My application board do not run example project

[Di-sheng]

Dear

                               

                                I have finished completed the Blue tooth Mesh light-switch example function testing , secure button dfu and secure buttonless dfu on DK and dongle of nrf52840 chips.

                                Right now I build a testing circuit by nrf52840 module which was bought from vendor (The vendor said the modules are  bran-new which mean there is nothing in the nrf52840 chips). The circuit is built according to No5 circuit configuration schematic of nrf54280 datasheet(on page 593). A 3v3 exteral power connect to VDD and VDDH; Vbus be connect to USB power separately, which should be 5V. A SWD interface be connect to P19 of Dk(pca10056).

Below is some experiments I did and the result:

 

E1: Example:  open_bootloader of nRF5_SDK_16.0.0_98a08e2 : which locat at "nRF5_SDK_16.0.0_98a08e2\examples\dfu\open_bootloader\pca10056_usb_debug"

The " open_bootloader_usb_mbr_pca10056_debug.emProject" project be programmed to the module by SES through P19 of pca10056.

Every thing is ok. Becouse the LED blink to show it have enter the DFU state

Then I programmed the s140.hex and light_switch_server_nrf52840_xxAA_s140_7.0.1.hex to the module by USB with a 3v3 exteral power(The PCA10056 board be disconnected). the process looks good. But the code do not run, the led still blink after I push the reset button. there also is not any advertisements and LED also stay off.

E2: Example: secure_bootloader of nRF5_SDK_16.0.0_98a08e2 : which locat at "nRF5_SDK_16.0.0_98a08e2\examples\dfu\secure_bootloader\pca10056_usb_debug" and " nRF5_SDK_16.0.0_98a08e2\examples\dfu\secure_bootloader\pca10056_s140_ble_debug"

In this experiment, I will try 2 example project for USB dfu and ble dfu

After the module be erased by "nrfjprog -e" command through SWD interface which connect to P19 of pca10056, I programmed those 2 projects severally by SES and SWD interface.

After programmed "secure_bootloader_usb_mbr_pca10056_debug.emProject ", the desktop programmer tools can connect the module and also can write " the s140.hex and light_switch_server_nrf52840_xxAA_s140_7.0.1.hex". but the example code still do not run. it is same with E1.

After programmed " secure_bootloader_ble_s140_pca10056_debug.emProject ", the led is correct like as PCA10056 board, but there is not any advertisements.

 

The RF parts of the module does not work all the time. the light-switch server code can not be started by bootloader althrough it can be started on PCA10056 board.

 

Q1: Is there anything special we need to do to make a new NRF52840 chip work properly? (For example, the hard disk needs to be formatted before use)

Q2: Those testing result show me that the light-switch server code make the all of the pin stop output? why?

Q3: Is there any key to lock the flash so that the application code can not be write to flash?

 

Thanks,

 

Di-sheng

[Hung Bui]

Hi Di-sheng, 

Please test and verify things work on a development kit before you move to the new platform (especially when you flash the application after the bootloader). 

When you flash the bootloader, it would expect the application to be DFU updated, not by flashing using a programmer. 

You would need to generate and flash the bootloader setting to tell the bootloader that you have flashed an application. 
I discussed a little bit about it here: https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/nordic/short-range-guides/b/software-development-kit/posts/getting-started-with-nordics-secure-dfu-bootloader#h61sjziauupw1j397q9s9ldr01q4j6d5

Please be aware that the Secure bootloader is not mesh DFU bootloader. It only support DFU from a BLE or USB connection directly to the node. 
We have Mesh DFU solution as described in the documentation for mesh. 

[Di-sheng]

Hi Hung Bui

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, I have verify every code on PCA10056 or PCA10059, I also verify that example of BLE(blinky) and Mesh(light-switch server) be loaded by open_bootloader DFU which are through USB and secure_bootloader DFU which through USB or BLE. For buttonless dfu, I also completed the verification by modify the blinky example of BLE and light-switch server example of Mesh (I just want to try a DFU on BLE level). For Mesh DFU, I still do not do, I want try that after those examples be verified on application board.

Because of the reasons above I do not understand why the DFU can running on the application board, but example code not, althrough the code by loaded by bootloader. Would you help me to think about what reasons can cause the error.

Do you know whether the examples project code (ble_app_blinky of SDK and light-switch server of Mesh) uses the  32.768kHZ exteral low frequency clock of nrf52840. Because my application circuit is same with the No5 circuit configuration schematic of nrf54280 datasheet(on page 593) except the 32.768kHZ exteral crystal oscillator circuit which I do not solder any componets.

 

Thanks,

Best Regards,

Di-sheng