NXP LPC8N04 Dev Board with Integrated NFC - Review

Table of contents

RoadTest: NXP LPC8N04 Dev Board with Integrated NFC

Author: habitat-domotique

Creation date:

Evaluation Type: Development Boards & Tools

Did you receive all parts the manufacturer stated would be included in the package?: True

What other parts do you consider comparable to this product?: Not really, it's development card is part of a new series with detachable NFC antenna and energy harvesting

What were the biggest problems encountered?: No paper User starting guide, but please read docs with attention on https://www.nxp.com/products/processors-and-microcontrollers/arm-based-processors-and-mcus/lpc-cortex-m-mcus/lpc800-series-cortex-m0-plus-mcus/lpc8n04-development-board-for-lpc8n04-mcu:OM40002?tab=In-Depth_Tab An application on smartphone allows to glimpse the capabilities of the card. Somes example code are available, for my part I wish there was more example code and a pinout diagram

Detailed Review:

Presentation

 

NXP Semiconductor OM40002 Development Board is a flexible and powerful development system for the LPC8N04 Arm Cortex-M0+ based Microcontroller with integrated Flash, SRAM, and EEPROM featuring NFC tag integration in a single chip SoC.

 

The OM40002 Board can be used with a range of development tools, including the MCUXpresso IDE toolchain. The OM40002 Board is complemented by a sample smartphone application and firmware to utilize the built-in LED array and speaker in a scrolling message demo application with option for music playback.

 

The LPC8N04 process section of the OM40002, with its integral antenna, can be detached for deployment in prototype or proof-of-concept designs. The OM40002 Board also includes an on-board CMSIS-DAP debug probe which is supported by most IDEs, so development can be started with no additional cost.

The OM40002 Development Board board includes the following features:

 

  • Compatible with MCUXpresso IDE and other popular toolchains (incl. IAR and Keil)
  • Detachable, two-section board featuring minimal LPC8N04 system and debug probe / demo circuitry (LEDs and speaker)
  • LPC8N04 Arm Cortex-M0+ MCU running at up to 8MHz
  • Integrated NFC antenna
  • Dual coin cell battery holders for
  • On-board CMSIS-DAP (debug probe) with VCOM port, based on LPC11U35 MCU
  • One SPI/SSP, and up to 12 general purpose I/O (GPIO) pins
  • Debug connector to allow debug of target LPC8N04 MCU using an external probe
  • LPC8N04 User button
  • LPC8N04 Reset button
  • 5x7 LED array for user applications
  • Surface mounted speaker with amplifier
  • Expansion connections with pin-outs compatible with I2C Grove and Pmod connectors for easy connection of sensors

 

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Unboxing

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The development board is super clean. and practical, we clearly see the part that can be cut. Only minor complaint is the pins and jumpers are really small and not easy to handle.

 

First use

 

The LPC8N04 on the Development Board is pre-programmed with a demonstration program it allows us to glimpse the capabilities of the map.

Thanks to the application available on Android, we will be able to use the development card for both reading and writing.

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Of course you need a phone with NFC for that. Once the application is installed, we will first read the message on the map. For that we select the mode "reading" then we present the map "the phone will ring to signal the right reading and will display the message on the screen. Here the message is simple and displays the ambient temperature. And as long as the card is close to the phone, it will recover enough energy to display this message on the LED array at the back.

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For the writing mode it's the same thing, we select the "writing" mode, then we choose a text and / or a melody then we present the map.

A beep confirms the correct consideration and our message appears on the LED array.

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We have the opportunity through jumper to choose in the LED headband feature or the speaker. GPIO from the LPC8N04 is shared between a row of the LED array and the speaker, using a jumper (P9) to select which function is used, as shown in. If no jumper is fitted then neither the LED row nor the speaker will be enabled.

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We also have with the mobile application, the ability to see the message scrolling on the LED array and update the firmware in OTA. Very interesting for the future if for example we must deploy mass and quickly a firmware update.


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Go further

 

Acording NXP specifications the LPC8N04 has a small automatic source selector that monitors the power inputs.

The automatic source selector unit in the PMU decides on the powering of the internal domains based on the power source.

  • If a voltage > 1.72 V is detected on VBAT and not VNFC, VBAT powers the internal Domains.
  • If a voltage 1.72 V is detected on VBAT, and a higher voltage is detected on VNFC, the internal domains are powered from VNFC.
  • If a voltage > 1.72 V is detected at both VBAT and VNFC, the internal domains are powered from VBAT.

Here we see all the interest of energy harvesting technology, even with a battery the LPC8N04 is able to choose its energy source. What to make last the battery of the years, perfect for a device which would be often solicited.

As a reminder the NFC technology is based on a frequency of 13.56Mhz, compared to RFID a very similar technology that is based on 6.78 MHz.

 

A more complete scan of the development board gives us a lot more informations.

 

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The Development Board also has accessible GPIO distributed as follows.

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The LPC8N04 is supported by MCUXpresso IDE, and other popular IDEs such as Keil MDK and IAR. Take a look the SDK to easily program the firmwarewith the examples.

 

Ideas of use

 

Subsequently I check well as use, a lock connected NFC. But also, as an interactive toy or as an interactive pendant, the uses are limitless from the moment you need NFC connectivity.

Anonymous