ON-LOGO

ON Semiconductor DVK-SFxx y GEVK Evaluation Board

ON-Semiconductor-DVK-SFxx-y-GEVK-Evaluation-Board-PRODUCT

Specifications

  • Part Numbers: DVK-SFxx-y-GEVK
  • Supported Sigfox Regions: RCZ1, RCZ2, RCZ3, RCZ4
  • Revision: y
  • Application: Sigfox connectivity testing and application development
  • Compatibility: All four kits

Usage Instructions
Customers can communicate with the AX-SFxx-y SoC using either terminal emulation software or an external microcontroller. Follow the steps below to test Sigfox connectivity and develop applications:

Hardware Setup

  1. Connect the mini-module to the evaluation board. Ensure that the mini-module is keyed correctly.
  2. Connect the ribbon cable to the mini-module, making sure that the ribbon cable points away from the mini-module.

Prerequisite Software

  1. Install a serial console or terminal emulator software on your PC. Recommended options include PuTTY and hterm.
  2. Download and install the driver for the USB virtual COM port. Normally, Windows will automatically download the necessary driver when you connect the board for the first time. If needed, manually download the drivers from the FTDI driver website.

Software Setup

  1. Find the COM port number of the kit. On Windows, go to Device Manager and look for the Ports (COM & LPT) section. The debugger board, which has the USB to serial converter, is usually listed as USB Serial Converter B.
  2. Right-click on the USB Serial Converter B and select Properties. Go to the Advanced tab and ensure that the Load VCP option is selected.

Establishing Connection

  1. Open the serial console software and establish a connection to the device using the determined COM port number and the following settings:
    1. Baud Rate: 115200
    2. Data Bits: 8
    3. Parity: None
    4. Stop Bits: 1
    5. Flow Control: None
  2. To test the connection, type “AT” followed by a Carriage Return (CR) and/or Line Feed (LF).

Introduction

  • The DVK−SFxx−y−GEVK kit is a quick-start solution for the development of Sigfox® applications using the AX−SFxx−y System on Chip (SoC).
  • The xx in the part numbers in this document refer to xx = EU, US, JK, or AZ which correspond to Sigfox regions RCZ1, RCZ2, RCZ3, and RCZ4, respectively. The y is for the revision.
  • This user manual applies to all four kits.
  • The y in the part numbers refer to the current version of the kit.

Usage
Customers can communicate with the AX−SFxx−y SoC by terminal emulation software or with an external micro−controller to test Sigfox connectivity and to develop their application using the pre−programmed AT command set as documented in the corresponding product datasheets.

Kit Contents

  • 1 Mini−module with AX−SFxx−x SoC and SMA Connector
  • 1 Debugger Interface with Ribbon Cable
  • 1 Mini−USB Cable
  • 1 SMA Antenna

EVAL BOARD

ON-Semiconductor-DVK-SFxx-y-GEVK-Evaluation-Board-PRODUCT

Hardware Setup

  • Attach the included antenna to the SMA connector on the mini−module.
  • Connect the ribbon cable to the debugger board which is keyed.
  • The other side of the ribbon cable connects to the mini−module, and the ribbon cable should be connected so that the ribbon cable points away from the mini−module. See the picture below.

ON-Semiconductor-DVK-SFxx-y-GEVK-Evaluation-Board-FIG-1Prerequisite Software
A serial console or terminal emulator will be needed to communicate to the kit by PC over USB. Popular choices are PuTTY and term, but there are many others.
The following link from Sparkfun provides a lot of great information about serial consoles and how to use them. The link also describes many of the popular consoles you can choose from.
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/terminal−basics/all

Along with the serial console, the driver for the USB virtual COM port will also be needed. On Windows, normally you can just plug in the USB cable and Windows will automatically download the necessary driver. Please note that this can take several minutes but only happens the first time the board is plugged in.

If you need to download the drivers manually, please visit the FTDI driver website below and select the right version for your computer: http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.html

Software Setup
Before the serial console can connect with the kit the COM port number must be found. On Windows this can be done in the device manager. Look for the Ports (COM & LPT) section. See below an example that shows a device connected to COM8 as highlighted in the picture.

  • ON-Semiconductor-DVK-SFxx-y-GEVK-Evaluation-Board-FIG-2Please note that the debugger board, which is where the USB to serial converter is, uses USB Serial Converter B. This is seen in the Universal Serial Bus controller sections as highlighted in the picture above.
  • Please right−click on the USB serial Converter B, and select properties. Then click the advanced tab, and ensure that the Load VCP option is selected. This should be automatic but sometimes needs to be selected manually. See Figure 4.

DVK−SFxx−y−GEVK EVBUM

ON-Semiconductor-DVK-SFxx-y-GEVK-Evaluation-Board-FIG-3
Once a suitable serial console is available and the COM port number is known, the connection can be established. The serial protocol uses the following parameters.

  • 9600 baud
  • 8-bit words
  • No parity bit
  • One stop bit
  • No flow control

Using the serial console, establish a connection to the device through the COM port determined above and using the settings provided. To test the connection, simply type “AT” followed by a CR (Carriage Return) and/or LF (Line Feed).

  • If the response is “OK” then the device is connected and ready for use.
  • If no response is received then this indicates a bad connection. This can be caused by the debugger ribbon cable being plugged in backward, the wrong COM port number, or the wrong serial protocol setup being used.

Tip: When using some serial consoles, such as PuTTY, local echo must be enabled to see what is being typed. Please make sure this is enabled to avoid confusion as commands are typed. Also, some serial consoles don’t automatically add the CR/LF when the enter key is pressed. Double-check that this is enabled if you don’t see the “OK” response.

Sigfox ID and PAC

  • With the serial communication working, the ID and PAC of the kit can be read out of the device. These two pieces of information are necessary to register the device to be used on the Sigfox network.
  • To read the ID, issue the command “AT$I=10”, and the response will be an 8-digit hex string.
  • To read the PAC, issue the command “AT$I=11” and the response will be a 16-digit hex string.

Sigfox Registration

Application Development
Once the kit is registered to the Sigfox backend, the device can be used to transmit messages to/from the Sigfox network. Besides the Sigfox commands, all the other AT commands listed in the product datasheets can be used as well.

Here are links to the datasheets

Onsemi, and other names, marks, and brands are registered and/or common law trademarks of Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC dba “onsemi” or its affiliates and/or subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. semi owns the rights to several patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and other intellectual property. A listing of onsemi’s product/patent coverage may be accessed at www.onsemi.com/site/pdf/Patent−Marking.pdf. onsemi is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. This literature is subject to all applicable copyright laws and is not for resale in any manner.

The evaluation board/kit (research and development board/kit) (hereinafter the “board”) is not a finished product and is not available for sale to consumers. The board is only intended for research, development, demonstration, and evaluation purposes and will only be used in laboratory/development areas by persons with engineering/technical training and familiar with the risks associated with handling electrical/mechanical components, systems, and subsystems. This person assumes full responsibility/liability for proper and safe handling. Any other use, resale, or redistribution for any other purpose is strictly prohibited.

THE BOARD IS PROVIDED BY ONSEMI TO YOU “AS IS” AND WITHOUT ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WHATSOEVER. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, ONSEMI (AND ITS LICENSORS/SUPPLIERS) HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES ABOUT THE BOARD, ANY MODIFICATIONS, OR THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY AND ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON−INFRINGEMENT, AND THOSE ARISING FROM A COURSE OF DEALING, TRADE USAGE, TRADE CUSTOM OR TRADE PRACTICE.onsemi reserves the right to make changes without further notice to any board.

You are responsible for determining whether the board will be suitable for your intended use or application or will achieve your intended results. Before using or distributing any systems that have been evaluated, designed or tested using the board, you agree to test and validate your design to confirm the functionality of your application. Any technical, applications or design information or advice, quality characterization, reliability data, or other services provided by Onsemi shall not constitute any representation or warranty by Semi, and no additional obligations or liabilities shall arise from Semi having provided such information or services.

Semi-products including the boards are not designed, intended, or authorized for use in life support systems, any FDA Class 3 medical devices or medical devices with a similar or equivalent classification in a foreign jurisdiction, or any devices intended for implantation in the human body. You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless semi, its directors, officers, employees, representatives, agents, subsidiaries, affiliates, distributors, and assigns, against any liabilities, losses, costs, damages, judgments, and expenses, arising out of any claim, demand, investigation, lawsuit, regulatory action or cause of action arising out of or associated with any unauthorized use, even if such claim alleges that on semi was negligent regarding the design or manufacture of any products and/or the board.

This evaluation board/kit does not fall within the scope of the European Union directives regarding electromagnetic compatibility, restricted substances (RoHS), recycling (WEEE), FCC, CE, or UL, and may not meet the technical requirements of these or other related directives.

FCC

FCC WARNING – This evaluation board/kit is intended for use for engineering development, demonstration, or evaluation purposes only and is not considered by Onsemi to be a finished end product fit for general consumer use. It may generate, use, or radiate radio frequency energy and has not been tested for compliance with the limits of computing devices under part 15 of FCC rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection against radio frequency interference. Operation of this equipment may cause interference with radio communications, in which case the user shall be responsible, at its expense, to take whatever measures may be required to correct this interference.
semi does not convey any license under its patent rights nor the rights of others.

LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: onsemi shall not be liable for any special, consequential, incidental, indirect or punitive damages, including, but not limited to the costs of requalification, delay, loss of profits, or goodwill, arising out of or in connection with the board, even if onsemi is advised of the possibility of such damages. In no event shall Onsemi’s aggregate liability from any obligation arising out of or in connection with the board, under any theory of liability, exceed the purchase price paid for the board, if any.
The board is provided to you subject to the license and other terms per Onsemi’s standard terms and conditions of sale. For more information and documentation, please visit www.onsemi.com.

FAQ

  • Q: What are the supported Sigfox regions for the DVK-SFxx-y-GEVK kit?
    • A: The supported Sigfox regions are RCZ1, RCZ2, RCZ3, and RCZ4, corresponding to xx = EU, US, JK, or AZ in the part numbers.
  • Q: Can I use an external microcontroller to communicate with the AX-SFxx-y SoC?
    • A: Yes, you can communicate with the AX-SFxx-y SoC using an external microcontroller in addition to terminal emulation software.
  • Q: Where can I find the necessary drivers for the USB virtual COM port?
    • A: Normally, Windows will automatically download the necessary drivers when you connect the board for the first time. If needed, you can manually download the drivers from the FTDI driver website.

TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS

ONLINE SUPPORT: www.onsemi.com/support

Downloaded from Arrow.com.

Documents / Resources

ON Semiconductor DVK-SFxx y GEVK Evaluation Board [pdf] User Manual
DVK-SFxx y GEVK Evaluation Board, DVK-SFxx y, GEVK Evaluation Board, Evaluation Board, Board

References

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *