Putting together a first reference design with nRF52832

RE: Putting together a first reference design with nRF52832

SteveQuinn — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 17:57:12 GMT

Hi Carl,

Thank you for your kind help.

Best Regards

Steve

RE: Putting together a first reference design with nRF52832

Carl Richard — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 11:58:04 GMT

Hi again, Steve!

Good to hear that things correlate!

You are correct that information is more dispersed when it comes to our products, but we try to make as much (relevant) information as possible through our documentation. In most cases a customer should not need to access either Segger or ARM docs. We will at least point you to where you should look, but it's of course challenging to maintain.

Debugging using SWD can be used in combination with SWO, so the answer is yes and it should work out of the box. SWO does in addition enable support for RTT, which you can read about in this blog.

Best regards,
Carl Richard

RE: Putting together a first reference design with nRF52832

SteveQuinn — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 22:54:24 GMT

Hi Carl,

Thank you for you reply.
I have already been looking at the nRF52DK (I've purchased two them, along with Thingy:52 and nRF52840 DK). I've also purchased 2 of the SparkFun nRF52832 Breakout boards as 'sacrificial lambs'
I was able to locate a circuit diagram on page 359 Section 18.1.2.1 of the Segger J-Link / J-Trace User Guide Doc # UM08001 Software version: 6.70 June 29, 2020 which clearly shows typical target connection for SWD.
I compared this with the schematic for the nRF52832 I've also compared with the SparkFun notes on using the nRF52832 to programme the SparkFun board which all seem to correlate (a kind of rosetta stone).

I've concluded for SWD there are only 4 control lines to consider (less 0v).

SWDIO <-> Pin 26
SWDCLK > Pin 25
nRESET <-> Pin 24
SWO <-> Pin 18

I think my lack of knowledge shows in so far as I've only used the Microchip tool chain which is completely owned/controlled by Microchip therefore they publish all the salient information in one place.
However, my observation is the Nordic product integrates an ARM core consequently if I understand the dynamic, it is incumbent upon me to read the Nordic literature for the nRF52xxx, Segger for the IDE and J-Tag (of choice) and ARM for the processor and programming/debug interface.

Thanks for confirming that the J-Link EDU will work (I have two of these also. Spotting any patterns?).

I have one further question. If I were to use the J-Tag EDU in SWD mode (though not sure quite how to accomplish this yet. I hope 'SWD mode' is the correct vernacular) connecting Pin 18, SWO, can I still debug with break points, watches, variable inspection out of the box with the SES examples?

Best Regards

Steve

RE: Putting together a first reference design with nRF52832

Carl Richard — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 08:27:37 GMT

Hello!

For a reference using the nRF52832 you should take a look at the Debug In connector of the nRF52 DK layout, located here. This is also discussed in this thread.

The Segger Jlink EDU should work with SES and our products.

Best regards,
Carl Richard

RE: Putting together a first reference design with nRF52832

Nguyen Hoan Hoang — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 14:58:23 GMT

The ARM standard connectors https://developer.arm.com/documentation/dui0499/d/ARM-DSTREAM-Target-Interface-Connections/CoreSight-10

The require pins are : SWDCLK, SWDIO, RESET, GND, VCC. just connect those to yours connector.

RE: Putting together a first reference design with nRF52832

SteveQuinn — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 12:38:09 GMT

Hi Nguyen,

Thank you for your reply.

I did take a look and compared the schematic in the QuickStart guide (connector P2) for your product and compared against the segger jlink Interface Description but was unable to make a direct pin for pin correlation.

I was thinking more along lines of official Nordic Semiconductor literature similar to what Microchip do for their ICD which is a very good and clear document.

My hesitation is as I mention above I want to commit my design to PCB and have it manufactured and therefore need to refer to manufacturers formal literature as opposed to a third part design, albeit a very good one I'm sure as it looks like a very nice product.

Do you think I should approach Nordic direct to get answers to;

Application note for programming connections for Segger Jlink EDU and nRF52832
Can the Segger Jlink EDU from the Segger Embedded studio

Best Regards

Steve

RE: Putting together a first reference design with nRF52832

Nguyen Hoan Hoang — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 23:25:13 GMT

There is a simple schematic here that you can look at here sourceforge.net/.../. It uses a certified module but the SWD is the same. The file is IBK-BLYST-NANO_QuickStart.pdf. Look for the connector P2. That is how you connect the SWD to a standard ARM Coresight 10 pins