Nordic nRF9160 User manual

nRF9160 DK
PCA 10090 v0.8.2
User Guide
v0.7
4418_1216 v0.7 / 2018-12-12

Contents
Revision history.................................. iv
1Introduction................................... 5
2Kit content.................................... 6
2.1 Hardware content ................................ 6
2.2 Related documentation .............................. 6
3Getting started................................. 7
4Operating modes................................ 8
4.1 Default mode: Interface MCU ........................... 8
4.1.1 Device programming ............................. 8
4.1.2 Virtual COM port ............................... 8
4.1.3 MSD .................................... 9
4.1.4 Reset .................................... 9
4.2 nRF ONLY mode ................................. 9
4.2.1 USB detect ................................. 10
5Hardware description............................. 11
5.1 Block diagram ................................. 11
5.2 Hardware figures ................................ 11
5.3 Power supply ..................................12
5.3.1 nRF9160 supply ............................... 15
5.3.2 VDD supply rail ............................... 16
5.3.3 Other power domains ............................ 16
5.4 Antenna interfaces ............................... 16
5.5 GPS ...................................... 17
5.6 GPIO interfaces ................................. 17
5.7 nRF52840 ................................... 19
5.7.1 nRF9160 DK board control .......................... 19
5.7.2 Bluetooth/IEEE 802.15.4 network processor ................... 21
5.8 Buttons, slide switches, and LEDs ......................... 22
5.9 Debug input and trace options .......................... 23
5.9.1 Debug output ................................24
5.10 Signal routing switches ............................. 25
5.10.1 Switches for buttons and LEDs ........................ 25
5.11 SIM and eSIM ................................. 27
5.12 Additional nRF9160 interfaces .......................... 28
5.13 SiP enable .................................. 29
5.14 Solder bridge configuration ........................... 29
6Measuring current............................... 31
6.1 Preparing the development kit for current measurements ............... 31
6.2 Using an oscilloscope for current profile measurement ................ 32
6.3 Using a current meter for current measurement ................... 32
7RF measurements............................... 34
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8Radiated performance of nRF9160 DK.................... 35
Glossary ..................................... 36
Acronyms and abbreviations............................38
Legal notices................................... 39
4418_1216 v0.7 iii

Revision history
Date Version Description
December 0.7 Updated to match DK v0.8.2
November 2018 0.5.1 Preview DK changed into DK
October 2018 0.5 First release
4418_1216 v0.7 iv

1Introduction
The nRF9160 DK (Development Kit) is a hardware development platform to be used for the design and
development of application firmware on the nRF9160 LTE Cat-M1 and Cat-NB1 System in Package (SiP).
The board includes all necessary external circuitry like a SIM card holder and an antenna and it provides
developers access to all I/O pins and relevant module interfaces.
Note: The DK can be connected to a base station by the onboard LTE antenna or to an LTE
emulator by an RF cable. See our nRF9160 Certifications webpage to find the bands supported
by the LTE modem. If no SIM card is inserted, the DK cannot initiate communication with the LTE
network.
The key features of the development kit are:
• nRF9160 SiP
• LTE antenna that supports all bands supported by the SiP
•Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna
• nRF52840 as a board controller and network processor for Bluetooth® and IEEE 802.15.4 protocols
• Buttons, switches, and LEDs for user interaction
• I/O interface for Arduino form factor plug-in modules
• SEGGER J-Link OB Debugger with debug out functionality
• UART interface through virtual COM port
• USB connection for debug/programming and power
• SIM card socket for nano-SIM (4FF SIM)
• Interfaces for nRF9160 current consumption measurements
Note: nRF9160 DK is compliant with the PS1 classification according to the IEC 62368-1 standard.
Skilled person: Person with relevant education or experience to enable him or her to identify hazards and
to take appropriate actions to reduce the risks of injury to themselves and others.
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2Kit content
The nRF9160 DK includes hardware, preprogrammed firmware, documentation, hardware schematics, and
layout files.
2.1 Hardware content
The nRF9160 DK contains the development kit board PCA10090 and a SIM card.
Figure 1: nRF9160 DK hardware content
Hardware files
The hardware design files including schematics, PCB layout files, bill of materials, and Gerber files for the
nRF9160 DK will be available on the product page, nRF91 SiP Series.
2.2 Related documentation
In addition to the information in this document, you may need to consult other documents.
Nordic documentation
•nRF9160 Objective Product Specification
• nRF91 Modem Firmware Release Notes
•nRF Connect Software Development Kit (SDK)
•nRF91 AT Commands Reference Guide
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3Getting started
To get started with nRF9160 DK, go to nRF9160 DK Getting Started and follow the instructions there.
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4Operating modes
The nRF9160 DK has various modes of operation.
4.1 Default mode: Interface MCU
The primary interface for programming and debugging the nRF9160 DK is the USB port (J4). The USB port
is connected to an interface MCU which embeds a SEGGER J-Link-OB (On Board) debug probe.
Figure 2: Interface MCU
4.1.1 Device programming
The nRF9160 DK supports SWD programming interfaces for both onboard and off-board nRF targets.
The primary target for programming and debugging in the DK is the nRF9160. The interface MCU also
supports programming the onboard nRF52840 as well as external nRF devices fitted on a shield or through
a connector to external boards such as the user's own prototypes.
The interface MCU will automatically detect if external targets are plugged in. The SW5 switch is used
to select nRF9160 or nRF52840 for programming or debugging on board. Note that there are significant
limitations on using the nRF52840 on the nRF9160 DK. For more information, see nRF9160 DK board
control on page 19.
4.1.2 Virtual COM port
The interface MCU also features three UART interfaces through three virtual COM ports.
The virtual COM ports are the following:
• VCOM0 – Connected to nRF9160 (default)
• VCOM1 – Connected to nRF52840 (nonconfigurable)
• VCOM2 – Not connected to nRF9160 (default)
For details on routing VCOM0 and VCOM2, see nRF9160 DK board control on page 19.
The virtual COM ports have the following features:
• Flexible baud rate settings up to 1 Mbps
• RTS/CTS-style Hardware Flow Control (HWFC) handling
The table below shows an overview of the GPIOs used for the UART connections on the nRF9160 and
nRF52840:
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Operating modes
nRF91 APP1 nRF91 APP2 nRF52840
TXD P0.29 P0.01 P0.03
RXD P0.28 P0.00 P0.05
CTS P0.26 P0.15 P0.07
RTS P0.27 P0.14 P1.08
Table 1: GPIOs used for virtual COM ports on nRF9160 and nRF52840
Note:
• Baud rate 921 600 is not supported through the virtual COM port.
4.1.3 MSD
The interface MCU features a mass storage device (MSD). This makes the development kit appear as an
external drive on your computer.
This drive can be used for drag-and-drop programming. However, files cannot be stored on this drive. By
copying a HEX file to the drive, the interface MCU will program the file to the device. The J-Link OB will
program the target that is selected with the nRF52/nRF91 switch (SW5). For limitations on nRF52840 use,
see nRF9160 DK board control on page 19.
Note:
• Windows might try to defragment the MSD part of the interface MCU. If this happens, the
interface MCU will disconnect and become unresponsive. To return to normal operation, the
development kit must be power cycled.
• Your antivirus software might try to scan the MSD part of the interface MCU. Some antivirus
programs trigger a false positive alert in one of the files and quarantine the unit. If this happens,
the interface MCU will become unresponsive.
• If your computer is set up to boot from USB, it can try to boot from the development kit if the
development kit is connected during boot. This can be avoided by unplugging the development
kit before a computer restart or changing the boot sequence of the computer.
You can also disable the MSD of the kit by using the msddisable command in J-Link Commander.
To enable, use the msdenable command. These commands take effect after a power cycle of the
development kit and stay this way until changed again.
4.1.4 Reset
The nRF9160 DK board is equipped with a RESET button (SW2).
By default, the RESET button is connected to the interface MCU that will forward the reset signal to the
nRF9160 or nRF52840, depending on the state of the nRF52/nRF91 switch. If nRF ONLY is activated, the
RESET button will be connected to the nRF9160 directly.
4.2 nRF ONLY mode
The nRF ONLY mode disconnects the interface MCU from the nRF9160 using analog switches.
This is done to isolate the chip on the board as much as possible, and can be of use when measuring
currents on low-power applications.
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Operating modes
Figure 3: nRF ONLY switch (SW1)
The development kit detects if there is a USB cable plugged in (see USB detect on page 10) and will
disconnect and power down the interface MCU when another supply than the USB is used. If the USB
connector is used for power supply only (USB battery back) you can also disable the interface MCU
through SW1.
USB detect and SW1 also control the routing of the RESET signal from the RESET button (SW2). Normally, it
is routed through the interface MCU, but if that is disabled, the reset button will be routed directly to the
nRF9160.
There are also a number of other reset routing options available through the use of solder bridges:
• When the interface MCU is disconnected, the RESET button is connected to pin 32 (nRESET) of the
nRF9160. The RESET button can be disconnected from the nRF9160 by cutting SB25.
• When the interface MCU is disconnected, shorting SB29 will connect the RESET pin of the Arduino
interface to the reset pin of the nRF9160.
• When the interface MCU is connected, shorting SB30 will connect the RESET pin of the Arduino
interface to the BOOT input of the interface MCU.
• Shorting SB27 will connect the RESET pin of the Arduino interface to the RESET button.
• Shorting SB28 will connect the RESET pin of the Arduino interface to the reset pin P0.29 of the
nRF9160.
4.2.1 USB detect
To detect when the USB for the interface MCU is connected, there is a circuit sensing the VBUS of USB
connector J4.
When the USB cable is connected, the VDD is propagated to the USB_DETECT signal.
Figure 4: USB detect switch
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