User's Guide

Page 9 of 19

nBlue Bluetooth 5.0 Module User’s Guide

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2.3 Hardware Details

The BR-LE5.0-S1A utilizes the Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 SoC. For detailed specifications see the nRF52840

Product Specification: https://www.nordicsemi.com/DocLib/Content/Product_Spec/nRF52840/latest/keyfeatures_html5

2.3.1 Power-up and Reset

There are no strict requirements for power up timing. To reset the module, the RESET line must be pulsed low for at least

1µS.

2.3.2 UART

UART_TX, UART_RX, UART_RTS and UART_CTS form a conventional asynchronous serial data port. Two-way

hardware flow control is implemented by UART_RTS and UART_CTS. These signals operate according to normal

industry convention. The signaling levels are nominal 0V and VDD and are inverted with respect to the signaling on an

RS232 cable.

2.3.3 USB Interface

In addition to the UART, the module can also be controlled using AT commands through a USB CDC ACM virtual

serial port. The module can be controlled through this port through AT commands and events in the same way it can

over the UART.

2.3.4 PIO_14 Firmware Update Mode Trigger

PIO_14 can be used to manually put the module into firmware update mode, which allows its firmware to be updated

via the UART using the nBlue Programmer (nBP) application. This can be done by setting it to VDD during power up

or reset and holding it at VDD until the “nBoot” message is sent from the UART.

nBlue Programmer (nBP) is a Windows application that allows firmware to be updated on all nBlue Bluetooth 5.0 modules.

Updates can be performed through the module’s UART or USB interface and Over the Air (OTA) through a BLE

connection (see the OTA updates section for additional requirements.) See the nBlue Programmer User’s Guide for

detailed information.

This functionality is not built into the hardware, but provided by the nBoot bootloader programmed into the

module by BlueRadios. If the bootloader is erased using a debugger, PIO_14 will no longer trigger firmware

update mode. See the Important notes section for more information.