Silicon Laboratories BB50 User manual

UG550: BB50 Explorer Kit User's Guide

The BB50 Explorer Kit is an ultra-low cost, small form factor devel-

opment and evaluation platform for the EFM8BB50 Busy Bee 8-bit

microcontroller.

The BB50 Explorer Kit is focused on rapid prototyping and concept creation of multi-pur-

pose applications. It is designed around the EFM8BB50 MCU, which is an ideal device

family for developing energy-friendly embedded applications.

The kit features a USB interface, an on-board SEGGER J-Link debugger, one user-LED

and button, and support for hardware add-on boards via a mikroBUS™ socket and a

Qwiic® connector. The hardware add-on support allows developers to create and proto-

type applications using a virtually endless combination of off-the-shelf boards from mik-

roE, sparkfun, AdaFruit, and Seeed Studios.

TARGET DEVICE

• EFM8BB50 Busy Bee 8-bit microcontroller

(EFM8BB50F16I-A-QFN16)

• Pipelined 8-bit C8051 core with 50 MHz

maximum operating frequency

• 16 kB flash and 512 bytes RAM

KIT FEATURES

• User LED and push button

• 2.54 mm breakout pads

• mikroBUS™ socket

• Qwiic® connector

• SEGGER J-Link on-board debugger

• Virtual COM port

• USB-powered

SOFTWARE SUPPORT

• Simplicity Studio™

ORDERING INFORMATION

• BB50-EK2702A

Table of Contents

1. Introduction ................................3

1.1 Kit Contents ...............................3

1.2 Getting Started ..............................3

1.3 Hardware Content .............................3

1.4 Kit Hardware Layout ............................4

2. Specifications ...............................5

2.1 Recommended Operating Conditions ......................5

2.2 Current Consumption ............................5

3. Hardware .................................6

3.1 Block Diagram ..............................6

3.2 Power Supply ..............................7

3.3 EFM8BB50 Reset .............................7

3.4 Push Button and LED............................7

3.5 On-board Debugger ............................8

3.6 Connectors ...............................8

3.6.1 Breakout Pads ............................9

3.6.2 MikroBUS Socket ...........................10

3.6.3 Qwiic Connector ............................11

3.6.4 Debug USB Micro-B Connector .......................11

4. Debugging ...............................12

4.1 On-board Debugger ............................12

4.2 Virtual COM Port .............................12

5. Schematics, Assembly Drawings, and BOM ...................13

6. Kit Revision History and Errata .......................14

6.1 Revision History .............................14

6.2 Errata .................................14

7. Board Revision History and Errata ......................15

7.1 Revision History .............................15

7.2 Errata .................................15

8. Document Revision History .........................16

silabs.com | Building a more connected world. Rev. 1.0 | 2

1. Introduction

The BB50 Explorer Kit has been designed to inspire customers to explore the Silicon Labs EFM8BB50 Busy Bee 8-bit microcontroller.

The kit includes a mikroBUS™ socket and Qwiic® connector, allowing users to add features to the kit with a large selection of off-the-

shelf boards.

Programming the BB50 Explorer Kit is easily done using a USB Micro-B cable and the on-board J-Link debugger. A USB virtual COM

port provides a serial connection to the target application. The BB50 Explorer Kit is supported in Simplicity Studio™ and a Board Sup-

port Package (BSP) is provided to give application developers a flying start.

Connecting external hardware to the BB50 Explorer Kit can be done using the breakout pads which present peripherals from the

EFM8BB50 Busy Bee such as I2C, SPI, UART, and GPIOs. The mikroBUS socket allows inserting mikroBUS add-on boards which in-

terface with the EFM8BB50 through SPI, UART, or I2C. The Qwiic connector can be used to connect hardware from the Qwiic Connect

System through I2C.

1.1 Kit Contents

The following items are included in the box:

• 1x BB50 Explorer Kit board (BRD2702A)

1.2 Getting Started

Detailed instructions for how to get started with your new BB50 Explorer Kit can be found on the Silicon Labs web pages:

silabs.com/dev-tools

1.3 Hardware Content

The following key hardware elements are included on the BB50 Explorer Kit:

• EFM8BB50 Busy Bee MCU with 50 MHz operating frequency, 16 kB flash, and 512 bytes RAM

• One LED and one push button

• On-board SEGGER J-Link debugger for easy programming and debugging, which includes a USB virtual COM port

• MikroBUS™ socket for connecting Click boards™ and other mikroBUS add-on boards

• Qwiic® connector for connecting Qwiic Connect System hardware

• Breakout pads for GPIO access and connection to external hardware

• Reset button

UG550: BB50 Explorer Kit User's Guide

Introduction

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1.4 Kit Hardware Layout

The layout of the BB50 Explorer Kit is shown below.

Top View

Push Button

35.6 mm

55.9 mm

Reset Button

Breakout Pads

USB Micro-B Connector

- Virtual COM port

- Debug access

- Packet trace

LED

Qwiic

Connector

EFM8BB50

On-board USB

J-Link Debugger

mikroBUS Socket

Figure 1.1. BB50 Explorer Kit Hardware Layout

UG550: BB50 Explorer Kit User's Guide

Introduction

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2. Specifications

2.1 Recommended Operating Conditions

Parameter Symbol Min Typ Max Unit

USB Supply Input Voltage VUSB — 5.0 — V

Supply Input Voltage (VMCU supplied externally) 1 , 2VVMCU 1.8 3.3 3.6 V

Operating Temperature TOP — 20 — ˚C

1 Not recommended for use with rechargeable Lithium batteries. Most Li-Ion and Li-Po cells exceed 3.6 V when fully charged.

2 When using the provided interfaces with add-on boards or other external hardware, tighter voltage limits might apply.

2.2 Current Consumption

The operating current of the board greatly depends on the application and the amount of external hardware connected. The table below

attempts to give some indication of typical current consumptions for the EFM8BB50 and the on-board debugger. Note that the numbers

are taken from the data sheets for the devices. For a full overview of the conditions that apply for a specific number from a data sheet,

the reader is encouraged to read the specific data sheet.

Table 2.1. Current Consumption

Parameter Symbol Condition Typ Unit

EFM8BB50 Current Con-

sumption1

IBB MCU current consumption in NORMAL mode (module

supply voltage = 3.3 V, f_SYSCLK = 49 MHz using

HFOSC, TAMB 25 ˚C)

2.79 mA

MCU current consumption in SNOOZE mode (module

supply voltage = 3.3 V, LFOSC running at 80 kHz, TAMB

25 ˚C)

9.3 µA

MCU current consumption in SHUTDOWN mode (module

supply voltage = 3.3 V, TAMB 25 ˚C)

0.24 µA

On-board Debugger Sleep

Current Consumption 2

IDBG On-board debugger current consumption when USB cable

is not inserted (EFM32GG12 EM4S mode current con-

sumption)

80 nA

1 From EFM8BB50 data sheet.

2 From EFM32GG12 data sheet.

UG550: BB50 Explorer Kit User's Guide

Specifications

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3. Hardware

The core of the BB50 Explorer Kit is the EFM8BB50 Busy Bee 8-bit microcontroller. Refer to section 1.4 Kit Hardware Layout for place-

ment and layout of the hardware components.

3.1 Block Diagram

An overview of the BB50 Explorer Kit is illustrated in the figure below.

Expandability

Debugging

J-Link

Debugger

USB Micro-B

Connector

Button and LED

EFM8BB50

Breakout Pads

Temperature

& Humidity

Sensor

Ambient

Light & UV

Sensor

Hall Effect

Sensor

User Button

& LED

Serial Flash

External connectivity

Qwiic

Connector

mikroBUS

Socket

Figure 3.1. Kit Block Diagram

UG550: BB50 Explorer Kit User's Guide

Hardware

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3.2 Power Supply

The kit is powered by the debug USB cable as illustrated in the figure below.

USB Micro-B LDO

5V0

IN OUT

Automatic

Isolation

3V3

VMCU

EFM8BB50

8-bit MCU

Peripherals

Figure 3.2. BB50 Explorer Kit Power Topology

The 5 volt power net on the USB bus is regulated down to 3.3 V using a low dropout regulator (LDO). An automatic isolation circuit

isolates the LDO when the USB cable is not plugged in.

Power can be injected externally on the VMCU net if the USB cable is removed and no other power sources are present on the kit.

Failure to follow this guideline can cause power conflicts and damage the LDO.

3.3 EFM8BB50 Reset

The EFM8BB50 can be reset by a few different sources:

• A user pressing the RESET button.

• The on-board debugger pulling the #RESET pin low.

3.4 Push Button and LED

The kit has one user push button, marked BTN0, that is connected to a GPIO on the EFM8BB50. The button is connected to pin P0.7

and it is debounced by an RC filter with a time constant of 1 ms. The logic state of the button is high while the button is not being

pressed, and low when the button is pressed.

The kit also features one yellow LED, marked LED0, that is controlled by a GPIO pin on the EFM8BB50. The LED is connected to pin

P1.2 in an active-high configuration.

EFM8BB50

BB50_LED0

BB50_BUTTON0

User

Button & LED

P0.7

P1.2

Figure 3.3. Button and LED

UG550: BB50 Explorer Kit User's Guide

Hardware

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3.5 On-board Debugger

The BB50 Explorer Kit contains a microcontroller separate from the EFM8BB50 Busy Bee that provides the user with an on-board J-

Link debugger through the USB Micro-B port. This microcontroller is referred to as the "on-board debugger", and is not programmable

by the user. When the USB cable is removed, the on-board debugger goes into a very low power shutoff mode (EM4S).

In addition to providing code download and debug features, the on-board debugger also presents a virtual COM port for general pur-

pose application serial data transfer.

The figure below shows the connections between the target EFM8BB50 device and the on-board debugger. The figure also shows the

presence of the Mini Simplicity Connector, and how this is connected to the same I/O pins.

Refer to chapter 4. Debugging for more details on debugging.

Mini Simplicity

Connector

RSTb/C2CK

P2.0/C2D

P0.4 (UARTx.TX)

P0.5 (UARTx.RX)

On-Board

J-Link

Debugger

VCOM_TX

VCOM_RX

DBG_C2CK

DBG_C2D

Host

PC USB

EFM8BB50

Figure 3.4. On-Board Debugger Connections

3.6 Connectors

The BB50 Explorer Kit features a USB Micro-B connector, breakout pads, a mikroBUS connector for connecting mikroBUS add-on

boards, and a Qwiic connector for connecting Qwiic Connect System hardware. The connectors are placed on the top side of the board,

and their placement and pinout are shown in the figure below. For additional information on the connectors, see the following sub chap-

ters.

Breakout Pads

mikroBUS

Sockets

USB Micro-B

Connector

P0.2

P0.1

GND

MikroBUS SPI COPI

VMCU

Qwiic

Connector

GND

QWIIC I2C SDA

QWIIC I2C SCL

VCOM TX

VCOM RX

P0.0

P0.3

P2.0

P0.7

MikroBUS SPI CIPO

MikroBUS SPI SCK

MikroBUS SPI CS

RESET BUTTON

DBG C2D

DBG C2CK

P1.0

P1.1

P0.4

P0.6

P0.5 SPI0

SPI0

MikroBUS INT

MikroBUS UART RX

MikroBUS I2C SCL

MikroBUS I2C SDA

MikroBUS UART TX

SMB0

UARTx

LED0 P1.2

MikroBUS PWM TIMERx BUTTON0 MikroBUS ANALOG

ADC0

RSTb

Figure 3.5. BB50 Explorer Kit Connectors

UG550: BB50 Explorer Kit User's Guide

Hardware

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3.6.1 Breakout Pads

Seventeen breakout pads are provided and allow connection of external peripherals. The breakout pads are arranged in two rows and

contain a number of I/O pins that can be used with most of the EFM8BB50 Busy Bee's features. Additionally, the VMCU (main board

power rail), 3V3 (LDO regulator output), and 5V power rails are also exposed on the pads.

The pin-routing on the Busy Bee is flexible, so most peripherals can be routed to any pin on port 1 or 2. However, pins may be shared

between the breakout pads and other functions on the BB50 Explorer Kit. The figure in section 3.6 Connectors includes an overview of

the breakout pads and functionality that is shared with the kit.

Table 3.1. Breakout Pads Pinout

Pin Connection Shared Feature

Left-side Breakout Pins

1 GND Ground

2 5V Board USB voltage

3 P1.0 MikroBUS I2C_SDA, Qwiic I2C_SDA

4 P1.1 MikroBUS I2C_SCL, Qwiic I2C_SCL

5 P0.4 VCOM_TX, MicroBUS UART_TX

6 P0.5 VCOM_RX, MicroBUS UART_RX

7 P0.6 MikroBUS INT

8 P1.2 LED0, MikroBUS PWM

Right-side Breakout Pins

1 RSTb EFM8BB50 reset, active low

2 GND Ground

3 VMCU EFM8BB50 voltage domain

4 P0.2 MikroBUS SPI_COPI

5 P0.1 MikroBUS SPI_CIPO

6 P0.0 MikroBUS SPI_SCK

7 P0.3 MikroBUS SPI_CS

8 P2.0 DBG C2D

9 P0.7 BUTTON0, MikroBUS Analog

UG550: BB50 Explorer Kit User's Guide

Hardware

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3.6.2 MikroBUS Socket

The BB50 Explorer Kit features a mikroBUS™ socket compatible with mikroBUS add-on boards. MikroBUS add-on boards can expand

the functionality of the kit with peripherals such as sensors and LCDs. Add-on boards follow the mikroBUS socket pin mapping, and

communicate with the on-kit EFM8BB50 through UART, SPI, or I2C. Several GPIOs are exposed on the mikroBUS socket. MikroBUS

add-on boards can be powered by the 5V or VMCU power rails, which are available on the mikroBUS socket.

The pinout of the EFM8BB50 on the kit is made such that all required peripherals are available on the mikroBUS socket. The I2C sig-

nals are, however, shared with the Qwiic connector, and all mikroBUS signals are also routed to adjacent breakout pads.

When inserting a mikroBUS add-on board, refer to the orientation notch on the BB50 Explorer Kit, shown in the figure below, to ensure

correct orientation. Add-on boards have a similar notch that needs to be lined up with the one shown below.

mikroBUS

socket

Orientation notch

Figure 3.6. mikroBUS Add-on Board Orientation

The table below gives an overview of the mikroBUS socket pin connections to the EFM8BB50.

Table 3.2. mikroBUS Socket Pinout

mikro-

BUS Pin

Name

mikroBUS Pin

Function

Connection Shared Feature Suggested Peripheral Mapping

AN Analog P0.7 BREAKOUT_RIGHT9 ADC0.CH1

RST Reset P2.0 BREAKOUT_RIGHT8

CS SPI Chip Select P0.3 BREAKOUT_RIGHT7 SPI0.NSS

SCK SPI Clock P0.0 BREAKOUT_RIGHT6 SPI0.SCK

MISO SPI Main Input

Secondary Output

P0.1 BREAKOUT_RIGHT5 SPI0.CIPO

MOSI SPI Main Output

Secondary Input

P0.2 BREAKOUT_RIGHT4 SPI0.COPI

PWM PWM output P1.2 BREAKOUT_LEFT8 TIMERx.Tx

INT Hardware Interrupt P0.6 BREAKOUT_LEFT7

RX UART Receive P0.5 VCOM_RX, BREAKOUT_LEFT6 UARTx.RX

TX UART Transmit P0.4 VCOM_TX, BREAKOUT_LEFT5 UARTx.TX

SCL I2C Clock P1.1 QWIIC_I2C_SCL, BREAKOUT_LEFT4 SMB0.SCL

SDA I2C Data P1.0 QWIIC_I2C_SDA, BREAKOUT_LEFT3 SMB0.SDA

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Hardware

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