NXP Semiconductors QN9090-DK006 User manual

UM11355
QN9090-DK006 Development Kit User Guide
Rev.1.0 —15 January 2020
Document information
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Content
Keywords
QN9090 DK, User Guide
Abstract
This document is a user guide for the QN9090 Development Kit

NXP Semiconductors
QN9090
QN9090-DK006 Development Kit User Guide
UM11355
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© NXP Semiconductors N.V. 2020. All rights reserved.
User Guide
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Contact information
For more information, please visit: http://www.nxp.com
Revision history
Rev
Date
Description
1V0
20200115
Initial release

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QN9090-DK006 Development Kit User Guide
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1. Introduction
QN9090 DK is designed for QN9090 IC evaluation and development. It is very
convenient to evaluate QN9090’s functions and performance. There are also some
useful peripherals, like GPIOs, and Arduino interface. J-Link and J-Trace functions are all
supported for debugging QN9090. ISP download function is also contained and very
easy to use.
1.1 Purpose
This document introduces all functions of QN9090 DK. Descripts all parts of QN9090 DK
boards in detail.
1.2 Kit contents
QN9090 DK includes the following three boards:
•Carrier Main Board
•QN9090 Module board
•Generic expansion board
Figure 1 Board overview

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2. Carrier Main Board
The OM15076 also called DK6 QN9090 carrier board provides a flexible development
system for NXP’s QN9090 ultra-low power, high performance wireless microcontroller. It
can be used with a wide range of development tools, including NXP’s MCUXpresso IDE.
It has been developed by NXP to enable evaluation and prototyping with the
QN9090_30_T Bluetooth Low Energy wireless microcontroller.
The carrier boards (part number: OM15076) supplied in the development kit are
physically identical. They are all pre-fitted with an Arduino-compatible expansion board
and a QN9090-based module with integrated antenna.
2.1 Feature summary
The QN9090 Carrier board includes the following features:
•QN9090 module site
•NFC Tag with printed antenna
•On-board, high-speed USB based, Link2 debug probe with ARM’s CMSIS-DAP
and SEGGER J-Link protocol options.
•Link2 probe can be used with on-board QN9090 or external target.
•Support for external debug probes.
•Power, Reset, ISP and UART Tx/Rx LEDs.
Figure 2 Carrier Main Board

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•Target Reset, and User buttons.
•Expansion options based on Arduino R3, plus additional expansion port pins.
•On-board 3.3V from USB port, 4xAAA batteries, 2xAAA batteries (low-power
mode) or external power supply options.
•Built-in power consumption measurement.
•UART, I2C and SPI port bridging from LPC4233 target to USB via the on-board
debug probe.
•8Mb Macronix MX25R QSPI flash.
•FTDI USB connector.
2.2 Board layout and settings
This section provides a quick reference guide to the main board components,
configurable items, visual indicators and expansion connectors. The layout of the
components on the QN9090 Carrier board is shown in Figure 3.
The function of each identified component is listed in Table 1
Table 1. Table Board interface components
Circuit ref
Description
D1
Link2 LPC4322 BOOT0_LED indicator. Reflects the state of LPC43xx Link2
MCU P1_1. When the boot process fails, D1 will toggle at a 1 Hz rate for 60
seconds. After 60 seconds, the LPC4322 is reset.
DS1
QN9090 Power LED
DS2, DS3
2x Red debug LEDs connected respectively to QN9090 PIO_0 (DS2) and
PIO_3 (DS3). LEDs are on anytime the PIO is low.
DS4
QN9090 Reset LED –LED is on anytime the Target RESET is pulled low.
Figure 3 Carrier board layout

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DS5, DS6
Green LEDs connected respectively to UART0_Tx (DS5) and UART0_Rx
(DS6).
DS8
In System Programming (ISP) LED indicator. LED is ON when SW2 button is
pressed.
IC2
Link2 MCU
J2
FTDI serial header. In addition to provide a serial output from QN9090, the
Target side of the board can be powered from the FTDI header. The QN9090
supports serial ISP boot from the FTDI header.
J5
32 pins Expansion header connector for debug. All the QN9090 IOs from
modules and more are available here.
J14
QN9090 VBAT current monitor V sense measurement. The V sense can be
measured with a volt meter. Pin 1 (square pad) is positive and pin 2 is
negative. QN9090 current is calculated by dividing the measured voltage at
J14 by the V sense resistance value of 3.3Ω.
J15
Link2 mini USB B-type connector. Powers both the Link2 side of the board
and depending on the JP3, J5 configuration, the QN9090 Target side of the
board. Power the board from this connector when using the on-board debug
probe to debug the QN9090 Target MCU.
J1
QN9090 Target SWD disable –2-position jumper pins.
1. Jumper “ON” (default) the QN9090 Target SWD interface enabled.
Normal operating mode where the Target SWD is connected to
either the on-board
2. Link2 debug probe or an external debug probe. Jumper “OFF”, the
QN9090 Target SWD interface is disabled. Use this setting only
when the on-board Link2 debug probe is used to debug an off-board
Target QN9090.
J2
SWD interface buffer power selection
J3
QN9090 power source selection
1. Jumper fitted in position pin 1 - 2 (default -5V REG). Power source
is either 5V from mini USB connector or FTDI connector, or 4.5V
from 3xAAA batteries or 5V from a 7-12V DC power supply
connected on J4.
2. Jumper fitted in position pin 2 - 3 (BAT 6V). Power source is 4xAAA
batteries.
See details on Board power diagram Figure 5
J4
Jumper to route LPC or FTDI to UART RX0 QN9090 (to change in pair with
JP7)
J5
Link2 (LPC4322) force DFU boot –2 position jumper pins.
1. Jumper open (default) or shunted to boot mode for Link2 to follow
the normal boot sequence. The Link2 will boot from internal flash if
image is found there. With the internal flash erased the Link2 normal
boot sequence will fall through to DFU boot.
2. Jumper shunted to force the Link2 to DFU boot mode. Use this
setting to reprogram the Link2 internal flash with a new image or to
use the MCUXpresso IDE with CMSIS-DAP protocol.
J6
JP6 is used to isolate the Link2 debug probe (SPI bridge function) from the
QN9090 target to prevent leakage current in power critical applications /
current consumption analysis. JP6 needs to be fitted in position 1 - 2 to use
the SPI bridging function between the QN9090 and Link2. This jumper is not
fitted by default
J7
Jumper to shunt LPC to QN9090 or FTDI to UART TX0 QN9090 (to change
in pair with JP4)
CN1, CN2,
CN3, CN4
Expansion connectors, including Arduino Uno rev3 compatible connectivity.
JM1, JM2
QN9090 module headers

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P1
10-pin SWD connector –The SWD connector is used to debug the QN9090
Target from an external debug probe. The same SWD connector can also be
used to connect the on-board Link2 debug probe to an off-board target MCU
(for this JP1 must be shunted).
BP1
User Interface button connected to IO1. Used in some Applications Notes.
SW2
In System Programming (ISP) button. QN9090 will enter ISP mode when
SW2 is pressed during hardware reset.
SW4
QN9090 Reset pushbutton.
To ease the board usage and any debug the connectors serigraphy is also copied on PCB bottom.
J7, J13, J12 & J11 battery slots are also here.
2.3 LED indicators
The DK6 board LED location are shown in Figure 3. A description of each on-board LED
indicator is shown in next table
Table 2. LED indicator functions
LED reference
Description
D1
Link2 MCU BOOT0_LED indicator. Reflects the state of Link2 MCU
P1_1. When the boot process fails, D1 will toggle at a 1 Hz rate for 60
seconds. After 60 seconds, the Link2 MCU is reset. It will be ON when
the Link2 MCU is Booting using DFU (See description for JP5).
DS1
QN9090 Power LED. This LED is on any time power is applied to the
QN9090 wireless MCU.
DS2, DS3
2x Red debug LEDs connected respectively to QN9090 PIO_0 (DS2)
and PIO_3 (DS3). LEDs are on anytime the respective PIOs from the
QN9090 are pulled low.
DS4
QN9090 Reset LED –LED is on anytime the Target RESET is pulled
Figure 4 OM15076 DK6 PCB bottom view

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low.
DS5, DS6
2x Green LEDs connected respectively to UART0_Tx (DS5) and
UART0_Rx (DS6). LEDs will flash any time there is activity on the
UART0.
DS8
In System Programming (ISP) LED indicator. LED is ON when IO5_ISP
is pulled low and when SW2 button is pressed.
2.4 ARDUINO connectors
ARDUINO compatible connectors are based on Arduino R3.
References on the DK6 board are CN1, CN2, CN3, CN4.
The Generic expansion board OM15082 can be plugged into these connectors.
2.5 Buttons
2.5.1 Reset button
This button (SW4) is used to reset the QN9090 (note that the Link2 is NOT reset by this
button)
2.5.2 ISP button
This button connects the QN9090_PIO5 (ISP_Entry) pin to ground. This should be used
to set the QN9090 in ISP mode to program a binary file into the chip memory.
To force entry into this ISP mode, hold down the ISP button (SW2), press and release
the Reset button (SW4), then release the ISP button (SW2). This is done automatically
when using the DK6 Production Flash programmer with J2 (FTDI USB interface)
2.6 User Interface button
This button (BP1) is connected to QN9090_PIO_1 and should be used as an input
2.7 QN9090 Serial port
The QN9090 UART0 can also be connected through a virtual communication port
(VCOM) UART bridge Link2 function either to a host computer connected to the J2 USB
FTDI or to J15 USB Link2. By default, the DK 6 is configured to use the FTDI USB.
For Link2 USB: The factory default CMSIS-DAP Link2 image includes UART bridge
functionality (VCOM support), and this firmware is also available with the LPCScrypt
utility, available at https://www.nxp.com/design/microcontrollers-developer-resources/lpc-
microcontroller-utilities:LPC-UTILITIES power connections and measurements.
For the USB FTDI, the PC driver is available on FTDI website (the FTDI chip is already
configured before the carrier board release).
2.8 Board power connections
A block diagram of the board power tree is shown in Figure 5. When the QN9090 Target
is to be debugged from the on board Link2 probe, the USB mini B-type connector (J15)

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must connected to a Host computer. When the QN9090 Target is to be debugged from
an external debug probe, instead of the on-board debug probe, the Link USB connector
(J15) must be disconnected.
The QN9090 Target VBAT selection is made at JP3, J5, with 3.3V from on-board LDO
set as the default.
2.9 Debug Configurations
The DK6 board has a built-in debug probe referred to as “Link2”. The QN9090 target
wireless MCU can be debugged by the Link2 debugging probe, or from an external
debug probe installed at P1. On-board jumpers JP1 and JP2 must be correctly positioned
for each mode. The on-board Link2 debug probe is capable of debugging target MCU’s
with a VDDIO range of 1.6V to 3.6V. Check the sections below for the appropriate jumper
settings and how to properly power the board.
2.9.1 Debug using on-board debug probe
To use the on-board Link debug probe:
•The jumper JP2 must be fitted in position pin 1 - 2 (Local Target).
•Jumper JP1 must be open or fitted in position 2 –3 to enable the target
QN9090.
•Connecting the mini USB J15 to a host computer will power the Link and
according JP3, J5 position, the QN9090 sections of the board and provide
the USB link to the debug tool software.
2.9.2 Debug using external debug probe
To use an external debug probe:
•connect the probe to the SWD (P1) connector
Figure 5 Board power diagram

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•power the QN9090 Target section of the board from the FTDI header (J1)
or the Jack connector (J4)
•and fit a jumper to JP2 across pin 1 - 2 (Local Target).
•Jumper JP1 must be open or fitted across pin 2 –3 to enable the target
QN9090.
•The on-board Link2 debug probe must be unpowered, by leaving USB mini
(J15) unconnected.
2.9.3 On-Board Link2 flash programing
To program the Link2 Flash the Link2 MCU must be in DFU mode. If the Link2 already
has a valid image in the flash, you will need to force it into DFU mode by placing a
jumper shunt on JP5 across pin 1 - 2, then power the board by connecting the mini USB
J15 to a host computer. Link2 MCU programming is performed using the LPCScrypt
utility (see https://www.nxp.com/design/microcontrollers-developer-resources/lpc-
microcontroller-utilities:LPC-UTILITIES). Instructions for using the tool are located at the
same web page.
2.9.4 Using the DK6 to debug an off-board target
The DK6 board’s Link2 debug probe may be used to debug an off-board target MCU.
The on-board Link2 debug probe is capable of debugging target MCU’s with a VDDIO
range of 1.6V to 3.6V. To keep the on-board target QN9090 MCU from interfering with
the SWD interface:
•JP1 must be fitted across pin 1 - 2.
•The Link2 debug probe SWD is connected by a ribbon cable between the
P1 connector to the off-board target MCU SWD interface.
•Power the DK6 board from the Link USB connector J15,
•Fit jumper JP2 across pins 2 - 3 (External Target).