Is it possible for the firmware in flash to be changed abnormally?

RE: Is it possible for the firmware in flash to be changed abnormally?

JONATHAN LL — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 09:46:35 GMT

It could be the same bug but it is difficult to be sure. If the issue is replicateable in SDK 14 then maybe a similar fix can be implemented.

Regards,
Jonathan

RE: Is it possible for the firmware in flash to be changed abnormally?

Rayliyn — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 03:57:37 GMT

I can location the issue in the code where I set the advertisement data and start the advertisement by measuring the power consumption.

I found the nRF5_SDK16.0.0 had fixed a bug of advertisement data encoder in sdk release_notes as follow:

** BLE **

- Advertising Data Encoder: fixed a bug causing underflow of a return value
of the parsing function when malformed data was provided as input.

What kinds of parameters can cause this bug in SDK14.1.0 when calling the ble_advdata_set() function? Dose the invalid data transported to the ble_advdata_set() function can make the firmware crash?

RE: Is it possible for the firmware in flash to be changed abnormally?

Rayliyn — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 15:24:43 GMT

Thanks awneil! I will continues to test. If there is any new discovery, I will consult you again.

RE: Is it possible for the firmware in flash to be changed abnormally?

Rayliyn — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 15:24:13 GMT

Hi Jonathan, thank you. My code does use the FDS to store some data like device name, Manufacture Specified data in BLE advertisement data, etc. I will continues to test whether it is possible that the issue is caused by FDS bug or the data I saved in flash or the way I used FDS to read and write the flash data.

RE: Is it possible for the firmware in flash to be changed abnormally?

awneil — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 08:17:45 GMT

[quote userid="96977" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/76220/is-it-possible-for-the-firmware-in-flash-to-be-changed-abnormally/314742#314742"]in cars[/quote]

and you've been careful that your design is fully tolerant of all the many hostilities of the automotive environment - brownouts, spikes, load-dumps, temperature extremes, etc, etc, ... ?

RE: Is it possible for the firmware in flash to be changed abnormally?

JONATHAN LL — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 08:04:34 GMT

Hi,

So if the chip is used out side of recommendation then we cant really tell what caused the issue, https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/ps_nrf52810/recommended_op_conditions.html.

But it is difficult to find a solution to the issue that you experiences since without debug due to the app-protect. It could be a issue with SDK 14.1.0, there have been some bug fixes in the later versions, one possibility is that a bug when using FDS, this has been fixed in SDK 16.

- FDS: fixed two bugs where a power loss at very specific times during garbage
  collection could corrupt the file system, making FDS unable to initialize and return
  FDS_ERR_NO_PAGES on initialization.

Difficult to say exactly what can be the issue but it is possible due to the FDS bug that some abnormality's can happen.

Regards,
Jonathan

RE: Is it possible for the firmware in flash to be changed abnormally?

Rayliyn — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 13:43:48 GMT

Our customers use this product in cars.

RE: Is it possible for the firmware in flash to be changed abnormally?

JONATHAN LL — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 13:38:57 GMT

What environment where these product deployed in ?

Regards,
Jonathan

RE: Is it possible for the firmware in flash to be changed abnormally?

Rayliyn — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 12:54:08 GMT

[quote userid="6462" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/76220/is-it-possible-for-the-firmware-in-flash-to-be-changed-abnormally/314648#314648"]So have you tested that hypothesis in the debugger ?[/quote]

Due to the UICR of the chip is configured to enable access port protection before delivery, the flash will be erased if I use Jlink debugger to connect with it. There are total three abnormal products we got. One had been connected with Jlink and its flash had been erased, so this is the chip used to refresh the firmware.

[quote userid="6462" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/76220/is-it-possible-for-the-firmware-in-flash-to-be-changed-abnormally/314648#314648"]Are the units permanently powered; eg, by a battery?[/quote]

Chips are permanently powered, not battery powered. I've had the chip power down all night. Today, I power it again. The problem remains the same.

Is there any other debugging method to suggest?

RE: Is it possible for the firmware in flash to be changed abnormally?

awneil — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 09:44:23 GMT

[quote userid="96977" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/76220/is-it-possible-for-the-firmware-in-flash-to-be-changed-abnormally"] I think the the nRF52810 SoC on the abnormal products only executes the "SystemInit" function and doesn't run the "main" function[/quote]

So have you tested that hypothesis in the debugger ?

[quote userid="96977" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/76220/is-it-possible-for-the-firmware-in-flash-to-be-changed-abnormally"]Why does the abnormal chip stop between "SystemInit" function and "main" function?[/quote]

Again, the debugger should give the answer to that

[quote userid="96977" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/76220/is-it-possible-for-the-firmware-in-flash-to-be-changed-abnormally"]

Is it possible for the flash in the nRF52810 to be affected by the environment and make the firmware changed abnormally ?

[/quote]

Possible - but unlikely.

ADDENDUM

Are the units permanently powered; eg, by a battery?

If so, does completely removing power (disconnecting the battery for a while) restore normal operation?