Ublox NINA-B4 Series Quick setup guide

UBX-19052230 - R09
C1-Public www.u-blox.com
NINA-B4 series
Stand-alone Bluetooth 5.1 low energy modules
System integration manual
Abstract
Used together with the respective module data sheets that describe the pinout and module
functions, this manual provides a functional overview combined with best-practice design guidelines
for integrating the short-range module in an end product. With several supporting examples, the
document explains how applications are developed for NINA-B4 open cpu solutions using the Nordic
SDK. It also describes the options for flashing the u-connectXpress module software in production
environments.

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Document information
Title
NINA-B4 series
Subtitle
Stand-alone Bluetooth 5.1 low energy modules
Document type
System integration manual
Document number
UBX-19052230
Revision and date
R09
25-Jan-2022
Disclosure restriction
C1-Public
Document status explanation
Draft
For functional testing. Revised and supplementary data will be published later.
Objective Specification
Target values. Revised and supplementary data will be published later.
Advance Information
Data based on early testing. Revised and supplementary data will be published later.
Early Production Information
Data from product verification. Revised and supplementary data may be published later.
Production Information
Document contains the final product specification.
This document applies to the following products:
Product name
NINA-B400
NINA-B401
NINA-B406
NINA-B410
NINA-B411
NINA-B416
☞For information about the related hardware, software, and status of listed product types, refer to
the respective data sheets [2][3].
u-blox or third parties may hold intellectual property rights in the products, names, logos and designs included in this
document. Copying, reproduction, modification or disclosure to third parties of this document or any part thereof is only
permitted with the express written permission of u-blox.
The information contained herein is provided “as is” and u-blox assumes no liability for its use. No warranty, either express or
implied, is given, including but not limited to, with respect to the accuracy, correctness, reliability and fitness for a particular
purpose of the information. This document may be revised by u-blox at any time without notice. For the most recent
documents, visit www.u-blox.com.
Copyright © u-blox AG.
u-blox or third parties may hold intellectual property rights in the products, names, logos and designs included in this
document. Copying, reproduction, modification or disclosure to third parties of this document or any part thereof is only
permitted with the express written permission of u-blox.
The information contained herein is provided “as is” and u-blox assumes no liability for its use. No warranty, either express or
implied, is given, including but not limited to, with respect to the accuracy, correctness, reliability and fitness for a particular
purpose of the information. This document may be revised by u-blox at any time without notice. For the most recent
documents, visit www.u-blox.com.
Copyright © u-blox AG.

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Contents
Document information................................................................................................................................2
Contents ..........................................................................................................................................................3
1Functional description .........................................................................................................................6
1.1 Overview........................................................................................................................................................6
1.2 Applications ................................................................................................................................................. 7
1.3 Block diagrams ............................................................................................................................................ 8
1.3.1 NINA-B40.............................................................................................................................................. 8
1.3.2 NINA-B41.............................................................................................................................................. 9
1.4 Product description ..................................................................................................................................10
1.4.1 NINA-B40 series................................................................................................................................10
1.4.2 NINA-B41 series................................................................................................................................10
1.5 Hardware options......................................................................................................................................10
1.6 Software options.......................................................................................................................................10
1.6.1 Open CPU............................................................................................................................................11
1.6.2 u-connectXpress software .............................................................................................................12
1.6.3 u-connectLocate software .............................................................................................................13
1.7 Bluetooth device address ........................................................................................................................13
1.8 Pin configurations and functions ..........................................................................................................13
1.8.1 NINA-B40 pins ...................................................................................................................................13
1.8.2 NINA-B41 pins ...................................................................................................................................13
1.9 Low power clock ........................................................................................................................................14
1.9.1 External crystal .................................................................................................................................14
1.9.2 Internal oscillator ..............................................................................................................................15
1.9.3 External clock source .......................................................................................................................15
2Design-in................................................................................................................................................ 16
2.1 NINA family migration design.................................................................................................................16
2.2 Supply interfaces ......................................................................................................................................16
2.2.1 Main supply input .............................................................................................................................16
2.2.2 Digital I/O interfaces reference voltage (VCC_IO) ......................................................................16
2.2.3 VCC application circuits ..................................................................................................................16
2.3 System function interfaces ....................................................................................................................17
2.3.1 Module reset ......................................................................................................................................17
2.3.2 Internal temperature sensor ..........................................................................................................17
2.4 Serial interfaces ........................................................................................................................................18
2.4.1 Universal Asynchronous Serial Interface (UART) ......................................................................18
2.4.2 Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI).....................................................................................................18
2.4.3 I2C interface.......................................................................................................................................19
2.4.4 USB 2.0 interface ..............................................................................................................................19
2.5 GPIO pins.....................................................................................................................................................19
2.5.1 Analog interfaces..............................................................................................................................20

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2.6 Antenna interface .....................................................................................................................................21
2.6.1 External antenna selection.............................................................................................................22
2.6.2 NINA-B4x6 design-in........................................................................................................................26
2.7 NFC interface.............................................................................................................................................27
2.7.1 Battery protection ............................................................................................................................28
2.8 Debug interface .........................................................................................................................................28
2.9 General layout guidelines ........................................................................................................................29
2.9.1 General considerations for schematic design and PCB floor-planning.................................29
2.9.2 Layout and manufacturing.............................................................................................................29
2.9.3 Thermal guidelines ...........................................................................................................................30
2.9.4 ESD guidelines...................................................................................................................................30
3Open CPU software............................................................................................................................ 32
3.1 Nordic SDK..................................................................................................................................................32
3.1.1 Getting started with the Nordic SDK............................................................................................32
3.1.2 Adding a board configuration to your project .............................................................................34
3.2 Zephyr .........................................................................................................................................................35
3.2.1 Getting started with Zephyr on the NINA-B4 module...............................................................35
3.2.2 Board configuration in Zephyr .......................................................................................................36
3.2.3 Building for NINA-B4 EVK using the Zephyr command-line environment ...........................36
3.3 Bluetooth device (MAC) address and other production data ..........................................................36
3.4 Definition of Low Frequency Clock source...........................................................................................36
3.5 Flashing open CPU software ..................................................................................................................37
3.5.1 Flashing over the SWD interface...................................................................................................37
3.5.2 Flashing over the UART interface .................................................................................................37
4u-connectXpress software .............................................................................................................. 41
4.1 Updating NINA-B41 software.................................................................................................................41
4.1.1 Updating over UART.........................................................................................................................41
4.2 Low frequency clock source....................................................................................................................48
5Handling and soldering ..................................................................................................................... 49
5.1 ESD handling precautions.......................................................................................................................49
5.2 Packaging, shipping, storage, and moisture preconditioning .........................................................49
5.3 Soldering .....................................................................................................................................................49
5.3.1 Reflow soldering process ................................................................................................................50
5.3.2 Cleaning ..............................................................................................................................................51
5.3.3 Other remarks ...................................................................................................................................51
6Product testing ................................................................................................................................... 52
6.1 u-blox in-line production testing ............................................................................................................52
6.2 OEM manufacturer production test .....................................................................................................53
6.3 “Go/No go” tests for integrated devices...............................................................................................53
Appendix ....................................................................................................................................................... 54
AGlossary ................................................................................................................................................. 54
BAntenna reference designs ............................................................................................................. 56

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B.1 Reference design for external antennas (U.FL connector) ..............................................................56
B.1.1 Floor plan ............................................................................................................................................57
B.1.2 RF trace specification ......................................................................................................................57
Related documents ................................................................................................................................... 59
Revision history.......................................................................................................................................... 60
Contact.......................................................................................................................................................... 61

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1Functional description
1.1 Overview
The NINA-B4 series is comprised of small, standalone Bluetooth low energy wireless modules
featuring full Bluetooth 5.1.
Based on the Nordic Semiconductor nRF52833 chip that includes an integrated RF core and powerful
Arm® Cortex®-M4 processor with FPU, NINA-B4 modules include the S140 SoftDevice radio stack
that operates as a Bluetooth 5.1 low energy central and peripheral protocol stack solution –as well as
in Thread, Zigbee 802.15.4, and Nordic proprietary modes (NINA-B40 only).
For a flexible and innovative approach to application design, two conceptually different architecture
solutions are available: u-connectXpress (B41) or open cpu (B40). End-user products based on either
architecture are developed on pre-certified u-blox reference designs that are qualified with the
regional regulatory bodies for your chosen product markets. This approach to application
development provides good opportunity for less compliance testing, lower development cost, and
reduced time to market.
With an operational temperature range that spans from -40 up to +105°C, NINA-B4 modules are ideal
for harsh industrial or lighting applications that must operate at high ambient temperatures. NINA-
B41 also caters towards applications in smart buildings, smart cities, industrial automation systems,
sensor networks and asset tracking solutions.
Featuring Angle of Arrival (AoA) and Angle of Departure (AoD) transceivers, the NINA-B40 series
supports the Bluetooth 5.1 Direction Finding service. The service can be used for indoor positioning,
wayfinding, and asset tracking.
NINA-B4 modules integrates internal power management circuitry requiring only a single supply
voltage in the range of 1.7 –3.6 V. The broad supply range also makes the modules particularly useful
in battery powered systems.
With the same pinout, physical size, and mechanical design of NINA-B3 modules, NINA-B4 offers a
natural upgrade path for existing NINA applications.
Table 1 describes the various models in the NINA-B40 series.
Model
Description
NINA-B400
Bluetooth 5.1 module that includes a powerful Arm® Cortex®-M4 with FPU and delivers state-of-the-art power
performance. All NINA-B40 variants are open CPU modules that enable customer applications to run on the
built-in Arm® Cortex®-M4 with FPU. With 512 kB flash and 128 kB RAM, these modules offer respectable
capacity for customer applications on top of the Bluetooth Low Energy stack.
NINA-B400 has a U.FL connector for use with an external antenna.
NINA-B401
Bluetooth 5.1 module that includes a powerful Arm® Cortex®-M4 with FPU and delivers state-of-the-art power
performance. All NINA-B40 variants are open CPU modules that enable customer applications to run on the
built-in Arm® Cortex®-M4 with FPU. With 512 kB flash and 128 kB RAM, these modules offer respectable
capacity for customer applications on top of the Bluetooth Low Energy stack.
NINA-B401 has an RF pin for use with an external antenna.
NINA-B406
Bluetooth 5.1 module that includes a powerful Arm® Cortex®-M4 with FPU and delivers state-of-the-art power
performance. All NINA-B40 variants are open CPU modules that enable customer applications to run on the
built-in Arm® Cortex®-M4 with FPU. With 512 kB flash and 128 kB RAM, these modules offer respectable
capacity for customer applications on top of the Bluetooth Low Energy stack. NINA-B406 has an internal PCB
trace antenna with an extensive range. The antenna is specifically designed for embedded devices.
Table 1: NINA-B40 series

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Table 2 describes the different models in the NINA-B41 series.
Model
Description
NINA-B410
Bluetooth 5.1 module that includes a powerful Arm® Cortex®-M4 with FPU and delivers state-of-the-art
power performance. All NINA-B41 variants have u-connectXpress software pre-flashed.
NINA-B410 has a U.FL connector for use with an external antenna.
NINA-B411
Bluetooth 5.1 module that includes a powerful Arm® Cortex®-M4 with FPU and delivers state-of-the-art
power performance. All NINA-B41 variants have u-connectXpress software pre-flashed.
NINA-B411 has an RF pin for use with an external antenna.
NINA-B416
Bluetooth 5.1 module that includes a powerful Arm® Cortex®-M4 with FPU and delivers state-of-the-art
power performance. All NINA-B41 variants have u-connectXpress software pre-flashed.
NINA-B416 has an internal PCB trace antenna with an extensive range. The antenna is specifically
designed for embedded devices.
Table 2: NINA-B41 series
☞Already globally certified for use with an internal antenna or range of external antennas, the time,
cost, and effort spent on deploying NINA-B4 modules into customer applications is reduced
significantly.
1.2 Applications
•Industrial automation
•Smart buildings and cities
•Low power sensors
•Wireless-connected and configurable equipment
•Point-of-sales
•Health devices
•Real-time Location, RTLS
•Indoor positioning
•Asset tracking

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1.3 Block diagrams
Block diagrams of the NINA-B40 and NINA-B41 module designs are shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2.
1.3.1 NINA-B40
A block diagram of the NINA-B40 open-cpu module design showing the alternative U.FL connector
(B400), antenna pin (B401), and PCB trace antenna (B406) solutions is shown in Figure 1.
•NINA-B400 modules include a U.FL connector for connecting an external antenna. The module size
is 10 x 15 x 2.2 mm.
•NINA-B401 modules include an ANT pad on the footprint for connecting an external antenna. The
module size is 10 x 11.6 x 2.2 mm.
•NINA-B406 module support an internal PCB trace antenna using antenna technology from Proant
AB. The module size is 10 x 15 x 2.2 mm.
Figure 1: NINA-B40 series block diagram
DC/DC and LDO regulators
512 kB flash
Bluetooth LE
baseband
IO buffers
Arm® Cortex®-M4
with FPU
VCC_IO (1.7–3.6 V)
VCC (1.7–3.6 V)
32 MHz
Reset
2x UART
SPI
GPIO
1.3 V
I2C
PWM
I2S
ADC and
comparator
Analog
Passive NFC tag
NFC
128 kB
RAM
32.768 kHz
RTC, timers
and counters
Nordic nRF52833
USB device
USB 2.0
QDEC
PDM
(NINA-B406)
PCB trace antenna
(NINA-B400)
U.FL antenna connector
(NINA-B401)
Antenna pin
System
power
PLL
PLL
RF
NINA-B40

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1.3.2 NINA-B41
A block diagram of the NINA-B4 u-connect module design showing the alternative U.FL connector
(B410), antenna pin (B411), and PCB trace antenna (B416) solutions is shown in Figure 2.
☞NINA-B410 modules support a U.FL connector to accommodate an external antenna. The module
size is 10 x 15 x 2.2 mm.
☞NINA-B411 modules have a footprint arrangement that includes an ANT pad for connecting an
external antenna. The module size is 10 x 11.6 x 2.2 mm.
☞NINA-B416 modules support an internal PCB trace antenna using antenna technology from
Proant AB. The module size is 10 x 15 x 2.2 mm.
Figure 2: NINA-B41 series block diagram
DC/DC and LDO regulators
512 kB flash
Bluetooth LE
baseband
IO buffers
Arm® Cortex®-M4
with FPU
VCC_IO (1.7–3.6 V)
VCC (1.7–3.6 V)
32 MHz
Reset
2x UART
GPIO
1.3 V
ADC and
comparator
Passive NFC tag
NFC
128 kB
RAM
32.768 kHz
RTC, timers
and counters
Nordic nRF52833
USB device
(NINA-B416)
PCB trace antenna
(NINA-B410)
U.FL antenna connector
(NINA-B411)
Antenna pin
System
power
PLL
PLL
RF
NINA-B41

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1.4 Product description
For the latest data, see also the data sheet for the respective product family [2] [3].
1.4.1 NINA-B40 series
Item
NINA-B400
NINA-B401
NINA-B406
Bluetooth version
5.1
5.1
5.1
Band support
2.4 GHz, 40 channels
2.4 GHz, 40 channels
2.4 GHz, 40 channels
Typical conducted output power
+8 dBm
+8 dBm
-
Radiated output power (EIRP)
+11 dBm (with typical
antenna)
+11 dBm (with typical
antenna)
+11 dBm
RX sensitivity (conducted)
-95 dBm
-95 dBm
-95 dBm
RX sensitivity, long range mode
(conducted)
-102 dBm
-102 dBm
-102 dBm
Supported 2.4 GHz radio modes
Bluetooth Low Energy
IEEE 802.15.4
Proprietary 2.4 GHz modes
Bluetooth Low Energy
IEEE 802.15.4
Proprietary 2.4 GHz modes
Bluetooth Low Energy
IEEE 802.15.4
Proprietary 2.4 GHz modes
Supported Bluetooth LE data rates
1 Mbps
2 Mbps
500 kbps
125 kbps
1 Mbps
2 Mbps
500 kbps
125 kbps
1 Mbps
2 Mbps
500 kbps
125 kbps
Module size
10.0 x 15.0 mm
10.0 x 11.6 mm
10.0 x 15.0 mm
Table 3: NINA-B4 series characteristics summary
1.4.2 NINA-B41 series
Item
NINA-B410
NINA-B411
NINA-B416
Bluetooth version
5.1
5.1
5.1
Band support
2.4 GHz, 40 channels
2.4 GHz, 40 channels
2.4 GHz, 40 channels
Typical conducted output power
+8 dBm
+8 dBm
-
Radiated output power (EIRP)
+11 dBm
(with typical antenna)
+11 dBm
(with typical antenna)
+11 dBm
RX sensitivity (conducted)
-95 dBm
-95 dBm
-95 dBm
RX sensitivity, long range mode
(conducted)
-102 dBm
-102 dBm
-102 dBm
Supported 2.4 GHz radio modes
Bluetooth Low Energy
Bluetooth Low Energy
Bluetooth Low Energy
Supported Bluetooth LE data rates
1 Mbps
2 Mbps
125 kbps
1 Mbps
2 Mbps
125 kbps
1 Mbps
2 Mbps
125 kbps
Module size
10.0 x 15.0 mm
10.0 x 11.6 mm
10.0 x 15.0 mm
Table 4: NINA-B4 series characteristics summary
1.5 Hardware options
Except for the different antenna solutions, NINA-B4 series modules use an identical hardware
architecture based on nRF52833.
1.6 Software options
NINA-B4 modules are integrated with an Arm® Cortex®-M4 application processor with FPU, 512 kB
flash memory and 128 kB RAM.

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The structure of any software running on either NINA-B4 module variant includes the following
components:
•Radio stack
•Bootloader (optional)
•Application software
Figure 3 shows the software architecture and implementation of software components for NINA-B40
and NINA-B41 modules:
•NINA-B40 modules host the customer application and optional bootloader software, developed
using the Nordic SDK, in an open-CPU configuration on the module. See also Open CPU.
•NINA-B41 modules are pre-flashed with bootloader and u-connectXpress software that interfaces
through an AT command interpreter for control by customer application software running on host
MCUs. See also u-connectXpress software.
•Both module variants include the Nordic S140 SoftDevice Bluetooth low energy protocol stack
that supports GATT client and server, central and peripheral roles, and multidrop connections.
Figure 3: NINA-B4 software structure
1.6.1 Open CPU
The open CPU architecture of NINA-B40 series modules allows module integrators to build their own
applications. Table 5 describes the possible connectivity and application support that is enabled with
NINA-B40 hardware in the recommended Nordic SDK environment.
Feature
Support
Development environment
Nordic SDK (including Bluetooth Mesh
HomeKit, AirFuel, IoT, Thread, Zigbee)
HW interfaces
2 x UART

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Feature
Support
3 x SPI
40 x GPIO pins
8 x ADC channels
1 x USB
2 x I2C
1 x I2S
4 x PWM
1 x QDEC
Security
Secure boot ready
Secure Simple Pairing
128-bit AES encryption
Bluetooth low energy secure connections
Table 5: Open CPU software support
See also Open CPU software.
1.6.2 u-connectXpress software
NINA-B41 modules are pre-flashed with u-connectXpress and bootloader software that interfaces
through an AT command interpreter to control customer application software running on host MCUs.
Table 6 describes the feature support in the u-connectXpress software.
Feature
Support
Bluetooth
u-blox Low Energy Serial Port Service (SPS)
GATT server and client using AT commands
Beacons
2 Mbit/s modulation
125 Kbit/s modulation long range functionality
Advertising extensions
Configuration over air
Wireless transmission of AT commands to
control the module
Extended Data
Mode™
For simultaneous AT commands and data, and
multiple simultaneous data streams
HW interfaces
2 x UART, GPIO
Configuration
AT commands
Support tools
s-center
Operating modes
Central role (7 simultaneous links)
Peripheral role (6 simultaneous links)
Simultaneous central and peripheral roles
(8 in total, where max 4 as peripheral and max 7 as central)
LE 1M PHY
LE 2M PHY
LE CODED PHY
Advertising extensions
LE data length extension
Security
Secure boot
Secure Simple Pairing
128-bit AES encryption
Bluetooth low energy secure connections
Throughput over UART
780 Kbit/s
Table 6: u-connectXpress software support

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See also u-connectXpress software.
1.6.3 u-connectLocate software
u-connectLocate is direction finding software from u-blox. The software runs on all NINA-B41x
module variants that are enabled for Bluetooth Direction Finding. The ordering numbers for all module
variants equipped with this software end with the suffix -4xB. For example, NINA-B411-4xB. See also
the respective NINA data sheets [2][3].
☞Modules enabled for direction finding cannot run regular u-connectXpress software.
Consequently, the flashing procedure is different from that of all other u-blox modules. See also
the XPLR-AOA explorer kits user guide [23].
1.7 Bluetooth device address
You can scan the data matrix barcode on the module label to retrieve the Bluetooth device address.
For more information about the Bluetooth device address for NINA-B40x, see also Bluetooth device
(MAC) address and other production data.
1.8 Pin configurations and functions
1.8.1 NINA-B40 pins
The pin functions of the versatile NINA-B40 open CPU should be selected with consideration to the
pin-out and nRF52833 multiplexing. The pin assignments for NINA-B40 are shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4: NINA-B40 pin assignments
☞For more information about the pin assignments, see also the NINA-B40 series data sheet [2].
1.8.2 NINA-B41 pins
The u-connectXpress software running on NINA-B41 modules has fixed pin multiplexing that
implements a given set of features, like the UART connection. The pin assignments for NINA-B41 are
shown in Figure 5.

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Figure 5: NINA-B41 pin assignments
☞For more information about the pin assignments, see also the NINA-B41 series data sheet [3].
1.9 Low power clock
NINA-B4 modules use a 32.768 kHz low power clock to enable different sleep modes.
The clock can be generated from either of the following sources:
•Internal oscillator
•External crystal (LFXO)
•External clock source such as a crystal oscillator (TCXO)
The u-connectXpress software automatically senses the clock input and uses the source from the
external crystal –if one is available. Otherwise, the software uses the source from the internal
oscillator. This automatic sense functionality adds some additional time delay during startup (~1s).
To reach the lowest sleep current consumption of the NINA-B4 module, an external crystal or external
clock source shall be used. The internal oscillator gives higher sleep current but of course a leaner
BOM. For more information about sleep and other power modes, see the respective data sheet [2] [3].
The information in this section describes the different hardware options for the low power clock
source and explain the implications the clock choices have on both the cost and performance of
NINA-B4 modules. For practical guidance on how to configure the oscillator on nRF5 open CPU
modules, see also reference [21].
1.9.1 External crystal
NINA-B4 modules have two input pins for connecting an external low-frequency crystal (LFXO) as
source for the low power clock. This setup enables NINA-B4 modules to run with the lowest overall
power consumption.
Table 7 describes the details of the crystal used on EVK-NINA-B4.
Table 7: Components used on the NINA-B4 EVK evaluation kit
Component
Value
Note
Crystal
32.768 kHz –20 ppm
EPSON FC-12M used on NINA-B4 EVK

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☞The specifications for external LFXO sources are described in the electrical specifications of the
respective data sheet [2][3].
1.9.2 Internal oscillator
Choosing to use NINA-B4 modules with the internal oscillator makes for a leaner BOM reduces the
cost to end users. This choice of oscillator adversely provides slightly higher sleep mode power
consumption.
When using the internal oscillator, pins XL1 and XL2 must be connected to ground. In NINA-B40 these
pins can be reassigned and used for GPIO.
⚠To ensure that the clock is stable at +/- 250 ppm, the customer application software must check
the calibration of the internal oscillator at least once every 8 seconds.
1.9.3 External clock source
As an alternative to using an external crystal, an external clock source generated from a host CPU or
a TCXO can be used. The clock source can be either a low-swing or full-swing signal.
The electrical parameters are stated in the respective product data sheets [2] and [3].
Pin name
Parameter
Min
Typ
Max
Unit
Remarks
XL1
Input characteristic:
Peak to Peak amplitude
200
1000
mV
Input signal must not swing outside
supply rails.
XL2
-
-
-
-
Connect to GND
Table 8: Electrical parameters for a low-swing clock
Pin name
Parameter
Min
Typ
Max
Unit
Remarks
XL1
Input characteristic:
Low-level input
0
0.3*VCC
V
Input characteristic:
high-level input
0.7*VCC
VCC
V
XL2
-
-
-
-
-
Connect to GND
Table 9: Electrical parameters for a full-swing clock

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2Design-in
2.1 NINA family migration design
NINA-B4 modules are based on the Nordic nRF52833 system on chip (SoC). The modules are
compatible with the pin out of NINA-B3 modules. This means that application designs based on
NINA-B3 modules can be easily upgraded for use with NINA-B4.
As the pin out supported in NINA-B1, NINA-B2, and NINA-W1 series modules share a common
footprint, these modules can be positioned interchangeably in application designs.
To accommodate the larger physical dimensions of NINA-B3 and NINA-B4 modules, a reserved “keep-
out” of approximately 1 mm should be included in the design. In all other respects, the mechanical
design of NINA-B4 modules is identical to that of other NINA modules. For more information about
how to make a common design, see also the Nested design application note [6].
2.2 Supply interfaces
2.2.1 Main supply input
NINA-B4 series modules use an integrated DC/DC converter to transform the supply voltage
presented at the VCC pin into a stable system core voltage. Due to this, the NINA-B4 modules are
compatible for use in battery powered designs.
While using NINA-B4 with a battery, it is important that the battery type can handle the peak power
of the module. In case of battery supply, consider adding extra capacitance on the supply line to avoid
capacity degradation. For information about voltage supply requirement and current consumption,
see also the respective datasheet [2][3].
2.2.2 Digital I/O interfaces reference voltage (VCC_IO)
On NINA-B4 series modules, the I/O voltage level is the same as the supply voltage and VCC_IO is
internally connected to the supply input VCC.
When using NINA-B4 with a battery, the I/O voltage level varies with battery output voltage. The
battery voltage depends on the battery “state of charge”. Level shifters might be needed to stabilize
the voltage –depending on the I/O voltage of the host system and interfacing components.
2.2.3 VCC application circuits
The power for NINA-B4 series modules is provided through the VCC pins. The VCC supply can be taken
from any of the following sources:
•Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS)
•Low Drop Out (LDO) regulator
•Battery
DC/DC efficiency should be evaluated as a tradeoff between active and idle duty cycle of the specific
application. Although some DC/DC converters provide high efficiency with extremely light loads, their
efficiency typically worsens when idle current drops below a few mA –greatly reducing the battery life.
2.2.3.1 Battery
The low current consumption and wide voltage range of NINA-B4 series modules means that a battery
can be used as a main supply. In which case, the capacity of the battery must be selected to match
the application. Ensure that the battery can deliver the peak current required by the module.

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For further information about current consumption and other performance data, see also the
electrical specifications in the respective product datasheet [2][3].
It is best practice to include bypass capacitors on the supply rails close to the
NINA-B4 series module. Depending on the design of the power routing on the host system,
capacitance might not be needed.
2.2.3.2 Switched Mode Power Supply
A Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS) is ideal in situations where the available primary supply
source has more than a moderately higher value than the operating supply voltage of the module. An
SMPS minimizes the amount of current drawn from the main supply and optimizes power efficiency
in the final application design.
⚠When using an SMPS, ensure that the AC voltage ripple at switching frequency is kept as low as
possible. The layout design must minimize impact of high frequency ringing.
2.2.3.3 Low Drop Out (LDO) regulator
An LDO linear regulator provides a convenient primary supply option when the voltage difference
between the main supply and module VCC is reasonably small. The benefit of an LDO source over
SMPS is that an LDO is simpler to integrate and does not generate switching noise. However, with a
larger voltage difference, the superior efficiency of an SMPS converter provides less heat dissipation
and a longer operating time in battery-powered products.
As a contingency against “latch up”, include an over-current limiter to protect the module from
electrical over stress (EOS). An LDO or SMPS serves this purpose.
2.3 System function interfaces
2.3.1 Module reset
You can reset NINA-B4 modules by applying a low level on the RESET_N input pin, which is normally
set high with an internal pull-up. This causes an “external” or “hardware” reset of the module. The
current parameter settings are not saved in the non-volatile memory of the module and a proper
network detach is not performed.
2.3.2 Internal temperature sensor
The radio chip in NINA-B4 contains a temperature sensor used for over and under temperature
shutdown.
⚠The temperature sensor is located inside the radio chip and should not be used if an accurate
temperature reading of the surrounding environment is required.

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2.4 Serial interfaces
⚠As NINA B4 can be used with both the u-connectXpress and open CPU based applications based
on the Nordic SDK, the available interfaces and pin mapping vary. See also Pin configurations and
functions.
2.4.1 Universal Asynchronous Serial Interface (UART)
NINA B4 provides a Universal Asynchronous Serial Interface (UART) for data communication.
The following UART signals are available:
•Data lines (RXD as input, TXD as output)
•Hardware flow control lines (CTS as input, RTS as output)
•DSR and DTS are used to set and indicate system modes
The UART can be used as both a 4-wire UART with hardware flow control and a 2-wire UART with only
TXD and RXD. If using the UART in 2-wire mode, CTS should be connected to GND on the
NINA-B4 module.
Depending on the bootloader used, the UART interface can also be used for software upgrades. See
also Software options.
The u-connectXpress software adds the DSR and DTR pins to the UART interface. These pins are not
used as originally intended, but to control the state of the NINA-B4 module. Depending on the current
configuration, the DSR can be used to:
•Enter command mode
•Disconnect and/or toggle connectable status
•Enable/disable the rest of the UART interface
•Enter/wake up from the sleep mode
For more information about the characteristics of the UART interface, see also the respective data
sheets [2][3].
Interface
Default configuration
COM port
115200 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, hardware flow control
Table 10: Default settings for the COM port while using the u-connectXpress software
It is advisable to make the UART available either as test points or have them connected to a header
for a software upgrade. The I/O level of the UART follows the VCC voltage, which means that it can
consequently be in the range of 1.8 V and 3.6 V. Use a level shifter if you are connecting NINA-B4 to a
host with a different voltage on the UART interface.
2.4.2 Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI)
NINA-B40 (only) supports up to three serial peripheral interfaces that can operate in both master and
slave modes with a maximum serial clock frequency of 8 MHz in both these modes. The SPI interfaces
use the following signals:
•SCLK
•MOSI
•MISO
•CS
•DCX (Data/Command signal). This signal is optional but is sometimes used by the SPI slaves to
distinguish between SPI commands and data.
When using the SPI interface in master mode, it is possible to use GPIOs as additional Chip Select (CS)
signals to allow addressing of multiple slaves.

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2.4.3 I2C interface
The (NINA-B40 only) Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) interface can be used to transfer or receive data on
a 2-wire bus network. NINA-B40 can operate as both master and slave on the I2C bus using both
standard (100 kbps) and fast (400 kbps) transmission speeds. The interface uses the SCL signal to
clock instructions and data on the SDA signal.
External pull-up resistors are required for the I2C interface. The value of the pull-up resistor should be
selected depending on the speed and capacitance of the bus. See also the Electrical specifications in
the NINA-B40 series data sheet [2] for recommended resistor values.
2.4.4 USB 2.0 interface
NINA-B40 series modules (only) include a full speed Universal Serial Bus (USB) device interface
compliant with version 2.0 of the USB specification. The pin configuration of the USB interface is
provided below:
•VBUS, 5 V supply input needed to use the interface
•USB_DP, USB_DM, differential data pair
The USB interface has a dedicated power supply that requires a 5 V supply voltage for the VBUS pin.
This allows the USB interface to be used even though the rest of the module might be battery powered
or supplied by a 1.8 V supply, etc.
2.5 GPIO pins
In an unconfigured state, NINA-B40 modules have 40 GPIO pins, 10 of which are analog-enabled pins
that can be assigned to analog functions.
In an unconfigured state, NINA-B41 modules support a total of 26 GPIO pins with no analog interfaces.
All interfaces or functions must be allocated to a GPIO pin before use. The digital and analog functions
that can be assigned to a GPIO pin, in addition to the serial interfaces, are shown in Table 12.
Function
Description
Default
NINA-B4 pin
Configurable
GPIOs
General purpose
input
Digital input with configurable pull-up, pull-down, edge detection
and interrupt generation
Any
General purpose
output
Digital output with configurable drive strength, push-pull, open-
collector, or open-emitter output
Any
Pin disabled
Pin is disconnected from the input and output buffers.
All*
Any
Timer/ counter
High-precision time measurement between two pulses/ Pulse
counting with interrupt/event generation
Any
Interrupt/ Event
trigger
Interrupt/event trigger to software application/ Wake-up event
Any
HIGH/LOW/Toggle
on event
Programmable digital level triggered by internal or external events
without CPU involvement
Any
ADC input
8/10/12/14-bit analog to digital converter
Any analog
Analog comparator
input
Compare two voltages, capable of generating wake-up events and
interrupts
Any analog
PWM output
Output simple or complex pulse width modulation waveforms
Any
Connection status
indicator
Indicates if a BLE connection is maintained
BLUE**
Any
* = If left unconfigured ** = If using u-connectXpress software
Table 11: GPIO custom functions configuration

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2.5.1 Analog interfaces
NINA-B40 modules have 40 GPIO pins, 10 of which can be multiplexed to analog functions. The
following analog functions are available for use:
•1x 8-channel ADC
•1x Analog comparator*
•1x Low-power analog comparator*
*Only one of the comparators can be used simultaneously.
For further information about the support for analog interfaces, see also the NINA-B40 data sheet [2].
☞NINA-B41 modules have no support for analog interfaces.
2.5.1.1 ADC
The Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) can sample up to 200 kHz using different inputs as sample
triggers. Both one-shot conversion and continuous sampling are supported. Table 12 shows the
sample speed in correlation to the maximum source impedance. It supports 8/10/12-bit resolution.
The ADC includes 14-bit resolution if oversampling is used. Any of the 8 analog inputs can be used
both as single-ended inputs and as differential pairs for measuring the voltage across them.
The ADC supports the full 0 V to VCC input range. If the sampled signal level is much lower than VCC,
it is possible to lower the input range of the ADC to encompass the desired signal and obtain a higher
effective resolution. Continuous sampling can be configured to sample at a configurable time interval,
or at different internal or external events, without CPU involvement.
Table 12: Acquisition versus source impedance
2.5.1.2 Comparator
The comparator compares voltages from any analog pin with different references as shown in Table
13. It supports the full 0 V to VCC input range and can generate different software events to the rest
of the system. The comparator can operate in the one of the following two modes as explained below,
this is, single-ended or differential.
•Single-ended mode: A single reference level or an upper and lower hysteresis selectable from a
64-level reference ladder with a range from 0 V to VREF, as described in Table 13.
•Differential mode: Two analog pin voltage levels are compared, optionally with a 50 mV hysteresis.
2.5.1.3 Low power comparator
The low-power comparator operates in the same way as the normal comparator, with reduced
functionality. It can be used during system OFF modes as a wake-up source.
ACQ [us]
Maximum source resistance [kΩ]
3
10
5
40
10
100
15
200
20
400
40
800