UG261: EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz 10 dBm
Radio Board User's Guide
A Wireless Starter Kit with the BRD4162A Radio Board is an excellent starting point to get familiar with the EFR32 Wireless
Gecko Wireless System-on-Chip. It also provides all necessary
tools for developing a Silicon Labs wireless application.
BRD4162A RADIO BOARD FEATURES
• EFR32MG12 Wireless Gecko Wireless
SoC with 1024 kB Flash, and 256 kB RAM
(EFR32MG12P332F1024GL125)
BRD4162A is a plug-in board for the Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard (BRD4001A) and
the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A). It is a complete reference design for the
EFR32MG12 Wireless SoC, with matching network and a PCB antenna for 10 dBm output power in the 2.4 GHz band. The radio board also features a capacitive touch slider
for evaluation of the EFR32 Capacitive Sense module.
• 2.4 GHz integrated radio transceiver
The mainboards contain an on-board J-Link debugger with a Packet Trace Interface and
a virtual COM port, enabling application development and debugging the attached radio
board as well as external hardware. The mainboards also contain sensors and peripherals for easy demonstration of some of the EFR32's many capabilities.
• Capacitive touch slider
This document describes how to use the BRD4162A Radio Board together with a Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard or a Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard.
• 10 dBm output power
• Inverted-F PCB antenna
• 8 Mbit low-power serial flash for over-theair upgrades.
MAINBOARD FEATURES
• Advanced Energy Monitor
• Packet Trace Interface
• Logic analyzer (BRD4002A only)
• Virtual COM port
• SEGGER J-Link on-board debugger
• External device debugging
• Ethernet and USB connectivity
• Silicon Labs Si7021 Relative Humidity and
Temperature sensor
• Low-power 128x128 pixel Memory LCD
• User LEDs / Pushbuttons
• Joystick (BRD4002A only)
• 20-pin 2.54 mm EXP header
• Breakout pads for Wireless SoC I/O
• CR2032 coin cell battery support
SOFTWARE SUPPORT
• Simplicity Studio
• Energy Profiler
• Network Analyzer
ORDERING INFORMATION
• SLWSTK6000B
• SLWRB4162A
silabs.com | Building a more connected world.
Copyright © 2022 by Silicon Laboratories
Rev. 2.1
Table of Contents
1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.1 Radio Boards
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. 4
1.2 Mainboards .
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. 4
1.3 Ordering Information .
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. 5
1.4 Getting Started .
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. 5
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2. Hardware Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.1 Hardware Layout .
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. 6
2.2 Block Diagram .
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. 7
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3. Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.1 J-Link USB Connector
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. 8
3.2 Ethernet Connector .
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. 8
3.3 Breakout Pads .
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. 9
3.4 EXP Header . . . . .
3.4.1 EXP Header Pinout .
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.11
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3.5 Logic Analyzer Connector .
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.13
3.6 Debug Connector .
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.14
3.7 Simplicity Connector .
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.15
3.8 Mini Simplicity Connector
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.16
3.9 Debug Adapter .
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.17
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4. Power Supply and Reset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.1 Radio Board Power Selection .
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.18
4.2 Kit Power . . . . . . .
4.2.1 Board Controller Power
4.2.2 AEM Power . . . .
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.19
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4.3 EFR32 Reset
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.19
4.4 Battery Holder .
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.20
5. Peripherals
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5.1 Push Buttons and LEDs .
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.21
5.2 Joystick .
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.21
5.3 Capacitive Touch Slider .
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.22
5.4 Memory LCD-TFT Display .
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.23
5.5 Serial Flash .
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.24
5.6 Si7021 Relative Humidity and Temperature Sensor
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.25
5.7 Virtual COM Port . . .
5.7.1 Host Interfaces . .
5.7.2 Serial Configuration .
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.26
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silabs.com | Building a more connected world.
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Rev. 2.1 | 2
5.7.3 Hardware Handshake .
6. Board Controller
6.1 Introduction .
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.28
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
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.29
6.2 Admin Console . . . .
6.2.1 Connecting . . . .
6.2.2 Built-in Help . . .
6.2.3 Command Examples
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.29
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.30
.30
6.3 Virtual UART . .
6.3.1 Target-to-Host.
6.3.2 Host-to-Target.
6.3.3 Limitations . .
6.3.4 Troubleshooting
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.30
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7. Advanced Energy Monitor
7.1 Introduction .
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.32
7.2 Code Correlation .
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.32
7.3 AEM Circuit . . .
7.3.1 AEM Details .
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.32
.33
8. On-Board Debugger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
34
8.1 Host Interfaces . . . . . .
8.1.1 USB Interface . . . . .
8.1.2 Ethernet Interface . . .
8.1.3 Serial Number Identification
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.34
.34
.34
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8.2 Debug Modes .
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.35
8.3 Debugging During Battery Operation
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.36
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9. Kit Configuration and Upgrades
9.1 Firmware Upgrades .
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10. Schematics, Assembly Drawings, and BOM
11. Kit Revision History
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.37
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
11.1 SLWSTK6000B Revision History .
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.39
11.2 SLWRB4162A Revision History .
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.39
12. Document Revision History
silabs.com | Building a more connected world.
.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Rev. 2.1 | 3
UG261: EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Radio Board User's Guide
Introduction
1. Introduction
The EFR32MG12 Wireless Gecko Wireless SoC is featured on a radio board that plugs directly into a Wireless Starter Kit (Wireless
STK) Mainboard or a Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard. The mainboards feature several tools for easy evaluation and development of wireless applications. An on-board J-Link debugger enables programming and debugging on the target device over USB or Ethernet. The
Advanced Energy Monitor (AEM) offers real-time current and voltage monitoring. A virtual COM port interface (VCOM) provides an
easy-to-use serial port connection over USB or Ethernet. The Packet Trace Interface (PTI) offers invaluable debug information about
transmitted and received packets in wireless links. All debug functionality, including AEM, VCOM, and PTI, can also be used towards
external target hardware instead of the attached radio board.
To further enhance its usability, the mainboard contains sensors and peripherals that demonstrate some of the many capabilities of the
EFR32MG12. The mainboard also has a 20-pin EXP header which can be used for connecting EXP boards to the kit or for easy connection to I/Os on the radio board target IC.
1.1 Radio Boards
A Wireless Starter Kit consists of one or more mainboards and radio boards that plug into the mainboard. Different radio boards are
available, each featuring different Silicon Labs devices with different operating frequency bands. Because the mainboards are designed
to work with different radio boards, the actual pin mapping from a device pin to a mainboard feature is done on the radio board. This
means that each radio board has its own pin mapping to the Wireless STK features, such as buttons, LEDs, the display, the EXP header, and the breakout pads. Because this pin mapping is different for every radio board, it is important to consult the correct document,
which shows the kit features in context of the radio board plugged in.
1.2 Mainboards
The EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Radio Board (BRD4162A) can be used with either a Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard (BRD4001A) or
a Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A). The Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard is the successor to the Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard,
which comes with some improvements and added features including increased AEM measurement range and sample rate, variable
VMCU voltage, joystick, a logic analyzer, and a Mini Simplicity Connector. Kit features, such as the Si7021 sensor and the EXP header,
are available on the same EFR32MG12 pins regardless of the mainboard being used, but the pinout to the breakout pads differs. The
combination of the EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Radio Board with either one of these mainboards is hereby referred to as a Wireless
Starter Kit as the figure below illustrates.
+
Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard (BRD4001A)
=
Wireless Starter Kit
Radio Board
(BRD4162A)
Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A)
+
1
=
1
Figure 1.1. Wireless STK Combinations
Note: This document explains how to use the Wireless STK when the EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Radio Board (BRD4162A) is combined with either a Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard (BRD4001A) or a Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A). Since some of the functionality of the kit depends on the type of mainboard used, it is important to consult the right information in the user guide whenever
there are discrepancies.
silabs.com | Building a more connected world.
Rev. 2.1 | 4
UG261: EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Radio Board User's Guide
Introduction
1.3 Ordering Information
BRD4162A can be obtained as part of SLWSTK6000B EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz Mesh Networking Starter Kit or as a separate radio
board, SLWRB4162A.
Table 1.1. Ordering Information
Part Number
Description
Contents
SLWSTK6000B EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz Mesh Networking Starter Kit 3x BRD4002A Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard
3x BRD4161A EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz 19 dBm Radio Board
3x BRD4162A EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Radio Board
3x AA battery holders
1x 10-pin debug cable
SLWRB4162A
EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Radio Board
1x BRD4162A EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Radio Board
Note: Kit content in the table refers to SLWSTK6000B Rev. C00 and SLWRB4162A Rev. A02 and may vary between revisions. For
information about kit revision changes, see Section 11. Kit Revision History. The type of mainboard (BRD4002A or BRD4001A) included in SLWSTK6000B depends on the kit revision.
1.4 Getting Started
Detailed instructions for how to get started can be found on the Silicon Labs web pages: http://www.silabs.com/dev-tools.
silabs.com | Building a more connected world.
Rev. 2.1 | 5
UG261: EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Radio Board User's Guide
Hardware Overview
2. Hardware Overview
2.1 Hardware Layout
The layout of the EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Wireless STK when the radio board is combined with a Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard
(BRD4002A) or a Wireless STK Mainboard (BRD4001A) is shown below.
Plug-in Radio Board
Radio Board Breakout Pads
On-board USB and Ethernet
J-Link Debugger
- Virtual COM Port
- Packet-trace
- Advanced Energy
Monitoring
Logic Analyzer
EXP-header for
expansion boards
Si7021 Humidity and
Temperature Sensor
Battery or
USB power
Mini Simplicity
Connector
Ultra-low power 128x128
pixel memory LCD
buttons, LEDs and joystick
ARM Coresight 19-pin
trace/debug header
Simplicity Connector
Figure 2.1. Hardware Layout With A Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A)
Plug-in Radio Board
Radio Board Breakout Pads
On-board USB and Ethernet
J-Link Debugger
Si7021 Humidity and
Temperature Sensor
- Virtual COM Port
- Packet-trace
- Advanced Energy
Monitoring
EXP-header for
expansion boards
Battery or
USB power
Ultra-low power 128x128
pixel memory LCD
buttons and LEDs
ARM Coresight 19-pin
trace/debug header
Simplicity Connector
Figure 2.2. Hardware Layout With A Wireless STK Mainboard (BRD4001A)
silabs.com | Building a more connected world.
Rev. 2.1 | 6
UG261: EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Radio Board User's Guide
Hardware Overview
2.2 Block Diagram
An overview of the EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Wireless STK is shown in the figure below.
UART
Logic
USB
Connector
Debug
AEM
UART
Simplicity
Connector
Packet Trace
Board
Controller
RJ-45 Ethernet
Connector
Multiplexer
Debug
EXP
Header
User Buttons
& LEDs
ETM Trace
Debug
Packet Trace
ETM Trace
GPIO
GPIO
128 x 128 pixel
Memory LCD
SPI
Capacitive
Touch Slider
CSEN
8 Mbit
MX25R
Serial Flash
EFR32MG12
Wireless SoC
ADC
Si7021
I2C
Temperature
& Humidity
Sensor
2.4 GHz RF
Joystick
Only on BRD4002A
Logic
Analyzer
Connector
Only on BRD4002A
UART
Mini Simplicity
Connector
Logic
IN
Only on BRD4002A
Packet Trace
AEM
Debug
Connector
MCU
O
U
T
AEM
Inverted-F SMA
Connector
PCB Antenna
Figure 2.3. Kit Block Diagram
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Connectors
3. Connectors
This chapter gives you an overview of the mainboard connectivity. The placement of the connectors on the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard
(BRD4002A) and the Wireless STK Mainboard (BRD4001A) is shown below.
5V GND P25 P27 P29 P31 P33 P35 P37 P39 P41 P43 P45 F20 GND 3V3 Rad
5V GND P24 P26 P28 P30 P32 P34 P36 P38 P40 P42 P44 F19 GND 3V3 Co io B
nn
ec oard
tor
s
t
e
rn tor
e
h
c
32
2
Lo
Et nne
31
1
Co gic A
Co
nn
n
ec alyz
tor
er
B
US r
k
to
in
J-L nnec
o
C
EXP Header
P101
VMCU GND F1
VMCU GND F0
F3
F2
F5
F4
2
32
1
31
F7
F6
F9
F8
Mini Simplicty
Connector
1
Debug
Connector
F11 F13 P15 P17 P19 P21 P23 GND VRF
F10 F12 P14 P16 P18 P20 P22 GND VRF
Simplicity
Connector
Figure 3.1. Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A) Connector Layout
5V GND P25 P27 P29 P31 P33 P35 P37 P39 P41 P43 P45
5V GND P24 P26 P28 P30 P32 P34 P36 P38 P40 P42 P44
NC GND 3V3
NC GND 3V3
Ra
Co dio B
nn
ec oard
tor
s
et
ern ctor
h
t
E nne
Co
EX
P
B
US
ink ctor
L
J nne
Co
He
ad
er
Sim
Co plic
nn ity
ec
tor
De
Co bug
nn
ec
tor
VMCU GND P1
VMCU GND P0
P3
P2
P5
P4
P7
P6
P9
P8
P11 P13 P15 P17 P19 P21 P23 GND VRF
P10 P12 P14 P16 P18 P20 P22 GND VRF
Figure 3.2. Wireless STK Mainboard (BRD4001A) Connector Layout
3.1 J-Link USB Connector
The J-Link USB connector is situated on the left side of the mainboard and provides access to the kit features described in Section
6. Board Controller through the USB interface. In addition to providing access to development features of the kit, this USB connector is
also the main power source for the kit powering both the board controller and the AEM as described in Section 4. Power Supply and
Reset.
3.2 Ethernet Connector
The Ethernet connector is situated on the left side of the mainboard and provides access to the kit features described in Section
6. Board Controller over TCP/IP. The J-Link USB connector must be connected while using this interface to provide power to the Wireless STK as power is not supplied over the Ethernet connector.
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Connectors
3.3 Breakout Pads
Most of the EFR32 pins are routed from the radio board to breakout pads at the top and bottom edges of the mainboard. A 2.54 mm
pitch pin header can be soldered on for easy access to the pins. The figures below show how the pins of the EFR32 map to the pin
numbers printed on the breakout pads on the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A) and the Wireless STK Mainboard (BRD4001A).
To see the available functions on each pin, refer to the data sheet for EFR32MG12P332F1024GL125.
Note: Pinout to the breakout pads depends on the mainboard being used.
BOTTOM EDGE
VMCU
GND
DBG_TMS_SWDIO / PF1 / F0
DBG_TDO_SWO / PF2 / F2
DBG_RESET / RESETN / F4
VCOM_TX / PA0 / F6
VCOM_CTS / PA2 / F8
UIF_LED0 / PF4 / F10
UIF_BUTTON0 / PF6 / F12
PB8 / P14
PC4 / P16
NC / P18
PF13 / P20
PF15 / P22
GND
VRF
VMCU
GND
F1 / PF0 / DBG_TCK_SWCLK
F3 / PF3 / DBG_TDI
F5 / PA5 / VCOM_ENABLE
F7 / PA1 / VCOM_RX
F9 / PA3 / VCOM_RTS / UIF_JOYSTICK
F11 / PF5 / UIF_LED1
F13 / PF7 / UIF_BUTTON1
P15 / PB9
P17 / PC5
P19 / NC
P21 / PF14
P23 / PI0
GND
VRF
TOP EDGE
5V
5V
GND
GND
PI1 / P24
P25 / PI2
PI3 / P26
P27 / PJ14
PJ15 / P28
P29 / PK0
PK1 / P30
P31 / PK2
BODEN / P32
P33 / PA0 / VCOM_TX
VCOM_RX / PA1 / P34
P35 / PA2 / VCOM_CTS
JOYSTICK / VCOM_RTS / PA3 / P36
P37 / PB10 / SENSOR_ENABLE
NC / P38
P39 / NC
NC / P40
P41 / PF8 / TRACECLK
TRACED0 / PF9 / P42
P43 / PF10 / TRACED1
TRACED2 / PF11 / P44
P45 / PF12 / TRACED3
PTI0_SYNC / PB13 / F19
F20 / PB12 / PTI0_DATA
GND
GND
3V3
3V3
Figure 3.3. Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A) Breakout Pad Pin Mapping
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Connectors
BOTTOM EDGE
VMCU
GND
EXP3 / PD8 / P0
EXP5 / PD9 / P2
EXP7 / PD10 / P4
EXP9 / PD11 / P6
EXP11 / PD12 / P8
EXP13 / PC9 / P10
I2C_SCL / EXP15 / PC10 / P12
PB8 / P14
PC4 / P16
NC / P18
PF13 / P20
PF15 / P22
GND
VRF
VMCU
GND
P1 / PA6 / EXP4
P3 / PA7 / EXP6
P5 / PA8 / EXP8
P7 / PA9 / EXP10
P9 / PB6 / EXP12
P11 / PB7 / EXP14
P13 / PC11 / EXP16 / I2C_SDA
P15 / PB9
P17 / PC5
P19 / NC
P21 / PF14
P23 / PI0
GND
VRF
TOP EDGE
5V
5V
GND
GND
PI1 / P24
P25 / PI2
PI3 / P26
P27 / PJ14
PJ15 / P28
P29 / PK0
PK1 / P30
P31 / PK2
BODEN / P32
P33 / PA0 / VCOM_TX
VCOM_RX / PA1 / P34
P35 / PA2 / VCOM_CTS
VCOM_RTS / PA3 / P36
P37 / PB10 / SENSOR_ENABLE
NC / P38
P39 / NC
NC / P40
P41 / PF8 / TRACECLK
TRACED0 / PF9 / P42
P43 / PF10 / TRACED1
TRACED2 / PF11 / P44
P45 / PF12 / TRACED3
NC
NC
GND
GND
3V3
3V3
Figure 3.4. Wireless STK Mainboard (BRD4001A) Breakout Pad Pin Mapping
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Connectors
3.4 EXP Header
The EXP header is an angled, 20-pin expansion header that allows connection of peripherals or plugin boards to the kit. It is located on
the right-hand side of the mainboard and contains several I/O pins that can be used with most of the EFR32 Wireless Gecko's features.
Additionally, the VMCU, 3V3, and 5V power rails are also exposed.
The connector follows a standard which ensures that commonly used peripherals, such as a SPI, a UART, and an I2C bus, are available on fixed locations in the connector. The rest of the pins are used for general purpose IO. This allows the definition of expansion
boards (EXP boards) that can plug into several different Silicon Labs Starter Kits.
The figure below shows the pin assignment of the EXP header. Because of limitations in the number of available GPIO pins, some of
the EXP header pins are shared with kit features.
3V3
5V
I2C_SDA / PC11
UART_RX / PB7
UART_TX / PB6
SPI_CS / PA9
SPI_CLK / PA8
SPI_MISO / PA7
SPI_MOSI / PA6
VMCU
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
19
17
15
13
11
9
7
5
3
1
BOARD_ID_SDA
BOARD_ID_SCL
PC10 / I2C_SCL
PC9 / GPIO
PD12 / GPIO
PD11 / GPIO
PD10 / GPIO
PD9 / GPIO
PD8 / GPIO
GND
EFR32 I/O Pin
Reserved (Board Identification)
Figure 3.5. EXP Header
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Connectors
3.4.1 EXP Header Pinout
The pin-routing on the EFR32 is very flexible, so most peripherals can be routed to any pin. However, many pins are shared between
the EXP header and other functions on the mainboard. The table below includes an overview of the mainboard features that share pins
with the EXP header.
Table 3.1. EXP Header Pinout
Pin
Connection
EXP Header Function
Shared Feature
Peripheral Mapping
20
3V3
Board controller supply
18
5V
Board USB voltage
16
PC11
I2C_SDA
SENSOR_I2C_SDA
I2C0_SDA #16
14
PB7
UART_RX
-
USART3_RX #10
12
PB6
UART_TX
-
USART3_TX #10
10
PA9
SPI_CS
-
USART2_CS #1
8
PA8
SPI_SCLK
-
USART2_CLK #1
6
PA7
SPI_MISO
-
USART2_RX #1
4
PA6
SPI_MOSI
-
USART2_TX #1
2
VMCU
EFR32 voltage domain, included in AEM measurements.
19
BOARD_ID_SDA
Connected to board controller for identification of add-on boards.
17
BOARD_ID_SCL
Connected to board controller for identification of add-on boards.
15
PC10
I2C_SCL
SENSOR_I2C_SCL
13
PC9
GPIO
-
11
PD12
GPIO
-
9
PD11
GPIO
-
7
PD10
GPIO
-
5
PD9
GPIO
-
3
PD8
GPIO
-
1
GND
Ground
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Connectors
3.5 Logic Analyzer Connector
The Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard includes an on-board, eight-channel logic analyzer. It enables four digital signals to be sampled and
displayed in Simplicity Studio, in addition to the state of the on-board user interface LEDs and buttons. The logic analyzer is a good tool
for correlating specific events to the AEM energy profile and packet trace data as these are time-synchronized and can be visualized
together. The sampling rate of 100 kHz limits its use in decoding digital protocols like I2C or SPI.
The logic analyzer connector is situated on the top right side of the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard. Four signals (channel 0-3) can be
connected to the logic analyzer using this connector and the test probes that are obtainable through the "Si-DA001A Pro Kit Mainboard
Accessory Kit". The test probes can be connected to the kit itself or on an external board connected to the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard.
Note that in both cases the connected signals must be digital, and the voltages referenced to ground and VMCU on the Wireless Pro Kit
Mainboard. The table below gives an overview of the logic analyzer signals.
Note: The logic analyzer is only available on the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A). Using the external signals requires test
probes which are obtainable through the "Si-DA001A Pro Kit Mainboard Accessory Kit".
Table 3.2. Logic Analyzer Signal Description
Type
Channel
External signal
0
Connector (ch0)
1
Connector (ch1)
2
Connector (ch2)
3
Connector (ch3)
4
LED0
5
LED1
6
BTN0
7
BTN1
Internal signal
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Description
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Connectors
3.6 Debug Connector
The debug connector serves multiple purposes based on the "debug mode" setting which can be configured in Simplicity Studio. When
the debug mode is set to "Debug IN", the debug connector can be used to connect an external debugger to the EFR32 on the radio
board. When set to "Debug OUT", this connector allows the kit to be used as a debugger towards an external target. When set to "Debug MCU" (default), the connector is isolated from both the on-board debugger and the radio board target device.
Because this connector is electronically switched between the different operating modes, it can only be used when the board controller
is powered (i.e., J-Link USB cable connected). If debug access to the target device is required when the board controller is unpowered,
connect directly to the appropriate breakout pins.
The pinout of the connector follows that of the standard ARM Cortex Debug+ETM 19-pin connector. The pinout is described in detail
below. Even though the connector has support for both JTAG and ETM Trace, it does not necessarily mean that the kit or the on-board
target device supports these features.
1
3
5
7
9
11
13
15
17
19
VTARGET
GND
GND
NC
Cable Detect
NC
NC
GND
GND
GND
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
TMS / SWDIO / C2D
TCK / SWCLK / C2CK
TDO / SWO
TDI / C2Dps
RESET / C2CKps
TRACECLK
TRACED0
TRACED1
TRACED2
TRACED3
Figure 3.6. Debug Connector
Note: The pinout matches the pinout of an ARM Cortex Debug+ETM connector, but these are not fully compatible because pin 7 is
physically removed from the Cortex Debug+ETM connector. Some cables have a small plug that prevents them from being used when
this pin is present. If this is the case, remove the plug or use a standard 2x10 1.27 mm straight cable instead.
Table 3.3. Debug Connector Pin Descriptions
Pin Number(s)
Function
Description
1
VTARGET
Target reference voltage. Used for shifting logical signal levels between target and
debugger.
2
TMS / SDWIO / C2D
4
JTAG test mode select, Serial Wire data, or C2 data
TCK / SWCLK / C2CK JTAG test clock, Serial Wire clock, or C2 clock
6
TDO/SWO
8
TDI / C2Dps
10
RESET / C2CKps
12
TRACECLK
PF8
14
TRACED0
PF9
16
TRACED1
PF10
18
TRACED2
PF11
20
TRACED3
PF12
9
Cable detect
7, 11, 13
NC
3, 5, 15, 17, 19
GND
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JTAG test data out or Serial Wire Output
JTAG test data in or C2D "pin sharing" function
Target device reset or C2CK "pin sharing" function
Connect to ground
Not connected
Ground
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3.7 Simplicity Connector
The Simplicity Connector enables the advanced debugging features, such as the AEM, the virtual COM port, and the Packet Trace
Interface, to be used towards an external target. The pinout is illustrated in the figure below.
VMCU
3V3
5V
GND
GND
GND
GND
GND
BOARD_ID_SCL
BOARD_ID_SDA
1
3
5
7
9
11
13
15
17
19
2 VCOM_TX
4 VCOM_RX
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
VCOM_CTS
VCOM_RTS
PTI0_SYNC
PTI0_DATA
PTI0_CLK
PTI1_SYNC
PTI1_DATA
PTI1_CLK
Figure 3.7. Simplicity Connector
Note: Current drawn from the VMCU voltage pin is included in the AEM measurements, while the 3V3 and 5V voltage pins are not.
When monitoring the current consumption of an external target with the AEM, unplug the radio board from the mainboard to avoid adding the radio board's current consumption to the measurements.
Table 3.4. Simplicity Connector Pin Descriptions
Pin Number(s)
Function
1
VMCU
3
3V3
3.3 V power rail
5
5V
5 V power rail
2
VCOM_TX
Virtual COM Tx
4
VCOM_RX
Virtual COM Rx
6
VCOM_CTS
Virtual COM CTS
8
VCOM_RTS
Virtual COM RTS
10
PTI0_SYNC
Packet Trace 0 Sync
12
PTI0_DATA
Packet Trace 0 Data
14
PTI0_CLK
Packet Trace 0 Clock
16
PTI1_SYNC
Packet Trace 1 Sync
18
PTI1_DATA
Packet Trace 1 Data
20
PTI1_CLK
Packet Trace 1 Clock
17
BOARD_ID_SCL
Board ID SCL
19
BOARD_ID_SDA
Board ID SDA
7, 9, 11, 13, 15
GND
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Description
3.3 V power rail, monitored by the AEM
Ground
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UG261: EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Radio Board User's Guide
Connectors
3.8 Mini Simplicity Connector
The Mini Simplicity Connector on the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard offers advanced debugging features on a 10-pin connector to be used
towards an external target. The Mini Simplicity Connector offers the following features:
•
•
•
•
Serial Wire Debug (SWD) with SWO
Packet Trace Interface (PTI)
Virtual COM port (VCOM)
AEM monitored voltage rail
VMCU
RESET
VCOM_TX
SWDIO
PTI_FRAME
1
3
5
7
9
2
4
6
8
10
GND
VCOM_RX
SWO
SWCLK
PTI_DATA
Figure 3.8. Mini Simplicity Connector
Note: Current drawn from the VMCU voltage pin is included in the AEM measurements. When monitoring the current consumption of
an external target with the AEM, unplug the radio board from the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard to avoid adding the radio board's current
consumption to the measurements.
Table 3.5. Mini Simplicity Connector Pin Descriptions
Pin Number(s)
Function
Description
1
VMCU
2
GND
Ground
3
RST
Target device reset
4
VCOM_RX
Virtual COM Rx
5
VCOM_TX
Virtual COM Tx
6
SWO
7
SWDIO
Serial Wire Data
8
SWCLK
Serial Wire Clock
9
PTI_FRAME
10
PTI_DATA
Target voltage on the debugged application. Supplied and monitored by the AEM
when power selection switch is in the "AEM" position.
Serial Wire Output
Packet Trace Frame Signal
Packet Trace Data Signal
Note: Mini Simplicity Connector pin-out is referenced from the device target side.
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Connectors
3.9 Debug Adapter
The BRD8010A STK/WSTK Debug Adapter is an adapter board which plugs directly into the debug connector and the Simplicity Connector on the mainboard. It combines selected functionality from the two connectors to a smaller footprint 10-pin connector, which is
more suitable for space-constrained designs.
For versatility, the debug adapter features three different 10-pin debug connectors:
• Silicon Labs Mini Simplicity Connector
• ARM Cortex 10-pin Debug Connector
• Silicon Labs ISA3 Packet Trace
The ARM Cortex 10-pin Debug Connector follows the standard Cortex pinout defined by ARM and allows the Wireless STK to be used
to debug hardware designs that use this connector.
The ISA3 connector follows the same pinout as the Packet Trace connector found on the Silicon Labs Ember Debug Adapter (ISA3).
This enables using the Wireless STK to debug hardware designs that use this connector.
The Mini Simplicity Connector is designed to offer advanced debug features from the kit on a 10-pin connector. The connector has the
same pinout and functionality as described in 3.8 Mini Simplicity Connector. It is only necessary to use the debug adapter to get access
to the Mini Simplicity Connector when using the Wireless STK Mainboard (BRD4001A). If using the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard
(BRD4002A), use the Mini Simplicity Connector on the mainboard instead.
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Power Supply and Reset
4. Power Supply and Reset
4.1 Radio Board Power Selection
The EFR32 on a Wireless STK can be powered by one of these sources:
• The debug USB cable
• A 3 V coin cell battery
• A USB regulator on the radio board (for devices with USB support only)
BA
T
SE
LF
AE (US
B)
M
The power source for the radio board is selected with the slide switch in the lower left corner of the Wireless STK Mainboard or the
Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard. The figure below shows how the different power sources can be selected with the slide switch.
USB
Connector
5V
LDO
VOUT
Advanced
Energy
Monitor
AEM
SELF (USB)
VMCU
BAT
EFR32
3 V Lithium Battery
(CR2032)
Figure 4.1. Power Switch
Note: The middle position is denoted by "USB" on the Wireless STK Mainboard, while it is denoted by "SELF" on the Wireless Pro Kit
Mainboard. The slide switch functions the same on both mainboards.
Note: The AEM can only measure the current consumption of the EFR32 when the power selection switch is in the AEM position.
AEM position: With the switch in the AEM position, a low noise LDO on the mainboard is used to power the radio board. This LDO is
again powered from the debug USB cable. The AEM is now also connected in series, allowing accurate high speed current measurements and energy debugging/profiling.
USB position: With the switch in the USB position, radio boards with USB-support can be powered by a regulator on the radio board
itself. BRD4162A does not contain a USB regulator, and setting the switch in the USB position will cause the EFR32 to be unpowered.
BAT position: With the switch in the BAT position, a 20 mm coin cell battery in the CR2032 socket can be used to power the device.
With the switch in this position, no current measurements are active. This is the switch position that should be used when the radio
board is powered with an external power source. The Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A) features an additional 2-pin JST connector connected in paralell to the CR2032 socket that can be used with an external power source between 1.8 V and 3.6 V instead of
a coin cell. The coin cell battery is not protected from reverse current, and it is therefore important to remove the coin cell battery from
the CR2032 socket if applying external power.
Note: The current sourcing capabilities of a coin cell battery might be too low to supply certain wireless applications.
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Power Supply and Reset
4.2 Kit Power
There are normally two main contributions to the power consumption from the mainboard USB connector, i.e., two main current paths:
• One being monitored by the AEM that goes to the target power domain (VMCU)
• One that goes to the board controller power domain
While the current consumption of the board controller section is fairly deterministic and stable, the current consumption connected to
the target’s power domain (VMCU) varies widely depending on the application and the slide switch position. Typically, the board controller power domain draws 200 mA on the Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard (BRD4001A) and 250 mA on the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard
(BRD4002A). The mainboards use linear regulators, and the recommended input voltage is 4.4 - 5.25 V. Use a USB host or power
supply and cables that can deliver at least the total amount of current required by the kit.
The 5V net exposed on the breakout pads, EXP header, and radio board is also sourced from the mainboard USB connector when the
power select switch is in the AEM position. The 3V3 net exposed on the same peripherals is always sourced from the mainboard USB
connector. The current consumption of these nets must be included in the total current consumption of the kit if these are utilized.
4.2.1 Board Controller Power
The board controller is responsible for important features, such as the debugger and the AEM, and is powered exclusively through the
USB port in the top left corner of the board. This part of the kit resides on a separate power domain, so a different power source can be
selected for the target device while retaining debugging functionality. This power domain is also isolated to prevent current leakage
from the target power domain when power to the board controller is removed.
The board controller power domain is not influenced by the position of the power switch.
The kit has been carefully designed to keep the board controller and the target power domains isolated from each other as one of them
powers down. This ensures that the target EFR32 device will continue to operate in the BAT mode.
4.2.2 AEM Power
The supply for the target power domain (VMCU) is a linear regulator integrated with the AEM described in Section 7. Advanced Energy
Monitor when the power select switch is in the AEM position. The output voltage of the regulator is fixed to 3.3 V on the Wireless STK
Mainboard (BRD4001A), while it can be adjusted between 1.8 V and 3.6 V on the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A) using the
admin console.
The output current on the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A) is limited by an overcurrent protection (OCP) function, which depends on the programmed VMCU voltage: OCP (A) ≈ VMCUSET (V) x 0.2 (A/V). Approaching or exceeding the OCP limit is not recommended as the output voltage will be pulled low, which causes loss of function.
The maximum recommended output current on the Wireless STK Mainboard (BRD4001A) is 300 mA.
4.3 EFR32 Reset
The EFR32 Wireless SoC can be reset by a few different sources:
• A user pressing the RESET button
• The on-board debugger pulling the #RESET pin low
• An external debugger pulling the #RESET pin low
In addition to the reset sources mentioned above, a reset to the EFR32 will also be issued during board controller boot-up. This means
that removing power to the board controller (unplugging the J-Link USB cable) will not generate a reset but plugging the cable back in
will as the board controller boots up.
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UG261: EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Radio Board User's Guide
Power Supply and Reset
4.4 Battery Holder
In radio applications with high output power, peak current consumption will exceed the current sourcing capacity of a coin-cell battery.
To support evaluation of the EFR32 Wireless Gecko in situations where powering the kit from a wired USB connection is impractical, for
instance during range-tests, the kit is supplied with a battery holder for 2 AA batteries.
To use the battery holder, first set the power switch in the BAT position and remove any battery power sources (coin-cell or other sources) that may be connected to the BAT power net. Then attach the cable to pin 1 and 2 on the expansion header, orienting the connector so the black cable goes down towards pin 1, and the red cable up towards pin 2.
Connect battery holder
to EXP header.
- Pin 2 (up): Red wire
- Pin 1 (down): Black wire
Put power switch in BAT position
Figure 4.2. Battery Holder Connection
Warning: There is no reverse voltage protection on the VMCU pin! Ensure that the battery holder is connected the right way. Failure to
do so may result in damage to the radio board and its components.
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Peripherals
5. Peripherals
The Wireless STK has a set of peripherals that showcase some of the EFR32 features.
Note that most EFR32 I/Os routed to peripherals are also routed to the breakout pads or the EXP header, which must be taken into
consideration when using these I/Os.
5.1 Push Buttons and LEDs
The kit has two user push buttons marked BTN0 and BTN1. They are connected directly to the EFR32 and are debounced by RC filters
with a time constant of 1 ms. The buttons are connected to pins PF6 and PF7.
The kit also features two yellow LEDs marked LED0 and LED1 that are controlled by GPIO pins on the EFR32. The LEDs are connected to pins PF4 and PF5 in an active-high configuration.
PF4 (GPIO)
UIF_LED0
PF5 (GPIO)
UIF_LED1
PF6 (GPIO)
UIF_BUTTON0
UIF_BUTTON1
PF7 (GPIO)
User Buttons
& LEDs
EFR32
Figure 5.1. Buttons and LEDs
5.2 Joystick
The kit has an analog joystick connected to the EFR32 on pin PA3 when using a Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A). The Wireless STK Mainboard (BRD4001A) does not feature a joystick. Moving the joystick around connects different pull-down resistors to the
joystick output, which together with the pull-up resistor on VMCU, creates different output voltages, Vo, that can be read using the ADC
on the EFR32.
Note: The PA3 pin on the EFR32 is also used for VCOM flow control (RTS) on this kit. Both the joystick and VCOM flow control (RTS)
can be used, but not at the same time.
VMCU
N
10 kΩ
PA3 (ADC)
UIF_JOYSTICK
Vo
W
C Joystick
S
EFR32
15 kΩ
100 Ω
10 kΩ
E
33 kΩ
Direction
Divider Ratio
Vo (VMCU = 3.3 V)
Center
press (C)
100 Ω
100 Ω + 10 kΩ
0.03 V
60.4 kΩ
60.4 kΩ + 10 kΩ
2.83 V
Left (W)
15 kΩ
15 kΩ + 10 kΩ
1.98 V
Down (S)
10 kΩ
10 kΩ + 10 kΩ
1.65 V
Up (N)
60.4 kΩ
Right (E)
33 kΩ
33 kΩ + 10 kΩ
2.53 V
Figure 5.2. Joystick
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Peripherals
5.3 Capacitive Touch Slider
A touch slider utilizing the capacitive touch capability of the EFR32 is located on the bottom side of the board. It consists of four interleaved pads which are connected to PC0, PC1, PC2 and PC3.
PC0 (CSEN BUS 2Y/1X CH0)
PC1 (CSEN BUS 2X/1Y CH1)
PC2 (CSEN BUS 2Y/1X CH2)
UIF_TOUCH0
UIF_TOUCH1
UIF_TOUCH2
UIF_TOUCH3
PC3 (CSEN BUS 2X/1Y CH3)
Capacitive Touch Slider
EFR32
Figure 5.3. Touch Slider
The capacitive touch pads work by sensing changes in the capacitance of the pads when touched by a human finger. Sensing the
changes in capacitance is done by setting up the EFR32's analog capacitive sense peripheral (CSEN).
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Peripherals
5.4 Memory LCD-TFT Display
A 1.28-inch SHARP Memory LCD-TFT is available on the kit to enable interactive applications to be developed. The display has a high
resolution of 128 x 128 pixels and consumes very little power. It is a reflective monochrome display, so each pixel can only be light or
dark, and no backlight is needed in normal daylight conditions. Data sent to the display is stored in the pixels on the glass, which means
no continuous refreshing is required to maintain a static image.
The display interface consists of a SPI-compatible serial interface and some extra control signals. Pixels are not individually addressable, instead data is sent to the display one line (128 bits) at a time.
The Memory LCD-TFT display is shared with the kit's board controller, allowing the board controller application to display useful information when the user application is not using the display. The user application always controls ownership of the display with the
DISP_ENABLE signal:
• DISP_ENABLE = LOW: The board controller has control of the display
• DISP_ENABLE = HIGH: The user application (EFR32) has control of the display
Power to the display is sourced from the target application power domain when the EFR32 controls the display and from the board
controller's power domain when the DISP_ENABLE line is low. Data is clocked in on DISP_SI when DISP_CS is high, and the clock is
sent on DISP_SCLK. The maximum supported clock speed is 1.1 MHz.
DISP_EXTCOMIN is the "COM Inversion" line. It must be pulsed periodically to prevent static build-up in the display itself. Refer to the
LS013B7DH03 documentation for more information on driving the display.
4
Board Controller
PC8 (US1_CLK#11)
DISP_SCLK
PC6 (US1_TX#11)
DISP_SI
PD14 (US1_CS#19)
DISP_SCS
PD13 (GPIO)
DISP_EXTCOMIN
PD15 (GPIO)
DISP_ENABLE
SCLK
SI
SCS
EXTCOMIN
0: Board Controller controls display
1: EFR32 controls display
EFR32
Figure 5.4. 128x128 Pixel Memory LCD
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Peripherals
5.5 Serial Flash
The BRD4162A Radio Board is equipped with an 8 Mbit Macronix MX25R SPI flash that is connected directly to the EFR32. The figure
below shows how the serial flash is connected to the EFR32.
VMCU
VDD
PC8 (US1_CLK#11)
SCLK
PC6 (US1_TX#11)
MOSI
PC7 (US1_RX#11)
MISO
PA4 (US1_CS#1)
SCS
8 Mbit
MX25R8035F
EFR32
Figure 5.5. Radio Board Serial Flash
The MX25R series are ultra-low-power serial flash devices, so there is no need for a separate enable switch to keep current consumption down. However, it is important that the flash is always put in deep power down mode when not used. This is done by issuing a
command over the SPI interface. In deep power down, the MX25R typically adds approximately 100 nA to the radio board current consumption.
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Peripherals
5.6 Si7021 Relative Humidity and Temperature Sensor
The Si7021 I2C relative humidity and temperature sensor is a monolithic CMOS IC integrating humidity and temperature sensor elements, an analog-to-digital converter, signal processing, calibration data, and an I2C Interface. The patented use of industry-standard,
low-K polymeric dielectrics for sensing humidity enables the construction of low-power, monolithic CMOS Sensor ICs with low drift and
hysteresis, and excellent long term stability.
The humidity and temperature sensors are factory-calibrated and the calibration data is stored in the on-chip non-volatile memory. This
ensures that the sensors are fully interchangeable with no recalibration or software changes required.
The Si7021 is available in a 3x3 mm DFN package and is reflow solderable. It can be used as a hardware and software-compatible
drop-in upgrade for existing RH/temperature sensors in 3x3 mm DFN-6 packages, featuring precision sensing over a wider range and
lower power consumption. The optional factory-installed cover offers a low profile, convenient means of protecting the sensor during
assembly (e.g., reflow soldering) and throughout the life of the product, excluding liquids (hydrophobic/oleophobic) and particulates.
The Si7021 offers an accurate, low-power, factory-calibrated digital solution ideal for measuring humidity, dew point, and temperature in
applications ranging from HVAC/R and asset tracking to industrial and consumer platforms.
The I2C bus used for the Si7021 is shared with the EXP header. The temperature sensor is normally isolated from the I2C line. To use
the sensor, SENSOR_ENABLE (PB10) must be set high. When enabled, the sensor's current consumption is included in the AEM
measurements.
VMCU
VDD
Si7021
SENSOR_I2C_SCL
SCL
PC11 (I2C0_SDA#16)
SENSOR_I2C_SDA
SDA
PB10 (GPIO)
SENSOR_ENABLE
PC10 (I2C0_SCL#14)
Temperature
& Humidity
Sensor
0: I2C lines are isolated, sensor is not powered
1: Sensor is powered and connected
EFR32
Figure 5.6. Si7021 Relative Humidity and Temperature Sensor
Refer to the Silicon Labs web pages for more information: http://www.silabs.com/humidity-sensors.
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Peripherals
5.7 Virtual COM Port
An asynchronous serial connection to the board controller is provided for application data transfer between a host PC and the target
EFR32. This eliminates the need for an external serial port adapter.
Isolation & Level Shift
PA0 (US0_TX#0)
PA1 (US0_RX#0)
PA2 (US0_CTS#30)
PA3 (US0_RTS#30)
PA5 (GPIO)
VCOM_TX
VCOM_RX
VCOM_CTS
Board
Controller
USB
or
ETH
Host
PC
VCOM_RTS
VCOM_ENABLE
EFR32
Figure 5.7. Virtual COM Port Interface
The virtual COM port consists of a physical UART between the target device and the board controller and a logical function in the board
controller that makes the serial port available to the host PC over USB or Ethernet. The UART interface consists of four pins and an
enable signal.
Table 5.1. Virtual COM Port Interface Pins
Signal
Description
VCOM_TX
Transmit data from the EFR32 to the board controller
VCOM_RX
Receive data from the board controller to the EFR32
VCOM_CTS
Clear to Send hardware flow control input, asserted by the board controller when it is ready to receive more data
VCOM_RTS
Request to Send hardware flow control output, asserted by the EFR32 when it is ready to receive more data
VCOM_ENABLE Enables the VCOM interface, allowing data to pass through to the board controller
The parameters of the serial port, such as baud rate or flow control, can be configured using the admin console. The default settings
depend on which radio board is used with the mainboard.
Note: The VCOM port is only available when the board controller is powered, which requires the J-Link USB cable to be inserted.
Note: There may be slight differences on the terminal prompt and settings between the Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard and the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard.
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Peripherals
5.7.1 Host Interfaces
Data can be exchanged between the board controller and the target device through the VCOM interface, which is then available to the
user in two different ways:
• Virtual COM port using a standard USB-CDC driver
• TCP/IP by connecting to the Wireless STK on TCP/IP port 4901 with a Telnet client
When connecting via USB, the device should automatically show up as a COM port. The actual device name that is associated with the
kit depends on the operating system and how many devices are or have been connected previously. The following are examples of
what the device might show up as:
• JLink CDC UART Port (COM5) on Windows hosts
• /dev/cu.usbmodem1411 on macOS
• /dev/ttyACM0 on Linux
Data sent by the target device into the VCOM interface can be read from the COM port, and data written to the port is transmitted to the
target device. Connecting to the Wireless STK on port 4901 gives access to the same data over TCP/IP. Data written into the VCOM
interface by the target device can be read from the socket, and data written into the socket is transmitted to the target device.
Note: Only one of these interfaces can be used at the same time, with the TCP/IP socket taking priority. This means that if a socket is
connected to port 4901, no data can be sent or received on the USB COM port.
5.7.2 Serial Configuration
By default, the VCOM serial port is configured to use 115200 8N1 (115.2 kbit/s, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit), with flow control disabled/ignored. The configuration can be changed using the admin console:
WPK> serial vcom config
Usage: serial vcom config [--nostore] [handshake ] [speed ]
Using this command, the baud rate can be configured between 9600 and 921600 bit/s, and hardware handshake can be enabled or
disabled on either or both flow control pins.
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Peripherals
5.7.3 Hardware Handshake
The VCOM peripheral supports basic RTS/CTS flow control.
VCOM_CTS (target clear to send) is a signal that is output from the board controller and input to the target device. The board controller
de-asserts this pin whenever its input buffer is full and it is unable to accept more data from the target device. If hardware handshake is
enabled in the target firmware, its UART peripheral will halt when data is not being consumed by the host. This implements end-to-end
flow control for data moving from the target device to the host.
VCOM_CTS is connected to the RTS pin on the board controller and is enabled by setting handshake to either RTS or RTSCTS using
the "serial vcom config" command.
VCOM_RTS (target request to send) is a signal that is output from the target device and input to the board controller. The board controller will halt transmission of data towards the target if the target device de-asserts this signal. This gives the target firmware a means
to hold off incoming data until it can be processed. Note that de-asserting RTS will not abort the byte currently being transmitted, so the
target firmware must be able to accept at least one more character after RTS is de-asserted.
VCOM_RTS is connected to the CTS pin of the board controller. It is enabled by setting handshake to either CTS or RTSCTS using the
"serial vcom config" command in the admin console. If CTS flow control is disabled, the state of VCOM_RTS will be ignored and data
will be transmitted to the target device anyway.
Table 5.2. Hardware Handshake Configuration
Mode
Description
disabled
RTS (VCOM_CTS) is not driven by the board controller and CTS (VCOM_RTS) is ignored.
rts
RTS (VCOM_CTS) is driven by the board controller to halt target from transmitting when input buffer is full. CTS
(VCOM_RTS) is ignored.
cts
RTS (VCOM_CTS) is not driven by the board controller. Data is transmitted to the target device if CTS
(VCOM_RTS) is asserted and halted when de-asserted.
rtscts
RTS (VCOM_CTS) is driven by the board controller to halt target when buffers are full. Data is transmitted to the
target device if CTS (VCOM_RTS) is asserted and halted when de-asserted.
Note: Enabling CTS flow control without configuring the VCOM_RTS pin can result in no data being transmitted from the host to the
target device.
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Board Controller
6. Board Controller
6.1 Introduction
The Wireless STK Mainboard and the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard contain a dedicated microcontroller for some of the advanced kit
features provided. This microcontroller is referred to as the board controller and is not programmable by the user. The board controller
acts as an interface between the host PC and the target device on the radio board, as well as handling some housekeeping functions
on the board.
Note: This chapter describes the board controller on both the Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard and the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard.
There might be slight differences between these two boards, such as the exact menu and format on the admin console, not highlighted
in this chapter. The logic analyzer is furthermore only available on BRD4002A.
Some of the kit features actively managed by the board controller are:
•
•
•
•
•
The on-board debugger, which can flash and debug both on-board and external targets.
The Advanced Energy Monitor, which provides real-time energy profiling of the user application.
The Packet Trace Interface, which is used in conjunction with PC software to provide detailed insight into an active radio network.
The logic analyzer, which can capture digital signals time-synchronized to the energy profiling and packet trace data.
The Virtual COM Port and Virtual UART interfaces, which provide ways to transfer application data between the host PC and the
target processor.
• The admin console, which provides configuration of the various board features.
Silicon Labs publishes updates to the board controller firmware in the form of firmware upgrade packages. These updates may enable
new features or fix issues. See Section 9.1 Firmware Upgrades for details on firmware upgrade.
6.2 Admin Console
The admin console is a command line interface to the board controller on the kit. It provides functionality for configuring the kit behavior
and retrieving configuration and operational parameters.
6.2.1 Connecting
The admin console is available when the Wireless STK is connected to Ethernet using the Ethernet connector in the top left corner of
the mainboard. See Section 8.1.2 Ethernet Interface for details on the Ethernet connectivity.
Connect to the admin console by opening a telnet connection to the kit's IP address, port number 4902.
When successfully connected, a WPK> prompt is displayed.
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Board Controller
6.2.2 Built-in Help
The admin console has a built-in help system which is accessed by the help command. The help command will print a list of all top
level commands:
WPK> help
*************** Root commands ****************
aem
AEM Configuration and Information Commands
[ avg, calibrate, calinfo ]
boardid
Commands for board ID probe.
[ list, probe ]
dbg
Debug interface status and control
[ info, mode ]
dch
Datachannel control and info commands
[ info, message ]
discovery
Discovery service commands.
[ key ]
net
Network commands.
[ dnslookup, ip, mac ]
pti
Packet trace interface status and control
[ config, disable, dump, ... ]
quit
Exit from shell
serial
Serial channel commands
[ vcom ]
sys
System commands
[ crashlog, nickname, reset, ... ]
target
Target commands.
[ button, go, halt, ... ]
time
Time Sync Service commands
[ client, disable, info, ... ]
user
User management functions
[ login,]
The help command can be used in conjunction with any top level command to get a list of sub-commands with descriptions. For example, pti help will print a list of all available sub-commands of pti:
WPK> pti help
*************** pti commands ****************
config
Configure packet trace
disable
Disable packet trace
dump
Dump PTI packets to the console as they come
enable
Enable packet trace
info
Packet trace state information
This means that running pti enable will enable packet trace.
6.2.3 Command Examples
PTI Configuration
pti config 0 efruart 1600000
Configures PTI to use the "EFRUART" mode at 1.6 Mb/s.
Serial Port Configuration
serial config vcom handshake enable
Enables hardware handshake on the VCOM UART connection.
6.3 Virtual UART
The Virtual UART (VUART) interface provides a high-performance application data interface that does not require additional I/O pins
apart from the debug interface.
The Wireless STK makes the VUART interface available on TCP/IP port 4900.
6.3.1 Target-to-Host
Target-to-host communication utilizes the SWO-pin of the debug interface through the ITM debug peripheral. This approach allows a
sleepy target device to enter all energy modes and still wake up intermittently to send debug information. The baud rate of the SWO
data is locked to 875 kHz.
VUART utilizes ITM stimulus port 0 for general purpose printing. Silicon Labs' networking stacks utilize ITM stimulus port 8 for debug
printing. The data on port 8 is encapsulated in additional framing and will also appear in the Simplicity Studio Network Analyzer.
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Board Controller
6.3.2 Host-to-Target
Host-to-target communication utilizes SEGGER's Real Time Transfer (RTT) technology. A full explanation of how this works can be
found in J-Link/J-Trace User Guide (UM08001). Briefly summarized, RTT consists of a structure called the RTT Control Block, which is
located in RAM. This control block points to circular buffers that the debugger can write data into. The target application can then read
data out of this circular buffer.
The board controller will start searching for the RTT Control Block upon receiving data on TCP/IP port 4900. If the board controller is
unable to locate the RTT Control Block, it will return an error message on the same connection. For the board controller to be able to
locate the RTT Control Block, it has to be aligned on a 1024-byte boundary in RAM.
After initializing the RTT connection, the target will only enter emulated EM2 and EM3 where the power consumption remains similar to
EM1. This is because RTT utilizes the debug interface, which requires use of high-frequency oscillators. Energy modes EM4S and
EM4H will work as normal. When debugging energy consumption, it is therefore important to not send data on TCP/IP port 4900 as not
to instantiate the RTT connection.
6.3.3 Limitations
• Because the SWO-connection can be disabled by the debugger at will, it is important for the target application to verify that SWO is
enabled and configured before each transmission on the interface.
• After initializing host-to-target communication over RTT by sending data on TCP/IP port 4900, the target application will be unable to
enter EM2 and EM3. This is because RTT utilizes the debug connection of the target.
• VUART might not work reliably during an active debugging session. This is because there is contention over the target's debug interface. The board controller will defer accessing the target until it is made available by the host debugger.
• VUART is designed with the assumption that only the board controller will access the RTT control block. If the target application
uses RTT for other purposes, such as Segger SystemView, refrain from using VUART.
6.3.4 Troubleshooting
Problem
Solution
No data received after ending a
debug session.
After certain debugger operations, the host computer manually disables SWO on the target to conserve power. This might cause SWO data to not appear if the target application initialized SWO before the debugger has disconnected. Either press the RESET button on the Wireless Starter Kit to
reset the target application or make sure that the target application verifies that SWO is enabled and
configured before sending any data.
No data received after flashing
a new application.
Other issues
Disconnect from TCP port 4900, press the RESET button on the kit, then reconnect to 4900. If this
does not fix the issue, try to restart the kit by unplugging and replugging the USB cable.
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Advanced Energy Monitor
7. Advanced Energy Monitor
7.1 Introduction
Any embedded developer seeking to make their embedded code spend as little energy as the underlying architecture supports needs
tools to easily and quickly discover inefficiencies in the running application. This is what the Simplicity Energy Profiler is designed to do.
In real-time, the Energy Profiler will graph and log current as a function of time while correlating this to the actual target application code
running on the EFR32. There are multiple features in the profiler software that allow for easy analysis, such as markers and statistics on
selected regions of the current graph or aggregate energy usage by different parts of the application. The Energy Profiler is available
through Simplicity Studio.
7.2 Code Correlation
By using the Energy Profiler, current consumption and voltage can be measured and linked to the actual code running on the EFR32 in
realtime. The Energy Profiler gets its data from the board controller on the mainboard through the Advanced Energy Monitor (AEM).
The current signal is combined with the target processor's Program Counter (PC) sampling by utilizing a feature of the ARM CoreSight
debug architecture, and the Instrumentation Trace Macrocell (ITM) block can be programmed to sample the MCU's PC at periodic intervals and output these over SWO pin ARM devices. When these two data streams are fused and correlated with the running application's memory map, an accurate statistical profile can be built that shows the energy profile of the running application in real-time.
7.3 AEM Circuit
The AEM circuit on the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A) and the Wireless STK Mainboard (BRD4001A) measures the current
through a sense resistor inside the feedback loop of a low-dropout regulator (LDO). The output voltage of this LDO powers the EFR32
when the power slide switch is in the AEM position. AEM usage on both mainboards is similar, but the implementation and perfomance
on the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A) has some key differences, including the utilization of two sense resistors instead of
one, and a different LDO, which is explained in Section 7.3.1 AEM Details. The AEM implementation on the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard
(BRD4002A) is shown in the figure below.
5V
Power Select
Switch
LDO
0.5 Ω
10 Ω
Sense Resistors
VMCU
High Calibrate
Range
Current Sense
Amplifier
EFR32
Peripherals
G0
AEM
Processing
Multiple Gain
Stages
G1
Figure 7.1. Advanced Energy Monitor On The Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A)
Note: The VMCU regulator feedback point is after the sense resistor to ensure that the VMCU voltage is kept constant when the output
current changes. Series resistances in the current path will, however, cause some IR drop on VMCU.
Note: The AEM circuit only works when the kit is powered and the power switch is in the AEM position.
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Advanced Energy Monitor
7.3.1 AEM Details
The main differences between the AEM on the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A) and the Wireless STK Mainboard (BRD4001A)
is summarized in the table below with more in-depth information given in the text to follow.
Table 7.1. Advanced Energy Monitor Parameters
Parameter
BRD4002A
BRD4001A
Voltage
1.8 - 3.6 V
3.3 V
100 kHz
10 kHz
10.5 Ω / 0.5 Ω
2.35 Ω
0 - 495 mA
0 - 95 mA
Sample Rate
Sense Resistor
Measurement Range1
Note:
1. The current sourcing capabilities of the LDO may be different than the measurement range.
Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A) AEM Design Details
The AEM circuitry on the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard is capable of measuring current signals in the range of approximately 0.1 µA to
495 mA. This is accomplished through a combination of a highly capable current sense amplifier, multiple sense resistors and gain
stages, and signal processing within the kit's board controller before the current sense signal is read by a host computer with 100 kHz
sample rate for display and/or storage. Averaging on the output data may be required to achieve sufficient accuracy in some situations,
such as low currents, which can be traded for lower bandwidth. High current applications require that the regulator is able to supply
enough current as described in Section 4.2 Kit Power.
At low currents the current sense amplifier measures the voltage drop over a 10.5 Ω resistive path. The gain stage further amplifies this
voltage with two different parallel gain settings to obtain two current ranges. The transition between these two ranges occurs around
150 µA. When the current exceeds a threshold, which is typically between 10 and 30 mA, the AEM circuitry switches from the 10.5 Ω
resistive path to a 0.5 Ω sense resistor and is now capable of measuring currents up to approximately 495 mA. Should the current drop
below the threshold again, the sense resistor is changed back to the 10.5 Ω resistive path and the AEM is back to using two different
gain stages depending on whether the current is above or below 150 µA.
The expected typical accuracy of the AEM on the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard is within 1 %, except for currents in the low tens of microamps where offset errors start to dominate. In this low current region, the expected typical accuracy is some hundred nanoamps. At kit
power-up or on a power-cycle, an automatic AEM calibration is performed which compensates for offset errors in the current sense
amplifiers. To achieve the stated accuracy, averaging of the AEM output data is required in certain situations (typically at low currents
and close to the bottom of the measurement ranges) to reduce noise. Averaging can be applied in Energy Profiler to suit different requirements during or after the acquisition. The analog bandwidth of the measurement circuit depends on multiple factors, such as output current and capacitance on the VMCU net, and may be lower than the output data rate. Generally, higher output current and lower
capacitance on VMCU gives a higher analog bandwidth.
Wireless STK Mainboard (BRD4001A) AEM Design Details
The AEM circuitry on the Wireless STK Mainboard works conceptually in a similar way to the implementation on the Wireless Pro Kit
Mainboard except for two key differences: it uses only one 2.35 Ω sense resistor and the low-dropout regulator (LDO) is different. For
details about the two implementations, the reader is encouraged to see the schematics.
The AEM on the Wireless STK Mainboard is capable of measuring currents in the range of 0.1 µA to 95 mA. The second stage amplifier
amplifies the signal with two different gain settings with the transition occurring around 250 µA. For currents above 250 µA, the AEM is
accurate within 0.1 mA. When measuring currents below 250 µA, the accuracy increases to 1 µA. Even though the absolute accuracy is
1 µA in the sub 250 µA range, the AEM can detect changes in the current consumption as small as 0.1 µA. It is possible to source
currents above the measurement range as decribed in Section 4.2 Kit Power. The board controller outputs the AEM data with 10 kHz
sample rate.
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On-Board Debugger
8. On-Board Debugger
The Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard and the Wireless STK Mainboard contain an integrated debugger, which can be used to download
code and debug the EFR32. In addition to programming a target on a plug-in radio board, the debugger can also be used to program
and debug external Silicon Labs EFM32, EFM8, EZR32, and EFR32 devices connected through the debug connector.
The debugger supports three different debug interfaces for Silicon Labs devices:
• Serial Wire Debug is supported by all EFM32, EFR32, and EZR32 devices
• JTAG is supported by EFR32 and some EFM32 devices
• C2 Debug is supported by EFM8 devices
For debugging to work properly, make sure the selected debug interface is supported by the target device. The debug connector on the
board supports all three of these modes.
8.1 Host Interfaces
The Wireless STK supports connecting to the on-board debugger using either Ethernet or USB.
Many tools support connecting to a debugger using either USB or Ethernet. When connected over USB, the kit is identified by its J-Link
serial number. When connected over Ethernet, the kit is normally identified by its IP address. Some tools also support using the serial
number when connecting over Ethernet; however, this typically requires the computer and the kit to be on the same subnet for the discovery protocol (using UDP broadcast packets) to work.
8.1.1 USB Interface
The USB interface is available whenever the USB connector on the left-hand side of the mainboard is connected to a computer.
8.1.2 Ethernet Interface
The Ethernet interface is available when the mainboard Ethernet connector in the top left corner is connected to a network. Normally,
the kit will receive an IP address from a local DHCP server, and the IP address is printed on the LCD display. If your network does not
have a DHCP server, you need to connect to the kit via USB and set the IP address manually using Simplicity Studio, Simplicity
Commander, or J-Link Configurator.
For the Ethernet connectivity to work, the kit must still be powered through the mainboard USB connector.
8.1.3 Serial Number Identification
All Silicon Labs kits have a unique J-Link serial number which identifies the kit to PC applications. This number is 9 digits and is normally on the form 44xxxxxxx.
The J-Link serial number is normally printed at the bottom of the kit LCD display.
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On-Board Debugger
8.2 Debug Modes
The kit can be used in various debug modes as explained in this chapter. The on-board debugger can be used to debug the EFR32 on
the radio board, or it can be used to debug a supported external target board using either the debug connector or the Mini Simplicity
Connector. An external debugger can furthermore be used to debug the EFR32 on the radio board using the debug connector. Selecting the active debug mode is done in Simplicity Studio.
Note: The Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard (BRD4001A) does not feature a Mini Simplicity Connector; therefore, debugging an external
target board directly over the Mini Simplicity Connector is not supported on this mainboard. However, it is possible to debug an external
target that uses a Mini Simplicity Connector from the Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard by using a BRD8010A STK/WSTK Debug Adapter.
Debug MCU: In this mode, the on-board debugger is connected to the EFR32 on the kit. To use this mode, set the debug mode to
[MCU].
Host
Computer
USB
Board
Controller
RADIO BOARD
External
Hardware
DEBUG HEADER
Figure 8.1. Debug MCU
Debug OUT: In this mode, the on-board debugger can be used to debug a supported Silicon Labs device mounted on a custom board
using the debug connector. To use this mode, set the debug mode to [Out].
Host
Computer
USB
Board
Controller
RADIO BOARD
External
Hardware
DEBUG HEADER
Figure 8.2. Debug OUT
Debug IN: In this mode, the on-board debugger is disconnected and an external debugger can be used to debug the EFR32 on the kit
over the debug connector. To use this mode, set the debug mode to [In].
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UG261: EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Radio Board User's Guide
On-Board Debugger
Host
Computer
USB
Board
Controller
RADIO BOARD
External Debug Probe
DEBUG HEADER
Figure 8.3. Debug IN
Note: For "Debug IN" to work, the kit board controller must be powered through the Debug USB connector.
Debug MINI: The Wireless Pro Kit mainboard features a dedicated Mini Simplicity Connector on the board. In this mode, the on-board
debugger can be used to debug a supported Silicon Labs device mounted on a custom board over Serial Wire Debug. Virtual COM port
and Packet Trace Interface is also available in this mode. To use this mode, set the debug mode to [Mini].
Host
Computer
USB
Board
Controller
RADIO BOARD
External
Hardware
MINI SIMPLICITY
CONNECTOR
Figure 8.4. Mini Out
8.3 Debugging During Battery Operation
When the EFR32 is battery-powered and the J-Link USB is still connected, the on-board debug functionality is available. If the USB
power is disconnected, the Debug IN mode will stop working.
If debug access is required when the target is running off another energy source, such as a battery, and the board controller is powered
down, make direct connections to the GPIOs used for debugging, which are exposed on the breakout pads.
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UG261: EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Radio Board User's Guide
Kit Configuration and Upgrades
9. Kit Configuration and Upgrades
The kit configuration dialog in Simplicity Studio allows you to change the J-Link adapter debug mode, upgrade its firmware, and change
other configuration settings. To download Simplicity Studio, go to silabs.com/simplicity.
In the main window of the Simplicity Studio's Launcher perspective, the debug mode and firmware version of the selected J-Link adapter are shown. Click the [Change] link next to any of these settings to open the kit configuration dialog.
Figure 9.1. Simplicity Studio Kit Information
Figure 9.2. Kit Configuration Dialog
9.1 Firmware Upgrades
You can upgrade the kit firmware through Simplicity Studio. Simplicity Studio will automatically check for new updates on startup.
You can also use the kit configuration dialog for manual upgrades. Click the [Browse] button in the [Update Adapter] section to select
the correct file ending in .emz. Then, click the [Install Package] button.
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UG261: EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Radio Board User's Guide
Schematics, Assembly Drawings, and BOM
10. Schematics, Assembly Drawings, and BOM
Schematics, assembly drawings, and bill of materials (BOM) are available through Simplicity Studio when the kit documentation package has been installed. They are also available from the kit page on the Silicon Labs website: silabs.com.
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Kit Revision History
11. Kit Revision History
The kit revision can be found printed on the kit packaging label, as outlined in the figure below. The revision history given in this section
may not list every kit revision. Revisions with minor changes may be omitted.
EFR32MG12 2.4 GHz Mesh Networking Starter Kit
SLWSTK6000B
27-01-17
124802042
A00
Figure 11.1. Kit Label
11.1 SLWSTK6000B Revision History
Kit Revision
Released
Description
C00
3 February 2022
Replaced BRD4001A with BRD4002A. Removed BRD8010A. Removed USB
cables.
B05
17 March 2021
Updated BRD8010A to Rev. A03.
B04
6 May 2020
Updated BRD4001A to Rev. A02.
B03
6 November 2019
Added Thread Certified Sticker to box.
B02
27 March 2018
Added 10 pin debug cable
B01
2 November 2017
Updated BRD4161A and BRD4162A to Rev A03 with EFR32MG12 chip revision C.
B00
28 September 2017
Added BRD8010A Debug Adapter Board.
A00
27 January 2017
Initial kit release.
11.2 SLWRB4162A Revision History
Kit Revision
Released
Description
A02
6 January 2022
Changed box. Removed getting started card.
A01
2 November 2017
Updated BRD4162A to Rev. A03 with EFR32MG12 chip revision C.
A00
27 January 2017
Initial release.
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Document Revision History
12. Document Revision History
Revision 2.1
September 2022
• Added Section 3.5 Logic Analyzer Connector.
• Removed an entry in the table and added a note to Section 1.3 Ordering Information.
Revision 2.0
April 2022
• Major update to document content.
• The user guide now describes how the kit works with the Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard and the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard.
• Updated SLWSTK6000B Revision History, and updated kit content.
• Updated SLWRB4162A Revision History.
Revision 1.02
22 December 2017
• Added BRD8010A to SLWSTK6000B in Ordering Information section.
• Added information about Rev B00 and B01 in SLWSTK6000B Revision History.
• Added information about Rev A01 in SLWRB4162A Revision History
Revision 1.01
8 March 2017
• Improved sections on Virtual COM Port, Board Controller and On-Board Debugger.
Revision 1.00
10 February 2017
• Initial document version.
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Rev. 2.1 | 40
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Disclaimer
Silicon Labs intends to provide customers with the latest, accurate, and in-depth documentation of all peripherals and modules available for system and software implementers using or intending to use the Silicon Labs products. Characterization data, available modules and peripherals, memory sizes and memory addresses refer to each
specific device, and “Typical” parameters provided can and do vary in different applications. Application examples described herein are for illustrative purposes only. Silicon
Labs reserves the right to make changes without further notice to the product information, specifications, and descriptions herein, and does not give warranties as to the
accuracy or completeness of the included information. Without prior notification, Silicon Labs may update product firmware during the manufacturing process for security or
reliability reasons. Such changes will not alter the specifications or the performance of the product. Silicon Labs shall have no liability for the consequences of use of the information supplied in this document. This document does not imply or expressly grant any license to design or fabricate any integrated circuits. The products are not designed or
authorized to be used within any FDA Class III devices, applications for which FDA premarket approval is required or Life Support Systems without the specific written consent
of Silicon Labs. A “Life Support System” is any product or system intended to support or sustain life and/or health, which, if it fails, can be reasonably expected to result in
significant personal injury or death. Silicon Labs products are not designed or authorized for military applications. Silicon Labs products shall under no circumstances be used
in weapons of mass destruction including (but not limited to) nuclear, biological or chemical weapons, or missiles capable of delivering such weapons. Silicon Labs disclaims
all express and implied warranties and shall not be responsible or liable for any injuries or damages related to use of a Silicon Labs product in such unauthorized applications.
Note: This content may contain offensive terminology that is now obsolete. Silicon Labs is replacing these terms with inclusive language wherever possible. For more
information, visit www.silabs.com/about-us/inclusive-lexicon-project
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