How to program custom made nRF52811 PCB? What is bootloader for?

[Jxq]

Hi,

I'm very new to the Nordic BLE chips. Sorry in advance for asking stupid questions, but I'm willing to learn! This is my first project for my current job, I want to do it right ...

I have a customer Bluetooth tracker PCB based on nRF52811. And I would like to program a beacon example to start with.

I have nRF52840 dev kit and I set up 4 pins on my PCB: SWCLK, SWD, VDD, GND. So I just connect those 4 pins to the dev kit accordingly, then program the chip directly from SEGGER? 

I've read a lot of posts and some posts talk about the bootloader. What is the bootloader used for? Do I need it except for software device and application?

BTW, is there any tutorial about programming custom board?

Thanks.

Kind Regards,

Jxq

[awneil]

Jxq said:

I'm very new to the Nordic BLE chips

Nordic getting started:

https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/struct_nrf5gs/struct/nrf5gs.html

https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/nordic/short-range-guides/b/getting-started

presumably also new to microcontrollers in general ?

This is really no different to programming any Cortex-M microcontroller.

Jxq said:

for my current job

Then you really should be getting your supervisor to guide you in this!

Sounds like some training may be in order?

Jxq said:

program the chip directly from SEGGER

If you're using a J-Link, then the J-Link documentation describes the required connections to the Target.

Download the manual at https://www.segger.com/products/debug-probes/j-link/

See also https://wiki.segger.com/Main_Page#Debug_and_Trace_Probes

Note that the J-Link doesn't usually provide power to the Target.

Instructions for using a Nordic DK to program/debug an external target are in the DK documentation.

again, you need to power the board separately from the debug/programming connection.

Jxq said:

What is the bootloader used for?

Again, this is a standard computer concept:

https://www.google.com/search?q=bootloader

[Amanda Hsieh]

Hi, 

I have nRF52840 dev kit and I set up 4 pins on my PCB: SWCLK, SWD, VDD, GND. So I just connect those 4 pins to the dev kit accordingly, then program the chip directly from SEGGER? 

You need to connect your external board to the Debug out connector (P19) with a 10-pin cable and power up your external board. The target board must be self-powered by 3V (e.g. by coin.cell battery of 3V). See this link for more information: Debug output connections (P19 and P20) on nRF52840 DK

 

What is the bootloader used for? Do I need it except for software device and application?

Please see the Bootloader documentation.   

-Amanda H. 

[Jxq]

Hi Amanda,

Thanks a lot.