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Feature #3758

closed

design/build SI5351C based clock generator boards

Added by laforge about 5 years ago. Updated about 5 years ago.

Status:
Resolved
Priority:
Normal
Assignee:
Target version:
-
Start date:
01/12/2019
Due date:
% Done:

100%

Spec Reference:

Description

Assuming most "serious" people playing with SDRs and/or measurement technology have a 10MHz source of some sort (GPS-DO, Rubidium, or "just" a calibated OCXO), the next problem is typically how to generate the paticularl frequency that is required by a given device. By far not all devices are able to deal with a 10MHz reference, including LimeSDR-mini, RTL-SDR, to name a few.

Jack Zimmerman has designed + released an OSHW Si5351C board at https://www.jackenhack.com/si5351c-i2c-frequency-clock-generator-breakout-board/ which looks quite promising. I'm currently trying to ge a PCBA from him so we can play with it.

Should this be doing what we want from it, I think the next step is to create a slightly extended version of the board, which
  • includes a small microcontroller with some firmware to drive/initialize the Si5351
  • provides a UART (3.3V on osmocom-style 2.5mm jack?) and/or USB to talk to it
  • contains some non-volatile storage to store settings and be able to start up autonomously with a given configuration.

If we build a small batch of those boards, the per-board price will be low enough so one can simply have "one per required output frequency" and plug them in as needed, as opposed to using an expensive, large signal generator with UI (and possibly Fan, etc.).


Files

clock-generator.pdf View clock-generator.pdf 132 KB laforge, 01/27/2019 05:38 PM
clock-generator.brd.pdf View clock-generator.brd.pdf 149 KB laforge, 01/27/2019 05:38 PM
osmo-clock-gen_eagle.png View osmo-clock-gen_eagle.png 134 KB laforge, 01/27/2019 05:38 PM

Checklist

  • TVS on all clocks and digital connectors
  • define pinout of TC-2030 for SWD
  • decide on DC input jack (like mpcie-breakout?)
  • ferritte bead between analog(clock) and digital(SAMD) supply?
  • overvoltage / reverse prolarity protection
  • add i2c/spi on a header (maybe UEXT)
  • add M3 or M2.5 mounting holes (at least three)
Actions #1

Updated by laforge about 5 years ago

Actions #2

Updated by laforge about 5 years ago

Some related ideas, in random order:
  • use SAMD11 or SAMD21 microcontroller: Small, self-contained, no external clocks, UART+USB+I2C
  • offer switchable 50 ohms termination on the clock input (jumper?)
  • clock input on BNC, as is common for 10MHz?
  • clock outputs on SMA? some on u.fl?
  • separate/adjustable LDO for [some] clock outputs? They have individual supply pins...
  • pAC coupling and resistive divider / biasing or even schmitt-trigger to ensure our symmetric clock input can safely feed into the CLKIN pin which is CMOS input...
  • tvs diodes on all connectors
  • overvoltage / reverse polarity protection
Actions #3

Updated by laforge about 5 years ago

  • Subject changed from build SI5351C based clock generator boards to design/build SI5351C based clock generator boards
Actions #4

Updated by laforge about 5 years ago

  • Checklist item TVS on all clocks and digital connectors added
  • Checklist item define pinout of TC-2030 for SWD added
  • Checklist item decide on DC input jack (like mpcie-breakout?) added
  • Checklist item ferritte bead between analog(clock) and digital(SAMD) supply? added
  • Checklist item overvoltage / reverse prolarity protection added
  • Status changed from New to In Progress
  • % Done changed from 0 to 10

Initial incomplete design pushed to http://git.osmocom.org/osmo-small-hardware/log/?h=laforge/clock-gen

  • has ATSAMD11 in QFN20 package as main processor
    • USB on mini-B jack
    • UART on 2.5mm osmocom style jack
    • SWD on TagConnect TC-2030
  • SN74LVC1G04 based self-biasing clock squarer for input side
Actions #5

Updated by laforge about 5 years ago

  • Checklist item TVS on all clocks and digital connectors set to Done
  • Checklist item define pinout of TC-2030 for SWD set to Done
  • Checklist item decide on DC input jack (like mpcie-breakout?) set to Done
  • Checklist item overvoltage / reverse prolarity protection set to Done
  • % Done changed from 10 to 80
Actions #6

Updated by laforge about 5 years ago

  • Checklist item add i2c/spi on a header (maybe UEXT) added
Actions #7

Updated by laforge about 5 years ago

  • Checklist item add M3 or M2.5 mounting holes (at least three) added
  • Checklist item add i2c/spi on a header (maybe UEXT) set to Done
Actions #8

Updated by laforge about 5 years ago

First version finished:

Actions #9

Updated by laforge about 5 years ago

  • Project changed from Misc Hardware Projects to osmo-clock-gen
Actions #10

Updated by laforge about 5 years ago

  • Status changed from In Progress to Resolved
  • % Done changed from 90 to 100

board v1 exist and is working according to horiz0n .

Actions

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