Writing issue on board nRF52840

[Ceow]

Hi,

I am trying to use nRF52840 boards but I am not able to write on them using JLinkExe nor nrfjprog. However, when drag-and-drop-ing a built example application, it works perfectly on the board. Running nrfjprog -i works fine as well, I just have issues when it comes to writing on the board.

I work on Ubuntu 16.04.

Here are the logs from JLinkExe and nrfjprog:

$ JLinkExe
SEGGER J-Link Commander V6.32a (Compiled Apr 30 2018 15:46:56)
DLL version V6.32a, compiled Apr 30 2018 15:46:51

Connecting to J-Link via USB...Updating firmware:  J-Link OB-SAM3U128-V2-NordicSemi compiled Jan 12 2018 16:05:20
Replacing firmware: J-Link OB-SAM3U128-V2-NordicSemi compiled Mar  2 2017 12:22:13
FAILED: Communication timed out - Can not execute firmware update

$ nrfjprog --family nRF52 -e --log
ERROR: JLinkARM DLL reported an error. Try again. If error condition
ERROR: persists, run the same command again with argument --log, contact Nordic
ERROR: Semiconductor and provide the generated log.log file to them.

The log.log file:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
nrfjprog --family nRF52 -e --log
nrfjprog verion 9.7.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUNCTION: open_dll.
FUNCTION: open_dll.
FUNCTION: enum_emu_snr.
FUNCTION: enum_emu_snr.
FUNCTION: enum_emu_snr.
FUNCTION: enum_emu_snr.
FUNCTION: connect_to_emu_with_snr.
FUNCTION: connect_to_emu_with_snr.
FUNCTION: connect_to_emu_without_snr.
FUNCTION: enum_emu_snr.
JLinkARM.dll OpenEx returned error 'Cannot connect to J-Link via USB.'.
FUNCTION: close_dll.
FUNCTION: close_dll.

Does anyone have any advice to resolve that issue?

Thanks

[bjorn-spockeli]

Ceow: Are you trying to program a nRF52840 DK or a custom nRF52840 board using the nRF52840 DK as a programmer?

[Ceow]

I am trying to program a nRF52840 DK

[bjorn-spockeli]

I did a quick test on laptop running Ubuntu 16.04, JLink v6.22g and nrfjprog v9.7.2 and I did have any issues programming a PCA10056 v0.12.0.

Could you manually try to update the JLink firmware on the JLink OB chip on the nRF52840 DK by following the steps below:

1. Power on the nRF52840 DK while holding down the IF BOOT/RESET button. 
2. The nRF52840 DK should now enumerate as a BOOTLOADER drive.
3. Download the JLink FW( J-Link OB-SAM3U128-V2-NordicSemi 170724.bin) using this link.
4. Drag and drop the .bin file on to the BOOTLOADER drive
5. Wait 10 seconds and then power cycle the board

[Ceow]

Thanks for your answer!

I updated the firmware as you described. Now, after powering up the board in standard mode, the led5 blinks very quickly and the board is not even visible on the computer anymore...

[bjorn-spockeli]

Ceow: That indicates that the J-Link OB is trying to connect to the PC , usually power-cycling or unplugging and reconnecting the board a couple of times resolves this. If not, try to repeat the steps in my previous comment. If that still does not help then you could try reinstalling the JLink drivers from Segger, here is the link. 

[Ceow]

Thanks bjorn-spockeli. I repeated the steps in your previous comment and now the MCU is dead: the led5 doesn't light up anymore when powering up and plugging the board... As for reinstalling the JLink drivers, I did it at the beginning of this week already.

Can it be that something is wrong in the JLink FW ? Or that there are manufacturing issues in the boards? I also work with nrf51 DKs and I have no problem to write on them or update the JLink firmware.

[bjorn-spockeli]

So the nRF52840 DK no longer enumerates as a BOOTLOADER drive if you hold down the IF BOOT/RESET button during power up? 

The JLink FW is correct as it was pulled from the download tab on the nRF52840 DK Product Page on http://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/Products/nRF52840-DK. 

Do you have another computer that you could test the DK on? THen we can determine if this is a DK issue or PC issue. 

[Ceow]

The bootloader works, but not the "normal mode" when powering up without holding the reset button.

I tried on another computer running Windows and updating the JLink FW manually caused the same behavior (led5 blinking fast after power-cycling to finally not light up at all after a few more manual updates).