Nordic Semiconductor Enables a World of Everything Connected
Cellular loT design has typically been a fragmented experience, with multiple components coming from different vendors such as host MCU, RF front end, cellular module, GNSS module, secure element, MIC and other elements. This fragmented solution ownership brings various challenges and risks to product developers, often leading to a sub-optimal implementation that requires many tradeoffs around cost, performance and power consumption.
At Nordic, their goal is to streamline cellular product development and support the entire product lifecycle. This is why they have integrated all the different parts of their cellular offering into a complete solution – a fully Nordic-owned and controlled offering that includes hardware, software, tools, cloud services and our world-class support.
nRF9151 System-in-Package | nRF9151 Development Kit | Power Profiler Kit II | Thingy:91
nRF9151 System-in-Package
Low power SiP with integrated LTE-M/NB-IoT and DECT NR+ modem, and GNSS
The nRF9151 sets a new standard for highly integrated and compact System-in-Package (SiP) solutions, specifically designed for cellular IoT and DECT NR+ applications. Leveraging low power LTE technology, advanced processing capabilities, and robust security features, the nRF9151 offers unparalleled performance and versatility, and supports 3GPP release 14 LTE-M/NB-IoT and DECT NR+. The nRF9151 will also add support for Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) in a future firmware release. Compared to its predecessor (nRF9161), it boasts a significant footprint reduction of 20% and brings additional support for Power Class 5 20 dBm.
Main Benefits
- Enhanced Capabilities: The nRF9151 surpasses its predecessor with support for Power Class 5 20 dBm output power, complementing the existing Power Class 3 23 dBm, which provides great design flexibility as it eases the requirements for battery-powered products.
- Global Connectivity and Power Efficiency: The integrated modem of the nRF9151 enables global connectivity without regional limitations, and include new unique modem features for further power saving and ease of use.
- Unleashing the Potential of DECT NR+: Harness the capabilities of the DECT NR+ stack with the nRF9151, enabling massive mesh applications that prioritize reliability, secure connections, long range, and scalability.
nRF9151 Features
- 700-2200 MHz LTE band support
- Power Class 5 20 dBm
- Power Class 3 23 dBm
- 1.9GHz NR+ band support
- Certified for global operation
- Dedicated programmable application processor and memory
- 1 MB flash + 256 KB RAM
- Arm TrustZone + Arm CryptoCell 310
Applications
- Asset Tracking
- Smart Metering
- Smart City
- Smart Agriculture
- Predictive maintenance
- Portable Medical Devices
- Industry 4.0
nRF9151 Development Kit
Cellular IoT development kit for LTE-M, NB-IoT, GNSS and DECT NR+
The nRF9151 DK is an affordable, pre-certified single board development kit for evaluation and development on the nRF9151 System-in-Package (SiP) for LTE-M, NB-IoT, GNSS and DECT NR+. It has a dedicated LTE-M, NB-IoT and DECT NR+ antenna that supports a wide range of bands to operate globally. The nRF9151 DK has the same coverage as the nRF9151 SiP. LTE bands B1-B5, B8, B12, B13, B17-B20, B25, B26, B28, B65, B66 and B85 are supported.
An integrated patch antenna for GNSS is also included on the PCB, while SWF RF connectors are available for measuring the performance of the RF signals. Both antenna connectors also allow for the use of external antennas.
All GPIOs and interfaces are available via connectors. The kit is Arduino Uno Rev3 compatible, meaning it can easily interface with external device shields, such as the nRF7002 EK, which can be used for Wi-Fi locationing. User-programmable LEDs and buttons (4 each) are available for output and input.
The nRF9151 DK has both a nano/4FF SIM card slot and an MFF2 SIM footprint, to support plug-in and soldered (e)SIMs. The kit is shipped with a SIM card that is pre-loaded with free data. It also supports the use of Software SIM, further reducing power consumption.
Programming and debugging are enabled through the on-board SEGGER J-Link, which also supports programming and debugging external targets.
The nRF9151 DK is supported by a full suite of development software, tools and resources, including the Nordic Developer Academy’s Cellular IoT Fundamentals course.
The nRF9151 DK comes pre-flashed with our Serial LTE Modem application for interfacing through AT Commands. Getting started with other firmware samples is available in the Quick Start tool, found in nRF Connect for Desktop.
Power Profiler Kit II
Power profiling and power optimization of embedded solutions
The Power Profiler Kit II (PPK2) is an easy-to-use tool for current measurements and power consumption optimization of embedded solutions. The PPK2 connectors can be connected to any Nordic DK or custom board as a standalone unit, i.e. there are no requirements for additional kits or debuggers. The PPK2 supports both a source mode and an ampere meter mode.
In the source mode, shown as source measure unit (SMU) on the PCB, the PPK2 both supplies power and measures the current of the external device under test (DUT). The source mode has an on-board regulator capable of supplying up to 1A peak currents. Both modes support VCC levels between 0.8V and 5V. In the ampere meter mode, the DUT is powered by a separate power source.
High accuracy and resolution
The PPK2 has an advanced analog measurement unit with a high dynamic input range. This allows for accurate current consumption measurements for the entire range typically seen in embedded applications, all the way from 200nA to 1A. This allows measuring everything from Power Off mode of the DUT to the maximum power consumption of any Nordic DUT or external HW with headroom to spare for additional circuit draw, e.g. an nRF9160 DK with external sensors.
The resolution varies between 100nA and 1mA, depending on the current measurement range. The time resolution is also high enough to detect spikes. This is achieved by having a 100 ksps sampling rate of the current, 10x the resolution of the long term view of our previous generation PPK.
Improve code debugging
The PPK2 includes support for 8 digital inputs that can be used as a low-end logic analyzer. This makes it possible to instrument the code and make it easy to link the power consumption to blocks of code being executed.
Thingy:91
Multi-sensor cellular IoT prototyping platform
The Nordic Thingy:91 is an easy-to-use battery-operated prototyping platform for cellular IoT using LTE-M, NB-IoT and GNSS. It is ideal for creating Proof-of-Concept (PoC), demos and initial prototypes in your cellular IoT development phase.
Thingy:91 is built around the nRF9160 SiPnRF9160 SiP and is certified for a broad range of LTE bands globally, meaning the Nordic Thingy:91 can be used just about anywhere in the world. The cellular communication can be interleaved elegantly with GNSS positioning acquisition making it perfect for sophisticated asset-tracking product ideas. The kit comes preloaded with a sophisticated asset tracking application.
The kit is packed with a multitude of sensors for motion, impact, air quality and much more. The nRF Connect SDK supports Thingy:91 and there are examples for all sensors and connectivity functionality.
There is an nRF52840 multiprotocol SoC on the Thingy:91. This offers the option of adding Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity to your project ideas.
The Nordic Thingy:91 comes complete with a global use SIM card from iBasis that has a free 10 MB data plan to get you up and running immediately. The Thingy:91 and SIM can be provisioned and monitored using nRF Cloud which is Nordic Semiconductor’s cloud demonstration, evaluation and test platform.
nRF Connect SDK
Check out Nordic Semiconductor's Software Development Kit to build cellular IoT, Bluetooth Low Energy, Wi-Fi, Thread and Zigbee products.