Glossary

nRF9161 Hardware Verification Guidelines

The glossary contains terms and acronyms that are used in this document.

Access Port Protection (APPROTECT)

A register used to prevent read and write access to all CPU registers and memory-mapped addresses.

APPROTECT

Carrier Wave (CW)

A single-frequency electromagnetic wave that can be modulated in amplitude, frequency, or phase to convey information.

CW

Cat-M1

LTE-M User Equipment (UE) category with a single RX antenna, specified in 3GPP Release 13.

Cat-NB1

NB-IoT User Equipment (UE) category with 200 kHz UE bandwidth and a single RX antenna, specified in 3GPP Release 13.

Cat-NB2

An upgraded version of Cat-NB1, specified in 3GPP Release 14.

DC

Direct Current

DECT NR+

A non-cellular radio standard included as part of the 5G standards by the ITU.

DECT NR+

Development Kit (DK)

A hardware development platform used for application development.

DK

Device Under Test (DUT)

A manufactured product undergoing testing.

DUT

Discontinuous Reception (DRX)

A method in mobile communication to conserve the battery of a mobile device by turning the RF modem in a sleep state.

DRX

Erase Protection (ERASEPROTECT)

A register used to block NVMC ERASEALL, RRAMC ERASEALL, and CTRL-AP.ERASEALL functionality.

ERASEPROTECT

Extended Discontinuous Reception (eDRX)

A method to conserve the battery of an IoT (Internet of Things) device by allowing it to remain inactive for extended periods.

eDRX

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

A satellite navigation system with global coverage. The system provides signals from space transmitting positioning and timing data to GNSS receivers, which use this data to determine location.

GNSS

Global Positioning System (GPS)

A satellite-based radio navigation system that provides its users with accurate location and time information over the globe.

GPS

Integrated Circuit (IC)

A semiconductor chip consisting of fabricated transistors, resistors, and capacitors.

IC

International Mobile (Station) Equipment Identity (IMEI)

A unique code consisting of 14 digits and a check digit for identifying 3GPP-based mobile devices.

IMEI

Long-Term Evolution (LTE)

A wireless broadband communication standard for mobile devices and data terminals, based on the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA technologies. 

LTE

Low Mid High (LMH)

A measurement channel definition.

LMH

Low-Noise Amplifier (LNA)

In a radio receiving system, an electronic amplifier that amplifies a very low-power signal without significantly degrading its signal-to-noise ratio.

LNA

Low-power Wide Area Network (LPWAN)

A type of wireless telecommunication wide area network designed to allow long-range communications at a low bit rate among things, such as sensors operated on a battery.

LPWAN

LTE-M

An open standard that is most suitable for medium throughput applications requiring low power, low latency, and/or mobility, like asset tracking, wearables, medical, POS, and home security applications. Also known as E-UTRAN (WB-S1) and Cat-M1.

MIPI RF Front-End Control Interface (RFFE)

A dedicated control interface for the RF front-end subsystem. MIPI Alliance

MIPI RFFE

Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT)

A narrowband technology standard with longer range, lower throughput, and better penetration in, for example, cellars and parking garages compared to LTE-M. NB-IoT is most suitable for static, low throughput applications like smart metering, smart agriculture, and smart city applications. Also known as E-UTRAN (NB-S1), Cat-NB1, and Cat-NB2.

NB-IoT

Noise Factor (NF)

The relation of the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) in the device input to the SNR in the device output.

NF

Non-volatile Memory (NVM)

Memory that can retrieve stored information even after having been power-cycled.

NVM

Over-the-Air (OTA)

Refers to any type of wireless transmission. For Matter, OTA is synonymous with the Over-the-Air software update mechanism.

OTA

Power Saving Mode (PSM)

A feature introduced in 3GPP Release 12 to improve battery life of IoT (Internet of Things) devices by minimizing energy consumption. The device stays dormant during the PSM window.

PSM

Printed Circuit Board (PCB)

A board that connects electronic components.

PCB

Production Test Image (PTI)

A modem firmware version used in the device manufacturing phase.

PTI

Reference Measurement Channel (RMC)

3GPP specified measurement channels for RF performance verification.

RMC

Resource Block (RB)

The smallest unit of resources that can be allocated to a user.

RB

Right Hand Circular Polarization (RHCP)

Circular polarization in which the electric field vector rotates in a right-hand sense with respect to the direction of propagation.

RHCP

Secure Access Port Protection (SECUREAPPROTECT)

A register used to prevent read and write access to all secure CPU registers and secure memory-mapped addresses.

SECUREAPPROTECT

SEGGER Embedded Studio (SES)

A cross-platform Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for embedded C/C++ programming with support for Nordic Semiconductor devices, produced by SEGGER Microcontroller.

SES

Serial Wire Debug (SWD)

A standard two-wire interface for programming and debugging ArmĀ® CPUs.

SWD

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)

The level of signal power compared to the level of noise power, often expressed in decibels (dB).

SNR

Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)

A card used in User Equipment (UE) containing data for subscriber identification.

SIM

System in Package (SiP)

Several integrated circuits, often from different technologies, enclosed in a single module that performs as a system or subsystem.

SiP

System on Chip (SoC)

A microchip that integrates all the necessary electronic circuits and components of a computer or other electronic systems on a single integrated circuit.

SoC

Tracking Area Update (TAU)

A procedure initiated by the User Equipment (UE) when moving to a new tracking area in the LTE (Long-term Evolution) system.

TAU

Type Allocation Code (TAC)

The initial eight-digit part of an International Mobile (Station) Equipment Identity (IMEI) code used for identifying the model of a mobile phone.

TAC

Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART)

A hardware device for asynchronous serial communication between devices.

UART

Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC)

A new generation Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) used in User Equipment (UE) for ensuring the integrity and security of personal data.

UICC

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

An industry standard that establishes specifications for cables and connectors and protocols for connection, communication, and power supply between computers, peripheral devices, and other computers.

USB

Unique Slave Identifier (USID)

A unique address for identifying each slave device in an RFFE (RF Front-End) system.

USID

User Equipment (UE)

Any device used by an end-user to communicate. The UE consists of the Mobile Equipment (ME) and the Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC).

UE