Nordic Thingy:91

nRF Connect for Desktop
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nRF Connect for Desktop

Note

Make sure to check the partition layout configuration when programming the Nordic Thingy:91 firmware. See Updating the Thingy:91 firmware using nRF Connect for Desktop apps for more information.

To update the nRF52840 SoC firmware on the Thingy:91 using the nRF9160 DK as an external debug probe, complete the following steps:

  1. Open nRF Connect for Desktop and launch the Programmer app.

  2. Prepare the hardware:

    a. Connect the Thingy:91 to the debug out port on a 10-pin external debug probe using a JTAG cable.

    Thingy:91 - Connecting the external debug probe

    Note

    When using the nRF9160 DK as the debug probe, make sure that VDD_IO (SW11) is set to 1.8 V on the nRF9160 DK.

    b. Make sure that both the Thingy:91 and the external debug probe are powered on.

    Note

    Do not unplug or power off the devices during this process.

    c. Connect the external debug probe to the computer with a USB cable.

  3. Click Select device.

    Programmer - Select device

    A drop-down menu appears.

  4. Select the appropriate debug probe entry from the drop-down list.
    Select the nRF9160 DK from the list.
    The button text changes to the SEGGER ID of the selected device, and the Device memory layout window indicates that the device is connected.

  5. Set the SWD selection switch SW2 to nRF52 on the Thingy:91.

  6. In the File section, click Add file and select Browse.
    A file explorer window appears.

  7. Navigate to where you extracted the firmware.

  8. Check the CONTENTS.txt file in the extracted archive for information on which file you need.
    The img_app_bl folder contains the HEX files for flashing with a debugger.
  9. Select the HEX file to program and click Open.
  10. In the Device section, click Erase & write.
    The update is complete when the animation in the Programmer app's Device memory layout window ends.
  11. In the File section, click Clear files.

You can now disconnect the external debug probe from Nordic Thingy:91, disconnect Nordic Thingy:91 from the computer, and put the cover back on.

To update the modem firmware on the Thingy:91 using an external debug probe, complete the following steps:

  1. Open nRF Connect for Desktop and launch the Programmer app.

  2. Prepare the hardware:

    a. Connect the Thingy:91 to the debug out port on a 10-pin external debug probe using a JTAG cable.

    Thingy:91 - Connecting the external debug probe

    Note

    When using the nRF9160 DK as the debug probe, make sure that VDD_IO (SW11) is set to 1.8 V on the nRF9160 DK.

    b. Make sure that both the Thingy:91 and the external debug probe are powered on.

    Note

    Do not unplug or power off the devices during this process.

    c. Connect the external debug probe to the computer with a USB cable.

  3. Click Select device.

    Programmer - Select device

    A drop-down menu appears.

  4. Select the appropriate debug probe entry from the drop-down list.
    The button text changes to the SEGGER ID of the selected device, and the Device memory layout window indicates that the device is connected.

  5. Set the SWD selection switch SW2 to nRF91 on the Thingy:91.

  6. In the File section, click Add file and select Browse.
    A file explorer window appears.

  7. Navigate to where you extracted the firmware.

  8. Check the CONTENTS.txt file in the extracted archive for information on which file you need.

  9. Select the modem firmware ZIP file to program and click Open.

    Note

    Do not extract the modem firmware ZIP file.

  10. In the Device section, click Write.
    The Modem DFU window appears.

    Programmer - Modem DFU

  11. In the Modem DFU window, click Write.
    When the update is complete, a "Completed successfully" message appears.

  12. In the File section, click Clear files.

You can now disconnect the external debug probe from Nordic Thingy:91, disconnect Nordic Thingy:91 from the computer, and put the cover back on.

Note

Before trying to update the modem again, click the Erase all button. This deletes the contents of the flash memory and the applications must be reprogrammed.

To program the nRF9160 SiP application firmware on the Thingy:91 using an external debug probe, complete the following steps:

  1. Open nRF Connect for Desktop and launch the Programmer app.

  2. Prepare the hardware:

    a. Connect the Thingy:91 to the debug out port on a 10-pin external debug probe using a JTAG cable.

    Thingy:91 - Connecting the external debug probe

    Note

    When using the nRF9160 DK as the debug probe, make sure that VDD_IO (SW11) is set to 1.8 V on the nRF9160 DK.

    b. Make sure that both the Thingy:91 and the external debug probe are powered on.

    c. Connect the external debug probe to the computer with a USB cable.

  3. Click Select device.

    Programmer - Select device

    A drop-down menu appears.

  4. Select the appropriate debug probe entry from the drop-down list.
    Select the nRF9160 DK from the list.
    The button text changes to the SEGGER ID of the selected device, and the Device memory layout window indicates that the device is connected.

  5. Make sure the SWD selection switch SW2 is set to nRF91 on the Thingy:91.

  6. In the File section, click Add file and select Browse.
    A file explorer window appears.

  7. Navigate to where you extracted the firmware.

  8. Check the CONTENTS.txt file in the extracted archive for information on which file you need.
    The img_app_bl folder contains the HEX files for flashing with a debugger.
  9. Select the HEX file to program and click Open.

  10. In the Device section, click Erase & write.
    The update is complete when the animation in the Programmer app's Device memory layout window ends.

  11. In the File section, click Clear files.

You can now disconnect the external debug probe from Nordic Thingy:91, disconnect Nordic Thingy:91 from the computer, and put the cover back on.