Part Review and Datasheet Analysis
Table
| Check | Result |
|---|---|
| MPN | NINA-B416-01B |
| Manufacturer | u-blox |
| Description | NINA-B41 Series 3.6 V 2.4 GHz Stand-Alone Bluetooth 5.1 Low Energy Module |
| Package / case | Module |
| Datasheet property | Already set: PDF |
| Schematic pin count | 71 symbol terminals present |
| Footprint pad count | 71 pads present |
| 3D model | Present |
| Overall status | Footprint/pad count looks consistent, but there are several symbol-quality and integration-risk issues |
Table
| Field | Observed value |
|---|---|
| MPN | NINA-B416-01B |
| Manufacturer | u-blox |
| Package | Module |
| Project description | Bluetooth LE 5.1 module with internal antenna |
| Nominal size | 10.0 mm x 15.0 mm x 2.23 mm |
| Variant | Internal PCB trace antenna version |
| Symbol implementation | 71 single-pin terminals used as the symbol |
| Footprint asset | NINAB41601B.kicad_mod |
| 3D asset | NINA-B416-01B.stp |
Table
| Category | Datasheet summary |
|---|---|
| Radio | Bluetooth Core 5.1, 2.4 GHz, 40 channels |
| Data rates | 1 Mbps, 2 Mbps, 125 kbps |
| RF output | +8 dBm conducted typical, +11 dBm EIRP |
| RX sensitivity | -95 dBm at 1 Mbps, -92 dBm at 2 Mbps, -102 dBm at 125 kbps |
| MCU base | Nordic nRF52833, Arm Cortex-M4 with FPU |
| Memory | 512 kB flash, 128 kB RAM |
| Software | u-connectXpress preflashed, AT-command configurable |
| Security | Secure boot |
| Interfaces | UART, GPIO, NFC, status pins |
| Antenna | Internal PCB trace antenna |
Table
| Parameter | Min | Max | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Module supply voltage | -0.3 | 3.9 | V |
| Digital I/O voltage, when VCC ≤ 3.6 V | -0.3 | VCC + 0.3 | V |
| Digital I/O voltage, when VCC > 3.6 V | -0.3 | 3.9 | V |
| RF power at antenna pin | +10 | dBm |
Table
| Parameter | Min | Typ | Max | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supply voltage | 1.7 | 3.3 | 3.6 | V |
| I/O reference voltage | VCC | V | ||
| Operating temperature | -40 | +85 | °C | |
| Extended operating temperature | -40 | +105 | °C | |
| Storage temperature | -40 | +105 | °C |
Table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Supply rise time | 60 ms max |
| Sleep current | 400 nA avg at 3.3 V VCC / 350 nA avg at 1.8 V VCC |
| Advertising current, active, 1 s interval, +8 dBm, 1 M PHY | 0.80 mA avg / 20 mA peak at 3.3 V |
| Connected peripheral current, active, 50 ms interval, +8 dBm, 1 M PHY | 0.88 mA avg / 20 mA peak at 3.3 V |
| Connected peripheral current, standby, 50 ms interval, +8 dBm, 1 M PHY | 128 µA avg / 18 mA peak at 3.3 V |
| RESET_N low level | 0 to 0.3 x VCC |
| RESET_N internal pull-up | 13 kΩ typ |
| Digital input low | 0 to 0.3 x VCC |
| Digital input high | 0.7 x VCC to VCC |
| Digital output low | 0 to 0.4 V |
| Digital output high | VCC - 0.4 to VCC |
| GPIO source/sink current | 1 mA min, 2 mA typ, 4 mA max |
| Input pull-up | 11 kΩ min, 13 kΩ typ, 16 kΩ max |
| Input pull-down | 11 kΩ min, 13 kΩ typ, 16 kΩ max |
Table
| Pins | Datasheet function |
|---|---|
| 1, 7, 8 | RGB status outputs, active low |
| 2, 3 | 32.768 kHz crystal connections |
| 4, 5, 24, 25, 27, 32-52 | GPIO / uX IO |
| 6, 12, 14, 26, 30, 53 plus exposed grounds | Ground |
| 9 | I/O reference voltage, must equal supply |
| 10 | Main supply input |
| 11, 15, 31, 54, 55 | Reserved, leave unconnected |
| 13 | Antenna interface pin, but for this variant it is NC / internally not for external antenna use |
| 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23 | UART and flow-control/status signals |
| 18, 19 | Switch / reset control |
| 28, 29 | NFC pins |
Table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Module length | 15.0 mm |
| Module width | 10.0 mm |
| Thickness | 2.23 mm |
| Pin pitch, outer/lateral rows | 1.00 mm |
| Pin width | 0.70 mm |
| Pin length | 1.15 mm |
| Central pin size | 0.70 mm x 0.70 mm |
| Central pin pitch | 1.15 mm |
| Inner row pitch | 1.10 mm |
Table
| Item | Datasheet requirement |
|---|---|
| VCC_IO | Must be connected to VCC |
| ANT | For NINA-B416, do not use as an external RF pin |
| RSVD_1, RSVD_2, RSVD_3, RSVD_4, RSVD_5 | Leave unconnected |
| XL1, XL2 | If crystal unused, ground both; external clock use rules apply |
| RESET_N | Active low reset |
| GREEN/SWITCH_1, SWITCH_2 | Active low multifunction control pins |
Table
| Check | Result |
|---|---|
| Pin/pad count | 71 symbol terminals and 71 footprint pads found |
| Package family | Footprint dimensions align with 10 mm x 15 mm NINA-B416 form factor |
| Pad geometry | The footprint uses 0.70 mm x 1.15 mm outer/lateral pads and 0.70 mm x 0.70 mm inner/central pads, which matches the datasheet values |
| Exposed ground implementation | Footprint includes extra ground pads consistent with the datasheet’s exposed ground / antenna ground concept |
| 3D model presence | Present, which helps mechanical verification |
Table
| Severity | Finding | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| High | ANT is exposed like a normal usable signal in the symbol | For NINA-B416, the datasheet says this pin is NC / not for external antenna use. A board designer could mistakenly route RF here, causing a nonfunctional radio path or board re-spin. |
| Medium | All symbol pins are currently typed as Unspecified | This weakens ERC quality and increases risk of wiring mistakes, especially for VCC, VCC_IO, grounds, UART pins, and outputs like RED / BLUE. |
| Medium | Reserved pins are present but not explicitly marked as NC / reserved-only in pin typing | A user could incorrectly connect RSVD_1 through RSVD_5, which the datasheet says to leave unconnected. |
| Medium | VCC_IO is not encoded with a strong electrical rule in the symbol metadata | The datasheet requires it to be tied to VCC. If overlooked in a design using this part, the module may not interface correctly. |
| Low | Exposed ground pads are numbered in the footprint, but the datasheet excerpt describes them mainly as EGP/EAGP groups | Not necessarily wrong, but worth documenting clearly so assembly and part users understand those pads are grounds under the module, not user GPIOs. |
Table
| Conclusion | Status |
|---|---|
| Datasheet presence | Good |
| Core package / footprint dimensional match | Good |
| Pin-count consistency | Good |
| Manufacturing-risk footprint mismatch | No obvious dimensional mismatch found |
| Schematic symbol quality | Needs cleanup |
| Most important fix | Mark ANT as unusable for external antenna on this variant, and assign proper pin types / descriptions across the symbol |
NINA-B416-01B