Openthread: USB DFU Trigger library with Fanstel USB840F dongle

Hi,

Changing BSP_SELF_PINRESET_PIN from 19 to 18 won't work, as P0.18 is the RESET pin itself. The USB DFU trigger library requires a different GPIO to be connected to the RESET pin, in order to enter the bootloader. On the nRF52840 Dongle, GPIO P0.19 is connected to P0.18/nRESET pin. As far as I can see, there is no such connections on the Fanstel USB840F schematics.

Best regards,
Jørgen

Hi Jorgen,

Is it possible in anyway to trigger the DFU without pressing the buttons?

Kind regards,

Tushar

Yes, it is possible to enter the Bootloader using different methods, for instance by writing a given value to the GPREGRET register, see DFU mode.

Thank you for the information. I am working on the Thread protocol without a softdevice. Will this work for it? And even if I get into the bootloader, how will I get out of it if there was any firmware update done?

Yes, GPREGRET is a HW registers and it is one of the supported bootloader enter methods in the serial bootloaders we provide (UART/USB).

Typically, there is a timeout in the bootloader (NRF_BL_DFU_INACTIVITY_TIMEOUT_MS), that it will reset/jump to the application if no DFU process is started.

I think I understand it better now. One last question, Should I define this macro in app_config.h and call the functions related in my firmware application or make changes in the bootloader application? (Currently I am using the open bootloader from the examples. (\nrf5sdkforthreadv41\examples\dfu\open_bootloader\pca10059_usb)

You need to enable the GPREGRET enter method in the bootloader's sdk_config.h file, and you need to modify your application to write the GPREGRET register with the correct value (for instance based on the USB event), before resetting the chip.

You need to enable the GPREGRET enter method in the bootloader's sdk_config.h file, and you need to modify your application to write the GPREGRET register with the correct value (for instance based on the USB event), before resetting the chip.

I was able to enable GPREGRET enter method and rebuild bootloader and flash it onto the dongle. I have the default mbr 

The created bootloader is 

At start as I do not have the application flashed it re enters the bootloader every 15 seconds. (as I have set #define NRF_BL_DFU_INACTIVITY_TIMEOUT_MS 15000)

In my application main.c, I added this function and call it in main()

void otSysDfuMode(void)
{
    #define BOOTLOADER_DFU_GPREGRET                 (0xB0)      
    #define BOOTLOADER_DFU_START_BIT_MASK           (0x01)  
    #define BOOTLOADER_DFU_START    (BOOTLOADER_DFU_GPREGRET | BOOTLOADER_DFU_START_BIT_MASK)      
    sd_power_gpregret_clr(0,0xffffffff);
    sd_power_gpregret_set(0, BOOTLOADER_DFU_START);
    NVIC_SystemReset();
}

But now nothing is running on the device. I cannot see the COM port. I am a bit confused on this part.

It would be really helpful if you could guide me with this in detail. 

Kind regards,

Tushar

What I am currently trying to do is, everytime the USB dongle is plugged in it should enter the bootloader for 15 sec and then start the application. 

void otSysDfuMode(void)
{
    #define BOOTLOADER_DFU_GPREGRET                 (0xB0)      
    #define BOOTLOADER_DFU_START_BIT_MASK           (0x01)  
    #define BOOTLOADER_DFU_START    (BOOTLOADER_DFU_GPREGRET | BOOTLOADER_DFU_START_BIT_MASK)      
    nrf_power_gpregret_set(BOOTLOADER_DFU_START);
    NVIC_SystemReset();
}

Hi Jorgen,

With some changes in the function I was able to enter the DFU mode. But the problem I have now is it repeatedly enters the DFU mode for 15 sec and goes off, it is not moving to the application after trying the DFU once and after 15 sec start the application. 

I know I have to make some changes so that it understands it, but I am not able to figure that out. 

Kind regards,

Tushar Diggewadi

Is there a valid application present?

Have you debugged the bootloader to see where it fails to load the application? Does the device reset in the bootloader after the timeout and again start the DFU process?

Yes there is a valid application present. 

Yes I had a long debug session. I set

nrf_power_gpregret_set(BOOTLOADER_DFU_START);

in my bootloader (main.c) so that the device should enter the DFU mode everytime it starts. But now it is in a loop. 

As you asked, the device makes a reset after timeout and again starts the DFU.

Where exactly I should use nrf_power_gpregret_set(BOOTLOADER_DFU_START) ? whether in bootloader main.c or in my application? Both ways if I do it I am going into a loop. 

I just want the device to go into DFU for the first time on power up and then start the application.