Silicon Laboratories Thunderboard EFM32GG12 User Manual

UG371: Thunderboard EFM32GG12 User's
Guide

The Thunderboard EFM32GG12 is a low cost, small form factor
development and evaluation platform for the EFM32GG12™ Giant
Gecko Microcontroller.

The Thunderboard contains an EFM32 MCU together with an on-board SEGGER J-Link
debugger for easy debugging through the USB Micro-B debugging connector. Most of
the EFM32GG12 I/Os are routed to breakout pads on the sides of the board making it
easy to expand on the board features and evaluate the EFM32GG12 Giant Gecko's fea­tures with custom hardware.

TARGET DEVICE

• EFM32 Giant Gecko Microcontroller
(EFM32GG12B810F1024GM64-A­QFN64)

• CPU: 32-bit ARM® Cortex-M4® with FPU

• Memory: 1024 kB flash and 192 kB RAM

• USB feature set

KIT FEATURES

• PDM stereo microphones

• Out-of-box PDM software example

• USB connectivity

• SEGGER J-Link on-board debugger

• Virtual COM port

• User RGB LEDs and pushbuttons

• 34-pin 2.54 mm breakout pads

• Optional Mini-Simplicity connector for
Advanced Energy Monitoring using
external Silicon Labs debugger

SOFTWARE SUPPORT

• Simplicity Studio™

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction ................................3

1.1 Kit Contents ..............................3

1.2 Getting Started .............................3

1.3 Kit Hardware Layout............................3

2. Electrical Specifications ...........................4

2.1 Absolute Maximum Ratings .........................4

3. Hardware .................................5

3.1 Block Diagram..............................5

3.2 Power Supply ..............................6

3.2.1 Self-Powered Mode ..........................6

3.2.2 Bus-Powered Mode ..........................6

3.3 Universal Serial Bus ............................7

3.4 Push Buttons and RGB LEDs ........................7

3.5 PDM Stereo Microphones ..........................8

3.6 On-board Debugger ............................8

3.7 EFM32GG12 Reset ............................9

3.8 Connectors ...............................10

3.8.1 Breakout Pads ...........................11

3.8.2 Mini Simplicity Connector ........................12

3.8.3 EFM32 USB Micro-B Connector......................12

3.8.4 Debug USB Micro-B Connector ......................12

4. Debugging ............................... 13

4.1 On-board Debugger Considerations ......................13

4.2 Virtual COM Port .............................14

4.3 Mini Simplicity Connector ..........................14

5. Kit Configuration and Upgrades ....................... 15

5.1 Firmware Upgrades ............................15

6. Schematics, Assembly Drawings, and BOM ................... 16

7. Kit Revision History and Errata ....................... 17

7.1 Revision History .............................17

7.2 Errata ................................17

8. Board Revision History and Errata ...................... 18

8.1 Revision History .............................18

8.2 Errata ................................18

9. Document Revision History ......................... 19

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30 mm

53 mm

USB Micro-B Debug Connector

- Virtual COM port

- Debug access

USB Micro-B Connector

- Connected to EFM32

Push Button 1

Push Button 0

Mini Simplicity

Connector

Power Source

Slide Switch

EFM32GG12

RGB LEDs

{

2.54 mm pitch

Left PDM MIC

Right PDM MIC

Reset

Button

UG371: Thunderboard EFM32GG12 User's Guide

Introduction

1. Introduction

The Thunderboard EFM32GG12 (OPN: SLTB009A) is an excellent starting point to get familiar with the EFM32GG12 Giant Gecko
Microcontrollers. The Thunderboard contains an EFM32 MCU together with an on-board SEGGER J-Link debugger for easy program­ming and debugging through the USB Micro-B debug connector. The debugger also provides a USB virtual COM port for serial connec­tion to the target application.

Most of the EFM32GG12 I/Os are routed to breakout pads on the sides of the board making it easy to expand on the board features
and evaluate the EFM32GG12 Giant Gecko's features with custom hardware.

1.1 Kit Contents

The following items are included in the box:

• 1x Thunderboard EFM32GG12 board (BRD2207A)

• 1x Micro USB 2.0 to USB A male cable

1.2 Getting Started

Detailed instructions for how to get started with your new Thunderboard EFM32GG12 can be found on the Silicon Labs web pages:

https://www.silabs.com/support/getting-started/thunderboard

1.3 Kit Hardware Layout

The layout of the Thunderboard EFM32GG12 is shown below.

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Figure 1.1. Thunderboard EFM32GG12 Hardware Layout

UG371: Thunderboard EFM32GG12 User's Guide

Electrical Specifications

2. Electrical Specifications

2.1 Absolute Maximum Ratings

Parameter Min Typ Max Unit

Input voltage on EFM32 USB connector 0 +5.5 V

Input voltage on debug USB connector 0 +5.5 V

VMCU max voltage (if applied through some external means) 0 +3.6 V

LDO output current 300 mA

Voltage on any I/O breakout pad -0.3 VMCU+0.3 V

Current per I/O pin (sink) 50 mA

Current per I/O pin (source) 50 mA

Current for all I/O pins (sink) 200 mA

Current for all I/O pins (source) 200 mA

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3. Hardware

Mini-Simplicity

Connector

(Not mounted)

USB Micro-B

Connector

Power Source

Switch

Power

Breakout Pads

DBG USB VBUS

MCU USB VBUS

USB

User Buttons
& RGB LEDs

USB Micro-B

Connector

J-Link

Debugger

SWD Debug
Virtual COM

USB

Stereo PDM

Microphones

RL

EFM32GG12

Microcontroller

3.1 Block Diagram

An overview of the Thunderboard EFM32GG12 is illustrated in the figure below.

UG371: Thunderboard EFM32GG12 User's Guide

Hardware

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Figure 3.1. Kit Block Diagram

VMCU

DBG USB

LDO

3V3

Power Source

DBG

USB

EFM32GG12

5V

VBUS

EFM USB

LDO

IOVDD

AVDD

VREGVDD

VREGSW

DVDD
VBUS
VREGI

VREGO

VDCDC

VMCU

DBG USB

LDO

3V3

Power Source

EFM32GG12

5V

VBUS

EFM USB

LDO

IOVDD

AVDD

VREGVDD

VREGSW

DVDD
VBUS
VREGI

VREGO

VDCDC

Isolated from VMCU

MCU

USB

UG371: Thunderboard EFM32GG12 User's Guide

Hardware

3.2 Power Supply

The Thunderboard EFM32GG12 can be either bus-powered or self-powered depending on the position of the slide switch marked
"PWR" located in the lower right corner of the board. Both these modes are explained in detail below.

3.2.1 Self-Powered Mode

When the "PWR" slide switch is in the "DBG USB" position, the Thunderboard EFM32GG12 is set up in self-powered mode with its
internal regulator disabled. In this configuration, the EFM32GG12 and the VMCU net are powered by an on-board regulator which
draws power from the USB Micro-B debugging connector. The low-dropout regulator has a total output current capacity of 300 mA,
where some of it is being used to power the on-board debugger through the 3V3 net.

Figure 3.2. Self-powered Mode

3.2.2 Bus-Powered Mode

When the "PWR" slide switch is in the "MCU USB" position, the EFM32GG12 is set up in bus-powered mode. In this configuration, the
EFM32GG12 and the VMCU net are powered by the EFM32's internal 5V-to-3.3 V regulator. The input of the internal regulator (VREGI)
is connected to the VBUS line of the USB Micro-B connector that connects to the EFM32GG12's USB peripheral.

Figure 3.3. Bus-powered Mode

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