nRF PCB Design, RF Layout, and Prototyping Services

Adequate Infosoft is a global custom software and IoT development company with strong expertise in the Nordic Semiconductor ecosystem. With our design capabilities, we can take your original idea from development kit to prototype by providing complete nRF PCB layout/design prototyping for commercial production-ready PCBAs.

Our background includes using the Nordic line of wireless ICs (nRF52 Series SoC and nRF5340) to produce optimized hardware to allow reliable and power efficient communication via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).

From RF layout and antenna matching to low-power circuit design and rapid prototyping, we ensure your product is ready for real-world deployment.

The nRF52 and nRF5340 series have extensive ultra-low power operation history as a result, you should consider this technology when designing your PCB for applications such as a medical wearable, smart home sensor, asset tracker, industrial IoT and the PCB design must be engineered carefully to minimize power consumption while maintaining stable RF performance.

nRF PCB Design

Case Study: Engineering a Low-Power nRF52-Based Medical Wearable

Adequate Infosoft had to create the firmware that would power the complex medical wearable device that would be used overnight to record jaw activity (bruxism). This had to be integrated with, and use as little power as possible (less than 200mA), the nRF52832 microcontroller, an ADS1291 EMG acquisition analog front-end (analog-to-digital converter), and a DRV2605 haptics driver for real-time biofeedback all while supporting 8 plus hours of continuous operation on a single charge.

Advanced nRF52 PCB Design & Hardware Optimization

At the client's request, we used their schematic to create a PCB layout that optimized the board for a medical-grade clearance and the integrity of the signal.

Precision Analog Layout

To achieve the μV level of accuracy required for clenching detection, we utilized a "star-grounding" configuration on the PCB so that the high-gain ADS1291 SPI data lines were isolated from the nRF52 Bluetooth radio noise.

Compact Form Factor

The packaging design was created with a minimal amount of space available using a 4-layer stack up to hold the battery, haptic motor and sensors in a compact form factor that fit within an under 1.5-cm thick wearable jaw patch.

PCB Layout Optimization

Real-Time Processing and Firmware Architecture

Using the nRF Connect SDK (Zephyr RTOS), our embedded engineers have designed a custom firmware stack to process multiple threads of work, including:

EMG Signal Processing

An on-device DSP pipeline has been developed to perform real-time analysis of the EMG signals detected by the device. Real-time analysis is performed using advanced algorithms such as RMS and Threshold Crossing to detect clenching events in-device and will not transmit raw data to the app to save battery life (BLE power consumption is reduced significantly).

Haptic Biofeedback

The DRV2605 driver has been tuned to drive the LRA (Linear Resonant Actuator) to trigger subtle vibrations when an event or clenching is detected to help condition users into relaxing their jaws while sleeping.

Firmware Architecture

Maximum Energy Efficiency and Data Management

Due to the fact that the device needs to function overnight from a very small LiPo battery, power usage was of the utmost importance.

Power Profiling

We used EasyDMA for SPI transfer power profiling so that the CPU could go into sleep mode while ADS1291 was collecting data. The power profile on the system during active EMG sampling and BLE advertising is less than 15mA.

Session Logging

Created a custom file system in internal flash of nRF52 to log event summary data. The logs are synchronized to the mobile app via a custom designed BLE GATT Service as a fast, burst-mode data transfer when activated from sleep mode.

Energy Efficiency

Security & Future-Proofing (E-A-T)

Our work on Medical Technology is governed by the principles of Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust (E-A-T) – we have built secure OTA (Over-the-Air) Updates as well as implemented the following two critical components:

Secure OTA Updates

A strong DFU (Device Firmware Update) mechanism was developed, allowing our client to push their algorithm refinements remotely through the mobile application.

Data Privacy

With the use of on-device encryption, sensitive bio-data will remain secure prior to and during the synchronization process.

Security and OTA

Technical Implementation Summary

Component Functionality Technical Optimization
nRF52832 BLE + System Control Zephyr RTOS with Low-Latency BLE Stack
ADS1291 EMG Data Acquisition DMA-backed SPI for CPU Offloading
DRV2605 Haptic Feedback Resonant Frequency Auto-Calibration
Flash Event Logging Wear-leveling filesystem for longevity

Our team focuses on low-power architecture, RF optimization, and production-ready PCB layouts to help you bring reliable Nordic-based IoT products to market faster.

Nordic Semiconductor Controllers that We Frequently Utilize in Our Designs

Adequate Infosoft is a professional PCB design and prototyping service provider for Nordic Semiconductor controllers. We assist with the entire Nordic portfolio and assist with the conversion of development kits to compact production-ready hardware.

Controllers that We Support Include:

nRF51 Series

BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) Enabled Ultra-Low Power SoCs for Basic IoT Devices

nRF52 Series SoC

High-Performance Bluetooth Low Energy Devices

nRF53 Series

Dual-Core Wireless SoCs with Advanced Capabilities for IoT

nRF54 Series

Next Generation Ultra-Low Power Wireless Platform

nRF91

Cellular IoT Solutions (LTE-M/NB-IoT)

Expertise in PCB Design Includes

  • RF layout and antenna matching
  • BLE circuit design and low power circuit design
  • Controlled impedance routing
  • Compact multi-layer PCB design
  • Rapid prototyping and hardware validation.

Our Nordic Semiconductor PCB Design and RF Layout Development Services

nRF5 PCB Design & RF Engineering

The most critical aspect of an nRF5 board is the RF (Radio Frequency) section. A minor error in trace width or ground plane clearance can reduce your Bluetooth range by 50% or cause the device to fail EMI certifications.

Antenna Design & Matching

We have the capability to create unique designer PCB trace antennas (Meandered Inverted-F Antenna) or use high performance chip antennas. In addition, all routing will be done using 50 Ω impedance controls for optimal signal transfer.

Low Power Grounding

Use quiet ground planes to isolate RF transceiver from digital noise, maximizing SNR.

Miniaturization

Using 4 to 6 layer HDI layouts we can develop nRF52/nRF53 designs into very small form factors ideal for rings, patches and ultra-compact wearable's.

Quick Prototyping: Validating Low-Power Feature

An nRF5 prototype is not just a test of functionality; it is a test of battery longevity. Our prototyping services include specialized validation steps for wireless hardware. We provide specialized validation services for all of our wireless hardware products, which consist of three main components:

Current Profiling

We use high-quality power measurement equipment to accurately measure "sleep" and "active" current on our hardware in real-time and on demand to ensure you can achieve your desired battery life target, which is typically between two and five years (on a coin cell).

RF Testing

We perform range tests for antennas in multiple locations to confirm their RF capability prior to full production.

Fast-Turnaround Assembly

Our prototyping lab's ability to use precise SMT assembly processes to quickly assemble functional testable boards allows our customers to rapidly develop their software products.

Comprehensive Firmware & BLE Stack Integration

As a full-stack IoT partner, Adequate Infosoft develops the firmware that drives your nRF hardware We leverage the nRF Connect SDK (NCS) and Zephyr RTOS to build scalable, secure applications.

BLE Mesh & Long Range

We implement advanced Bluetooth features, including Coded PHY (Long Range), Direction Finding (AoA/AoD), and high-throughput modes.

Secure Over-the-Air (OTA) Updates

We build robust Device Firmware Update (DFU) pipelines, allowing you to patch security vulnerabilities or add features to devices in the field via a smartphone app.

Multi-Protocol Support

Expertise in running concurrent protocols, such as BLE and Zigbee or Thread, on the same nRF52840 or nRF5340 chip.

4. nRF5 Series Comparison: Selecting the Right Chip

Feature nRF52832 (Performance) nRF52840 (Advanced) nRF5340 (Dual-Core)
Ideal For Basic BLE Sensors Zigbee, Thread, Long Range High-End Wearables & Audio
PCB Complexity 2 - 4 Layers 4 - 6 Layers 6+ Layers (BGA)
Flash/RAM 512KB / 64KB 1MB / 256KB 1MB+ / 512KB
Our Focus Cost Optimization Multi-Protocol Routing High-Speed Signal Integrity

When it comes to using the nRF5-series for wireless communication, there isn't a better series that can provide the most power-efficient solution available. But to achieve this performance, there must be a properly designed and engineered hardware platform.

Adequate Infosoft provides an array of specialized nRF5 PCB design, layout and prototyping services that create the technical bases required for your product's long term success in a highly competitive global marketplace.

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Leadership That Leads Worldwide

With a physical presence in over 15 countries and a global footprint spanning 25+ countries, we are ready to serve you anywhere. Location, language, or culture is never a barrier, because our global team can work with you in your language. Our strong international team ensures seamless collaboration across borders We have a strong tech team, highly recognized in their domains, with extensive technical expertise.

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We endow businesses with flexible engagement models based on their unique needs. Our strength lies in state-of-the-art technology and affordable consulting services. Try us for fast POCs, full-fledged applications, or technology consulting. Always available for your service.