Preview: this manual is being updated to cover Shimmer3R. Notes marked TODO are open questions our team is still confirming.
1. Introduction
This reference is for firmware developers and for anyone testing or repairing a Shimmer3: the mainboard’s components and pin assignments, the Bluetooth radio, the microSD data path, the battery charger, and the conventions for the LEDs. Everything a user needs to operate a Shimmer is in the Shimmer3/3R User Manual.
Firmware development itself (the source, toolchains and building and programming images) is described in each firmware repository’s README and in the log-and-stream-common documentation; see Firmware Development in the Shimmer3/3R User Manual. The Shimmer3 JTAG Developer Board User Guide covers debugging over JTAG.
Shimmer3R: This reference describes the Shimmer3 mainboard (MSP430F5437A). Shimmer3R has a different processor, radio and ADC; the Shimmer3R hardware section of the Shimmer3/3R User Manual lists the differences.
2. Mainboard detail
Shimmer3R: This appendix describes the Shimmer3 mainboard (MSP430). Its component list, pin assignments and CPU pins do not apply to Shimmer3R.
TODO(S3R): Add the Shimmer3R equivalent, or state that it is not published: important components, the external and internal connector pin assignments, and the processor pin assignment.
2.1. Important Components
These following components may be removed or replaced to support specific user applications, configure the board or perform power-measurement testing. Figure 2‑1 and Figure 2‑2 provide illustrations of the Shimmer3 mainboard layout with each component labelled appropriately. For more information, contact Shimmer support.
J1 Negative battery terminal
J2 Positive battery terminal
F1 Battery discharge limit PTC (MF-FSMF050X-2)
SW2 On/Off switch
U9 Primary Regulator (3.0V LDO)
EU5 Battery charger
R37 Battery charger RSET
D5 Battery Isolation Diode (SBR130S3)
R46 Battery voltage divider resistor (top)
R47 Battery voltage divider resistor (bottom)
U1 Battery voltage divider buffer
X1 32.768k crystal
X3 XT2 clock source, 8MHz resonator
U8 CPU (MSP430F5437AIPN)
U2 Bluetooth soft power switch
U3 microSD power switch
U4 FFC / Radio Peripheral power switch
U5 TCXO power switch
EU1 RN-42 Bluetooth Radio Module
R20 Zero-ohm microSD power jumper (use for power measurements)
R21 Zero-ohm Radio power jumper (use for power measurements)
R23 Zero-ohm FFC / Radio peripheral power jumper (use for power measurements)
R41 22.1 ohm TCXO power jumper (use for power measurements and filtering)
R26 22.1 ohm MPU power jumper (use for power measurements and filtering)
R24 22.1 ohm low-noise accel. power jumper (use for power measurements and filtering)
U20 3-Axis low-noise accelerometer (KXRB5-2042)
U21 6 Axis Motion Processor (MPU-9150)
U22 3-Axis magnetic sensor (LSM303DLHC)
U7 Digital Pressure/Temp Sensor (BMP180)
C44 .033uF Accelerometer x-filter
C26 .033uF Accelerometer y-filter
C29 .033uF Accelerometer z-filter
J6 Internal Expansion (BM10NB(0.6)-20DS-0.4V(51))
J7 Internal Expansion (BM10B(0.6)-20DP-0.4V(51))
J5 External Expansion (Hirose ST60-18P(30), female; mates with the ST40X-18S)
J8 FFC / Radio Peripheral Expansion (XF2L-1025-1A)
J4 microSD socket
U12 Debug Mode Mux (ADG784A)
U14,U15 microSD Isolation MUX (ADG742BKSZ)
U6 Debug Mode detector (MIC845HBC5)
SW1 User button
D1 Green LED
D2 Yellow LED
D3 Red LED
D6 Green LED
D9 Blue LED
Figure 2‑1 Shimmer3 mainboard Layout Top View
Figure 2‑2 Shimmer3 mainboard Layout Bottom View
2.2. Connector Pin Assignments
External Expansion Connector
Conn Pin |
Net Name |
Interruptible? |
Function |
J5-1 |
PV_CHG |
N |
Battery Charging Power 5-6VDC. Do not exceed 300mA connector current rating When >5.7V is applied to this pin, DEBUG mode is activated and JTAG signals are activated. JTAG signals are indicated in ()’s below. |
J5-2 |
SA_SOMI_RXD |
N |
USART A0: Serial |
J5-3 |
SA_SIMO_TXD |
N |
USART A0: Serial |
J5-4 |
FLASH_SCLK_EXT |
N |
USART B1: SPI (wired to microSD) |
J5-5 |
FLASH_SOMI |
N |
USART B1: SPI (wired to microSD) |
J5-6 |
FLASH_SIMO |
N |
USART B1: SPI (wired to microSD) |
J5-7 |
SBWTCK |
N |
BSL programming |
J5-8 |
MSP_RESET_N |
N |
BSL programming and Global Reset |
J5-9 |
DETECT_N (JTAG_TDI) |
N |
Card detect output signal to flash controller (JTAG TDI signal) |
J5-10 |
GPIO_EXTERNAL_RADIO_DD |
Y |
GPIO. Alternate function is reserved for coprocessor Bi-Spy Wire |
J5-11 |
BSL_RX_LED_BLU (JTAG_TMS) |
Y |
BSL programming, BLU LED SIGNAL (JTAG TMS signal) |
J5-12 |
ADC6_FLASHDAT2 |
N |
ADC input or GPO. Also used for SD mode flash access |
J5-13 |
ADC7_FLASHDAT1 |
N |
ADC input or GPO. Also used for SD mode flash access |
J5-14 |
BSL_TX_LED_GR1 (JTAG_TCK) |
Y |
BSL Programming, LED signal (JTAG_TCK signal) |
J5-15 |
FLASH_CS_N (JTAG_TDO) |
Y |
Flash CS or SD Mode DAT3 line (JTAG TDO Signal) |
J5-16 |
ADC15_RADIO_DC |
Y |
ADC Input. Alternate function is reserved for coprocessor Bi-Spy Wire |
J5-17 |
PV |
N |
Regulated Board power output: 3.0VDC @ 100ma* |
J5-18 |
GND |
N |
Board Ground |
J5-TABS/SHELL |
GND |
N |
Board Ground |
* Exact current capacity will vary based on operating state of integrated peripherals and processor.
Internal Expansion Connectors
For function descriptions see previous table.
Conn and Pin Number |
Net Name |
Conn and Pin Number |
Net Name |
J6-1 J6-20 |
PV |
J7-1 J7-2 J7-19 J7-20 |
PV_REG |
J6-2 J6-19 |
GPIO_INTERNAL2 |
||
J6-3 J6-18 |
GPIO_INTERNAL |
J7-3 J7-18 |
ADC1 |
J6-4 J6-17 |
SA_SIMO_TXD |
J7-4 J7-17 |
ADC12 |
J6-5 J6-16 |
SA_SOMI_RXD |
J7-5 J7-16 |
ADC13 |
J6-6 J6-15 |
SA_SCLK |
J7-6 J7-15 |
ADC14 |
J6-7 J6-14 |
SB_SCL |
J7-7 J7-14 |
GPIO_INTERNAL1 |
J6-8 J6-13 |
SB_SDA |
J7-8 J7-13 |
EXP_RESET_N |
J6-9 J6,10 J6-11 J6-12 |
GND |
J7-9 J7,10 J7-11 J7-12 |
GND |
J6-TABS |
GND |
J7-TABS |
GND |
2.3. CPU Pin Assignment
The CPU pin connections for Shimmer developers are listed below:
| Pin Name | Pin # | Board Name | Use | ** Type** |
| DVCC | 16,51,31,67 | PV_MSP | Power | Analogue |
| AVCC | 11 | PV_MSP | Power | Analogue |
| VREF | 9 | PV_VREF_MSP | A/D Ref | Analogue |
| VREFN | 10 | GND | A/D Ref | Analogue |
| DVSS | 15,50,30,68 | GND | Power | Analogue |
| AVSS | 12 | GND | Power | Analogue |
| VCORE | 11 | PV_MSPC | Power | Analogue |
| TEST | 71 | SBWTCK | BSL, SBW | Input |
| TCK | 75 | JTAG_TCK | JTAG | Input |
| TMS | 74 | TP_JTAG_TMS | JTAG | |
| TDI | 73 | TP_JTAG_TDI | JTAG | |
| TDO | 72 | TP_JTAG_TDO | JTAG | |
| RST_N | 76 | MSP_RESET_N | BSL, SBW, JTAG | Open Drain |
| XIN | 13 | CLK_MSP_XIN | Primary XTAL | Clocking |
| XOUT | 14 | CLK_MSP_XOUT | Primary XTAL | Clocking |
| XT2IN | 69 | CLK_MSP_HF_XIN | 8MHz Resonator | Clocking |
| XT2OUT | 70 | CLK_MSP_HF_XOUT | 8MHz Resonator | Clocking |
| P1.0 | 17 | RADIO_STATUS | RADIO, RADIO EXP | Input (IRQ) |
| P1.1 | 18 | BSL_TX_LED_GR1 | BSL/LED | Output |
| P1.2 | 19 | BSL_RX_LED_BLU | BSL/LED | |
| P1.3 | 20 | RADIO_RTS | RADIO | INPUT(IRQ) |
| P1.4 | 21 | GPIO_INTERNAL | TBD | Input (IRQ) |
| P1.5 | 22 | GPIO_EXTERNAL_RADIO_DD | TBD, RADIO EXP | Input (IRQ) |
| P1.6 | 23 | USER_N | User Button | Input (IRQ) |
| P1.7 | 24 | MPU_INT | Kinematics | Input(IRQ) |
| P2.0 | 25 | GPIO_EXTERNAL1 | Expansion | Input (IRQ) |
| P2.1 | 26 | GPIO_EXTERNAL2 | Expansion | Input (IRQ) |
| P2.2 | 27 | RADIO_CTS | RADIO | Input (IRQ) |
| P2.3 | 28 | DOCK | Input (IRQ) | |
| P2.4 | 29 | MAG_DRDY | Kinematics | Input (IRQ) |
| P2.5 | 32 | MAG_INT1 | Kinematics | Input (IRQ) |
| P2.6 | 33 | CHG_STAT1 | CHARGER | Input (IRQ) |
| P2.7 | 34 | CHG_STAT2 | CHARGER | Input (IRQ) |
| P3.0 | 35 | SA_SCLK_R | Expansion | Output |
| P3.1 | 36 | SB_SDA | USART B0 | Output |
| P3.2 | 37 | SB_SCL | USART B0 | Input |
| P3.3 | 38 | EXP_RESET_N | Expansion | Output |
| P3.4 | 39 | SA_SIMO_TXD | USART A0 | Output |
| P3.5 | 40 | SA_SOMI_RXD | USART A0 | Input |
| P3.6 | 41 | RADIO_SCLK_R | RADIO EXP, USART A1 | Output |
| P3.7 | 42 | FLASH_SIMO | FLASH, USART B1 | Output |
| P4.0 | 43 | FLASH_CS_N_FLASH_DAT3 | FLASH | Output |
| P4.1 | 44 | SD_DETECT_N | FLASH | Input |
| P4.2 | 45 | SW_FLASH | FLASH | Output |
| P4.3 | 46 | SW_BT | RADIO | Output |
| P4.4 | 47 | BT_RESET_N | RADIO | Output |
| P4.5 | 48 | BT_FACTORY | RADIO | Output |
| P4.6 | 52 | SW_TCXO | TCXO | Output |
| P4.7 | 53 | TCXO_CLK_R | TCXO | Input (Clock) |
| P5.4 | 54 | FLASH_SOMI | FLASH | Input |
| P5.5 | 55 | FLASH_SCLK_R | FLASH | Output |
| P5.6 | 56 | RADIO_TXD_SIMO | RADIO, RADIO EXP | Output |
| P5.7 | 57 | RADIO_RXD_SOMI | RADIO, RADIO EXP | Input |
| P7.2 | 58 | LED_RD | LED | Output |
| P7.3 | 59 | LED_GR | LED | Output |
| P8.0 | 60 | LED_YE | LED | Output |
| P8.1 | 61 | RADIO_CS_N | RADIO EXP | Output |
| P8.2 | 62 | RADIO_RESET_N | RADIO EXP | Output |
| P8.3 | 63 | SW_RADIO | RADIO EXP | Output |
| P8.4 | 64 | NOT ROUTED | ||
| P8.5 | 65 | NOT ROUTED | ||
| P8.6 | 66 | SW_ACCCEL | Kinematics | Output |
| P6.0 | 77 | DETECT_N | FLASH | Output |
| P6.1 | 78 | SEL_ADC | Expansion | Output |
| P6.2 | 79 | BATTERY | ADC | Analogue Input |
| P6.3 | 80 | ACCEL_X | Low Noise Accel | Analogue Input |
| P6.4 | 1 | ACCEL_Y | Low Noise Accel | Analogue Input |
| P6.5 | 2 | ACCEL_Z | Low Noise Accel | Analogue Input |
| P6.6 | 3 | ADC6_FLASHDAT2 | Ext GPIO, ADC | Analogue Input |
| P6.7 | 4 | ADC7_FLASHDAT1 | Ext GPIO, ADC | Analogue Input |
| P7.4 | 5 | ADC12 | ADC | Analogue Input |
| P7.5 | 6 | ADC13 | ADC | Analogue Input |
| P7.6 | 7 | ADC14 | ADC | Analogue Input |
| P7.7 | 8 | ADC15_RADIO_DC | ADC, RADIO EXP | Analogue Input |
3. Bluetooth radio
One of the key functions of the Shimmer board is its ability to communicate as a wireless platform. Shimmer uses a Bluetooth Radio module.
3.1. Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1)
Bluetooth is a low-cost, low-power, robust, short-range wireless communication protocol which was initially founded by Ericsson in 1994 to replace traditional mobile phone and computer cables with wireless links. It operates in the license free 2.4 GHz ISM (industrial, scientific, medical) band with a short range (power-class-dependent: 1 metre, 10 metres, 100 metres) transceiver in each device. With the introduction of the (EDR) Enhanced Data Rate feature [1], devices can communicate with each other at up to 3Mbps. The Bluetooth special interest group (SIG) was founded in 1998 by companies such as Ericsson, Nokia and Intel and the core system consists of an RF transceiver, baseband and protocol stack. Bluetooth radios are designed for busy environments with many users. Up to eight Bluetooth devices can communicate together in a network called a piconet. The piconet is a point to multipoint network consisting of one master and up to seven slave devices. Multiple piconets can coexist and join together to form scatternets. Bluetooth uses 79 1MHz channels to transmit data. Interference between other ISM band devices (802.11 and 802.15.4 devices) and other Bluetooth piconets is minimised using frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS), where the carrier is rapidly switched (hops) among the 79 available channels. The frequency hopping sequence is controlled by the master within the piconet. Other Bluetooth interference reduction techniques include adaptive power control, Channel Quality Driven Data Rate (CQDDR) and Adaptive Frequency Hopping (AFH) [2]. Extensive documentation and analysis of Bluetooth and its applications can be accessed from the Bluetooth SIGs website at www.bluetooth.com.
3.2. The Bluetooth module
Early Shimmer3 units use the Roving Networks RN-42 [3] Class 2 Bluetooth module to communicate via an integrated 2.4GHz antenna. This module was found to be well engineered and very configurable [4], reliable and robust. This module contains a full Version 2 Bluetooth Protocol Stack and supports the Serial Port Profile which facilitates rapid application development. The Bluetooth module is connected to the MSP430 directly via the USART1 serial connection. It can also be controlled by ASCII strings over the Bluetooth RF link. The RN-42 has a range of more than 10 metres (33 feet) and the transmitted power can be adjusted depending on the application distance. The system has seventy-nine channels with channel intervals of 1MHz and offers a robust secure link via frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) and error correction schemes. Users can expect to communicate with the Shimmer USART at speeds up to 230kbaud, with 115kbaud as the default and recommended value.
Later Shimmer3 units carry the Microchip RN4678, a dual-mode module that adds Bluetooth Low Energy to the same Serial Port Profile connection. Which radio and firmware a unit has is reported to Consensys.
4. microSD host data bypass
To improve usability, Shimmer incorporates a wide bandwidth analogue MUX and tri-state logic buffering on certain signals routed to the external connector to provide direct and immediate access to flash memory using an external SD-flash card controller (SDHOST) for high-speed data transfer. Shimmer Applications that use the microSD card will require firmware that allows for the SD specification’s requirement of a power-cycle to change from SPI mode (the card talking to the MSP430) back to SDIO mode (the card is controlled by the USB flash media controller). Power-cycling the card requires explicit control of the card’s interface pins, setting them to LOW (zero Volts).
The Host Data Bypass implementation has been simplified when compared to prior generation sensor platforms such as Shimmer2r. When a firmware application detects that the Shimmer is docked, it can complete pending activities, power cycle the flash media (including lowering all SPI pins going to the media), reconfigure the data path and the assert a media-detect signal to the host computer via a USB flash media controller peripheral.
Always use a Shimmer Dock v3 (or higher) for best performance.
Earlier docks required a logic timing-critical scheme, which has been deprecated.
The Host data activity indicator on the USB Reader dock, described in the Shimmer Dock User Guide, provides helpful status information.
5. Battery charger
The Shimmer uses a diode wired-OR to prevent device damage from reversed battery leads and allow operation from external power while charging.
The Texas Instruments LM3658D Smart Li Charger is used for battery management. The LM3658D implements a multi-phase charge profile including battery conditioning and overcharge protection. The default Rset resistor value of 22.1kΩ provides conservative 125mA charge limiting. The included 450mAh battery pack includes secondary failsafe protection against over/under voltage and over-discharge – all user-selected or installed batteries must provide secondary failsafe protection. The maximum discharge current on the supplied battery is 3.360A, a rate far exceeding expected conditions for sensing applications.
6. LED colour conventions
The lower LED location is tri-coloured (green, yellow and red) and is meant for operational status; the upper location is bi-coloured (blue and green) and is meant for the data communication mode. Firmware developers are encouraged to follow international conventions for indicator lights, as LogAndStream does:
- Operational status: green for correct operation, yellow for a warning, red for an error.
- Data status: blue for Bluetooth, green for sensing.
The user button gives no tactile feedback, so firmware should show a press on an LED; LogAndStream lights the lower LED green while the button is held. The LED feedback reference describes how LogAndStream drives each LED.
7. References
[1] Bluetooth Special Interest Group, Serial port Profile Specification, Vol. 7 Part B of the Bluetooth Specification Version 2, November, 2004.
[2] C. Hodgdon, Adaptive frequency hopping for reduced interference between Bluetooth and wireless LAN, Ericsson Technology Licensing, May 2003.
[3] Roving Networks, Bluetooth Module RN-42, Available at http://www.rovingnetworks.com
[4] Roving Networks, Bluetooth Module RN-46 Command Set, Available at http://www.rovingnetworks.com
Legal Notices and Disclaimers
Legal Notices and Disclaimers
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DISPOSE OF USED BATTERIES ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS.
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