DevBoard as SWD-Programmer for external Hardware -> no target found

[Ben_g]

Hello all,

I'm trying to connect to custom Board with nRF52840 controler.

nRFgo Studio (V:1.21.2.10) gives error "No device detected, or readback...".

I've also tried several command line interfaces (Nordic and Segger) with reduced speed and stuff. Everything with similar errors: "no target found"-kind.

The Device is running firmware which was flashed with another SWD-programmer, so the nRF52 is not broken, also it's proven that the custom PCB can do it.

I'm using a nRF52840-DK as SWD-Interface: motherboard FW version 7000,  hardware version 1.0.0 2018-33

I'm fairly sure all the connections are correct. (checked 20 times with 6 eyes, and compared with a running setup, also cross checked what is possible, tried two different targets)

I use P20 header with jumper cables . Ground and VDD are connected to the Arduino Pins of the DevBoard

I already added some pull-up/down resisitors as sugested here:

https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/4775/custom-nrf51822-board-not-showing-in-nrfgo

I sniffed the SWD traffic during nRFgo startup (with Saleae-Logic)  and got something like this:

Time    Type    R/W    AP/DP    Register    Request byte    ACK    WData    WData details

...snip...

4.73813150    Line reset                            
4.73821050    Operation    read    DebugPort    IDCODE    '165'    OK    '731911287'    DESIGNER='1143', PARTNO='47617', Version='2'
4.73882925    Line reset                            
4.73890500    Operation    read    DebugPort    IDCODE    '165'    OK    '731911287'    DESIGNER='1143', PARTNO='47617', Version='2'
4.78997875    Line reset                            
4.79005125    Line reset                            
4.79012700    Line reset                            
4.79020600    Operation    read    DebugPort    IDCODE    '165'    OK    '731911287'    DESIGNER='1143', PARTNO='47617', Version='2'
4.79105175    Line reset                            
4.79112775    Operation    read    DebugPort    IDCODE    '165'    OK    '731911287'    DESIGNER='1143', PARTNO='47617', Version='2'
4.89534500    Operation    read    DebugPort    CTRL/STAT    '141'    OK    '0'    CSYSPWRUPACK=0, CSYSPWRUPREQ=0, CDBGPWRUPACK=0, CDBGPWRUPREQ=0, CDBGRSTACK=0, CDBGRSTREQ=0, TRNCNT='0', MASKLANE='0', WDATAERR=0, READOK=0, STICKYERR=0, STICKYCMP=0, TRNMODE=Normal, STICKYORUN=0, ORUNDETECT=0
4.89591400    Operation    write    DebugPort    ABORT    '129'    OK    '2381717929'    ORUNERRCLR=0, WDERRCLR=1, STKERRCLR=0, STKCMPCLR=0, DAPABORT=1
4.89740550    Operation    write    DebugPort    ABORT    '129'    FAULT        
4.89930000    Line reset                            
...snip... (I could add the whole trace if it's useful?)

This is much different from what I get if I sniff the traffic without a connected device, so I guess the external nRF52 is responding. Also it's almost identical every time I run the target detection.

Any clues what's wrong?

Regards and thanks in advance

Ben

[hmolesworth]

You don't mention voltage; VDD on the target would have to be similar to the DK board and not (for example) only 1.8 volts. The nRF52840 DK requires the target board to be at a higher voltage than 1.8, either supplied from the DK or by otherwise increasing to (say) 3.0 volts. Some J-Link and other programmers do not have that restriction.

[Ben_g]

Target Voltage is 3V it is taken from the Arduino-Port of the DK.

[hmolesworth]

One assumes SW6 is in "Default" position .. just checking .. and I don't mean to be pedantic, but does the dev board supply the VDD input of the target board, or the HV input? Regardless, is the internal voltage set to some output voltage lower than the DK can program, which is a known issue mentioned in several posts .. if so the registers need to be reset with a J-Link interface which can program a device using 1.8 volts

Here is a sample discussion

[Ben_g]

Hello,

the SW6 is on "default".

The Voltage Supply (VDD of the Arduino P2) is connected to VDD_HV. I could measure about 3.2V on the pin.

I could try to connect the Voltage also to VDD_nRF if that helps?!

Is it not possible to program an "erase-all"-erased board at all with DK?

I just started to investigate this volgate stuff...

Yes. bridging VDD_nRF helped. Thanks for your support!

Thanks,

Ben

[Sigurd]

nRFgo Studio is deprected. Please download and use nRF Connect for desktop and the Programmer app instead.

Also make sure that you have the latest nRF5x command line tools version. Here is the download link

Try using nrfjprog to erase the flash on the chip.

If you still are having issues, then you could maybe try to connect VTG and GND DETECT also. See the picture in this post.