Custom board not being recognized

[mars_design]

Hi,

I have created a custom board with an NRF52832 chip on. Either programming via ULINK2 or the DK PCA10040 is no succes, board won't be recognized although it is powered.

Checked all support tickets around this subject, and wiring is set up okay including SWCLK, SWDIO, VTG GND. What else can be checked in hardware or wiring what could be the issue?

I have used the reference circuit diagram for the NRF52832 dcdc schematic.

Thanks.

[mars_design]

Hello.

Have had more success this weekend with programming. Appeared to be a issue on my custom board, but now able to load blinky or other code on. Also via NRFgo studio I can load and verify the softdevice 132. 

I'm not able to load the code (try to load the ble_app_uart with some modifications from myself), but it says: hex file has data in soft device region. 

Also via Keil i get the following error; Error: Flash Download failed  -  "Cortex-M4" 

What could this be?

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi,

 

You can try to erase the device via command line "nrfjprog -e" (or click the "Erase all" button in nRFgoStudio), then re-program the softdevice, and then the application?

Does your custom board have a external 32kHz crystal? If not, you need to configure your project to use the internal 32kHz RC oscillator instead.

Here's a answer from a colleague of mine how to change this in recent SDK versions:

https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/48170/i-have-a-development-board-and-load-the-client-central-ble-blinky-to-it-then-the-peripheral-ble-blinky-to-my-custom-board-and-power-up-and-the-central-development-board-stays-led-1-on-and-never-switches-to-led-2/192441#192441

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[Håkon Alseth]

Which example specifically are you using?

 

Here's an example on how to use nrfjprog:

# Erase the chip
nrfjprog -e
# program softdevice
nrfjprog --program path/to/softdevice.hex --verify
# program the application
nrfjprog --program path/to/app.hex --verify --reset

 

If you do not do a erase all (nrfjprog -e), you have to add the switch "--sectorerase" when programming.

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[mars_design]

I have tried multple hex files, ble_app_beacon, ble_app_blinky, and ble_app_uart and after loading the softdevice correctly, all give the same error.

Parsing hex file.
Reading flash area to program to guarantee it is erased.
ERROR: The area to write is not erased.

This does not happen when taking the merged soft device with hex file. Is there some memory allocation wrong?

[Håkon Alseth]

Do you have the latest nrfjprog version installed? It can be downloaded from here:

https://www.nordicsemi.com/?sc_itemid=%7B56868165-9553-444D-AA57-15BDE1BF6B49%7D

 

It's important that you compile a project for the S132, when this is the softdevice that you have loaded onto the nRF device.

Could you attach one of the .hex files that you have compiled so I can have a look at the offset etc?

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[mars_design]

5850.nrf52832_xxaa.hex

[Håkon Alseth]

Thanks. Offsets and all look good. I had no issues programming this .hex file:

C:\SDK\nRF5_SDK_15.3.0_59ac345\components\softdevice\s132\hex>nrfjprog -e
Erasing user available code and UICR flash areas.
Applying system reset.

C:\SDK\nRF5_SDK_15.3.0_59ac345\components\softdevice\s132\hex>nrfjprog --program s132_nrf52_6.1.1_softdevice.hex
Parsing hex file.
Reading flash area to program to guarantee it is erased.
Checking that the area to write is not protected.
Programming device.

C:\SDK\nRF5_SDK_15.3.0_59ac345\components\softdevice\s132\hex>nrfjprog --program 5850.nrf52832_xxaa.hex
Parsing hex file.
Reading flash area to program to guarantee it is erased.
Checking that the area to write is not protected.
Programming device.

 

But, If I try again; I'll get this error, and would need to add the "--sectorerase" flag to nrfjprog:

C:\SDK\nRF5_SDK_15.3.0_59ac345\components\softdevice\s132\hex>nrfjprog --program 5850.nrf52832_xxaa.hex --verify
Parsing hex file.
Reading flash area to program to guarantee it is erased.
ERROR: The area to write is not erased.

C:\SDK\nRF5_SDK_15.3.0_59ac345\components\softdevice\s132\hex>nrfjprog --program 5850.nrf52832_xxaa.hex --verify --sectorerase
Parsing hex file.
Erasing page at address 0x26000.
Erasing page at address 0x27000.
Erasing page at address 0x28000.
Erasing page at address 0x29000.
Erasing page at address 0x2A000.
Erasing page at address 0x2B000.
Applying system reset.
Checking that the area to write is not protected.
Programming device.
Verifying programming.
Verified OK.

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[mars_design]

Thanks for the help Håkon. Yesterday I did the 'remove everything from your pc and start over again'-fix. Somehow, something was wrong I guess. Since I have re-installed, nrfjprog, keil, downloaded new SDK files, now I can load hex files to my custom board. 

[Håkon Alseth]

Awesome to hear that things are working

Have fun developing with our parts, and continue to use our devzone if you have questions

 

Cheers,

Håkon