Laird Vela IF820 User manual

Version 1.0

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Version
Date
Notes
Contributors
Approver
1.0
19 Sept 2023
Initial Release
Louis Chang
Rikki Horrigan
Ryan Erickson
Mark Duncombe
Jonathan Kaye

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CONTENTS
1Introduction..........................................................................................................................................................................4
1.1 Purpose and Scope....................................................................................................................................................4
1.2 Related Documents....................................................................................................................................................4
1.3 Kit Contents................................................................................................................................................................4
2Vela IF820 Development Kit Specifications.........................................................................................................................5
3Vela IF820 Development Kit –Main Development Board....................................................................................................6
3.1 Key Features..............................................................................................................................................................6
4Hardware Overview.............................................................................................................................................................7
4.1 Block Diagram............................................................................................................................................................7
4.2 Understanding the Development Board .....................................................................................................................8
4.3 Switches and Connectors...........................................................................................................................................9
4.4 Dual row 2.54 mm pitch pin headers........................................................................................................................10
5Functional Blocks ..............................................................................................................................................................12
5.1 Power Architecture...................................................................................................................................................12
5.2 Programming the RP2040 Firmware........................................................................................................................13
5.2.1 Via Micro USB interface .....................................................................................................................................13
5.2.2 Via SWD interface..............................................................................................................................................13
5.3 Miscellaneous ..........................................................................................................................................................14
5.3.1 User Button ........................................................................................................................................................14
5.3.2 Tri-color LED (User LED) ...................................................................................................................................15
5.3.3 One color LED....................................................................................................................................................15
5.3.4 Qwiic connector..................................................................................................................................................16
5.3.5 MikroE connectors..............................................................................................................................................17
5.3.6 Current measurement.........................................................................................................................................19
5.3.7 HOST USB to Vela IF820 HCI UART bridge......................................................................................................20
5.3.8 HOST USB to Vela IF820 Peripheral UART bridge............................................................................................21
6Software ............................................................................................................................................................................23
7References........................................................................................................................................................................23
8Additional Information........................................................................................................................................................24

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The development kit is designed to support performance validation and software development for projects utilizing our Vela
IF820 module. This document is intended to assist manufacturers and related parties with the integration of the Vela IF820 into
their host devices. Data in this document is drawn from several sources and includes information found in the Vela IF820
datasheet, Infineon CYW20820 datasheet, and FTDI FT232R datasheet.
IMPORTANT: The information in this document is subject to change. Please visit the Vela IF820 product page for the latest
information.
The purpose of this document is to provide details regarding the setup and configuration of the Vela IF820 mounted on the
development board. This document covers a description and design examples of the Vela IF820 DVK board and its features.
The following documents are available from the Vela IF820 product page:
▪Vela IF820 Product Brief
▪Vela IF820 Datasheet
The product kit contains the following:
Development Board x1
The development board has the required Vela IF820 module already soldered onto it and
exposes all the various hardware interfaces available
Power supply
USB Cable –Type A to MicroUSB. This cable is also used for the following:
▪Bluetooth connectivity via the RP2040 on the DVK when the Vela IF820 is configured
for HCI UART interface
RF Antenna
Supplied with development kit part # 453-00172-K1 only. External antenna, 2 dBi, FlexPIFA
(Laird part #001-0022) with integral RF coaxial cable with 100 mm length and IPEX-4
compatible RF connector.
Jumper cap x 5
Five jumpers for 2.54 mm pitch headers used on Vela IF820 development board.
Fly leads x 6
Six fly leads for IO pin connection

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Table 1: Development board specifications
Characteristic
Specifications
Configuration Modes
UART
Host Interfaces
USB
Power supplies
▪5V, which may be provided by either microUSB or an external source connected to specific
pin header
▪Module VBAT 3.3V, which may be provided a specific external pin header or microUSB
▪Module VDDIO 3.3V, which may be provided by a specific external pin header or
microUSB
Antenna gain
▪1 dBi peak gain by integrated antenna variant
▪2.3dBi peak gain supported by attached external antenna variant
WakeUp signals
▪BT_HOST_WAKE
▪BT_DEV_WAKE
Dimension
72.5 mm x 50 mm x 14.2 mm

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The Vela IF820 development board is a fully-featured evaluation platform for the Vela IF820 module. It allows users to
evaluate radio performance as well as the creation of prototypes and application-specific designs.
The Vela IF820 development board utilizes a high-performance Raspberry Pi RP2040 as a USB interface MCU to provide a
USB-UART bridge, on-chip-debug, and I/O control features.
The Vela IF820 development board has the following features:
▪Vela IF820 series module soldered onto the development board
–Integrated chip antenna variant or
–MHF4 connector variant
▪Vela IF820 HCI UART can be interfaced to
–MicroUSB using the RP2040 USB-UART bridge.
–External UART Source (using J2 pin 1,3,5,7,9,11 comply with FTDI cable (USB to TTL 232)) after development
board already powered.
▪On-board 3v3 supplied from either USB (5V) or reserved External pin header(J6) (5V).
▪Supports module VDDIO at 3v3
▪Two tri-color with white LEDs for user interaction, one connected to the Vela IF820 and the other to the RP2040
▪One color LED connected to the Vela IF820 for user programming.
▪Ability to measure the Vela IF820 module current (J9)
▪Dual row 2.54 mm pitch pin headers which bring out all Vela IF820 module interfaces:
–SWD
–GPIOs
–Wakeup signals.
–SPI
–I2C
–HCI UART
–PUART
–RST
▪Qwiic Connector for module I2C
▪MikroE Socket for module SPI, I2C interface, and also module RST, GPIOs
▪I2C EEPROM connected to RP2040 to store settings
▪One user button connected to the module
▪One reset button for the module, one reset button for RP2040
▪One recovery button for the module to enter download mode
▪16Mbit QSPI Flash with BOOTSEL button for the RP2040 firmware storage

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Figure 1 shows the block diagram of the development board.
Figure 1: Vela IF820 series module development board block diagram

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Figure 2: Vela IF820 development board with chip antenna variant
Figure 3: Vela IF820 development board with MHF4 connector variant

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Table 2: Configuration switches and jumpers
Connector
Descriptions
J1,J2,J3
1” dual row header pins for connecting the Vela IF820 IO pins to on DVK peripherals
SW1
Button for user interaction with Vela IF820
SW2
Recovery button, used in combination with the reset button to ensure user can program the Vela IF820 over
the HCI UART.
SW301
Reset button for Vela IF820
J6
for user control the power source
J6 with jumper -- USB 5V source
J6 open -- user can use external source connect to J6
J9
Current measurement header for Vela IF820
J4
Current measurement header for Vela IF820 VBAT
J5
Current measurement header for Vela IF820 VDDIO
J8
Header exposing RP2040 VDDIO
J7
TAG connector (TC2030) for programming the RP2040
Default not fitted
SW4
Reset button for RP2040
SW3
For firmware programming to RP2040
P202
Qwiic connector connected with Vela IF820 for I2C interface
J201, J202
mikroBUS connector provides SPI, I2C, HCI UART, GPIO, Reset interface connected with Vela IF820
P900
Micro USB connector

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1” dual row header pins for connecting the module IO pins to on DVK peripherals like LED, button, mikroBus, etc. Jumpers are
installed to work with the on DVK devices or connectors. If the jumpers are removed, then fly leads can be used to connect to
off module circuitry or to other on DVK peripherals as needed.
Since there are two types of Vela IF820 (Antenna type and MHF4 type) modules, two DVK variants are required in order to
match two different Vela IF 820 modules.
Table 3 shows MHF4 type dual row 2.54mm pitch pin header mapping table.
Note 1: Required for dropping an SPP connection in EZ-Serial transparent parse mode.
Table 4 shows antenna type dual row 2.54mm pitch pin header mapping table.
Table 3: MHF4 type dual row 2.54mm pitch pin header mapping table
Header Connector
connector.pin
connect to
IF820 pin
number
IF820 Module pre
defined function
Install jumper
to work with
J1.2
1
BT_DEV_WAKE
RP2040
J1.4
2
BT_HOST_WAKE
RP2040
J1.6
4
I2C_CLK
MikroE socket
and Qwiic
J1.8
5
GPIO (P4 in CYW20820)
for LED1
J1.10
6
SWDCLK
RP2040
J1.12
7
SPI_CS
MikroE socket
J1.14
8
GPIO (P5 in CYW20820)
MikroE socket
J1.16
9
GPIO (P8 in CYW20820)
MikroE socket
J1.18
14
SWDIO
RP2040
J1.20
15
SPI_SCK
MikroE socket
J1.22
16
SPI_MISO
MikroE socket
J1.24
17
SPI_MOSI
MikroE socket
J2.1
no
GND
no
J2.3
33
BT_UART_RTS
RP2040
J2.5
no
empty
no
J2.7
35
BT_UART_RXD
RP2040
J2.9
34
BT_UART_TXD
RP2040
J2.11
36
BT_UART_CTS
RP2040 and
recovery button
(SW2)
J2.13
29
I2C_DATA
MikroE socket
and Qwiic
J2.15
28
GPIO (P14 in
CYW20820)
MikroE socket
J2.17
27
P_UART_TXD
RP2040
J2.19
26
P_UART_RXD
RP2040
J2.21
25
GPIO (P0 in CYW20820)
for user button
(SW1)
J2.23
24
RST_L
RP2040 and
reset button
(SW301)
J3.1
23
GPIO (P27 in
CYW20820)
RP2040
J3.3
30
GPIO (P26 in
CYW20820)
MikroE socket
J3.5
22
P_UART_CTS
RP2040
J3.7
21
P_UART_RTS
RP2040
J3.9
20
CP_ROLE
RP2040
J3.11
19
CYSPP/SPP (Note1)
RP2040
J3.13
18
LP_MODE
RP2040

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Note 1: Required for dropping an SPP connection in EZ-Serial transparent parse mode.
Table 4: Antenna type dual row 2.54mm pitch pin header mapping table
Header Connector
Connector.pin
Connect to
IF820 pin
number
IF820 Module
pre-defined
function
Install
jumper to
work with
J1.2
6
SPI_CS
MikroE socket
J1.4
7
GPIO (P8 in
CYW20820)
MikroE socket
J1.6
8
SWDCLK
RP2040
J1.8
9
SWDIO
RP2040
J1.10
10
SPI_SCK
MikroE socket
J1.12
11
SPI_MISO
MikroE socket
J1.14
12
CYSPP (Note1)
RP2040
J1.16
13
SPI_MOSI
MikroE socket
J1.18
14
P_UART_CTS
RP2040
J1.20
15
P_UART_RXD
RP2040
J1.22
16
P_UART_RTS
RP2040
J1.24
17
P_UART_TXD
RP2040
J2.1
no
GND
no
J2.3
24
BT_UART_RTS
RP2040
J2.5
no
empty
no
J2.7
26
BT_UART_RXD
RP2040
J2.9
25
BT_UART_TXD
RP2040
J2.11
27
BT_UART_CTS
RP2040 and
recovery
button (SW2)
J2.13
29
BT_HOST_WAK
E
RP2040
J2.15
28
BT_DEV_WAKE
RP2040
J2.17
37
GPIO (P4 in
CYW20820)
for LED1
J2.19
35
I2C_CLK
MikroE socket
and Qwiic
J2.21
19
GPIO (P5 in
CYW20820)
MikroE socket
J2.23
18
GPIO (P14 in
CYW20820)
MikroE socket
J3.1
33
GPIO (P27 in
CYW20820)
RP2040
J3.3
35
I2C_DATA
MikroE socket
and Qwiic
J3.5
34
RST_L
RP2040 and
reset button
(SW301)
J3.7
36
GPIO (P26 in
CYW20820)
MikroE socket
J3.9
32
GPIO (P0 in
CYW20820)
for user
button (SW1)
J3.11
31
CP_ROLE
RP2040
J3.13
30
LP_MODE
RP2040
Note 1: Required for dropping an SPP connection in EZ-Serial transparent parse mode.

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Figure 4 shows the Vela IF820 development board power supply architecture.
Figure 4: Vela IF820 development board power architecture
The Vela IF820 radio module requires one primary power source that supply all other internal power rails –VBAT and VDDIO.
The VDDIO source provides power for the radio IO portions, and the VBAT source provides power for all other radio needs.
The DVK provides 3.3V power for both VDDIO and VBAT by a 5V to 3.3V on board regulator. 5V input can be either supplied
from Micro USB or external source by jumper (J6) cap installing or not. Installing the jumper cap on J6 (default) means 5V can
be drawn from Micro USB. If an external source is preferred, the jumper should be removed from J6 and an external source
should connected to J6.
See Error! Reference source not found. for an example of the external 5V power supply through the external source.
Figure 5: Example of the external 5V power supply through the external source

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Programming firmware is done over USB via BOOTSEL mode.
Figure 6: BOOTSEL button
To enter BOOTSEL mode on the RP2040 and load code over USB, the user needs to hold the BOOTSEL button down, and
then reset the board in some way. To do so, unplug and then reconnect the USB connector, or press the RP2040 reset button
if one is available.
Once in BOOTSEL mode, the user should see a USB storage device show up on their computer named “RPI-RP2“. Drag-and-
drop the firmware .uf2 file onto the storage device. The firmware will be loaded and the RP2040 will reset.
Programming firmware can also be done via the SWD interface.
Use a Tag-Connect cable to connect with the onboard TC2030 footprint. The SWD interface can then be used to program or
debug the RP2040.

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Figure 7: TC2030 footprint
One push button is reserved for user interaction with Vela IF820. It connects one of the pins of the Vela IF820, mapping to P0
of the CY20820 chipset. Pressing this button grounds this pin. Please see the GPIO pin numbers of the different Vela IF820
module variants in the table below
Header Connector
MHF4 variant
Antenna variant
note
Vela IF820
pin 25 (P0 of
CYW20820)
Vela IF820 pin
32 (P0 of
CYW20820)
Jumper should be installed in:
▪MHF4 variant : J2 pin 21 –22
▪Antenna variant : J3 pin 9 - 10
Figure 8: USER button
on board TC2030 footprint
(not populated by default)
User Button

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One tri-color LED is reserved for user programming with the Vela IF820. It connects to one of the pins of the Vela IF820
module pins, mapping to P4 of the CYW20820 chipset. Please see the GPIO pin in different variants in the table below.
Another tri-color LED is connected to the RP2040 to provide user feedback. The RP2040 LED functions are:
•Flashes white twice when the RP2040 boots
•Flashes blue for UART0 (HCI) TX and RX
•Flashes red for UART1 (EZ-Serial) TX and RX
•Flashes green for USB DAP (debugger) commands
Schematic
MHF4 variant
Antenna variant
note
Vela IF820 pin 5
(P4 of
CYW20820)
Vela IF820 pin 37
(P4 of
CYW20820)
Jumper should be installed in:
▪MHF4 variant : J1 pin 7 –8
▪Antenna variant : J2 pin 17 - 18
Figure 9: Tri-color LED
One color LED reserved for user applications with Vela IF820. It connects to one of Vela IF820 module pins, mapping to P27
of CYW20820 chipset. Please see the GPIO pin in different variant in the table below.
Schematic
MHF4 variant
Antenna variant
note
Vela IF820 pin 23
(P27 of CYW20820)
Vela IF820 pin 33
(P27 of CYW20820)
Figure 10: One color LED
Tri-color LED
one color LED

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A Qwiic connector connected to Vela IF820 is reserved for user programming. Mapping table is shown as below.
Header Connector
Connector.pin
Qwiic
pre
defined
function
Note
P202.1
GND
P202.2
VDDIO
3.3V by default
P202.3
I2C
DATA
jumper should be installed in
MHF4 variant : J2 pin 13-14
Antenna variant : J3 pin 3-4
then can work with Vela IF820
P202.4
I2C CLK
jumper should be installed in
MHF4 variant : J1 pin 5-6
Antenna variant : J2 pin 19-20
the can work with Vela IF820
P202.5
GND
P202.6
GND
Figure 11: QWIIC connector

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A MikroE connector is connected to Vela IF820 and is reserved for user programming. Mapping table is shown as below.
Table 5: J202 Pin Map
Header Connector
Connector.pin
MikroE pre-
defined function
Note
J202.1
GPIO
Jumper should be installed in:
▪MHF4 variant : J3 pin 3-4
▪Antenna variant : J3 pin 7-8
J202.2
GPIO
Jumper should be installed in:
▪MHF4 variant : J1 pin 13- 14
▪Antenna variant : J2 pin 21-22
J202.3
P_UART_RXD
Jumper should be installed in:
▪MHF4 variant : J2 pin 19- 20
▪Antenna variant : J1 pin 19- 20
J202.4
P_UART_TXD
Jumper should be installed in:
▪MHF4 variant : J2 pin 17-18
▪Antenna variant : J1 pin 23-24
J202.5
I2C_CLK
Jumper should be installed in:
▪MHF4 variant : J1 pin 5-6
▪Antenna variant : J2 pin 19-20
J202.6
I2C_DATA
Jumper should be installed in:
▪MHF4 variant : J2 pin 13-14
▪Antenna variant : J3 pin 3-4
J202.7
5V
J202.8
GND
Table 6: J201 Pin Map
Header Connector
Connector
Pin
MikroE pre
defined function
note
J201.1
GPIO
Jumper should be installed in
▪MHF4 variant : J1 pin 15 -16
▪Antenna variant : J1 pin 3 - 4
J201.2
RST_L
Jumper should be installed in
▪MHF4 variant : J2 pin 23 –24
▪Antenna variant : J3 pin 5 –6
J201.3
SPI_CS
Jumper should be installed in
▪MHF4 variant : J1 pin 11 –12
▪Antenna variant : J1 pin 1 –2
J201.4
SPI_SCK
Jumper should be installed in
▪MHF4 variant : J1 pin 19 –20
▪Antenna variant : J1 pin 9 –10
J201.5
SPI_MISO
Jumper should be installed in
▪MHF4 variant : J1 pin 21 –22
▪Antenna variant : J1 pin 11 –12
J201.6
SPI_MOSI
Jumper should be installed in
▪MHF4 variant : J1 pin 23 –24
▪Antenna variant : J1 pin 15 –16
J201.7
VDDIO
3.3V by default
J201.8
GND

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Figure 12: MikroE connector
Please note P-UART function of MikroE connector is workable after hardware version 4.0, checked by reviewing silkscreen on
the backside of the DVK, the previous HW version is not functional for this feature.
Figure 13: Version illustration

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Default P-UART connection of DVK is to Vela IF820 and RP2040, by the solder bridge as shown in the Figure 14. Once user
wants to use P-UART function working with MikroE device, please cut the solder bridge between Vela IF820 and RP2040 for
any interference prevented.
Figure 14: Solder bridge connects Vela IF820 and RP2040
The Vela IF820 development board provides a pin header (J9) to conduct current measurements. To measure current
consumption of the Vela IF820 module, uninstall J9 cap and connect a current meter in series with the corresponding header.
Figure 15: J9 for module current measurement

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The Vela IF820 development board reserves J2 pins 1,3,5,7,9, and 11 to enable USB communication via an external USB to
TTL-232 (3.3V) cable. Figure 16 demonstrates how to connect the cable to the J2 header.
Figure 16: Using USB to TTL-232 (3.3V) cable to connect to Vela IF820 directly
Figure 17 shows a real example of using a USB to TTL-232 (3.3V) cable to connect a laptop to the IF820.
Figure 17: Photo of USB to TTL-232 (3.3V) cable connected to Vela IF820