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Programming multiple nRF51822

Hello,

which is the best solution for programming multiple nRF51822 using a Segger programmer ? We have to produce a lot of BLE tags and i'd like to automatize programming and testing operations, in order to program /test multiple tags with a single operation. I thinked about a tree of analog multiplexers for RST / SWDIO and SWDCLK signals coming from Segger programmer , by which these signals can be sent in sequence to one of the tags at a time . SWDCLK is unidirectional? That is, is it generated by segger programmer and not by nRF51822 chip?

  • How about a bunch of low cost, in the range of $40, debug jtag with drag & drop programming instead ? When plugged in your PC USB these boards will show up as USB disk drive. All you need to do is to copy your firmware over. This can be with a batch command to copy the same file over multiple USB disks.

  • One of our customer uses following method to program multiple nRF51822 targats in production line. I briefly explain to sequentially and automatically prorogram 2 target-boards by nrfjprog.exe command.

    For example:

    1. Connect 2 segger J-Links(target-board) on one PC by each USB cables.
    2. Suppose that one segger J-Link serial number is 000000001, the other is 000000002.
    3. Program both Softdevice S110 V6.0.0 and ble_app_hrs.hex for target #1 such as follows. nrfjprog.exe --snr 000000001 --programs s110_nrf51822_6.0.0_softdevice nrfjprog.exe --snr 000000001 --program ble_app_hrs.hex
    4. After finishes to program target #1, same as commands to program target #2 by chaniging J-Link serial number such as follows. nrfjprog.exe --snr 000000002 --programs s110_nrf51822_6.0.0_softdevice nrfjprog.exe --snr 000000002 --program ble_app_hrs.hex
    5. Let step #4 & #5 automate on your console window.

    How many targets boards would you try to program at once ?

  • Thank you , Nguyen Hoan Hoang. So if I have to program 30 nRF51822 chips, I need 30 USB simultaneous connections ? Is it possible using your method to reset one chip at a time restarting it in normal mode, for the purpose of testing it ?

  • Hello kaku, I have to program about 20-30 chips at once , and i'd like also to test them automatically (so i need to perform a reset for each chip at a time , so entering it in normal mode with its application running). You also recommend multiple programmers , but i have not clear how to have so many usb connections on a PC.

  • You can connect them to a USB Hub but that's probably to much for a single PC. I don't know how many a single PC can handle but each one will use one drive letter in window so there is a limit. Linux does use driver letter mapping so may be possible. In any case, you buy a bunch of those for cost of one jlink. The size of the board is about 50x20 mm. It does not take much space in the production area. PM me for more details

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