J-Link Needle Adapter

The J-Link Needle Adapter has been designed to connect J-Link to a PCB which does not come with a mating connector or programming header. The designed pattern with 3 locating pins ensures, that the adapter can only be connected in one way. The needle adapter allows manufacturers to save costs and space on their PCBs since there is no need to provide the PCB with additional connectors. It adapts from the 20-pin 0.1'' JTAG to a 10-pin needle connector. J-Link Needle Adapter is compatible to J-Link, J-Link Pro, J-Link Ultra, J-Link EDU, Flasher ARM, Flasher RX and Flasher PPC.

Pricing         Datasheet

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Why to choose the J-Link Needle Adapter:

• No additional connector required on your PCB
• Very small footprint
• High reliability spring pins for secure connections
• Designed with 3 locating pins, so the adapter can not be connected the wrong way
• No external power supply required! The J-Link Needle Adapter comes with the option to power the target hardware via J-Link.

These features make the J-Link Needle Adapter the perfect solution for debugging and production purposes.

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Pinout

The pinout of the J-Link Needle Adapter is based on the pinout of the needle adapter by Tag-Connect. Please note, that both pinouts are not 100% identical since the J-Link Needle Adapter comes with a 5V-supply pin. As you can see on the image below, the three locating pins ensure, that the adapter can not be connected to the PCB the wrong way. Moreover, the two "legs" on each side of the connector guarantee a stable and secure contact between pins and the PCB.

 

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Footprint - top view

Click image for larger version

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Layout problems to avoid

Please be sure to avoid the situations illustrated below to ensure the J-Link Needle Adapter functions properly.

The PDF version of the datasheet can be downloaded here. In addition to the footprint and hints to avoid layout problems, this PDF includes detailed information about the cable, plug and connector of the J-Link Needle Adapter.

 

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Schematics

The following picture shows the connections from the 20pin standard JTAG connector to the 10-pin, 0.05 inch TAG-Connect needle pattern:

 

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Preparing J-Link to supply power

In order to supply 5V power to the target, you may have to configure J-Link once as follows:

• Make sure that SEGGER J-Link software is installed on your machine. It can be downloaded from here
• Start J-Link Commander, which can be found under “Start -> Programs -> SEGGER -> J-Link ARM”
• Enter the following command: power on perm
• Plug in the adapter: The LED on the emulator side should now be lit