Time out error while production test using DTM

[Cimteker]

Hello,

I am testing 9 channels for PER (1,2,3,21,22,23,37,38,39). During testing the last 3 channels I always get a single time out error in response to LE_TEST_END. I also get much higher PER for higher channels (not sure if these 2 problems are related). Anybody with a similar experience? I am using nRF51 dev kit.

Thanks

Jerry

[Edvin]

Hello,

 

During testing the last 3 channels I always get a single time out error in response to LE_TEST_END

 So that is channels 37,38 and 39?

 

I also get much higher PER for higher channels

 And this is 21, 22, 23?

What environment are you testing in? Do you have an RF shielded box, as described in section 3.2 here?

Can you also describe your test setup? Do you use a DK, or an external tester? (MT8852B)

[Cimteker]

Maybe a picture of our dev board will help. It's pretty old, the system was sitting idle for almost 2 years.

[Cimteker]

I kept the original limits from the example. 30 % or less is a failure. My script calculates error rate by dividing the number of received packets by the maximum theoretical number (1600 in my case).

You can see from the screenshot provided that channel 37 fails 3 times with 46,47 and 45% error rate.

You can also see in the window below the actual number fo packets received 869,846,880.

I am testing 9 channels: 1,2,3,21,22,23,37,38,39. 

So, in summary, I am getting occasional failures when it fails 3 times in a row. Sometimes the part will fail 2 times in a row and then pass another 100+ times.

The numbers you see in the example provided are with higher attenuation levels so I can show the failures. Normally, when I lower the attenuation, most of the results (error rates) are 0 and then the occasional failure.

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi,

 

This is strange test results.What you could check is that you are using the latest direct_test_mode firmware for the nRF51x22 device, and see if this issue behaves differently if you use the example from SDK v12.3 (path is \nRF5_SDK_12.3.0_d7731ad\examples\dtm\direct_test_mode):

http://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF5_SDK/nRF5_SDK_v12.x.x/nRF5_SDK_12.3.0_d7731ad.zip

 

This is the latest SDK that has support for nRF51-series devices.

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[Cimteker]

Thank you Håkon for your suggestion.

Can you point me to documentation describing the process of loading firmware? I joined the project late and the original engineer has left our company.

[Håkon Alseth]

The documentation on how to get started is located here:

https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/com.nordic.infocenter.sdk5.v12.3.0/nrf51_getting_started.html?cp=5_5_7_1

It does not look like you're using the default RXD/TXD pins (P0.09 and P0.11; in which you could have used the precompiled .hex file), so it looks like you have to change the pins in main.c::uart_init().

Here's how the function looks now:

static void uart_init(void)
{
    // Configure UART0 pins.
    nrf_gpio_cfg_output(TX_PIN_NUMBER);
    nrf_gpio_cfg_input(RX_PIN_NUMBER, NRF_GPIO_PIN_NOPULL);

    NRF_UART0->PSELTXD       = TX_PIN_NUMBER;
    NRF_UART0->PSELRXD       = RX_PIN_NUMBER;
    NRF_UART0->BAUDRATE      = DTM_BITRATE;

    // Clean out possible events from earlier operations
    NRF_UART0->EVENTS_RXDRDY = 0;
    NRF_UART0->EVENTS_TXDRDY = 0;
    NRF_UART0->EVENTS_ERROR  = 0;

    // Activate UART.
    NRF_UART0->ENABLE        = UART_ENABLE_ENABLE_Enabled;
    NRF_UART0->INTENSET      = 0;
    NRF_UART0->TASKS_STARTTX = 1;
    NRF_UART0->TASKS_STARTRX = 1;
}

These defines comes from the board definitions, so its easier just to hard-code it in main, like this:

#define MY_TXD_PIN XX
#define MY_RXD_PIN YY

static void uart_init(void)
{
    // Configure UART0 pins.
    nrf_gpio_cfg_output(MY_TXD_PIN);
    nrf_gpio_cfg_input(MY_RXD_PIN, NRF_GPIO_PIN_NOPULL);

    NRF_UART0->PSELTXD       = MY_TXD_PIN;
    NRF_UART0->PSELRXD       = MY_RXD_PIN;
    NRF_UART0->BAUDRATE      = DTM_BITRATE;

    // Clean out possible events from earlier operations
    NRF_UART0->EVENTS_RXDRDY = 0;
    NRF_UART0->EVENTS_TXDRDY = 0;
    NRF_UART0->EVENTS_ERROR  = 0;

    // Activate UART.
    NRF_UART0->ENABLE        = UART_ENABLE_ENABLE_Enabled;
    NRF_UART0->INTENSET      = 0;
    NRF_UART0->TASKS_STARTTX = 1;
    NRF_UART0->TASKS_STARTRX = 1;
}

 

If you run into issues, just let me know what TXD/RXD pins you're using, and I can compile one for you.

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[Cimteker]

Hi Håkon, thanks for your response. I think I am using the default RXD/TXD pins.

Could you confirm from the picture?

[Cimteker]

Hi Håkon, how do you load the precompiled hex file onto the board? I see a section that mentions loading it to the board USB drive. What happens next? Does it load after power toggle?

[Håkon Alseth]

It does indeed look like you're using the default pins.

You drag the file "\nRF5_SDK_12.3.0_d7731ad\examples\dtm\direct_test_mode\hex\direct_test_mode_pca10028.hex" to the mass storage device labeled "J-LINK" and that's it. It should boot up within seconds. You can power cycle if you'd like, but wait atleast 4-5 seconds after drag-and-dropping the .hex file.

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[Cimteker]

Thank you Håkon,

What is the difference between pca10028.hex and pca10028_s130.hex files?

[Håkon Alseth]

the one's marked _s130.hex expect that the softdevice is loaded into the device, meaning; the application is offset in flash and RAM.

[Cimteker]

Thank you Håkon,

I have the latest firmware running now. There's still this problem with occasional failure. 1-2% of the time it will read one of the channels very high ( >40%). I am struggling to explain this. Any ideas?