EVK-NINA-B3, User Guide - U-blox

EVK-NINA-B3 - User guide2Setting up the evaluation board2.1 Evaluation board setupThe EVK-NINA-B311/-B312/-B316 is delivered with the u-connectXpress software installed on themodule.Before connecting the module, download and install the latest u-blox s-center evaluation softwarefrom the u-blox website.To use Bluetooth low energy on the EVK-NINA-B301/-B311, connect a 2.4 GHz antenna to the U.FLantenna connector (J10). The other EVK versions include antennas on the NINA module.Plug in either an external power supply in the J5 connector or connect to a USB host with a USB cableattached to the J8 connector. You can also power the evaluation board with a CR2032 coin cellbattery. The NFC antenna can be connected to the J11 connector. Make sure that the power configuration jumpers are connected according to your use case.See Section 3.1 for details, the default configuration shown in section 3.1.2 will work for mostuse cases.Be careful to check polarity before connecting an external power supply to the EVK-NINA-B3evaluation board. Center conductor is positive ( ) and the ring is negative (-).The operating system will install the correct drivers automatically. The drivers will have to be installedonly the first time you connect the unit to a new computer. If the drivers are not installed automatically, download nRF Connect from www.nordicsemi.com toget the J-Link CDC UART driver.Two COM ports will automatically be assigned to the unit by Windows: The COM port labeled ‘USB Serial Port’ is used to communicate with the NINA module’s UARTinterface. The COM port labeled ‘JLink CDC UART Port’ can be used as an extra USB to the UARTinterface; see section 4.4.2 for more information.Do the following to view the assigned COM ports on Windows 7: Open the Control Panel and click Hardware and Sound.Click Device Manager in Devices and Printers. This will open Device Manager window where youcan view the assigned COM ports.To view the assigned COM ports on Windows 10, right click on the Windows Start button and selectDevice Manager.2.2 Starting upEVK-NINA-B31x2.2.1.1 General usageThe EVK-NINA-B31 is delivered with u-connectXpress SW, and contains a secure boot that will onlyallow signed SW from u-blox to boot.Perform the following steps to enable communication with the module:1. Start the u-blox s-center evaluation software.2. Use the default baudrate 115200, 8N1 with flow control.UBX-17056481 - R07C1-PublicSetting up the evaluation boardPage 10 of 41

EVK-NINA-B3 - User guideYou can now communicate with the module using AT commands.For a list of available AT commands, see the u-connect AT commands manual [5]. To get started withthe basic use case set up of the EVK-NINA-B3 with u-blox u-connect software, see theu-connectXpress user guide [7].2.2.1.2u-connect softwareGo to the u-blox support webpage to obtain the latest available firmware. Instructions on reflashingthe EVK-NINA-B3 can be found in the Software section of the NINA-B3 system integration manual [4].EVK-NINA-B30x2.2.2.1Nordic Semiconductor SDKThe EVK-NINA-B30x is delivered without any SW preflashed,If you would like to use the EVK-NINA-B3 together with Nordic Semiconductor SDK, refer to theSoftware section of the NINA-B3 System integration manual [4] that describes how to: Create your own board fileAdapt the examples in the Nordic Semiconductor SDK to use this board fileSee also the u-blox short range open CPU github repository [8].2.2.2.2 Software debug optionsYou can debug the software using the following two options in EVK-NINA-B3: Onboard debug solution available on the USB connectorUsing an external debugger connected to J12 connectorAn external debugger connected to the J12 connector is useful when powering the evaluation boardwith a CR2032 coin cell battery, or through the J5 external power supply connector. It could also beuseful in a scenario where the debug MCU interface has been disconnected from theNINA-B3 module using the jumpers on the J19 header. The SEGGER J-Link software [6] is required inorder to debug using the onboard J-Link hardware on the EVK-NINA-B3.2.3 Measuring current consumption Before starting the current consumption measurement, go through Chapter 3 and identifywhich power configuration you will need and if you need to isolate any NINA signals. The jumperconnecting J22 pins 1 and 3 must be removed in order to be able to measure currentconsumption.Figure 6 shows some suggestions for measuring the current consumption of the NINA-B3 module,and how to connect the various instruments.Using an ampere meterAn ampere meter should be connected in series with whatever the power source is and what is beingmeasured. It is possible to measure current this way both while supplying the NINA module from theonboard 3.3 V regulator and from an external supply.Using a volt meterIn order to use a voltmeter to measure current, the EVK must first be modified. Solder a lowresistance, high tolerance, 0402 sized resistor to the footprint labeled R6. This resistor will replacethe jumper normally positioned between J22 pins - 1 and 3, and any current running through, it willproduce a voltage across its terminals. Measure this voltage using the voltmeter and calculate thecurrent using Ohm’s law.UBX-17056481 - R07C1-PublicSetting up the evaluation boardPage 11 of 41

EVK-NINA-B3 - User guideUsing an external power supply or power analyzerConnect the instrument terminals to the EVK pins, as shown in Figure 6. An ampere meter may beadded in series. Since an external instrument’s voltage can never perfectly match the EVK’sgenerated 3.3 V, there will be a very small current leakage whenever a NINA module signal isconnected to an EVK peripheral, typically in the order of 100’s of nano amps. To reduce this leakage,use a second external power channel to supply the EVK peripherals. This second channel must alsobe used to enable PC communication when using NINA supply voltages other than 3.3 V.Ampere meterVolt meterGND31J22VCC IOVCC IOOnboard3.3 V supplyAOne channelR6VVCC31J22VCCDC/DCGNDTwo channels-.-- VAVCCVCC IOExternal supply1.7 - 3.6 V1J221AVCCJ225 GND64VCC IO5 GNDFigure 6: Current consumption measuring optionsUBX-17056481 - R07C1-PublicSetting up the evaluation boardPage 12 of 41

EVK-NINA-B3 - User guide3Board configuration3.1 Powering optionsPower can be supplied to the board in any of the following ways: Via any of the USB connectors, J8 or J16Using the power jack, J5Using the Arduino interface VIN or 5V pin, J1.8 or J1.5Using the Raspberry Pi interface 5V pins, J14.2 or J14.4Using the pin header J17Plugging in a battery to the battery holder BT1These power supply sources are distributed to the rest of the board as shown in Figure 7.Diode protectionJ85VUSBconn.J165VUSBconn.J55 - 12 VPowerjackDiode protection3.3 VDC/DCRegulatorVIN3.3 VJ7Power selectjumper header3VJ17 pin 2VIN pin header5 - 12 VJ1pin 8Ardunio VIN pin5 - 12 VBT1CR20323VJ1and J14Arduino andRaspberry Pipin headers5V3.3 VVDD NINAFuse2.7 V1.7 - 3.6 Vexternal supply3.3 VJ22NINA power selectjumper headerDiode protectionVDD IOBatt.holderBoardperipheralsVCCVCC IONINAModuleFigure 7: Block diagram of the power net distributionSelecting the power configuration jumpersThe EVK-NINA-B3 offers flexible powering options for the NINA-B3 module and the board itself. Toconfigure this, jumpers are added or removed to pin headers, shorting two of the pins together andconnecting or disconnecting different power nets on the evaluation board.Figure 8 provides an overview of the available EVK power sources and shows the schematic net namesto which they are connected. Check the jumper positions carefully; if a jumper is connected in a wrong way, it can permanentlydamage the components that are ON or connected to the board. Also note that some jumpersshould not be mounted simultaneously.UBX-17056481 - R07C1-PublicBoard configurationPage 13 of 41

EVK-NINA-B3 - User guideSourcesTargetsNet namesDC/DCMCUVDD MCU3V3Onboard 3.3 VconverterPC communicationHAT3V3 PIVBATRaspberry Piexpansion boardBatteryVBAT DIODEVDD IOBattery withprotection diodeBoard I/O power:Level shifters, LEDs etc.-.-- VVCCVCC IOAny power netNINA module powerExternal supplyFigure 8: Available EVK power sources and targetsFigure 9 shows the pinout location of power configuration jumper headers J7 and J22.J7J2211126 512GNDVDD MCUVDD NINAVDD NINAVDD NINA3V3 PIJ7J223V3GND3V33V3VBATVBAT DIODEPower ConfigurationGNDVDD IOVCC IOGNDVDD NINAVCC2 1Figure 9: Jumper headers J7 and J22UBX-17056481 - R07C1-PublicBoard configurationPage 14 of 41

EVK-NINA-B3 - User guideTable 2 describes the pinout of jumper headers J7 and J22 used to configure the board power nets.Connector Pinannotation numberSchematic Descriptionnet nameJ713V3Regulated 3.3 V net. This net is supplied by the board and will always bepowered as long as a power source is connected.23V3 PIConnects to the Raspberry Pi header’s (J14) 3V3 pins. If a Raspberry Pi isconnected, this net must be unconnected to prevent back currents. If a HATis connected, this net can be shorted to the EVK 3.3 V supply to power theHAT.3VBAT DIODETo protect the battery from current back surges, connect the battery to theNINA module via a protection diode using this pin.4VDD NINAConnects to J22 pin 3, from where it can be connected to the module supplypin or somewhere else.5VBATBattery terminal6VDD NINAConnects to J22 pin 3, from where it can be connected to the module supplypin or somewhere else.73V3Regulated 3.3 V net. This net is supplied by the board and will always bepowered as long as a power source is connected.8VDD NINAConnects to J22 pin 3, from where it can be connected to the module supplypin or somewhere else.93V3Regulated 3.3 V net. This net is supplied by the board and will always bepowered as long as a power source is connected.10VDD MCUSupply net for the board functions not directly connected to the NINAmodule; Interface MCU, USB hub, UART to USB converter etc.11GNDGround net.12GNDGround net.1VCCNINA module voltage supply that connects to the module VCC pin. Shortedto the VCC IO net via 0 Ω resistor R4 by default.2VCC IOConnects to the NINA module VCC IO pin. Shorted to the VCC net via 0 Ωresistor R4 by default.3VDD NINAConnects to J7 pins 4, 6 and 8. Short J22 pins 1 and 3 allow the EVK topower the NINA module.4VDD IOSupply net for level shifters, LEDs and peripherals connected directly to theNINA module. Short J22 pins 2 and 4 use the NINA module I/O voltage assupply.5GNDGround net.6GNDGround net.J22Table 2: J7 and J22 pin outUBX-17056481 - R07C1-PublicBoard configurationPage 15 of 41

EVK-NINA-B3 - User guideDefault power configuration, 3.3 VThis is the default power configuration for the evaluation board, and the jumpers are installed out ofthe box with this power configuration. All board peripherals are powered up, the NINA module isdirectly supplied by the board and everything is running at 3.3 V.J7: 7-8J7: 9-10DC/DCMCUEVB poweredPC communicationJ22: 2-4J22: 1-3board I/O powerNINA module power3V39 7J7J224231VCCVCC IOBOARDNINA10 8Figure 10: Jumper positions for default power configurationConnectorannotationJ7J22Add jumperto pinsDescription7, 8Selects the board regulated 3.3 V net as source for the VDD NINA net.9, 10Powers up the Interface MCU, USB hub, and UART to USB converter with 3.3 V.1, 3Powers up the NINA module. The NINA VCC and VCC IO pins are connected to the selectedsource for the VDD NINA net.2, 4Powers up the peripherals directly connected to NINA such as LEDs and external memory withthe NINA supply voltage.Table 3: Jumper positions for default power configurationUBX-17056481 - R07C1-PublicBoard configurationPage 16 of 41

EVK-NINA-B3 - User guideBattery powered, 3 – 1.7 VFigure 11 shows the default configuration for battery-powered operation, where the jumpershighlighted with dashed lines are optional.The battery voltage is connected to VDD NINA, which in turn, is connected to the NINA-B3 VCCsupply. If needed, a jumper can be added to J22 pins - 2 and 4 to supply LEDs and other peripheralswith power – as long as this does not exceed the maximum current rating of the battery. If the NINAmodule has to be configured, the VDD MCU net can be connected to enable PC communications byadding a jumper to the J7 pins 9 and 10. Jumpers must be connected to both J7: 9-10 and J22: 2-4 to be able to communicate with theNINA module from a PC. If possible, the EVB power configuration should be switched to thedefault 3.3 V configuration, as connecting an extra board peripheral might deplete the battery.Do not connect jumpers J7: 5-6 and J7: 7-8 at the same time while a battery is connected! Thismight cause damage to the battery.J7: 5-6J7: 9-10J22: 2-4J22: 1-3board I/O power(optional)NINA module powerMCUBattery poweredPC communication(optional)3V35J76BATT31VCC IO10BOARDJ2242VCC9Figure 11: Jumper positions for battery powered operation (jumpers shown with dashed lines are optional)ConnectorannotationJ7J22Add jumperto pinsDescription5, 6Selects the battery connected to the battery holder as source for the VDD NINA net.9, 10(Optional) Powers up the Interface MCU, USB hub, and UART to USB converter with 3.3 V.1, 3Powers up the NINA module. The NINA VCC and VCC IO pins are connected to the selectedsource for the VDD NINA net.2, 4(Optional) Powers up the peripherals directly connected to NINA such as LEDs and externalmemory with the NINA supply voltage.Table 4: Jumper positions for battery powered operation (two optional jumpers)UBX-17056481 - R07C1-PublicBoard configurationPage 17 of 41

EVK-NINA-B3 - User guideBattery powered with protection diode, 2.7 – 1.7 VThis use case is meant to protect the battery from current back surges. When using the NFCinterface, there is a risk that the applied electromagnetic field can cause back surges on the modulepower supply lines that typically damage a non-chargeable battery. To prevent this potential d

User guide . Abstract This document describes how to set up the EVK-NINA-B3 evaluation kit to evaluate NINA-B3 series . EVK-NINA-B301, with an open CPU NINA-B301 module and an antenna connector for connecting to external antennas. EVK-NINA-B311, with a u-connect NINA-B311 module pre-flashed with u-connectXpress .