ambiq micro Apollo4 Blue EVB User manual

QUICK START GUIDE
Apollo4 EVB
(EVB Revision 3)
Ultra-low Power Apollo SoC Family
Doc. ID: QS-A4-4p1
Document Revision 4.1, March 2023

Apollo4 EVB Quick Start Guide
QS-A4-4p1 Page 2 2023 Ambiq Micro, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Legal Information and Disclaimers
AMBIQ MICRO INTENDS FOR THE CONTENT CONTAINED IN THE DOCUMENT TO BE ACCURATE AND RELI-
ABLE. THIS CONTENT MAY, HOWEVER, CONTAIN TECHNICAL INACCURACIES, TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
OR OTHER MISTAKES. AMBIQ MICRO MAY MAKE CORRECTIONS OR OTHER CHANGES TO THIS CONTENT
AT ANY TIME. AMBIQ MICRO AND ITS SUPPLIERS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CORRECTIONS, MODIFI-
CATIONS, ENHANCEMENTS, IMPROVEMENTS AND OTHER CHANGES TO ITS PRODUCTS, PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES AT ANY TIME OR TO DISCONTINUE ANY PRODUCTS, PROGRAMS, OR SERVICES WITHOUT
NOTICE.
THE CONTENT IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS". AMBIQ MICRO AND ITS RESPECTIVE SUPPLIERS
MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE SUITABILITY OF THIS CONTENT FOR ANY PURPOSE AND DIS-
CLAIM ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS WITH REGARD TO THIS CONTENT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIM-
ITED TO, ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE, TITLE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT OF ANY THIRD PARTY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHT.
AMBIQ MICRO DOES NOT WARRANT OR REPRESENT THAT ANY LICENSE, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IS
GRANTED UNDER ANY PATENT RIGHT, COPYRIGHT, MASK WORK RIGHT, OR OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROP-
ERTY RIGHT OF AMBIQ MICRO COVERING OR RELATING TO THIS CONTENT OR ANY COMBINATION,
MACHINE, OR PROCESS TO WHICH THIS CONTENT RELATE OR WITH WHICH THIS CONTENT MAY BE USED.
USE OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT MAY REQUIRE A LICENSE FROM A THIRD PARTY UNDER
THE PATENTS OR OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF THAT THIRD PARTY, OR A LICENSE FROM AMBIQ
MICRO UNDER THE PATENTS OR OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF AMBIQ MICRO.
INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED SOLELY TO ENABLE SYSTEM AND SOFTWARE IMPLE-
MENTERS TO USE AMBIQ MICRO PRODUCTS. THERE ARE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED COPYRIGHT
LICENSES GRANTED HEREUNDER TO DESIGN OR FABRICATE ANY INTEGRATED CIRCUITS OR INTE-
GRATED CIRCUITS BASED ON THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT. AMBIQ MICRO RESERVES THE
RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE TO ANY PRODUCTS HEREIN. AMBIQ MICRO MAKES
NO WARRANTY, REPRESENTATION OR GUARANTEE REGARDING THE SUITABILITY OF ITS PRODUCTS FOR
ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NOR DOES AMBIQ MICRO ASSUME ANY LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF THE
APPLICATION OR USE OF ANY PRODUCT OR CIRCUIT, AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABIL-
ITY, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES. “TYPICAL” PARAME-
TERS WHICH MAY BE PROVIDED IN AMBIQ MICRO DATA SHEETS AND/OR SPECIFICATIONS CAN AND DO
VARY IN DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS AND ACTUAL PERFORMANCE MAY VARY OVER TIME. ALL OPERATING
PARAMETERS, INCLUDING “TYPICALS” MUST BE VALIDATED FOR EACH CUSTOMER APPLICATION BY CUS-
TOMER’S TECHNICAL EXPERTS. AMBIQ MICRO DOES NOT CONVEY ANY LICENSE UNDER NEITHER ITS PAT-
ENT RIGHTS NOR THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS. AMBIQ MICRO PRODUCTS ARE NOT DESIGNED, INTENDED, OR
AUTHORIZED FOR USE AS COMPONENTS IN SYSTEMS INTENDED FOR SURGICAL IMPLANT INTO THE
BODY, OR OTHER APPLICATIONS INTENDED TO SUPPORT OR SUSTAIN LIFE, OR FOR ANY OTHER APPLICA-
TION IN WHICH THE FAILURE OF THE AMBIQ MICRO PRODUCT COULD CREATE A SITUATION WHERE PER-
SONAL INJURY OR DEATH MAY OCCUR. SHOULD BUYER PURCHASE OR USE AMBIQ MICRO PRODUCTS
FOR ANY SUCH UNINTENDED OR UNAUTHORIZED APPLICATION, BUYER SHALL INDEMNIFY AND HOLD
AMBIQ MICRO AND ITS OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, AND DISTRIBUTORS HARM-
LESS AGAINST ALL CLAIMS, COSTS, DAMAGES, AND EXPENSES, AND REASONABLE ATTORNEY FEES ARIS-
ING OUT OF, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY CLAIM OF PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH ASSOCIATED WITH
SUCH UNINTENDED OR UNAUTHORIZED USE, EVEN IF SUCH CLAIM ALLEGES THAT AMBIQ MICRO WAS
NEGLIGENT REGARDING THE DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE OF THE PART.

Apollo4 EVB Quick Start Guide
QS-A4-4p1 Page 3 2023 Ambiq Micro, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Table of Content
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 6
2. Document Revision History..................................................................................... 6
3. Reference Documents and Software...................................................................... 7
4. Quick Start .............................................................................................................. 7
5. Overview of the Apollo4 EVB.................................................................................. 8
6. Debug Interface .................................................................................................... 11
7. Software Development Tools................................................................................ 13
8. Power Supply Options and Measuring Current..................................................... 14
9. Non-Power Solder Bridges ................................................................................... 17
10. Ordering Information........................................................................................... 19

Apollo4 EVB Quick Start Guide
QS-A4-4p1 Page 4 2023 Ambiq Micro, Inc.
All rights reserved.
List of Figures
Figure 1. Apollo4 EVB Revision 3............................................................................... 8
Figure 2. Apollo4 EVB - Major Components ............................................................... 8
Figure 3. Apollo4 EVB - Top-side Parts Location ....................................................... 9
Figure 4. Apollo4 EVB - Bottom-side Parts Location .................................................. 9
Figure 5. Apollo4 EVB Using On-board J-Link Debugger......................................... 11
Figure 6. Apollo4 EVB’s DEBUG IN Header (J13).................................................... 12
Figure 7. Apollo4 EVB Power Supplies Solder Bridge Connection........................... 14
Figure 8. Apollo4 EVB USB Load Switch Circuit ...................................................... 15
Figure 9. Apollo4 EVB VDD18/MIPI Load Switch Circuit.......................................... 15
Figure 10. Apollo4 EVB Voltage Test Points on Header J2...................................... 16
Figure 11. Apollo4 EVB Voltage Selection on Header J3......................................... 16
Figure 12. Audio Jack J18 and AUDADC Audio Source Selections ......................... 18
Figure 13. Audio Header J17 .................................................................................... 18

Apollo4 EVB Quick Start Guide
QS-A4-4p1 Page 5 2023 Ambiq Micro, Inc.
All rights reserved.
List of Tables
Table 1: Document Revision History........................................................................... 6
Table 2: Peripherals Supporting Solder Bridge Connections.................................... 17
Table 3: EVB Ordering Information........................................................................... 19
Table 4: SoC Ordering Information........................................................................... 19

Apollo4 EVB Quick Start Guide
QS-A4-4p1 Page 6 2023 Ambiq Micro, Inc.
All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
This document provides guidance for setting up the Apollo4 Evaluation Board (EVB), revision 3, part
number AMAP4EVB, to get started executing code examples, measuring power consumption in various
configurations, and beginning software development.
This version of the EVB contains silicon version B2 of the Apollo4 SoC.
2. Document Revision History
Rev # Date Description
3.0 Jul 2021 Initial release for EVB revision 3
4.0 Aug 2021 Updates:
- Reference Documents and Software section added
- Quick Start section added
- Parts Location drawings added
- Ordering Information section added
4.1 Mar 2023 Updated section “Software Development Tools” on page 13
Table 1: Document Revision History

Apollo4 EVB Quick Start Guide
QS-A4-4p1 Page 7 2023 Ambiq Micro, Inc.
All rights reserved.
3. Reference Documents and Software
The following items, which can be downloaded from the Apollo4 Product Page link on https://ambiq.com/,
may be useful in understanding and using the EVB.
▪ EVB Schematic
▪ Datasheet
▪ Programmer’s Guide
▪ Errata List
▪ AmbiqSuite SDK
4. Quick Start
The EVB Kit comes with the following items:
▪ Apollo4 Evaluation Board (EVB), revision 3
▪ USB Type C cable
▪ Four adhesive-backed rubber feet
▪ Extra jumpers
Caution: The EVB has components loaded on the back of the board. Care should be taken to not damage
these components. The included rubber feet should be applied to the bottom of the board to prevent direct
contact between the components and a desk surface.
The EVB comes with jumpers pre-configured for default operation. Also, it has been pre-programmed with
the Binary Counter example program. To start EVB program execution, connect the USB-C cable from a
USB port on a PC to the J-Link USB connector (J6) on the EVB, and turn on the power switch (SW4). The
blue LED under the power switch should illuminate.Monitor the three LEDs on the bottom of the EVB (D3-
D5). The LEDs should light in a binary count-up pattern, and repeat.
The AmbiqSuite SDK provides many example programs that may be run on the EVB. To run these
examples, download the SDK via the link provided above and select any of the pre-built examples in the
SDK at /boards/apollo4b_bga_evb/examples.

Apollo4 EVB Quick Start Guide
QS-A4-4p1 Page 8 2023 Ambiq Micro, Inc.
All rights reserved.
5. Overview of the Apollo4 EVB
The Apollo4 EVB, version 3, features signal-accessible headers and an integrated J-Link debugger:
Figure 1. Apollo4 EVB Revision 3
Figure 2. Apollo4 EVB - Major Components

Apollo4 EVB Quick Start Guide
QS-A4-4p1 Page 9 2023 Ambiq Micro, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Figure 3. Apollo4 EVB - Top-side Parts Location
Figure 4. Apollo4 EVB - Bottom-side Parts Location
The EVB has these features:
▪ Apollo4 SoC in the BGA package (AMAP42KK-KCR-B2)
▪ Low power reference design
▪ Multiple power/clock options
▪ USB Type C connector for power/download/debug
▪ USB Type C connector for power/data to Apollo4
▪ Segger J-Link debugger

Apollo4 EVB Quick Start Guide
QS-A4-4p1 Page 10 2023 Ambiq Micro, Inc.
All rights reserved.
▪ Debugger-in port (J13) (SWD or ETM)
▪ Three user-controlled LEDs
▪ Two push buttons for application use, plus a reset push button
▪ Power slide switch with LED power indicator
▪ Five headers (J7, J9-J12) for pin/power access to a shield board
▪ Test points for power measurements
▪ High-speed connector (J8 - QSH-030-01-L-D-A) for interfacing to displays and/or high-speed memory
▪ RF switch/connector (Murata MM8430-2610RA1) for BLE PHY testing
▪ Multiple solder-bridge options for power supply flexibility and peripheral access options
▪ 3.5 mm audio jack (SJ-435107) for evaluating low-power analog audio interface
▪ RoHS compliant
Caution: The EVB has components loaded on the back of the board. Care should be taken to not damage
these components.
5.1 Secure Boot on the Apollo4 SoC
Apollo4 SoC parts from the Ambiq factory are preprogrammed with a Secure Bootloader and an
uninitialized Customer Info Space, referred to as INFO0. Initial provisioning of the part would include
programming a valid INFO0 and programming the main firmware image in the flash. The Apollo4 EVB is
shipped with the INFO0 configuration pre-programmed with optimal settings for the EVB layout:
1. Default boot to non-secure mode
2. Enable Boot Override to Push Button on GPIO18 (OTP setting) - BTN0/SW1.
3. Enable wired updates over UART0
A. UART0 is mapped to J-Link (OTP Setting).
B. Baud rate is 115200 bps, no-parity, 8-bit data length, no flow control.
C. Timeout is 3 seconds.
For reference, the following settings are programmed into INFO0 on the Apollo4 SoC resident on the EVB:
▪ SIMO Buck is NOT enabled.
▪ Secure Bootloader (SBL) interface is configured to UART using GPIO47 and GPIO60, which allows
secure boot to be performed over the J-Link COM interface of the EVB.
▪ SBL override pin is configured to GPIO18 which is BTN0/SW1 on the EVB.
▪ All Flash and Debugger protection features are disabled.
For information on changing the INFO0 settings as well as using the Secure Bootloader, please refer to the
README.txt file, which can be found in the tools\apollo4b_scripts folder of the latest SDK release
supporting the Apollo4 family. This folder contains a number of python scripts to demonstrate generation of
INFO0 settings, customer main images, and the creation of images for the Wired Update protocol over
UART.

Apollo4 EVB Quick Start Guide
QS-A4-4p1 Page 11 2023 Ambiq Micro, Inc.
All rights reserved.
6. Debug Interface
Figure 5 shows the Apollo4 EVB set up for standard debug using the on-board J-Link debugger and on-
board power supply. The on-board J-Link debugger is on the other side of the board and not shown in the
figure.
Figure 5. Apollo4 EVB Using On-board J-Link Debugger
The debug interface is supported by standard J-Link drivers from Segger. Please refer to “Software
Development Tools” on page 13 for more details on J-Link debug support.
6.1 Use of External Debugger
This EVB also supports the use of an external Cortex SWD debug interface through a 20-pin debug header
(DEBUG IN - J13) as shown in Figure 6. See the EVB schematic for connector pinout.

Apollo4 EVB Quick Start Guide
QS-A4-4p1 Page 12 2023 Ambiq Micro, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Figure 6. Apollo4 EVB’s DEBUG IN Header (J13)
No jumper changes are required to use an external debug adapter. Simply connect the external debug
adapter with a ribbon cable connector to the “DEBUG IN” header.

Apollo4 EVB Quick Start Guide
QS-A4-4p1 Page 13 2023 Ambiq Micro, Inc.
All rights reserved.
7. Software Development Tools
The standard Segger J-Link debug interface is used on the Apollo4 EVB. Please install the latest Segger J-
Link software, and configure your preferred development IDE (Keil, IAR, or Eclipse) to use the J-Link
debug interface. Please consult the release notes of the latest/applicable SDK release for the version of
the tools used during testing of the SDK and which are recommended for development with the SDK.
Links to the supported development tools are listed below.
▪SEGGER J-Link Software: https://www.segger.com/downloads/jlink
▪ KEIL uVision 5 (ARM Compiler 5): https://www.keil.com/demo/eval/arm.htm
▪ Latest Keil Pack (CMSIS Ambiq Pack): http://www.keil.com/dd2/pack/#/third-party-download-dialog
▪ IAR IDE/Compiler: https://www.iar.com/iar-embedded-workbench/tools-for-arm/arm-cortex-m-edition/
▪ GCC (GNU Arm Embedded Toolchain): https://gcc.gnu.org
Regardless of IDE used, please install the Segger J-Link software. All of the above development
environments support J-Link, but you must have the latest J-Link software installed. Most alternate
development environments also support J-Link.
Please refer to the AmbiqSuite SDK Getting Started Guide for more details on setting up development
IDEs to use J-Link.

Apollo4 EVB Quick Start Guide
QS-A4-4p1 Page 14 2023 Ambiq Micro, Inc.
All rights reserved.
8. Power Supply Options and Measuring Current
The Apollo4 EVB is intended to operate off of a 5 V supply, which is used to generate downstream
voltages.
There are two power supply options for the EVB SoC:
▪ Operate at 1.9 V by default as provided by the on-board power supply (referred to as nominal
“VDD_1.8V”). This can be adjusted to 1.8 V by shorting SB4 shown on the Power Supplies page of the
EVB schematic(1).
▪ Provide externally supplied power.
The EVB utilizes solder-bridges for connecting and disconnecting rails from power supplies, whether
generated on-board or off-board. Figure 7 shows the solder-bridge connection strategy between various
on-board power supplies and the SoC’s power rails.
Figure 7. Apollo4 EVB Power Supplies Solder Bridge Connection
1. Refer to the EVB schematic and assembly drawing for purpose and location of all solder bridges on the
EVB.

Apollo4 EVB Quick Start Guide
QS-A4-4p1 Page 15 2023 Ambiq Micro, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Figure 8 shows the USB load switch circuit producing the voltage supplied to VDDUSB33 and
VDDUSB0_9 through solder-bridges SB13 and SB11, respectively. These solder bridges are shorted by
default.
Figure 8. Apollo4 EVB USB Load Switch Circuit
Similarly, Figure 9 shows the load switch circuit producing the voltage supplied to the MIPI DPHY VDD18
supply through solder-bridge SB9. This solder bridge is also shorted by default.
Figure 9. Apollo4 EVB VDD18/MIPI Load Switch Circuit

Apollo4 EVB Quick Start Guide
QS-A4-4p1 Page 16 2023 Ambiq Micro, Inc.
All rights reserved.
As shown in Figure 10 and Figure 11, headers J2 and J3 provide easy access to the various system and
chip-level power supplies present on the EVB. These can be used in conjunction with the above solder-
bridges to measure current, monitor voltage, or provide externally generated power to each specific rail.
Figure 10. Apollo4 EVB Voltage Test Points on Header J2
Figure 11. Apollo4 EVB Voltage Selection on Header J3
8.1 Measuring Current
If the user wants to use a separate power supply for the EVB, then SB3 shown in Figure 7 should be cut,
and either SB5 should be shorted or pins 3 and 4 of J3 should be jumped. The external power rail can be
applied to VDD_EXT on J3, pin 3. Consult the electrical specifications in the Apollo4 Datasheet for the
acceptable operating range for VDD_MCU.
Note: The J-Link I/O voltage should be set to the new VDD_IO of the chip, and therefore SB19 (not shown
in Figure 7) should be opened and SB20 should be shorted (soldered).
Use of the EVB using the on-board SoC supply may be restored by disconnecting the external supply (if
connected) and either shorting SB3 once again or jumping between pins 1 and 2 of J3. The J-Link I/O
voltage also should be restored.

Apollo4 EVB Quick Start Guide
QS-A4-4p1 Page 17 2023 Ambiq Micro, Inc.
All rights reserved.
9. Non-Power Solder Bridges
9.1 Solder Bridges for Reducing Trace Length to Optimize Performance
The following peripherals support solder-bridge connections, which allow for optimized performance by
reducing overall trace length at the cost of losing connectivity to their respective GPIO headers. Note that
these connections can be reset by applying solder across the solder-bridge.
Additionally, the LED indicators can be disconnected from GPIO30, GPIO60 and GPIO90 by opening their
respective solder-bridges (SB37, SB38, and SB39). GPIO47, GPIO58, GPIO59 and GPIO60 are used for
UART communication with the on-board J-Link. Opening SB26-SB29 frees these pins for exclusive use
with the standard GPIO headers J10 and J12.
9.2 Solder Bridges for Audio Selectivity
As shown in Figure 12, a single audio jack, J18, provides stereo audio input routed to AUDADC (also
referred to as LPADC) inputs on the SoC. Alternatively, up to 4 single-ended or 2 differential pair audio
signals as shown in Figure 13 can be input on connector J17 which is routed on the EVB as differential
pair(s) to AUDADC inputs. The default (shorted) solder bridge configuration enables either of these input
options.
Peripheral GPIO Description
Display Controller, MSPI0 37, 64-73
Opening the following corresponding solder-bridges shown in
Figure 3 connects these GPIO exclusively to J8, with minimal trace
stubs: SB36, SB56, SB55, SB30 - SB35, SB53, SB54.
ETM 50-54, 55 (open by default)
Opening the following corresponding solder-bridges shown in
Figure 3 connect these GPIO exclusively to J13: SB42 - SB46, SB57.
SWO is default connection to J13 (shared with , SWTRCTL)
Table 2: Peripherals Supporting Solder Bridge Connections

Apollo4 EVB Quick Start Guide
QS-A4-4p1 Page 18 2023 Ambiq Micro, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Figure 12. Audio Jack J18 and AUDADC Audio Source Selections
Figure 13. Audio Header J17

Apollo4 EVB Quick Start Guide
QS-A4-4p1 Page 19 2023 Ambiq Micro, Inc.
All rights reserved.
10. Ordering Information
Table 3: EVB Ordering Information
Table 4: SoC Ordering Information
Device Name Orderable
Part Number SoC SoC Package Temperature Range
Apollo4 EVB AMAP4EVB Apollo4 146-pin BGA –20 to 60°C
Device Name Orderable
Part Numbera
a. The silicon revision is identified by the first letter in the bottom row of the package's top marking.
MRAM RAM Package Packing Temperature
Range
Apollo4 SoC AMAP42KK-KBR-
B2 2 MB 1.8 MB 146-pin BGA Tape and Reel –20 to 60°C

2023 Ambiq Micro, Inc. All rights reserved.
Ambiq Micro, Inc.
6500 River Place Boulevard, Building 7,
Suite 200, Austin, TX 78730-1156
www.ambiq.com/
[email protected]
https://support.ambiqmicro.com
[phone]
QS-A4-4p1
Version 4.1
March 2023