RE: Flashing nrf53 using ST-LINK

PaKa — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 09:47:58 GMT

Hi,

so the newest nRF52-DKs have a different On Board Debugger than the older ones. These can easily be spotted by the size of the debugger, if it is old then it is a large TQFP package (like in the picture above), if it is a small aQFN then it is a new one. The new kits can actually program all the ARMv8-M devices (nRF53/nRF91). Remember that operating voltage of the external kit still needs to match the voltage on the DK...

RE: Flashing nrf53 using ST-LINK

Raoul — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 18:49:01 GMT

Hi Ramon,

If it were a nRF52-series device, you could use the nRF52 DK to program it. Almost all of our development kits have an on-board (OB) debugger that is wired up to either a "debug out" port or to Serial Wire Debug (SWD) pins, and these are meant for exactly this purpose.

Unfortunately the OB debugger on the 52-series DKs can't program to the newer ARMv8-M architecture of the nRF5340's Cortex M33 (although it would have worked the other way around, I just tested this).

Assuming your project is non-commercial, you can buy a SEGGER J-Link EDU Mini, but these seem to be out of stock everywhere. It supports the Cortex M33.

I think the cheapest alternative for you would be to get an NRF5340DK and use SWD/debug out to program. To connect through SWD to your custom board, you can do as follows:

Or just connect debug out to debug in, if you have that on your board. See this page for details: https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp?topic=%2Fnwp_034%2FWP%2Fnwp_034%2Fnwp_034_gpio_swd.html

I don't know anything about ST-LINK. Some quick browsing returned this: Converting ST-LINK On-Board Into a J-Link - though I believe you remain restricted to flashing ST devices.

Best regards,

Raoul

edited this post to note that nRF52 OB debuggers can't flash ARMv8-M devices.