Board available with XS1-L2 processor
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 2:14 pm
Hello,
I have made a board using the dual core version XS1-L2 processor , with a total power of 1Ghz.
The card was a bit challenging because it was my first card with BGA style device (the XS1-L2 is not really a BGA but it is solderered from the underside like are the BGA chips).
My first question was : is it possible to make a dual side board for this device or maybe will it be nescessary to use a 4-layer design to correctly connect all the power and nescessary pins.
Finally, my PCB design was possible using only a simple 2-layer board.
The second question was : is it nescessary to include all the mode and JTAG signals or the card could use JTAG even in "boot from flash" mode. The answer came when i realized my first trials. The JTAG tools better work if the processor is also able to boot from JTAG. So i had to route all the NJRST and mode pins , so the JTAG port is fully fonctionnal.
Another question, i wanted to make a small card with a powerfull processor (L2 or G4). The card should have a convenient communication interface (USB and/or ethernet).
I finally choosed the L2 because the G4 would have required to much power for a USB powered device , and also the G4 certainly cannot be mounted on a 2-layer PCB. I made finally 2 versions of my card . One USB with a USB3300 phy device from SMSC and another Ethernet with LAN 8710 also from SMSC. These chips are convenient because small QFN and also worked perfectly i all conditions. The Ethernet and USB cards are nearly identical but the ethernet is 1cm larger in one dimension because of the size and mounting of the ethernet connector, it as also a little more components.
All of these 2 cards use as much as possible SMT components in the size 0603.
Another characteristic of these cards is that they implement 5V IO on the output connector. This is done with output buffers (HCT ) and 5V tolerant input buffers (LVC). This is because these cards should be convenient for connecting directly on motor drivers and that run with 5V.
I have attached a photo of the USB version of my cards (The ethernet version is currently fabricated).
I can sell the PCB 5USD to anyone intererested by these cards or a partially(PCB with processor) or completely mounted. Card tested to work with XRUN and XFLASH.
I have made a board using the dual core version XS1-L2 processor , with a total power of 1Ghz.
The card was a bit challenging because it was my first card with BGA style device (the XS1-L2 is not really a BGA but it is solderered from the underside like are the BGA chips).
My first question was : is it possible to make a dual side board for this device or maybe will it be nescessary to use a 4-layer design to correctly connect all the power and nescessary pins.
Finally, my PCB design was possible using only a simple 2-layer board.
The second question was : is it nescessary to include all the mode and JTAG signals or the card could use JTAG even in "boot from flash" mode. The answer came when i realized my first trials. The JTAG tools better work if the processor is also able to boot from JTAG. So i had to route all the NJRST and mode pins , so the JTAG port is fully fonctionnal.
Another question, i wanted to make a small card with a powerfull processor (L2 or G4). The card should have a convenient communication interface (USB and/or ethernet).
I finally choosed the L2 because the G4 would have required to much power for a USB powered device , and also the G4 certainly cannot be mounted on a 2-layer PCB. I made finally 2 versions of my card . One USB with a USB3300 phy device from SMSC and another Ethernet with LAN 8710 also from SMSC. These chips are convenient because small QFN and also worked perfectly i all conditions. The Ethernet and USB cards are nearly identical but the ethernet is 1cm larger in one dimension because of the size and mounting of the ethernet connector, it as also a little more components.
All of these 2 cards use as much as possible SMT components in the size 0603.
Another characteristic of these cards is that they implement 5V IO on the output connector. This is done with output buffers (HCT ) and 5V tolerant input buffers (LVC). This is because these cards should be convenient for connecting directly on motor drivers and that run with 5V.
I have attached a photo of the USB version of my cards (The ethernet version is currently fabricated).
I can sell the PCB 5USD to anyone intererested by these cards or a partially(PCB with processor) or completely mounted. Card tested to work with XRUN and XFLASH.