LimeSDR-Mini v1.1 hardware description

LimeSDR-Mini Board Key Features

The LimeSDR-Mini is low-cost software defined radio board. LimeSDR-Mini development board provides a hardware platform for developing and prototyping high-performance and logic-intensive digital and RF designs using Intel’s MAX 10 FPGA and Lime Microsystems transceiver.

LimeSDR-Mini v1.1

LimeSDR-Mini board features:

• USB 3.0 controller: FTDI FT601
• FPGA: Intel MAX 10 (10M16SAU169C8G 169-UBGA)
  • 169-pin FBGA package
  • 16 K LE
  • 549 Kb M9K Memory
  • 2368 Kb User Flash Memory
  • 1x fractional phase locked loops (PLLs)
  • 45x 18x18-bit multipliers
  • 130x general purpose input/output (GPIO)
  • Single supply
  • Flash feature
  • FPGA configuration via JTAG
• RF transceiver: Lime Microsystems LMS7002M
• EEPROM Memory: 2x 128Kb EEPROMs for LMS MCU firmware and FPGA data
• FLASH Memory: 4Mb Flash memory for FPGA data
• Temperature sensor (unpopulated)
• General user inputs/outputs:
  • 1x Dual colour (RG) LED
  • 8x + 2x FPGA GPIO pinheader (3.3V)
• Connections:
  • USB3.0 (type A) plug
  • Coaxial RF (SMA female) connectors
  • FPGA GPIO headers (unpopulated)
  • FPGA JTAG connector (unpopulated)
  • FAN (5V or 3.3V) connector
• Clock system:
  • 40.00MHz onboard VCTCXO
  • Possibility to trim VCTCXO by onboard DAC
  • Reference clock input and output connectors (U.FL)
• Board size: 69mm x 31.4mm

For more information on the following topics, refer to the respective documents:

• FTDI FT601 USB 3.0 to FIFO Bridge datasheet [link]
• MAX 10 FPGA device family, refer to MAX 10 Device Handbook [link]
• LMS7002M transceiver resources [link]

Board Overview

This section contains component location description on the board. LimeSDR-Mini board picture with highlighted connectors and main components is presented in Figure 2 and Figure 3.

LimeSDR-Mini v1.1 board top connectors and main components

Figure 3 LimeSDR-Mini v1.1 board bottom connectors and main componentsc

Board components description listed in the Table 1.

Table 1. Board components

Featured Devices
Board reference	Type	Description
IC1	FPRF	Field programmable RF transceiver, LMS7002M
IC5	FPGA	Intel MAX 10 (10M16SAU169C8G 169-UBGA)
IC6	USB 3.0 microcontroller	Intel MAX 10 (10M16SAU169C8G 169-UBGA)
Miscellaneous devices onboard
IC8	IC	Temperature sensor, LM75
Configuration, Status and Setup Components
J3	JTAG chain connector	FPGA programming pin header on the board edge for Altera USB-Blaster download cable, 0.1” pitch
J4	JTAG chain connector	FPGA programming pin header for Altera USB-Blaster download cable, 0.05” pitch
LED1 or LED2	LED1 or LED2c	USB3.0 microcontroller (IC13) boot configuration (PMODE0[2:0]) resistors. Default mode: SPI boot, On Failure - USB Boot
General User Input/Output
J5	Pin header	8x FPGA GPIOs, 3.3V, 0.05” pitch
J6	Pin header	2x FPGA GPIOs on the board edge, 3.3V, 0.1” pitch
J10	Pin header	5V (3.3V voltage can be chosen by resistors) fan connection pin headers, 0.1” pitch
Memory Devices
IC2	IC	I²C EEPROM Memory 128Kb (16K x 8), connected to RF transceiver I2C bus
IC10	IC	I²C EEPROM Memory 128Kb (16K x 8), connected to FPGA I2C bus
IC11	IC11	Quad SPI Flash Memory 4Mb (512K x 8), connected to FPGA SPI
Communication Ports
J7	USB3.0 connector	USB3.0 connector
Clock Circuitry
XO1	VCTCXO	40.00 MHz Voltage Controlled Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillatorc
IC9	IC	DAC for TCXO (XT4) frequency trimming
IC7	IC7	Clock buffer
J8	U.FL connector	Reference clock input
J9	U.FL connector	Reference clock output
Reference clock output
IC12	IC	Switching regulator (1.8V)
IC13	IC	Switching regulator (3.3V)
IC14	IC	Linear regulator (2.5V)

LimeSDR-Mini Board Architecture

TBD

LMS7002M Based Connectivity

TBD

USB 3.0 controller

TBD

Indication LEDs

TBD

Low speed interfaces

TBD

Board Temperature Control

LimeSDR-Mini has integrated temperature sensor which controls FAN to keep board in operating temperature range. FAN must be connected to J10 (0.1” pitch) connector. FAN control voltage is 5V, but it can be changed to 3.3V by resistors. Fan will be turned on if board will heat up to 55°C and FAN will be turned off if board will cool down to 45°C. By default temperature sensor is unpopulated and FAN is always on.

Figure 7 FAN control temperature hysteresis

Clock Distribution

TBD

Power Distribution

LimeSDR-Mini board is powered from USB port. LimeSDR-Mini board power delivery network consists of different power rails with different voltages, filters, power sequences. LimeSDR-Mini board power distribution block diagram is presented in Figure 9.