Best solution for programming Softdevice/Bootloader/Firmware to multiple nrf51822 from one PC.

[irarykim]

Hello,

I am almost finishing developement of a BLE module using nrf51822.

For mass production, I hope I can program Softdevice/Bootloader/Firmware to 10 nrf51822 using one PC. (since on my PCB array, there are 10 single boards)

Using 10 j-link is a solution, but it is a quite expensive way.

Is there any cheaper solution?

Thanks.

Jason

[Marc Nicholas]

This is how we're doing it:

(1) We built a custom programming jig. See here for details: wimoto.wordpress.com/.../

(2) We wrote a Python script that automagically takes our hex files (see Stefan's answer) and 'burns' it via a JLink to each board that's pressed down onto the programming jig.

(3) Our firmware does some rudimentary testing and logging via a "pseudo" SWO output (really just a pin configured as UART TX) to the Python program.

It's not fun. It's not pretty. But it works. In our experience, the biggest pain point is not what programmer or software you use but the physicality of the problem. YMMV.

-m

[Marc Nicholas]

We depanelize the PCBs first and then do them in a pipeline. We program different data to each board and also read the board's details such as Static Random Address (pseudeo-MAC) as it goes through the pipeline. I don't know a pipeline is that much more work than a panel at a time -- our panels are 10-up, too.

That said, we also figured out a way to use one JLink with an analog switch and pogo pins....just didn't build it.