value Arduino received, what I expect is Nordic should receive the same value it send to Arduino...

The result is: Sending data from Nordic to Arduino seems OK. However, Nordic receives the strange response... 

Is it possible to test my sample code in your side? Very appreciate if you can verify my test sample and find the root cause of the problem. 

Parents
  • Hi 

    What is wrong with the response? 
    Are you able to list what you receive, and what you expected to receive?

    If you have the wrong mode configured in one of the boards it's not uncommon for data transaction to only work in one direction. 

    Could you try changing the mode in the Nordic code and see if it makes a difference?
    Try MODE_2 first, and if that doesn't work you can try MODE_1 and MODE_3 as well. 

    If nothing else works I will try to reproduce your issue on my end, and see if I can spot the issue. 

    Best regards
    Torbjørn

Reply
  • Hi 

    What is wrong with the response? 
    Are you able to list what you receive, and what you expected to receive?

    If you have the wrong mode configured in one of the boards it's not uncommon for data transaction to only work in one direction. 

    Could you try changing the mode in the Nordic code and see if it makes a difference?
    Try MODE_2 first, and if that doesn't work you can try MODE_1 and MODE_3 as well. 

    If nothing else works I will try to reproduce your issue on my end, and see if I can spot the issue. 

    Best regards
    Torbjørn

Children
  • Thank you very much!

    For above code, what I expect is when Nordic DK send any char to Arduino Uno, Nordic DK should receive the same char when Nordic DK transfers next char. In above case, 'N' should be repeatedly send and received by Nordic DK. 

    In Arduino side, I can see that the log shows 'N' is received properly and set in register for reply. However, in Nordic DK log, I cannot see correct answer. 

    I have tested different mode, but both them are failed to get correct reply. 

    Best regards.

  • Hi ovrebekk, 

    Have you got chance to reproduce this issue?

    Best regards

  • Hi Rubens

    I am sorry for the slow response, it was hard to find some time to dig into this...

    Finally I got my Arduino Uno running, and I am also having some issues getting communication between the two. 

    What I just realized is that the voltage between the two boards will not be compatible. The Arduino runs at 5V, while the nRF52840 PDK runs at around 3.0V normally, and this is likely to cause issues when you try to establish communication between the two. 

    I would recommend you either put level shifters on your SPI lines to do the voltage conversion, or hack your Arduino to run at 3.3V as described here

    Best regards
    Torbjørn

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