User's Manual

NINA-B1 series - Data Sheet

UBX-15019243 - R05 Early Production Information Interfaces

Page 9 of 35

2 Interfaces

2.1 Power management

2.1.1 Module supply input (VCC)

The NINA-B1 series uses an integrated DC/DC converter to transform the supply voltage presented at the VCC

pin into a stable system voltage. Due to this, the NINA-B1 modules are compatible for use in battery powered

designs.

2.1.2 Digital I/O interfaces reference voltage (VCC_IO)

All modules in the u-blox NINA series provide an additional voltage supply input for setting the I/O voltage level.

On the NINA-B1 series modules, the I/O voltage level is the same as the supply voltage and VCC_IO is internally

connected to the supply input. Therefore only a single supply voltage is needed for NINA-B1, which makes it

ideal for battery powered designs.

This may not be the case for modules in the NINA series that will be released in the future. A design that

should be pin compatible with other NINA-series modules should keep the VCC and VCC_IO supply rails

separate.

2.2 RF antenna interfaces

2.2.1 2.4 GHz Bluetooth low energy (ANT)

The two NINA-B1 model versions have their own 2.4 GHz antenna solutions respectively:

 The NINA-B111 modules provide an antenna pin (ANT) with a nominal characteristic impedance of 50

Ω. This pin can be connected to an on-board antenna or antenna connector using a controlled

impedance trace. See the NINA-B1 series System Integration Manual [1] for more information.

 The NINA-B112 modules use an integrated antenna solution; no additional components are required.

The ANT pin is internally disconnected on these models.

2.2.2 Near Field Communication (NFC)

The NINA-B1 series modules include a Near Field Communication interface, capable of operating as a 13.56 MHz

NFC tag at a bit rate of 106 kbps. As an NFC tag, data can be read from or written to the NINA-B1 modules

using an NFC reader; however the NINA-B1 modules are not capable of reading other tags or initiating NFC

communications. Two pins are available for connecting to an external NFC antenna: NFC1 and NFC2. See the

NINA-B1 series System Integration Manual [1] for more information and NFC antenna design considerations.

2.3 System functions

The NINA-B1 series modules are power efficient devices capable of operating in different power saving modes

and configurations. Different sections of the module can be powered off when not needed and complex wake

up events can be generated from different external and internal inputs. The radio part of the module operates

independently from the CPU.

The two main power saving modes are:

 Standby mode

 Sleep mode

Depending on the application, the module should spend most of its time in sleep mode to conserve battery life.

2.3.1 Module power-on

NINA-B1 modules can be switched on in one of the following ways and this will cause the module to reboot:

 Rising edge on the VCC pin to a valid supply voltage