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PicoBerry (tiny CM4 carrier board)

Tiny Raspberry Pi CM4 carrier board with full 40-pin GPIO header

mirkoMirko
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hardware
raspberry pi CM4 Carrier Board

This project was created on 11/24/2021 and last updated 2 years ago.

Description

Meet PicoBerry!

Tiny carrier board with a full 40-pin GPIO port for the Raspberry Pi CM4 module.

Short specification:
- USB-C for power supply (5VDC/3A),
- full 40-pin GPIO header for connecting HAT boards,
- 2x user LEDs (green/red),
- support only CM4 versions (with eMMC onboard, CM4 Lite are not supported),
- standard ACT/PWR LEDs,
- 2-layer PCB, 20x70mm.

Project published as Open Source Hardware (OSHW) under CERN OHL v1.2 (Open Hardware Licence).

You can connect to the CM4 module standard HAT boards, such as LCD screens (with SPI or DPI interfaces), audio DAC boards, RS232/485 or CAN interfaces, and many more...

Files

PicoBerry_v1.0_project_(CERN_OHL_v1.2_license).zip

x-zip-compressed - 4.22 MB - 10/24/2022 at 01:26

Download

PicoBerry_V1.0_Schematic_2022-01-22.pdf

PicoBerry - full schematic file

Adobe Portable Document Format - 573.50 kB - 01/12/2022 at 09:05

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Project Logs
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  • Now published as Open Hardware (OSHW)

    Mirko • 10/24/2022 at 01:25 • 0 comments

    Project published as Open Source Hardware (OSHW) under CERN OHL v1.2 (Open Hardware Licence).

    Source files:

    https://github.com/mfolejewski/PicoBerry

    oshw_facts.png

  • Schematic file

    Mirko • 01/12/2022 at 09:06 • 0 comments

    Here you can find full PDF schematic:

    https://cdn.hackaday.io/files/1827477818647648/PicoBerry_V1.0_Schematic_2022-01-22.pdf

  • Soldering and bring-up process...

    Mirko • 11/24/2021 at 20:34 • 0 comments

    It's time to solder a few boards (missing components - colored pin header + USB-C connector)...

    ImageDone! Let's test these boards...

    ImageImage

    OK, #PicoBerry board is working!

    Smallest CM4 carrier board with full 40-pin GPIO header port.

    Sorry about the ugly video quality.

    https://twitter.com/Mirek34416541/status/1463599187786874887

  • PCB boards just arrived

    Mirko • 11/24/2021 at 20:31 • 0 comments

    PicoBerry REV1 boards just arrived!

    This time I reduced the PCB pad size for the Hirose connectors to improve soldering and component placement.

    Image

    Image

    ...against component floating during reflow soldering.

    It should be better now.

    Image


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David Michaeli wrote 11/25/2021 at 18:44 • point

Oh yes of course. SMI is just a secondary memory interface exposed on the RPI in ALT5 GPIO2-27

If you expose those default RPI GPIO2 to GPIO27 then you implicitly expose also the SMI. And that interface is great because it is a high-speed bus for bulk transfers.

see my project:

https://github.com/cariboulabs/cariboulite

did not write a full documentation on that yet but, its there...

So you got an amazing idea here with PicoBerry that exposes ComputeModule as if it was a RPI4 and I'm surprised Raspbery Pi didn't do it yet :)

Anyway, by taking into account the signal integrity in your board (proper grounding) you can proof it for these high speed applications.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Mirko wrote 11/25/2021 at 21:27 • point

I have not heard about this interface so far. Thanks!

I don't have the resources now to test SMI mode. Anyway sounds interested (high-speed interface).

Maybe PicoBerry requires to length match GPIO traces and correct impedance tracks (50Ohm?) and add extra 2 reference ground planes. This can be a future plan (I'm too busy up to the end of this year).

Thanks for your info!

  Are you sure? yes | no

David Michaeli wrote 11/25/2021 at 11:20 • point

Regarding the board - did you consider high speed interfaces like the SMI? in terms of impedance control, etc.?

  Are you sure? yes | no

Mirko wrote 11/25/2021 at 12:53 • point

SMI interface? Hmm... All the high-speed interfaces are connected to the second Hirose connector.

This is a simple carrier board with only exposed GPIO lines.

Can you explain about SMI?

  Are you sure? yes | no

David Michaeli wrote 11/25/2021 at 11:19 • point

This project is just amazing. I want to have one of those boards for CaribouLite over the RPI-CM... any way to get it?

Edit: Ok now I see its a two layer board. I would consider turning it into a 4 layer stack with two gnd planes in the middle. If you need help with it, just tell me. you can also route the power partial planes there so it will be much simpler. Then you get a really good power / signal integrity for those high speed lines

I use SMI, some other will use DPI (display parallel lines) to connect an external LCD. Both of which require a good grounding.

Anyway, if you need help, I'm here. David

  Are you sure? yes | no

Mirko wrote 11/25/2021 at 12:56 • point

The project can be modified to add extra reference planes for signal lines (GPIOs) and for power rails.

If you are interested to order 1pcs in the current version just let me know (DM).

There is no high-speed signals, they are located on the second Hirose connector.

  Are you sure? yes | no

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