Can timers be accessed after advertisement starts?

RE: Can timers be accessed after advertisement starts?

Karl Ylvisaker — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 14:34:02 GMT

[quote user="Raja Sumant"]I was finally able to get the TIMER working but with registers and not the drv.[/quote]

I am happy to hear that you have got the timer up and running, great!

[quote user="Raja Sumant"]I really do not know what is wrong with the driver. [/quote]

I suppose it is not configured correctly. If you would like to see the simplest TIMER driver usage please take a look at the TIMER peripheral example from the SDK that I recommended earlier. You need to make sure that the correct source code file is included in your project, and that the sdk_config file has the correct _ENABLED defines set to 1. You can cross reference your own project's sdk_config against the sdk_config of the TIMER example.

Alternatively, if you would like to give the driver another try then you can show me the code in which you attempted to make it work with, and the corresponding sdk_config file.

If you are satisfied with manipulating the TIMER registers directly then you are free to do so, of course.

Best regards,
Karl

RE: Can timers be accessed after advertisement starts?

Raja Sumant — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 13:34:07 GMT

I was finally able to get the TIMER working but with registers and not the drv.

I really do not know what is wrong with the driver.

uint32_t counter = 0 ;

static void hfclk_config(void) // Select 
{
    ret_code_t err_code = nrf_drv_clock_init();
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

    nrf_drv_clock_hfclk_request(NULL);
}

static void counter_init()
{
        // Initialize timer module.
	NRF_TIMER1->TASKS_STOP = 1;	
        NRF_TIMER1->MODE = 2;// Low Power counter mode
        NRF_TIMER1->PRESCALER = 8;	// Fhck / 2^8 
	//NRF_TIMER1->CC[0] = 62500;	// 62500 - 1s
	NRF_TIMER1->BITMODE = (TIMER_BITMODE_BITMODE_24Bit << TIMER_BITMODE_BITMODE_Pos);
	NRF_TIMER1->TASKS_CLEAR = 1;
}

static void read_TIM(void) // Follow 3 steps.
{
 NRF_TIMER1->TASKS_COUNT = 1; // Step 1
NRF_TIMER1->TASKS_CAPTURE[1] = 1 ; // Step 2. The TIMER implements one capture task for every available capture/compare register.
//Every time the CAPTURE[n] task is triggered, the Counter value is copied to the CC[n] register.
counter = NRF_TIMER1->CC[1]; // Step 3
while(counter < 10000)
{
NRF_TIMER1->TASKS_COUNT=1;
NRF_TIMER1->TASKS_CAPTURE[1] = 1 ; // The TIMER implements one capture task for every available capture/compare register.
//Every time the CAPTURE[n] task is triggered, the Counter value is //copied to the CC[n] register.
counter = NRF_TIMER1->CC[1];
}

NRF_TIMER1->TASKS_CLEAR = 1;
}


int main(void)
{

    hfclk_config();
    counter_init();
    NRF_TIMER1->TASKS_START = 1; // Important 
   
 for (;;)
    {
    read_TIM();
   
  }
}

RE: Can timers be accessed after advertisement starts?

Karl Ylvisaker — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 08:48:31 GMT

Hi,

[quote user="Raja Sumant"]This is how it looks.

I am unable to run the timer.[/quote]

Thank you for clarifying on this. From these lines, it seems that you have indeed not enabled the timers.
So, if you are using the NRFX_TIMER driver, you will need to enable it in the sdk_config ( NRFX_TIMER_ENABLED 1 ), along with the particular timer instances you are intending to use ( NRFX_TIMER3_ENABLED 1 ). If you are using NRFX_DRIVER you will need to remove the legacy NRF_DRV_TIMER_* defines from your sdk_config file. If you are using the legacy nrf_drv_timer driver, then you will need to set their ENABLED's.
Please do this, and let me know if you are able to use the timer drivers following this.

For future reference, it is always easiest if you share code using the "Insert -> code" option, instead of including screenshots. Screenshots often does not contain all the right information.

Best regards,
Karl

RE: Can timers be accessed after advertisement starts?

Raja Sumant — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 08:19:00 GMT

Hello. This is how it looks.

I am unable to run the timer.

I was only able to get the RTC counter working.

RE: Can timers be accessed after advertisement starts?

Karl Ylvisaker — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 08:06:09 GMT

Hello again,

[quote user="Raja Sumant"]The Timer Driver method fails to work.

When I use this,
const nrf_drv_timer_t TIMER_LED = NRF_DRV_TIMER_INSTANCE(3);

It does not compile. Hence I am working directly with the registers.[/quote]

Are you familiar with the sdk_config.h file and its function?
The compilation error you receive in your included picture is caused by the particular timer not being enabled in the sdk_config.
Without seeing your sdk_config.h it is hard to say for certain, but I would guess that some *_TIMER_ENABLED defines are not set.
Could you check this out for me, and let me know their current value?

Are you able to run the TIMER example from the SDK that I referenced earlier?
If you are, you may take a look in its sdk_config file, to see how the TIMER driver is set up there.

I would highly recommend making use of the drivers and libraries provided in the SDK - since it will save you a lot of work and fine-reading of the register descriptions.

Best regards,
Karl

RE: Can timers be accessed after advertisement starts?

Raja Sumant — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 05:58:40 GMT

Hello Karl. The Timer Driver method fails to work.

When I use this,
const nrf_drv_timer_t TIMER_LED = NRF_DRV_TIMER_INSTANCE(3);

It does not compile. Hence I am working directly with the registers.

RE: Can timers be accessed after advertisement starts?

Raja Sumant — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 05:57:02 GMT

Hello Karl. I am not using the SDK directly and have chosen the registers mode due to this reason. It throws an error.

RE: Can timers be accessed after advertisement starts?

Karl Ylvisaker — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 07:34:53 GMT

[quote user="Raja Sumant"]TIMER0-5 mode counter is deprecated? Does that mean we can no longer user TIMER0-5 as a counter?[/quote]

No, only the Counter mode is deprecated - this because the LowPowerCounter mode has been added with the nRF52 series.
You can absolutely use the TIMER0-5 as counters, just use the LowPowerCounter mode.
You may of course still also use the deprecated Counter mode, but it comes with a higher power consumption.

Please see this ticket for further detail.

Best regards,
Karl

RE: Can timers be accessed after advertisement starts?

Karl Ylvisaker — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 07:31:42 GMT

Hello,

[quote user="Raja Sumant"]How to find if the code uses soft device?[/quote]

If you are doing BLE communication, then the SoftDevice is present and enabled.
From the screenshots you have shared this seems to be the case, since you are using the ble_app_bps example from the SDK as your basis.

Is there a particular reason for why you are accessing the timer registers directly, instead of using the drivers provided with the SDK?
If all you want to do is create a simple timer, then I highly recommend the Application Timer Library, or the TIMER peripheral driver.

For future reference, I would recommend that you use the " Insert -> Code " option when sharing code in the forum. This drastically increases readability.

Best regards,
Karl

RE: Can timers be accessed after advertisement starts?

Raja Sumant — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 12:11:02 GMT

TIMER0-5 mode counter is deprecated? Does that mean we can no longer user TIMER0-5 as a counter?

Only RTC can be used?

RE: Can timers be accessed after advertisement starts?

Raja Sumant — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 08:07:50 GMT

Hello. The following are my function calls:

How to find if the code uses soft device?

I am editing the existing BPS example. I have added the following code to it.

static void hfclk_config(void)
{
ret_code_t err_code = nrf_drv_clock_init();
APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

nrf_drv_clock_hfclk_request(NULL);
}

static void counter_init()
{
// Initialize timer module.
NRF_TIMER1->TASKS_STOP = 1;
NRF_TIMER1->MODE = TIMER_MODE_MODE_Counter;
NRF_TIMER1->BITMODE = (TIMER_BITMODE_BITMODE_24Bit << TIMER_BITMODE_BITMODE_Pos);
NRF_TIMER1->TASKS_CLEAR = 1;
NRF_TIMER1->EVENTS_COMPARE[0] = 0;
NRF_TIMER1->TASKS_COUNT;
}

static void read_freq(void)
{
NRF_TIMER1->TASKS_CLEAR = 1;
NRF_TIMER1->TASKS_CAPTURE[1] = 1 ;
counter = NRF_TIMER1->CC[1];
NRF_LOG_INFO("Went here");
//NRF_LOG_INFO(counter);
while(counter < 100000)
{
counter = NRF_TIMER1->CC[1];
while(!(nrf_gpio_pin_read(BTN)));
while((nrf_gpio_pin_read(BTN)));
increment++;
//NRF_LOG_INFO("Went here");
}
freq = increment;
increment = 0;
//NRF_LOG_INFO(freq);
}

int main(void)
{

hfclk_config();
counter_init();

NRF_TIMER1->TASKS_START = 1;

for (;;)
{
read_freq();
//idle_state_handle();
}

}

You can ignore the LED part. I am just using it as a debug point.

I see that clock has been started:

Timer mode has been set to 1.

But the CC values are empty. They are not getting incremented.

RE: Can timers be accessed after advertisement starts?

Karl Ylvisaker — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 07:55:15 GMT

Hello,

[quote user=""]I am new to nrf52.[/quote]

Welcome!

[quote user=""][/quote]

I want to configure TIMER1 as a counter.

However it does not count. I have added it after advertisement_init

Does the nrf52 have any such limitations? How to handle them?

No, there are no such limitations. However, please be aware that the SoftDevice ( if present and enabled ) will wrest control of the CPU to run timing-critical code.
When in a BLE connection, this means that every connection interval, the CPU will be controlled by the SoftDevice.
The SoftDevice has the highest priority, and thus takes priority over any application layer tasks.

With that being said, could you show me how you are initializing your timer? I see from the screenshot you have shared that you are calling TASKS_START, but how is the timer configured prior to this?
If the configuration is incorrect or missing, I would expect that the timer does not start.

Furthermore, what are you here trying to have your code do? I see that you highlight the LED1 PIN CLEAR code line in your screenshot - but this is not related to the timer in any way. I also see that you are calling a read_freq function in your for-loop, but I do not know anything about what that is meant to do.
If my assumption is correct, and you would like to have the LED controlled by the TIMER, then I highly recommend taking a look at the TIMER example from the SDK - it demonstrates exactly how to connect a LED toggle with a timer.

Please do not hesitate to ask if you should encounter any issues or questions!

Best regards,
Karl

RE: Can timers be accessed after advertisement starts?

Raja Sumant — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 07:09:10 GMT

The timers are not being set at all. Does it have to do anything with the clock? I set the internal clock for Timer1