Programming nRF52 SoCs with nRF5340 DK

[Shaun Brentnall]

Hi, I want to eventually be able to programme a custom built chip with an nRF52833 SoC on board, but first I thought I would try with a nordic Thingy:52. 

My setup is as follows:

Computer (Windows with nRF connect v3.11.0) <---> nRF5340 DK <---JTag---> Nordic Thingy:52

I can programme the nRF5340 DK via the nRF connect visual studio IDE, but I am not sure how to be able to connect to the nordic thingy_52 in order to be able to programme that device directly. On the 'connected devices' section in visual studio I cannot see the nordic thingy:52 appear, only the nRF5340 DK appears. 

Do I need to do something else in order to connect to the thingy to programme it? Or is the JTag physical connection sufficient?

Thank you for your help!

[Øyvind]

Hello, 

Computer (Windows with nRF connect v3.11.0) <---> nRF5340 DK <---JTag---> Nordic Thingy:52

This sounds correct. To what port have you connected the JTAG debug probe? You should be able to automatically program the Thingy:52 if connected to P19, see Debug Output in the nRF5340DK documentation. Make sure that the device is powered.

Are you using the Programmer app in nRF Connect for Dekstop 3.11.0 ? If so, choose the nRF5340DK and the device name from Thingy:52 should be visible in the left hand side. Here I've used the nRF9160DK to program the Thingy:52 with a zephyr.hex.

Kind regards,
Øyvind

[Shaun Brentnall]

Hi Øyvind, thank you for your reply.

Yes, it was a connection between P19 and and the 10 pin port on the thingy:52. 

I was trying toolchain manager actually. But I tried with the Programmer app as you said, and it does detect that there is a device there but it still can't write to it. When I try to it returns a "JLINKARM_DLL_ERROR". I tried updating Segger JLink (from V7.58b to V7.64d), but I still get an error "Unsupported device. The device could not be recognised as neither JLink device nor Nordic USB device."

[Øyvind]

What version of the nRF5340DK and the Thingy:52 do you have? Both should be visible on the stickers.

The right hand side does show Unknown. Is the Thingy:52 powered on? 

[Shaun Brentnall]

Yeah, the Thingy:52 is on, I made sure to check that. Though it wouldn't have surprised me. 

nRF5340 devkit version: 1.0.0
Thingy:52 version: 1.1.2

Could there be some compatibility issue?

[Øyvind]

In the programmer app, the nRF5340DK should show as a DK. I finally found my kit and tested:

What happens if you issue command nrfjprog --ids in cmd? Are you able to program the device using nrfjprog?

[Øyvind]

Can you also issue nrfjprog -v ?

[Shaun Brentnall]

When the nRF5340DK isn't connected to the Thingy:52, it does show up as a DK. 

And when it's connect by Jtag, it just say Jtag with unknown in the field to the right. 

And for the two commands in cmd, they are here. Only the nRF52340 identity number shows up as a connected device. And I can programme DK via nrfjprog, but not the Thingy:52. 

[Øyvind]

Can you please provide an image of your setup? 

Shaun Brentnall said:

And when it's connect by Jtag, it just say Jtag with unknown in the field to the right. 

Can there be an issue with you JTAG cable?

[Shaun Brentnall]

Hi Øyvind,

here is the setup of the hardware I'm using

I've tried a second thingy:52 and a few different JTAG connectors. The same errors as before appear. 

Could it be a problem that the Jlink versions are different?

 

[Øyvind]

Could you please disconnect the nRF USB and set nRF Power Source to VDD?

[Shaun Brentnall]

Ahh that worked! Thank you very much, and I apologise for the silly question. Does USB power interfere with the signal somehow?