Silicon Laboratories EFR32xG21 Wireless Gecko User manual

UG429: EFR32xG21 2.4 GHz 10 dBm

Wireless Starter Kit User's Guide

A Wireless Starter Kit with the BRD4181B Radio Board is an ex-

cellent 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.

BRD4181B is a plug-in board for the Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard. It is a complete ref-

erence design for the EFR32xG21 Wireless SoC, with matching network and a PCB an-

tenna for 10 dBm output power in the 2.4 GHz band.

The Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard contains an on-board J-Link debugger with a Packet

Trace Interface and a Virtual COM port, enabling application development and debug-

ging of the attached radio board as well as external hardware. The mainboard also con-

tains sensors and peripherals for easy demonstration of some of the EFR32's many ca-

pabilities.

This document describes how to use the BRD4181B Radio Board together with a Wire-

less Starter Kit Mainboard.

BRD4181B RADIO BOARD FEATURES

• EFR32xG21 Wireless Gecko Wireless

SoC with 1024 kB Flash and 96 kB RAM

(EFR32MG21A010F1024IM32).

• Inverted-F PCB antenna (2.4 GHz band)

• 2x user color LEDs (red and green)

WIRELESS STK MAINBOARD FEATURES

• Advanced Energy Monitor

• Packet Trace Interface

• Virtual COM port

• SEGGER J-Link on-board debugger

• External device debugging

• Ethernet and USB connectivity

• Low power 128x128 pixel Memory LCD-

TFT

• User LEDs / pushbuttons

• 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

• SLWSTK6006A

• SLWSTK6023A

• SLWRB4181B

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

Table of Contents

1. Introduction ................................

1.1 Radio Boards ..............................4

1.2 Ordering Information ............................4

1.3 Getting Started ..............................4

2. Hardware Overview .............................5

2.1 Hardware Layout .............................5

2.2 Block Diagram ..............................6

3. Connectors ................................7

3.1 J-Link USB Connector ...........................7

3.2 Ethernet Connector ............................7

3.3 Breakout Pads ..............................8

3.4 EXP Header ...............................9

3.4.1 EXP Header Pinout ...........................10

3.5 Debug Connector .............................11

3.6 Simplicity Connector ............................12

3.7 Debug Adapter ..............................13

4. Power Supply and Reset .......................... 14

4.1 Radio Board Power Selection .........................14

4.2 Board Controller Power ...........................14

4.3 EFR32 Reset ..............................15

4.4 Battery Holder ..............................15

5. Peripherals ............................... 16

5.1 Push Buttons and LEDs ...........................16

5.2 Memory LCD-TFT Display ..........................17

5.3 Virtual COM Port .............................18

5.3.1 Host Interfaces ............................19

5.3.2 Serial Configuration ...........................19

5.3.3 Hardware Handshake ..........................20

6. Board Controller ............................. 21

6.1 Admin Console ..............................21

6.1.1 Connecting ..............................21

6.1.2 Built-in Help .............................21

6.1.3 Command Examples ..........................22

6.2 Virtual UART ..............................22

6.2.1 Target to Host .............................22

6.2.2 Host to Target .............................22

6.2.3 Limitations ..............................22

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6.2.4 Troubleshooting ............................23

7. Advanced Energy Monitor ......................... 24

7.1 Introduction ...............................24

7.2 Theory of Operation ............................24

7.3 AEM Accuracy and Performance ........................25

7.4 Usage .................................25

8. On-Board Debugger ............................ 26

8.1 Host Interfaces ..............................26

8.1.1 USB Interface .............................26

8.1.2 Ethernet Interface ...........................26

8.1.3 Serial Number Identification ........................26

8.2 Debug Modes ..............................27

8.3 Debugging During Battery Operation ......................28

9. Kit Configuration and Upgrades ....................... 29

9.1 Firmware Upgrades ............................29

10. Schematics, Assembly Drawings, and BOM .................. 30

11. Kit Revision History ........................... 31

11.1 SLWRB4181B Revision History ........................31

11.2 SLWSTK6023A Revision History .......................31

11.3 SLWSTK6006A Revision History .......................31

12. Document Revision History ........................ 32

silabs.com | Building a more connected world. Rev. 1.0 | 3

1. Introduction

The EFR32xG21 Wireless Gecko Wireless SoC is featured on a radio board that plugs directly into a Wireless Starter Kit (WSTK) Main-

board. The mainboard features several tools for easy evaluation and development of wireless applications. An on-board J-Link debug-

ger 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 ra-

dio board.

To further enhance its usability, the mainboard contains sensors and peripherals that demonstrate some of the many capabilities of the

EFR32xG21. A 20-pin expansion header (EXP header) is also provided that allows connection of expansion boards (EXP boards) to

the kit.

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.

Since the mainboard is designed to work with all 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 Starter Kit 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 that the correct document be consulted which shows the kit features in context of the radio board plugged in.

This document explains how to use the Wireless Starter Kit when the EFR32xG21 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Radio Board (BRD4181B) is com-

bined with a Wireless STK Mainboard. The combination of these two boards is hereby referred to as a Wireless Starter Kit (Wireless

STK).

1.2 Ordering Information

BRD4181B can be obtained as part of SLWSTK6006A EFR32xG21 2.4 GHz Mesh Networking Starter Kit, SLWSTK6023A EFR32xG21

Bluetooth Starter Kit, or as a separate radio board, SLWRB4181B.

Table 1.1. Ordering Information

Part Number Description Contents

SLWSTK6006A EFR32xG21 2.4 GHz Mesh Networking Starter Kit 3x BRD4001A Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard

3x BRD4180B EFR32xG21 2.4 GHz 20 dBm Radio Board

3x BRD4181B EFR32xG21 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Radio Board

3x AA battery holders

3x USB Type A to Mini-B cables

1x 10-pin 1.27mm IDC debug cable

1x BRD8010A Debug Adapter Board

SLWSTK6023A EFR32xG21 Bluetooth Starter Kit 1x BRD4001A Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard

1x BRD4181B EFR32xG21 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Radio Board

1x USB Type A to Mini-B cables

SLWRB4181B EFR32xG21 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Radio Board 1x BRD4181B EFR32xG21 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Radio Board

1.3 Getting Started

Detailed instructions for how to get started can be found on the Silicon Labs web pages:

silabs.com/start-efr32xg21

UG429: EFR32xG21 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Wireless Starter Kit User's Guide

Introduction

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2. Hardware Overview

2.1 Hardware Layout

The layout of the EFR32xG21 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Wireless Starter Kit is shown in the figure below.

On-board USB and

Ethernet J-Link

Debugger

Radio Board Breakout Pads Plug-in Radio Board

Si7021 Humidity and

Temperature Sensor

(Not available to BRD4181B)

EXP-header for

expansion boards

Serial-port, packet trace and Advanced

Energy Monitoring header

ARM Coresight 19-pin

trace/debug header

Ultra-low power 128x128

pixel memory LCD,

buttons and LEDs

Battery or

USB power

USB-serial-port

Packet-trace

Advanced Energy

Monitoring

Figure 2.1. Kit Hardware Layout

UG429: EFR32xG21 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Wireless Starter Kit User's Guide

Hardware Overview

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2.2 Block Diagram

An overview of the EFR32xG21 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Wireless Starter Kit is shown in the figure below.

Debug

USB Mini-B

Connector

UART

RJ-45 Ethernet

Connector

Packet Trace

AEM

Multiplexer

Debug

UART

ETM Trace

Packet Trace

AEM

Debug

UART

Packet Trace

AEM

Simplicity

Connector

Debug

Connector

Board

Controller

OUT

MCU

SMA

Connector

2.4 GHz RF

Inverted-F

PCB Antenna

EFR32xG21

Wireless SoC

ETM Trace

128 x 128 pixel

Memory LCD

GPIO

EXP

Header

User Buttons

& LEDs

R/G LED

Figure 2.2. Kit Block Diagram

UG429: EFR32xG21 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Wireless Starter Kit User's Guide

Hardware Overview

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3. Connectors

This chapter gives you an overview of the Wireless STK Mainboard connectivity. The placement of the connectors are shown in the

figure below.

Simplicity

Connector

Debug

Connector

GND

P25

P24

P27

P26

P29

P28

P31

P30

P33

P32

P35

P34

P37

P36

P39

P38

P41

P40

P43

P42

P45

P44

GND

Radio Board

Connectors

EXP Header

GND

VMCU

P11

P10

P13

P12

P15

P14

P17

P16

P19

P18

P21

P20

GND

P23

P22

VRF

3V3

Ethernet

Connector

J-Link USB

Connector

Figure 3.1. Mainboard Connector Layout

3.1 J-Link USB Connector

The J-Link USB connector is situated on the left side of the Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard. Most of the kit's development features are

supported through this USB interface when connected to a host computer, including:

• Debugging and programming of the target device using the on-board J-Link debugger

• Communication with the target device over the virtual COM port using USB-CDC

• Accurate current profiling using the AEM

In addition to providing access to development features of the kit, this USB connector is also the main power source for the kit. USB 5V

from this connector powers the board controller and the AEM. It is recommended that the USB host be able to supply at least 500 mA

to this connector, although the actual current required will vary depending on the application.

3.2 Ethernet Connector

The Ethernet connector provides access to all of the Wireless Starter Kit's development features over TCP/IP. The Ethernet interface

provides some additional development features to the user. Supported features include:

• Debugging and programming of the target device using the on-board J-Link debugger

• Communication with the target device over the virtual COM port using TCP/IP socket 4901

• "VUART" communication with the target device over the debug SWD/SWO interface using TCP/IP socket 4900

• Accurate current profiling using the AEM

• Real-time radio packet and network analysis using the Packet Trace Interface

• Access to advanced configuration options using the admin console over TCP/IP socket 4902

Note: The Wireless Starter Kit cannot be powered using the Ethernet connector, so in order to use this interface, the USB connector

must be used to provide power to the board.

UG429: EFR32xG21 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Wireless Starter Kit User's Guide

Connectors

silabs.com | Building a more connected world. Rev. 1.0 | 7

3.3 Breakout Pads

Most pins of the EFR32 are routed from the radio board to breakout pads at the top and bottom edges of the Wireless STK Mainboard.

A 2.54 mm pitch pin header can be soldered on for easy access to the pins. The figure below shows you how the pins of the EFR32

map to the pin numbers printed on the breakout pads. To see the available functions on each, refer to the data sheet for

EFR32MG21A010F1024IM32.

GND

VMCU

P23 / NC

P21 / NC

P19 / NC

P17 / NC

GND

P15 / NC

P13 / NC

P11 / PA06 / EXP14 / VCOM_RX

P9 / PA05 / EXP12 / VCOM_TX

P7 / PC03 / EXP10 / DISP_SCS

P5 / PC02 / EXP8 / DISP_SCLK

P3 / PC01 / EXP6 / VCOM_RTS

P1 / PC00 / EXP4 / DISP_MOSI

VRF

GND

VMCU

VCOM_CTS / PA04 / P22

DBG_TDO_SWO / PA03 / P20

DBG_TMS_SWDIO / PA02 / P18

DBG_TCK_SWCLK / PA01 / P16

GND

DISP_EXTCOMIN / PA00 / P14

NC / P12

UIF_LED1 / EXP13 / PD03 / P10

UIF_LED0 / EXP11 / PD02 / P8

UIF_BUTTON1 / EXP9 / PB01 / P6

UIF_BUTTON0 / EXP7 / PB00 / P4

NC / P2

NC / P0

VRF

J101

GNDGND

5V5V

NCNC

P45 / NCNC / P44

P43 / NCTRACED0 / PA03 / P42

P41 / NCNC / P40

3V33V3

P39 / NCNC / P38

P37 / NCDISP_EXTCOMIN / PA00 / P36

P35 / NCNC / P34

P33 / NCNC / P32

P31 / PD04 / VCOM_ENABLE / DISP_ENABLENC / P30

P29 / NCNC / P28

P27 / PC05 / PTI_SYNCNC / P26

P25 / PC04 / PTI_DATANC / P24

GNDGND

J102

Figure 3.2. Breakout Pad Pin Mapping

UG429: EFR32xG21 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Wireless Starter Kit User's Guide

Connectors

silabs.com | Building a more connected world. Rev. 1.0 | 8

3.4 EXP Header

The EXP header is an angled 20-pin expansion header provided to allow connection of peripherals or plugin boards to the kit. It is loca-

ted on the right-hand side of the mainboard, and it contains a number of 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 exported.

The connector follows a standard which ensures that commonly used peripherals, such as an SPI, a UART, and an I2C bus, are availa-

ble 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 a number of 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.

1516

20 19

VMCU

SPI_MOSI / PC00

SPI_MISO / PC01

SPI_CLK / PC02

SPI_CS / PC03

UART_TX / PA05

UART_RX / PA06

3V3

GND

PB00 / GPIO

PB01 / GPIO

PD02 / GPIO

PD03 / GPIO

BOARD_ID_SDA

BOARD_ID_SCL

Reserved (Board Identification)

EFR32 I/O Pin

Figure 3.3. EXP Header

UG429: EFR32xG21 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Wireless Starter Kit User's Guide

Connectors

silabs.com | Building a more connected world. Rev. 1.0 | 9

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 Wireless STK 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 NC I2C_SDA

14 PA06 UART_RX VCOM_RX USART0_RX

12 PA05 UART_TX VCOM_TX USART0_TX

10 PC03 SPI_CS DISP_SCS USART0_CS

8 PC02 SPI_SCLK DISP_SCLK USART0_SCLK

6 PC01 SPI_MISO VCOM_RTS USART0_RTS

4 PC00 SPI_MOSI DISP_MOSI USART0_MOSI

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 NC I2C_SCL

13 PD03 GPIO UIF_LED1

11 PD02 GPIO UIF_LED0

9 PB01 GPIO UIF_BUTTON1

7 PB00 GPIO UIF_BUTTON0

5 NC GPIO

3 NC GPIO

1 GND Ground

UG429: EFR32xG21 2.4 GHz 10 dBm Wireless Starter Kit User's Guide

Connectors

silabs.com | Building a more connected world. Rev. 1.0 | 10

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