Documenting the DC Hardware

1

Im expanding the documentation on my wiki → DreamCatcher - RadioNerds Id like to get the hardware documented as much as possible…

NOTE: I recognize many of these items, however i need to know not only what they are, but if they have additional functionality, and are included in the Device Tree Template for Armbian, and if so what is the /sys/class or /dev location for its use…

Here is the Datasheet for the AllWinner A13 Chip, but we still need to know what was implemented in the DC

A13 Datasheet - v1.12 (2012-03-29).pdf.tgz (808.2 KB)

Essentially we need to document this board completely so more advanced integrations can be accomplished with it.

LEDS,
What are they designed to do, and what are the software interfaces?

  • LED11/STATUS
  • LED10/AGP3
  • CHGLED

Misc items / Headers

  • two pin header between power buttons marked “2 1” Possibly LIPO_BAT? Battery backup? battery power?
  • Switch between the power buttons, marked
    ---- PD3
    ---- Auto Boot (auto boot on power up?)
  • Two pin header marked CHG_IN
  • JP1 Jumper pad

Main header pins
Can you define what these pins are for? of course some are obvious, but please confirm and state if there are other purposes for them. if there is a /sys/class for export or /dev use what is that?

5V0 5.0 Volt (max current?)
GNDD1
PC15/NDQ7
PC13/NDQ5
PIN17/NRE
PC3/NCE1
PC1/NALE
PC19/NDQS
PG9/LED1
PG11/USBH
PE5
PB16
PB15
PE9
PE10
PE11
PB1
3V3 3.3Volt (max current?)
GNDD
GNDD2
PC14
PC4
PC2
PC0
PB10
PG10
PE4
PE6
PE7
PE8
PB4
PB3
PB2
PB0

Thanks to all…

2

Tagging @zoltan

3

bump…

4

LEDS,
What are they designed to do, and what are the software interfaces?

  • LED11/STATUS
  • LED10/AGP3
  • CHGLED

LED11 = AXP209.gpio3
LED10 = AXP209.gpio2 (status indicator of CPU boot by default)
CHGLED = AXP209.CHG LED (indicating LiPo charge if it would used, but as it also introduces noise to the system we eliminated LiPo powering option)

Misc items / Headers

  • two pin header between power buttons marked “2 1” Possibly LIPO_BAT? Battery backup? battery power?

Lipo battery input, not used only for evaluation reasons.

  • Switch between the power buttons, marked
    ---- PD3

connected to A13.PD3 gpio, customer can use this if want

---- Auto Boot (auto boot on power up?)

Auto Boot is not yet implement in FW, coming soon.
This connected to A13.PD2 gpio

  • Two pin header marked CHG_IN

“ACIN” alternative power input power of AXP209, not functional now, only the USB power input powering the whole circuitry now for keeping the switching regulator noise down. (Low noise operation was the highest priority due the sensitive SDR / LNA parts.)

  • JP1 Jumper pad

Current sensing jumper on the micro USB 5V input port. One can cut the copper trace between the two pins with x-acto knife and be able to measure current with a multi meter on those points.

Main header pins
Can you define what these pins are for? of course some are obvious, but please confirm and state if there are other purposes for them. if there is a /sys/class for export or /dev use what is that?

5V0 5.0 Volt (max current?)

About 100mA is a safe limit. it’s tied to a DCDC step up regulator not the 5V USB source (this will changed in later release some)

GNDD1
PC15/NDQ7
PC13/NDQ5
PIN17/NRE
PC3/NCE1
PC1/NALE
PC19/NDQS
PG9/LED1
PG11/USBH
PE5
PB16
PB15
PE9
PE10
PE11
PB1
3V3 3.3Volt (max current?)

About 100mA is a safe limit.

GNDD
GNDD2
PC14
PC4
PC2
PC0
PB10
PG10
PE4
PE6
PE7
PE8
PB4
PB3
PB2
PB0

These are simply the GPIO ports of the A13 SoC, check the datasheet for more information.
Some example on GPIO usage: https://docs.outernet.is/Dreamcatcher%20Armbian%20Code%20Snippets.html

5

Excellent zoltan thanks for this!