nRF5 SDK for Thread A complete software development kit to build Thread compatible products for the smart home.

Product Overview KEY FEATURES Nordic offers a complete solution for applications using the Pre-built OpenThread stack for nRF52840 Thread networking protocol. nRF5 SDK for Thread takes a full Based on nRF5 SDK advantage of multi-protocol capabilities of nRF52840 SoC by offering support for concurrent Thread and ® Low Examples for all Thread roles Energy operation. The nRF52840 SoC and the nRF5 SDK for Support for OpenThread network co-processor Thread makes a powerful solution for battery powered sensor nRF5 SDK for Thread includes Thread/Bluetooth LE dynamic devices in the smart home. To further ease development, the so- multiprotocol solution lution also includes development tools like the Thread topology Fast security execution using the on-chip ARM® Cortex™ monitor and a demo border router based on the Raspberry PI™. -M4F processor cryptographic accelerator Thread networking protocol Support for DFU over Thread The Thread networking protocol was designed to easily and CoAP application layer example securely connect hundreds of devices to each other and to the cloud using real Internet Protocols over a low-power, Border router and cloud connectivity example wireless mesh network. Built on open standards and with PC tools: Thread topology monitor IPv6/6LoWPAN protocols, Thread’s approach to wireless networking offers a secure and reliable mesh network with no APPLICATIONS single point of failure, simple connectivity and low power. The Smart Home Thread standard is a stack built on top of well-established yy Some detectors protocols and technologies, such as IEEE 802.15.4, 6LoWPAN, y IPv6, and UDP. Thread provides means for network security and y Door locks commissioning but does not specify the application protocol. yy Fans It is a network protocol similar to WiFi but designed for low yy A/Cs power and resouce constrained devices. However, the Thread yy Home lighting systems Group have several liaisons with different application layers yy Security systems, etc e.g., OCF, Zigbee dotdot, etc. For more details about Thread, visit www.threadgroup.org. Application Bridging between the Thread mesh Border router and the Internet Security/Commissioning UDP First router device in the network becomes Leader leader and makes network management IP Routing Figure 1. The Thread Device which routes data traffic protocol networking Router in the network typically mains powered 6LoWPAN stack. Can be sleepy to reduce power consumption, End device ideal for battery powered devices IEEE 802.15.4 MAC nRF5 SDK for Thread IEEE 802.15.4 PHY The nRF5 SDK for Thread is a complete SDK to build Thread compatible products for the smart home. The SDK is based on the well-proven nRF5 SDK which contains drivers and examples WiFi Cloud for the nRF52840 SoC. The nRF5 SDK for Thread also includes Figure 2. Typical a a pre-built OpenThread stack and examples for all roles in a Legend: Thread Network Thread network. Router topology. A Thread network can have OpenThread is an open-source implementation of the Thread Leader 250+ nodes in the networking protocol. The OpenThread was initially released Border Router network. by Nest to make the technology used in Nest products more End Device broadly available to developers. OpenThread implements all Thread networking layers and is the first stack to be Thread 1.1 certified. nRF52840 with OpenThread software was officially -cer tified in September 2017 and is a Thread Certified Component. The nRF5 SDK for Thread have support for Over-the-Air Device

nRF5 SDK for Thread Product Brief Version 2.0 Firmware Upgrade (OTA-DFU). This allows for in-the-field up- Furthermore, the nRF52840 has an on-chip ARM Cryptocell dates of application and/or protocol stack. The DFU algorithm cryptographic accelerator. Cryptocell brings best-in-class security uploads the new firmware image in the background to ensure features for Cortex-M systems. Cryptocell offers a broad range of no network down time. cryptographic ciphers and runs independent of the CPU bringing added security and efficiency during security operations. In the Thread specification no application layer is defined, but several IP based application layers can be supported. In the Maximum re-use and easy migration nRF5 SDK for Thread, an example implementation of applica- The nRF5 SDK for Thread is built on top of the nRF5 SDK. This tion layer is included, i.e. the CoAP. In this example the Thread enables easy migration to Bluetooth LE applications on the Nor- nodes communicate with a cloud service (thethings.io). dic platform and other Nordic SDKs e.g. nRF5 SDK for HomeKit. Concurrent Thread and operation Development kits The nRF5 SDK for Thread provides support for concurrent Nordic recommends to use the nRF52840 PDK for Thread de- Thread and Bluetooth LE operation. The solution allows a de- velopments. It is a single board development kit with on board vice to participate in a Thread network while, at the same time, debugger and all GPIOs exposed. function as a Bluetooth LE peripheral device. This is achieved In the SDK, there is also an example of a border router using the by dynamically switching between Thread and Bluetooth LE, as nRF52840 and a Raspberry PI. The border router is intended for shown in Fig 3. The switching process, which duration is under development purposes to make it easy for developers to connect 1 ms, is implemented by the stack and transparent to the ap- their Thread network to the Internet in the development phase. plication developer. The nRF5 SDK for Thread comes with a set The Raspberry PI needs to be bought separately. of examples which demonstrate this unique feature. A Thread topology monitor PC tool is also included in the SDK. nRF52840 multi-protocol SoC with IEEE 802.15.4 support This tool simplifies the development with a graphical user inter- The nRF5 SDK for Thread runs on the nRF52840 SoC. The face to monitor the Thread network topology in real time. nRF52840 is a low power multi-protocol SoC with support for the IEEE 802.15.4 PHY in Up to 1MB Flash addition to being fully w-Cache 64MHz ARM® Multi-Protocol Bluetooth 5 compliant. Cortex®-M4F 2.4GHz Radio DOWNLOAD INFORMATION This makes it an ideal Up to 256kB RAM AHB / APB / Easy DMA / PPI device for customers System Peripherals NFC-A Tag nRF5 SDK for Thread nordicsemi.com/thread developing products Crypto Co-Proc DEBUG Oscillators for both Thread and/ 5TIMER 3RTC WDT 32MHz RC/O RELATED PRODUCTS or Bluetooth LE. The 32kHz RC/O Digital, Analog I/F and IO Ports nRF52840 have a low nRF52840 Multi-protocol SoC supporting 2UART 3SPI 212C Power Supply power ARM Cortex-M4 Bluetooth 5, ANT, 802.15.4 and PDM I2S DEC LDO 2.4GHz applications F MCU running at 64- 2ACMP 4PWM 12-bit ADC 2-stage Buck DC/DC

MHz, a rich peripheral POR BOD nRF52840 PDK Preview development kit for the set, 256kB RAM, and 48-GPIO Crossbar nRF52840 SoC 1MB of Flash memory.

Sleep Wake up Figure 3. Bluetooth LE connection/ Bluetooth LE connection/ advertising interval advertising interval

Platform Init IEEE 802.15.4 IEEE 802.15.4 IEEE 802.15.4 Thread Uninit IEEE 802.15.4

eg. Thread, Bluetooth LE Init eg. Thread, eg. Thread, eg. Thread, Bluetooth Zigbee etc. Thread Init Zigbee etc. Zigbee etc. Zigbee etc. LE Init Bluetooth LE Bluetooth LE Bluetooth LE Bluetooth LE Bluetooth LE Bluetooth Time

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Headquarters: Trondheim, Norway Tel: +47 72 89 89 00

For more information Visit nordicsemi.com for the complete product specification about this and any other wireless ULP products.

About Nordic Semiconductor Nordic Semiconductor is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in ULP short-range wireless communication. Nordic is a public company listed on the Norwegian stock exchange.

nRF5 SDK for Thread Product Brief Version 2.0