nrf9160 SES Jlink "No idcode detected."

[jlienau03]

Hi,

I was doing some current measurements and tried to reconnect my DK to my computer to put a new program on it. When I try to Connect J-Link, I get an error that says "Failed to connect to target. No idcode detected. Please check connection and Target Interface Type". See my setup below:

I've tried nrfjprog --recover in console, and with the PROG/DEBUG switch in nrf91 I get JLinkARM DLL reported an error and it runs successfully when switched to nrf52. I am developing for nrf91. Here is the log.log:

log.log

Thank you.

[MJD093]

I'm going to ask. When you did the current measurements, did you cut SB43?

If you did, the nRF9160 will need to be powered externally as you cut the trace that lets it recieve power from the USB. When I cut my SB43, I can't connect to the nRF9160 without powering the device with my Power Analyser through P24.

See https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/nordic/cellular-iot-guides/b/hardware-design/posts/measuring-psm-idle-current-on-the-nrf91-dk on how to power the SiP via external means if you did cut SB43 (though I'm not sure how you were taking current measurements from P24 if you didn't cut SB43 )

Also https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/ug_nrf91_dk/UG/nrf91_DK/nrf91_power_source.html and https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/ug_nrf91_dk/UG/nrf91_DK/prepare_board.html

I assume you used an Amp meter to do your analysis, you effectivily create a jumper bridge on the upper two pins on P24 that allowed the device to be powered as if SB43 was never cut, but allowing your amp meter to be placed in series with the rest of the power circuit. That last link basically says, put a jumper on those pins and it will act as if SB43 is still intact. I tested this and it worked on mine.

[jlienau03]

Hi,

Yes, I cut SB43, but when doing measurements I shorted the pins again, otherwise I couldn't get readings. I figure this is because I wasn't externally powering the board. I was taking measurements with a power analyzer and connected it to the ground and power pins on the group of 3 pins shown in the picture.

However I was making the measurements though, I cannot flash to the nrf91 on my board. Perhaps the incorrect current measurement setup was the cause.

[MJD093]

Ok Lets that this line by line. (Labeling the Pins on P24 from top-edge-side to bottom-USB-side, 1-2-3)

Ok so you cut SB43 and then connected your power analyser (not an amp meter) to the upper two pins on header P24 or you connected it to pins 1 and 3 and then shorted pins 1 and 2 after that? My power analyser is connected (right now actually) to the same pins as shown in the blog i linked, pins 1 and 3 of P24 (+ and -). From this my analyser can read the current draw of the nRF9160 SiP, the rest of the board is powered by the USB but it can be powered directly from P28. Nothing else would need to be connected. The power analyser should be fine with Pins 1 and 3 and the standard USB connection to supply the power management circuits.

Power to the board should only be supplied from the USB or P28, and if SB43 is cut then P24 for the SiP (either via a jump on pins 1 and 2 or direct external power from pins 1 and 3).

You shorted which pins exactly, pins 1 and 2 on P24? Was this with nothing else connected other than your analyser? If you had nothing else plugged in on the DK then yes the device wouldn't properly power as a lot of the other parts of the board are supplied from the IMCU side of the PCB.

What voltage did you supply to the nRF9160 whilst powering it via the analyser?

One way to check if anything bad happened to your kit would be to remove everything, apply solder to SB43 to bridge the cut trace and then try to connect to the nRF9160 with the normal USB to PC method. If this doesn't work, then something may have really gone wrong with the power measurement.

Can you connect to the nRF52840 on the PCA10090 by selecting nRF52 on SW5? It is independant of the nRF9160 and powered via the power management circuits.

[jlienau03]

So first I cut SB43. Then I connected my power analyzer to pins 1 and 3 of P24, with no external power. As we can see, this did not work. So, with what I had set up already, I shorted the top 2 pins (not -) of P24, and was able to both power the board and see the current on the power analyzer. I didn't have anything else connected or powering the board; just the power analyzer was ever connected to the board during these measurements. Looking back on it, I should have done a different procedure, but that is what I did nonetheless.

When I was able to measure things, I was supplying 5V. Once I supplied it 10V, and that's when things went wrong - I suspect this is why.

I am able to connect the Jlink when the switch is set to the nrf52.

I will attempt rebridging SB43 and update this thread.

Thanks

[MJD093]

10V!

That's your problem right there then. The absolute maximum rating for VDD is 5.5V, you will have blown something on the board by supplying that amount of voltage.

I hate to say it but you probably damaged the SiP itself with that.

Connecting to the nRF52 at least tells us the USB and IMCU circuits are alright to the SoC but with a supply of 10V to the SiPs main power line, connection to the SoC is to be expected I guess as it was isolated from that.

[jlienau03]

Ok - sounds like there's no recovery. I'll use a different board.

Appreciate the help!