nRF52832: Everything You Need To Know in 2023

Introduction

The nRF52832 is essentially acknowledged as a Multiprotocol Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth 5), ANT/ANT+, and a 2.4 GHz Proprietary System-on-Chip (SoC). Apart from these fundamental features that it provides, it has on-chip NFC tag support integrated into it.

As for its construction, it is composed of a microcontroller together with its 32 configurable input-output pins. Accordingly, they are ideally suited for uses including wearable technology, lighting equipment, and even intricate IoT applications.

All of these potential applications require advanced components; hence, it is understandable by now that the nRF52832 is a sophisticated component and module with a wide array of uses, especially in advanced technologies. Additionally, it has amazing peripheral configurations and attributes and remarkable storage capacity for its Flash and RAM.

Consequently, we’d like to touch on the crucial talking point about nRF52832, including its definition, features, specifications, applications, wireless protocol support, rich peripheral flexibility, programming, and its difference against nRF52840. Thus, if you genuinely consider this component in your application, finish reading the article; we’ll thoroughly discuss it!

What is nRF52832?

As stated, the nRF52832 is a system-on-chip (SoC) module component with a microprocessor with a multiprotocol radio that can handle a frequency of 2.4 GHz. Further, there include a handful of external components and input-output (I/O) pins.

It is regarded that the nRF52832 is ideally suited for low-energy Bluetooth and ultra-power wireless applications. Additionally, this only runs in a power supply voltage of approximately 1.7 V to 3.6 V. If it goes above that range, its output performance may change.

Nevertheless, if planning to link this component through a battery, it comes with a regulator with a minimum voltage of 3.3 V and a maximum of 6 V. As for its module assembly, it contains an antenna, debug connector, power LED, reset button, and program header.

Last but not least, the nRF52832-MDK has the ability to experiment with other platforms, including nRF5 SDK, nRF5 SDK for Mesh, Mbed OS 5, Zephyr, Mynewt, JerryScript, Espruino, MicroPython, Web Bluetooth, Eddystone, etc.

Defining the nRF52832

Fundamental Features of nRF52832

In order to fully understand the capability of the nRF52832, we’d like to tackle its various features. In that way, we can help our readers reduce their options of whether this module component is appropriate for their applications. However, due to its countless exceptional features, we’ll only discuss some of the essential ones.

• It can use Bluetooth 5 at 2 Mbps.
• It offers an ARM Cortex M4F 32-bit processor.
• It provides 64kB RAM and 512kB flash.
• It has software bundles that can be installed.
• It is a modular protocol stack-free development service.
• Both the 1 Mbit and 2 Mbit Bluetooth low energy versions are compatible.
• The nRF51, nRF24AP, and nRF24L series are supported wirelessly.
• The low-energy Bluetooth threshold for this device is -96 dBm.
• It has an output power that can be programmed from +4 dBm to -20 dBm.
• EasyDMA and RAM mapping FIFOs are included.
• A maximum of 256 Bytes of dynamic on-air carrier capacity.
• It has a 32-pin GPIO that is flexible and adjustable.
• It offers PPI, which stands for Programmable Peripheral Interface.
• It has a complete package of EasyDMA-compatible digital interfaces, including SPI/2-wire, UART, PDM, and I2S.
• It is 32 MHz, 40ppm for Bluetooth, and 50ppm for ANT extraneous crystalline that is reasonably priced.
• It only has a one-ended antenna transmission (On-chip Balun).

Essential Characteristics to Know About nRF52832

Different Applications of nRF52832

Since we already have knowledge about the nRF52832 capability, we can discuss the various industries that prefer this module in their applications.

• IoT – Home automation, sensor networks, and building automation.
• Personal Area Networks – Medical sensors, monitor devices, key fobs, and wristwatches.
• Interactive Entertainment Devices – Remote control and gaming controller.
• Beacons
• A4WP Wireless Chargers and Devices
• Remote Control Toys
• Computer Peripherals and I/O Devices – Mouse, keyboard, and multi-touch trackpad.

Various Industry that Employs nRF52382

Wireless Protocol Support and Rich Peripheral Flexibility of nRF52832

In order to fully grasp the functionality of the nRF52382, we’d like to tackle its protocol support and flexibility. In that way, we can prevent the occurrences of failure during the application.

Wireless Protocol Support

The concurrent multiprotocol is supported by the nRF52832 SoC. In order to allow handsets to provide, equip, manage, and operate mesh nodes, Bluetooth net, and Bluetooth LE can coexist. Highly specialized interfaces operating at 2.4 GHz, ANT, and NFC are also accessible. It is compatible with Bluetooth Low Energy and has a 2 Mbps significantly higher rate.

Rich Peripheral Flexibility

To enable complex single-board solutions, the nRF52832 has a wide range of interfaces and peripherals. The whole range of network communication is covered. Furthermore, PWMs, QDEC, and dual PDM electronic microphone ports are functionalities that are built within the chip. EasyDMA memory architecture is supported by all endpoints and connectors, increasing efficiency, performance, and accessibility.

nRF52832 Programming

In this sector, we will dissect how to program the nRF52832 via a bootloader.

Using a dedicated JTAG developer to install code onto the nRF52832 Breakout is unnecessary because it comes with a sequential bootloader already configured. Nonetheless, this setup of a serial link between the desktop and the breakout does require an FTDI Basic Device.

Linking the FTDI and Breakout

It connects to the 6-pin serial interface of the nRF52832 using the FTDI Basic. The boards should be slotted together after matching the “BLK” and “GRN” markings. Afterward, the red power LED ought to start to light up. Check the FTDI-VCC EN switch on the board’s rear to see if it hasn’t been disabled or if it won’t turn up.

Triggering the Bootloader

Since the nRF52832 doesn’t offer an auto-reset function similar to the Arduino board, it needs to sample the state of the GPIO 6 during the bootup. After that, pin 6 must be minimal to launch into the bootloader; otherwise, it runs into the pre-programmed software. Therefore, one must refresh the device while pressing the pin 6 switches to launching the nRF52832 into its bootloader.

The bootloader reboot trick is as follows in the step-by-step format:

1. Hold down the 06 and Reboot switches simultaneously.
2. Reset the device.
3. Check to see whether the blue (pin 7) LED starts flickering.
4. Disengage the user button with the 06 labels.

The blue LED on pin 7 of the nRF52832 should begin to flicker in what is known as the “ticking bomb” rhythm when the device is in bootloader status.

We receive this in exchange for not using pricey JTAG programmers, which is to say that it is a little complicated and highly irritating to do before each procedure. One can upload code to the chip using Arduino’s “Upload” option when you’ve already typed the bootloader.

Uploading the Blink

We suggest attempting to submit a simple blinking demonstration after linking the flickering line to the onboard LED on pin 7. Below is a copy of the code one can paste into their device.

const int ledPin = 7;

void setup()

{

    pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);

}

void loop()

{

    digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);

    delay(500);

    digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);

    delay(500);

}

Difference Between nRF52832 vs. nRF52840

To make things easier and more understandable, we’ve created a thorough table that meticulously compares the capability of the nRF52832 against the nRF52840.

Parameters	nRF52840	nRF52832
Bluetooth 5 Long Range 4X	Yes
Bluetooth 5 Long Range 2X	Yes	Yes
Advertising Extensions 8X	Yes	Yes
TX Power	8 dBm	4 dBm
Flash	1024 KB	512 KB
RAM	256 KB	64 KB
I2S	Yes	Yes
SPI, UART, PWM	Yes	Yes
Input Supply Voltage (V)	1.7 V to 5.5 V	1.7 V to 3.6 V
Maximum Temperature (°C)	+85	+85
Cost	High	Low

Conclusion

To wrap up, the nRF52832 is a beneficial module device component widely preferred in countless applications due to its exceptionally offered features. Further, they are renowned for being general-purpose multiprotocol System-on-Chip (SoC) devices.

If you’ve decided by now to incorporate the nRF52832 in your application, do not hesitate to message us and send your specifications; we’ll be sure to attain it regardless of the complexity, and we will produce it on its highest quality and optimum performance. However, if questions remain in your mind about nRF52832, then kindly message PCBTok immediately. We will be more than happy to assist with your concerns.

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