After the release of Bluetooth 5 in 2016, Nordic was the first vendor to come up with complete Bluetooth 5 solutions. The nRF52820 is the sixth IC in Nordic’s nRF52 series. It features high-speed data transmission up to 2Mbps, includes Bluetooth 5.3’s advertisement extensions, and adds support for long-range radio modes of 125 kbps and 250 kbps.
This high-end chip offers a unique single chip solution for demanding IIOT (Industrial internet of things) applications such as asset tracking, HID controller, smart home products, lighting, and more. However, acknowledging its unique benefits in the field of IIoT requires understanding the nRF52820 datasheet in the first place.
The Crux Of the nRF52820 Datasheet
This nRF chip, as the name suggests, is used for RF capabilities. It is powered by the ARM Cortex-M4 processor that runs at 64MHz clock speed. The device has 256 KB of flash memory and 32 KB of RAM. The SoC (System on Chip) has a 2.4 GHz transceiver module with a built-in antenna. That given, it is capable of Bluetooth low energy, Thread, Zigbee, and other standard 2.4GHz protocols. Thus, it is an ideal bet for gateway applications.
The SoC has an ultra-low power multi-protocol radio that supports all Bluetooth 5.3 features.
Some other notable features:
- Bluetooth mesh
- Direction finding
- data rate: up to 2 Mbps
- Bluetooth long range
The SoC supports multiple interfaces as follows:
- USB
- Analog comparator
- SPI
- UART
- TWI
- QDEC
- GPIOTE
The wide operating range (1.7v to 5.5v) makes it ideal for rechargeable batteries and USB power supplies.
The device has two in-built programmable LEDs-no need for any external setups. Just plug it into your laptop and jump right into the coding. However, you will need a compiler, like GCC, for developing applications and writing codes.
Nordic provides a cross-platform development software for desktop – nRF Connect. The application helps you upload your compiled code into the dongle. You will also need a software development kit (nRF5 SDK) that has all the libraries and example codes to help you get started.
The nRF52820 datasheet contains details on specifications and key features of the SoC chip.
How the nRF52820 Benefits Short-Range IIoT
The chip has some unique selling points to meet the requirements of demanding IIoT applications. Some important features are discussed below.
ARM Cryptocell
Nordic has partnered with ARM Cryptocell to ensure high-end hardware-accelerated security. This includes algorithms for ciphers, key exchange, and data integrity. In addition, as per the nRF52820 datasheet, Nordic also offers hardware support for a secure boot, a cornerstone of advanced device security.
On-Chip Power Management
As the chip comes in 1.7 to 5.5 V supply option, it can receive direct supply from rechargeable batteries. You don’t need an additional regulator on the board. A regulated output supply of 1.8 V to 3.3 V can directly power sensors or other external components. These on-chip features reduce your BOM (bill of materials) during PCB design and offer compatibility at the same time.
High-End Data Security
The chip offers standardized Bluetooth security and additional application-level security. Some rich set of security features are:
- LE secure connections
- End-to-end security with DTLS/TLS
- Secure pairing with NFC
- Secure DFU solution using asymmetric signing
Nordic is making sure to add additional layers of security to the SoC with every update.
Good Data Throughput
The nRF52820 SoC, powered with Bluetooth 5.3, offers data transfer at the rate of 2 Mbps- three times the speed of nRF52 series used to be with Bluetooth 4.2. As a result, it ensures a better user experience for existing IIoT applications, faster data synchronization with wearables, and quicker firmware updates than before. This also sets the future for shortening the sending time of big images and videos at low energy.
Longer Range
In IIoT applications, range matters. The maximum output power range here is +8dBm. It is nearly more than 1.5 times the range of its predecessor nRF51 and nRF52832 SoCs. Thus, there are plenty of margins, ensuring a stable connection. In short, the device offers a full in-house coverage for smart gadgets to stay well-synchronized with each other.
Extended Multi-protocol Support
The SoC supports a number of standards for short-range wireless technologies as follows:
- IEEE 802.15.4
- Thread
- Zigbee
The best part is that Nordic offers software support for all these protocols.
Memory and Peripherals
The nRF52820 features 256 KB Flash + 32 KB RAM. This is a single-chip solution for advanced IIoT applications with lower cost, power, and size than other two-chip types of architecture.
When talking about peripherals and GPIO, nRF52820 has one UART, and two SPIs. It has 18 GPIOs, while the 832 version has 32.
It features a full-speed USB 2.0 for fast-wired data transfer. In addition, the presence of SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) offers a high-speed interface to external memories and aids display controllers in variable applications with ease.
The next step in designing applications requires understanding correct pin layouts and downloading accurate CAD drawings from reliable sources. Ultra Librarian has a huge online library to help you collect all this information, including the latest nRF52820 datasheet and available vendors, in one place.
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