nRF52840 GPIO Simple Input Read Issue

[dev_000]

Hi all,

I am stuck with a simple but weird issue. It's driving me crazy for the last few hours. I am using a PCA10056 DK.
I am somehow unable to do a simple digital pin read correctly with nrf_gpio_pin_read when I configure the pin to be pulled up or pulled down. 

Here is what I did,

1. I configure P0.17 as input with nrf_gpio_cfg_input(CUSTOM_BUTTON, NRF_GPIO_PIN_PULLUP);

2. I read the pin with nrf_gpio_pin_read and print the values on the debug screen. 

3. The read value seem to be stuck at 1 even when I physically connect the pin 17 to ground intermittently with a jumper wire.(Simulating a push button)

This value seems to be stuck at 0 when I configure the input pin with NRF_GPIO_PIN_PULLDOWN. No change even if I physically short the pin to VDD. But the pin seems to be working fine if I configure it with NRF_GPIO_PIN_NOPULL. I am able to see the values toggle when I connect to VDD or GND accordingly. 

The problem seems to be occurring only when configured in pullup or pulldown mode.

I am attaching the main.c code snippet. (It will compile if its put in SDK15.3, ble_app_template code main.c section)

#define CUSTOM_BUTTON 17
uint8_t button_value = 0;
int main(void)
{
    bool erase_bonds;

    // Initialize.
    log_init();
    timers_init();
    buttons_leds_init(&erase_bonds);
    power_management_init();
    ble_stack_init();
    gap_params_init();
    gatt_init();
    advertising_init();
    services_init();
    conn_params_init();
    peer_manager_init();

    // Start execution.
    NRF_LOG_INFO("Template example started.");
    application_timers_start();

    advertising_start(erase_bonds);

    nrf_gpio_cfg_input(CUSTOM_BUTTON, NRF_GPIO_PIN_PULLUP);  // NRF_GPIO_PIN_PULLUP, NRF_GPIO_PIN_PULLDOWN, NRF_GPIO_PIN_NOPULL 
    
    // Enter main loop.
    for (;;)
    {   
        button_value = 0;
        idle_state_handle();
        nrf_delay_ms(1000);
        button_value = nrf_gpio_pin_read(CUSTOM_BUTTON);
        printf("Button Reading: %d\r\n", button_value);
    }
}

Can someone help me out on pointing the issue here? It seems so simple and I might have overlooked something but I cant find the issue here.

I tried with a different PCA10056 DK too so it's not a hardware issue.

Thanking you in advance.

Edit: When I repeated the experiment few hours later, its seems to be misbehaving at NRF_GPIO_PIN_NOPULL mode too. (No change in the reading)

[haakonsh]

Is the problem specific to p0.17? Do note that p0.17 is already in use by the on-board flash. See the DK's Connector interface spec. 

It could be a problem where the compiler optimizes out the register read, try declaring button_value as volatile. 

[dev_000]

I tried with the different pins as well (Like P0.19, P0.21). Issue seems to be there.
Now when I repeat the same experiment today, its not functioning even with NRF_GPIO_PIN_NOPULL

In NRF_GPIO_PIN_NOPULL is stuck at 0
In NRF_GPIO_PIN_PULLDOWN its stuck at 0
In NRF_GPIO_PIN_PULLUP its stuck at 1

Its not changing no matter what I do.

Tried volatile too. No change in result.

Any advice on what can be wrong?
Tried on 2 Dev kits. Same behaviour.

[haakonsh]

This is not the expected behavior of the GPIOs.

I suggest you replicate the issue with the most basic example, the \examples\peripheral\Blinky Example, so that we can rule out programmatical errors. 

I also suggest you halt the CPU and read the GPIO's IN register directly in a debugging session. 

[dev_000]

Well the basic blinky code is utilising the on board LEDs and buttons. That's not what I am doing.

I am attaching the main.c file here. Can you please test this in the basic ble_app_template project to see if this is replicate-able in pca10056? That would rule out program errors if any.

Fullscreen 73725.main.c Download

/**
 * Copyright (c) 2014 - 2019, Nordic Semiconductor ASA
 *
 * All rights reserved.
 *
 * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification,
 * are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
 *
 * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
 *    list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 *
 * 2. Redistributions in binary form, except as embedded into a Nordic
 *    Semiconductor ASA integrated circuit in a product or a software update for
 *    such product, must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of
 *    conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other
 *    materials provided with the distribution.
 *
 * 3. Neither the name of Nordic Semiconductor ASA nor the names of its
 *    contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this
 *    software without specific prior written permission.
 *
 * 4. This software, with or without modification, must only be used with a
 *    Nordic Semiconductor ASA integrated circuit.
 *
 * 5. Any software provided in binary form under this license must not be reverse
 *    engineered, decompiled, modified and/or disassembled.
 *
 * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY NORDIC SEMICONDUCTOR ASA "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS
 * OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
 * OF MERCHANTABILITY, NONINFRINGEMENT, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
 * DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL NORDIC SEMICONDUCTOR ASA OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
 * LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
 * CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE
 * GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
 * HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
 * LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT
 * OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 *
 */
/** @file
 *
 * @defgroup ble_sdk_app_template_main main.c
 * @{
 * @ingroup ble_sdk_app_template
 * @brief Template project main file.
 *
 * This file contains a template for creating a new application. It has the code necessary to wakeup
 * from button, advertise, get a connection restart advertising on disconnect and if no new
 * connection created go back to system-off mode.
 * It can easily be used as a starting point for creating a new application, the comments identified
 * with 'YOUR_JOB' indicates where and how you can customize.
 */

#include <stdbool.h>
#include <stdint.h>
#include <string.h>

#include "nordic_common.h"
#include "nrf.h"
#include "app_error.h"
#include "ble.h"
#include "ble_hci.h"
#include "ble_srv_common.h"
#include "ble_advdata.h"
#include "ble_advertising.h"
#include "ble_conn_params.h"
#include "nrf_sdh.h"
#include "nrf_sdh_soc.h"
#include "nrf_sdh_ble.h"
#include "app_timer.h"
#include "fds.h"
#include "peer_manager.h"
#include "peer_manager_handler.h"
#include "bsp_btn_ble.h"
#include "sensorsim.h"
#include "ble_conn_state.h"
#include "nrf_ble_gatt.h"
#include "nrf_ble_qwr.h"
#include "nrf_pwr_mgmt.h"

#include "nrf_log.h"
#include "nrf_log_ctrl.h"
#include "nrf_log_default_backends.h"
#include "nrf_delay.h"


#define DEVICE_NAME                     "Nordic_Template"                       /**< Name of device. Will be included in the advertising data. */
#define MANUFACTURER_NAME               "NordicSemiconductor"                   /**< Manufacturer. Will be passed to Device Information Service. */
#define APP_ADV_INTERVAL                300                                     /**< The advertising interval (in units of 0.625 ms. This value corresponds to 187.5 ms). */

#define APP_ADV_DURATION                18000                                   /**< The advertising duration (180 seconds) in units of 10 milliseconds. */
#define APP_BLE_OBSERVER_PRIO           3                                       /**< Application's BLE observer priority. You shouldn't need to modify this value. */
#define APP_BLE_CONN_CFG_TAG            1                                       /**< A tag identifying the SoftDevice BLE configuration. */

#define MIN_CONN_INTERVAL               MSEC_TO_UNITS(100, UNIT_1_25_MS)        /**< Minimum acceptable connection interval (0.1 seconds). */
#define MAX_CONN_INTERVAL               MSEC_TO_UNITS(200, UNIT_1_25_MS)        /**< Maximum acceptable connection interval (0.2 second). */
#define SLAVE_LATENCY                   0                                       /**< Slave latency. */
#define CONN_SUP_TIMEOUT                MSEC_TO_UNITS(4000, UNIT_10_MS)         /**< Connection supervisory timeout (4 seconds). */

#define FIRST_CONN_PARAMS_UPDATE_DELAY  APP_TIMER_TICKS(5000)                   /**< Time from initiating event (connect or start of notification) to first time sd_ble_gap_conn_param_update is called (5 seconds). */
#define NEXT_CONN_PARAMS_UPDATE_DELAY   APP_TIMER_TICKS(30000)                  /**< Time between each call to sd_ble_gap_conn_param_update after the first call (30 seconds). */
#define MAX_CONN_PARAMS_UPDATE_COUNT    3                                       /**< Number of attempts before giving up the connection parameter negotiation. */

#define SEC_PARAM_BOND                  1                                       /**< Perform bonding. */
#define SEC_PARAM_MITM                  0                                       /**< Man In The Middle protection not required. */
#define SEC_PARAM_LESC                  0                                       /**< LE Secure Connections not enabled. */
#define SEC_PARAM_KEYPRESS              0                                       /**< Keypress notifications not enabled. */
#define SEC_PARAM_IO_CAPABILITIES       BLE_GAP_IO_CAPS_NONE                    /**< No I/O capabilities. */
#define SEC_PARAM_OOB                   0                                       /**< Out Of Band data not available. */
#define SEC_PARAM_MIN_KEY_SIZE          7                                       /**< Minimum encryption key size. */
#define SEC_PARAM_MAX_KEY_SIZE          16                                      /**< Maximum encryption key size. */

#define DEAD_BEEF                       0xDEADBEEF                              /**< Value used as error code on stack dump, can be used to identify stack location on stack unwind. */


NRF_BLE_GATT_DEF(m_gatt);                                                       /**< GATT module instance. */
NRF_BLE_QWR_DEF(m_qwr);                                                         /**< Context for the Queued Write module.*/
BLE_ADVERTISING_DEF(m_advertising);                                             /**< Advertising module instance. */

static uint16_t m_conn_handle = BLE_CONN_HANDLE_INVALID;                        /**< Handle of the current connection. */

/* YOUR_JOB: Declare all services structure your application is using
 *  BLE_XYZ_DEF(m_xyz);
 */

// YOUR_JOB: Use UUIDs for service(s) used in your application.
static ble_uuid_t m_adv_uuids[] =                                               /**< Universally unique service identifiers. */
{
    {BLE_UUID_DEVICE_INFORMATION_SERVICE, BLE_UUID_TYPE_BLE}
};


static void advertising_start(bool erase_bonds);


/**@brief Callback function for asserts in the SoftDevice.
 *
 * @details This function will be called in case of an assert in the SoftDevice.
 *
 * @warning This handler is an example only and does not fit a final product. You need to analyze
 *          how your product is supposed to react in case of Assert.
 * @warning On assert from the SoftDevice, the system can only recover on reset.
 *
 * @param[in] line_num   Line number of the failing ASSERT call.
 * @param[in] file_name  File name of the failing ASSERT call.
 */
void assert_nrf_callback(uint16_t line_num, const uint8_t * p_file_name)
{
    app_error_handler(DEAD_BEEF, line_num, p_file_name);
}


/**@brief Function for handling Peer Manager events.
 *
 * @param[in] p_evt  Peer Manager event.
 */
static void pm_evt_handler(pm_evt_t const * p_evt)
{
    pm_handler_on_pm_evt(p_evt);
    pm_handler_flash_clean(p_evt);

    switch (p_evt->evt_id)
    {
        case PM_EVT_PEERS_DELETE_SUCCEEDED:
            advertising_start(false);
            break;

        default:
            break;
    }
}


/**@brief Function for the Timer initialization.
 *
 * @details Initializes the timer module. This creates and starts application timers.
 */
static void timers_init(void)
{
    // Initialize timer module.
    ret_code_t err_code = app_timer_init();
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

    // Create timers.

    /* YOUR_JOB: Create any timers to be used by the application.
                 Below is an example of how to create a timer.
                 For every new timer needed, increase the value of the macro APP_TIMER_MAX_TIMERS by
                 one.
       ret_code_t err_code;
       err_code = app_timer_create(&m_app_timer_id, APP_TIMER_MODE_REPEATED, timer_timeout_handler);
       APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code); */
}


/**@brief Function for the GAP initialization.
 *
 * @details This function sets up all the necessary GAP (Generic Access Profile) parameters of the
 *          device including the device name, appearance, and the preferred connection parameters.
 */
static void gap_params_init(void)
{
    ret_code_t              err_code;
    ble_gap_conn_params_t   gap_conn_params;
    ble_gap_conn_sec_mode_t sec_mode;

    BLE_GAP_CONN_SEC_MODE_SET_OPEN(&sec_mode);

    err_code = sd_ble_gap_device_name_set(&sec_mode,
                                          (const uint8_t *)DEVICE_NAME,
                                          strlen(DEVICE_NAME));
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

    /* YOUR_JOB: Use an appearance value matching the application's use case.
       err_code = sd_ble_gap_appearance_set(BLE_APPEARANCE_);
       APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code); */

    memset(&gap_conn_params, 0, sizeof(gap_conn_params));

    gap_conn_params.min_conn_interval = MIN_CONN_INTERVAL;
    gap_conn_params.max_conn_interval = MAX_CONN_INTERVAL;
    gap_conn_params.slave_latency     = SLAVE_LATENCY;
    gap_conn_params.conn_sup_timeout  = CONN_SUP_TIMEOUT;

    err_code = sd_ble_gap_ppcp_set(&gap_conn_params);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
}


/**@brief Function for initializing the GATT module.
 */
static void gatt_init(void)
{
    ret_code_t err_code = nrf_ble_gatt_init(&m_gatt, NULL);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
}


/**@brief Function for handling Queued Write Module errors.
 *
 * @details A pointer to this function will be passed to each service which may need to inform the
 *          application about an error.
 *
 * @param[in]   nrf_error   Error code containing information about what went wrong.
 */
static void nrf_qwr_error_handler(uint32_t nrf_error)
{
    APP_ERROR_HANDLER(nrf_error);
}


/**@brief Function for handling the YYY Service events.
 * YOUR_JOB implement a service handler function depending on the event the service you are using can generate
 *
 * @details This function will be called for all YY Service events which are passed to
 *          the application.
 *
 * @param[in]   p_yy_service   YY Service structure.
 * @param[in]   p_evt          Event received from the YY Service.
 *
 *
static void on_yys_evt(ble_yy_service_t     * p_yy_service,
                       ble_yy_service_evt_t * p_evt)
{
    switch (p_evt->evt_type)
    {
        case BLE_YY_NAME_EVT_WRITE:
            APPL_LOG("[APPL]: charact written with value %s. ", p_evt->params.char_xx.value.p_str);
            break;

        default:
            // No implementation needed.
            break;
    }
}
*/

/**@brief Function for initializing services that will be used by the application.
 */
static void services_init(void)
{
    ret_code_t         err_code;
    nrf_ble_qwr_init_t qwr_init = {0};

    // Initialize Queued Write Module.
    qwr_init.error_handler = nrf_qwr_error_handler;

    err_code = nrf_ble_qwr_init(&m_qwr, &qwr_init);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

    /* YOUR_JOB: Add code to initialize the services used by the application.
       ble_xxs_init_t                     xxs_init;
       ble_yys_init_t                     yys_init;

       // Initialize XXX Service.
       memset(&xxs_init, 0, sizeof(xxs_init));

       xxs_init.evt_handler                = NULL;
       xxs_init.is_xxx_notify_supported    = true;
       xxs_init.ble_xx_initial_value.level = 100;

       err_code = ble_bas_init(&m_xxs, &xxs_init);
       APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

       // Initialize YYY Service.
       memset(&yys_init, 0, sizeof(yys_init));
       yys_init.evt_handler                  = on_yys_evt;
       yys_init.ble_yy_initial_value.counter = 0;

       err_code = ble_yy_service_init(&yys_init, &yy_init);
       APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
     */
}


/**@brief Function for handling the Connection Parameters Module.
 *
 * @details This function will be called for all events in the Connection Parameters Module which
 *          are passed to the application.
 *          @note All this function does is to disconnect. This could have been done by simply
 *                setting the disconnect_on_fail config parameter, but instead we use the event
 *                handler mechanism to demonstrate its use.
 *
 * @param[in] p_evt  Event received from the Connection Parameters Module.
 */
static void on_conn_params_evt(ble_conn_params_evt_t * p_evt)
{
    ret_code_t err_code;

    if (p_evt->evt_type == BLE_CONN_PARAMS_EVT_FAILED)
    {
        err_code = sd_ble_gap_disconnect(m_conn_handle, BLE_HCI_CONN_INTERVAL_UNACCEPTABLE);
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
    }
}


/**@brief Function for handling a Connection Parameters error.
 *
 * @param[in] nrf_error  Error code containing information about what went wrong.
 */
static void conn_params_error_handler(uint32_t nrf_error)
{
    APP_ERROR_HANDLER(nrf_error);
}


/**@brief Function for initializing the Connection Parameters module.
 */
static void conn_params_init(void)
{
    ret_code_t             err_code;
    ble_conn_params_init_t cp_init;

    memset(&cp_init, 0, sizeof(cp_init));

    cp_init.p_conn_params                  = NULL;
    cp_init.first_conn_params_update_delay = FIRST_CONN_PARAMS_UPDATE_DELAY;
    cp_init.next_conn_params_update_delay  = NEXT_CONN_PARAMS_UPDATE_DELAY;
    cp_init.max_conn_params_update_count   = MAX_CONN_PARAMS_UPDATE_COUNT;
    cp_init.start_on_notify_cccd_handle    = BLE_GATT_HANDLE_INVALID;
    cp_init.disconnect_on_fail             = false;
    cp_init.evt_handler                    = on_conn_params_evt;
    cp_init.error_handler                  = conn_params_error_handler;

    err_code = ble_conn_params_init(&cp_init);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
}


/**@brief Function for starting timers.
 */
static void application_timers_start(void)
{
    /* YOUR_JOB: Start your timers. below is an example of how to start a timer.
       ret_code_t err_code;
       err_code = app_timer_start(m_app_timer_id, TIMER_INTERVAL, NULL);
       APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code); */

}


/**@brief Function for putting the chip into sleep mode.
 *
 * @note This function will not return.
 */
static void sleep_mode_enter(void)
{
    ret_code_t err_code;

    err_code = bsp_indication_set(BSP_INDICATE_IDLE);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

    // Prepare wakeup buttons.
    err_code = bsp_btn_ble_sleep_mode_prepare();
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

    // Go to system-off mode (this function will not return; wakeup will cause a reset).
    err_code = sd_power_system_off();
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
}


/**@brief Function for handling advertising events.
 *
 * @details This function will be called for advertising events which are passed to the application.
 *
 * @param[in] ble_adv_evt  Advertising event.
 */
static void on_adv_evt(ble_adv_evt_t ble_adv_evt)
{
    ret_code_t err_code;

    switch (ble_adv_evt)
    {
        case BLE_ADV_EVT_FAST:
            NRF_LOG_INFO("Fast advertising.");
            err_code = bsp_indication_set(BSP_INDICATE_ADVERTISING);
            APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
            break;

        case BLE_ADV_EVT_IDLE:
            sleep_mode_enter();
            break;

        default:
            break;
    }
}


/**@brief Function for handling BLE events.
 *
 * @param[in]   p_ble_evt   Bluetooth stack event.
 * @param[in]   p_context   Unused.
 */
static void ble_evt_handler(ble_evt_t const * p_ble_evt, void * p_context)
{
    ret_code_t err_code = NRF_SUCCESS;

    switch (p_ble_evt->header.evt_id)
    {
        case BLE_GAP_EVT_DISCONNECTED:
            NRF_LOG_INFO("Disconnected.");
            // LED indication will be changed when advertising starts.
            break;

        case BLE_GAP_EVT_CONNECTED:
            NRF_LOG_INFO("Connected.");
            err_code = bsp_indication_set(BSP_INDICATE_CONNECTED);
            APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
            m_conn_handle = p_ble_evt->evt.gap_evt.conn_handle;
            err_code = nrf_ble_qwr_conn_handle_assign(&m_qwr, m_conn_handle);
            APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
            break;

        case BLE_GAP_EVT_PHY_UPDATE_REQUEST:
        {
            NRF_LOG_DEBUG("PHY update request.");
            ble_gap_phys_t const phys =
            {
                .rx_phys = BLE_GAP_PHY_AUTO,
                .tx_phys = BLE_GAP_PHY_AUTO,
            };
            err_code = sd_ble_gap_phy_update(p_ble_evt->evt.gap_evt.conn_handle, &phys);
            APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
        } break;

        case BLE_GATTC_EVT_TIMEOUT:
            // Disconnect on GATT Client timeout event.
            NRF_LOG_DEBUG("GATT Client Timeout.");
            err_code = sd_ble_gap_disconnect(p_ble_evt->evt.gattc_evt.conn_handle,
                                             BLE_HCI_REMOTE_USER_TERMINATED_CONNECTION);
            APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
            break;

        case BLE_GATTS_EVT_TIMEOUT:
            // Disconnect on GATT Server timeout event.
            NRF_LOG_DEBUG("GATT Server Timeout.");
            err_code = sd_ble_gap_disconnect(p_ble_evt->evt.gatts_evt.conn_handle,
                                             BLE_HCI_REMOTE_USER_TERMINATED_CONNECTION);
            APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
            break;

        default:
            // No implementation needed.
            break;
    }
}


/**@brief Function for initializing the BLE stack.
 *
 * @details Initializes the SoftDevice and the BLE event interrupt.
 */
static void ble_stack_init(void)
{
    ret_code_t err_code;

    err_code = nrf_sdh_enable_request();
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

    // Configure the BLE stack using the default settings.
    // Fetch the start address of the application RAM.
    uint32_t ram_start = 0;
    err_code = nrf_sdh_ble_default_cfg_set(APP_BLE_CONN_CFG_TAG, &ram_start);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

    // Enable BLE stack.
    err_code = nrf_sdh_ble_enable(&ram_start);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

    // Register a handler for BLE events.
    NRF_SDH_BLE_OBSERVER(m_ble_observer, APP_BLE_OBSERVER_PRIO, ble_evt_handler, NULL);
}


/**@brief Function for the Peer Manager initialization.
 */
static void peer_manager_init(void)
{
    ble_gap_sec_params_t sec_param;
    ret_code_t           err_code;

    err_code = pm_init();
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

    memset(&sec_param, 0, sizeof(ble_gap_sec_params_t));

    // Security parameters to be used for all security procedures.
    sec_param.bond           = SEC_PARAM_BOND;
    sec_param.mitm           = SEC_PARAM_MITM;
    sec_param.lesc           = SEC_PARAM_LESC;
    sec_param.keypress       = SEC_PARAM_KEYPRESS;
    sec_param.io_caps        = SEC_PARAM_IO_CAPABILITIES;
    sec_param.oob            = SEC_PARAM_OOB;
    sec_param.min_key_size   = SEC_PARAM_MIN_KEY_SIZE;
    sec_param.max_key_size   = SEC_PARAM_MAX_KEY_SIZE;
    sec_param.kdist_own.enc  = 1;
    sec_param.kdist_own.id   = 1;
    sec_param.kdist_peer.enc = 1;
    sec_param.kdist_peer.id  = 1;

    err_code = pm_sec_params_set(&sec_param);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

    err_code = pm_register(pm_evt_handler);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
}


/**@brief Clear bond information from persistent storage.
 */
static void delete_bonds(void)
{
    ret_code_t err_code;

    NRF_LOG_INFO("Erase bonds!");

    err_code = pm_peers_delete();
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
}


/**@brief Function for handling events from the BSP module.
 *
 * @param[in]   event   Event generated when button is pressed.
 */
static void bsp_event_handler(bsp_event_t event)
{
    ret_code_t err_code;

    switch (event)
    {
        case BSP_EVENT_SLEEP:
            sleep_mode_enter();
            break; // BSP_EVENT_SLEEP

        case BSP_EVENT_DISCONNECT:
            err_code = sd_ble_gap_disconnect(m_conn_handle,
                                             BLE_HCI_REMOTE_USER_TERMINATED_CONNECTION);
            if (err_code != NRF_ERROR_INVALID_STATE)
            {
                APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
            }
            break; // BSP_EVENT_DISCONNECT

        case BSP_EVENT_WHITELIST_OFF:
            if (m_conn_handle == BLE_CONN_HANDLE_INVALID)
            {
                err_code = ble_advertising_restart_without_whitelist(&m_advertising);
                if (err_code != NRF_ERROR_INVALID_STATE)
                {
                    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
                }
            }
            break; // BSP_EVENT_KEY_0

        default:
            break;
    }
}


/**@brief Function for initializing the Advertising functionality.
 */
static void advertising_init(void)
{
    ret_code_t             err_code;
    ble_advertising_init_t init;

    memset(&init, 0, sizeof(init));

    init.advdata.name_type               = BLE_ADVDATA_FULL_NAME;
    init.advdata.include_appearance      = true;
    init.advdata.flags                   = BLE_GAP_ADV_FLAGS_LE_ONLY_GENERAL_DISC_MODE;
    init.advdata.uuids_complete.uuid_cnt = sizeof(m_adv_uuids) / sizeof(m_adv_uuids[0]);
    init.advdata.uuids_complete.p_uuids  = m_adv_uuids;

    init.config.ble_adv_fast_enabled  = true;
    init.config.ble_adv_fast_interval = APP_ADV_INTERVAL;
    init.config.ble_adv_fast_timeout  = APP_ADV_DURATION;

    init.evt_handler = on_adv_evt;

    err_code = ble_advertising_init(&m_advertising, &init);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

    ble_advertising_conn_cfg_tag_set(&m_advertising, APP_BLE_CONN_CFG_TAG);
}


/**@brief Function for initializing buttons and leds.
 *
 * @param[out] p_erase_bonds  Will be true if the clear bonding button was pressed to wake the application up.
 */
static void buttons_leds_init(bool * p_erase_bonds)
{
    ret_code_t err_code;
    bsp_event_t startup_event;

    err_code = bsp_init(BSP_INIT_LEDS | BSP_INIT_BUTTONS, bsp_event_handler);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

    err_code = bsp_btn_ble_init(NULL, &startup_event);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

    *p_erase_bonds = (startup_event == BSP_EVENT_CLEAR_BONDING_DATA);
}


/**@brief Function for initializing the nrf log module.
 */
static void log_init(void)
{
    ret_code_t err_code = NRF_LOG_INIT(NULL);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

    NRF_LOG_DEFAULT_BACKENDS_INIT();
}


/**@brief Function for initializing power management.
 */
static void power_management_init(void)
{
    ret_code_t err_code;
    err_code = nrf_pwr_mgmt_init();
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
}


/**@brief Function for handling the idle state (main loop).
 *
 * @details If there is no pending log operation, then sleep until next the next event occurs.
 */
static void idle_state_handle(void)
{
    if (NRF_LOG_PROCESS() == false)
    {
        nrf_pwr_mgmt_run();
    }
}


/**@brief Function for starting advertising.
 */
static void advertising_start(bool erase_bonds)
{
    if (erase_bonds == true)
    {
        delete_bonds();
        // Advertising is started by PM_EVT_PEERS_DELETED_SUCEEDED event
    }
    else
    {
        ret_code_t err_code = ble_advertising_start(&m_advertising, BLE_ADV_MODE_FAST);

        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
    }
}

#define CUSTOM_BUTTON 19
volatile uint8_t button_value = 0;
int main(void)
{
    bool erase_bonds;

    // Initialize.
    log_init();
    timers_init();
    buttons_leds_init(&erase_bonds);
    power_management_init();
    ble_stack_init();
    gap_params_init();
    gatt_init();
    advertising_init();
    services_init();
    conn_params_init();
    peer_manager_init();

    // Start execution.
    NRF_LOG_INFO("Template example started.");
    application_timers_start();

    advertising_start(erase_bonds);

    nrf_gpio_cfg_input(CUSTOM_BUTTON, NRF_GPIO_PIN_PULLUP);  // NRF_GPIO_PIN_PULLUP, NRF_GPIO_PIN_PULLDOWN, NRF_GPIO_PIN_NOPULL 
    
    // Enter main loop.
    for (;;)
    {   
        button_value = 0;
        idle_state_handle();
        nrf_delay_ms(1000);
        button_value = nrf_gpio_pin_read(CUSTOM_BUTTON);
        printf("Button Reading: %d\r\n", button_value);
    }
}


/**
 * @}
 */

[haakonsh]

"Well the basic blinky code is utilising the on board LEDs and buttons. That's not what I am doing."

That's the whole point, it's the smallest piece of code that will compile out of the box and run on the nRF device. You can remove all the LED blinking stuff, just add your pin reading routine and see if you can re-create the issue. 

[dev_000]

Tried that as well. The issue still persists.
Attached is the screenshot of the debug session.