LimeSDR-USB hardware description

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LimeSDR-USB Board Key Features

The LimeSDR-USB development board provides a hardware platform for developing and prototyping high-performance and logic-intensive digital and RF designs using Altera’s Cyclone IV FPGA and Lime Microsystems transceiver.

The LimeSDR-USB has two different USB connector versions. LimeSDR-USB 1v4 is micro USB type B connector (socket) based, as shown in Figure 1. LimeSDR-USB 1v4s is a USB type A connector (plug) based, as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 1. LimeSDR-USB 1v4 – micro USB type B connector board


Figure 2. LimeSDR-USB 1v4s – USB type A connector board


LimeSDR-USB board features:

  • USB Interface
    • Cypress FX3 Super Speed USB 3rd generation controller
  • FPGA Features
    • Cyclone IV EP4CE40F23C8N device in 484-pin FPGA
    • 39’600 logic elements
    • 1134 Kbits embedded memory
    • 116 embedded 18x18 multipliers
    • 4 PLLs
  • FPGA Configuration
    • JTAG mode configuration
    • Active serial mode configuration
    • Possibility to update FPGA gateware by using FX3 (USB)
  • Memory Devices
    • 2x 1Gbit (64M x 16) DDR2 SDRAM
    • 4Mbit flash for FX3 firmware
    • 16Mbit flash for FPGA gateware
    • 2 x 128K (16K x 8) EEPROMs for LMS MCU firmware, LMS MCU data
    • 1 x 64K (8K x 8) EEPROM for FX3 data
  • Connections
    • microUSB3.0 (type B) connector or USB3.0 (type A) plug
    • Coaxial RF (U.FL) connectors
    • FPGA GPIO headers (0.05” pitch)
    • FPGA and FX3 JTAG connectors (0.05” pitch)
    • 6..12V DC power jack and pinheader
    • Fan connector (3.3V)
  • Clock System
    • 30.72MHz VCTCXO (precision: ±1 ppm initial, ±4 ppm stable).
    • Possibility to lock VCTCXO to external clock or tune VCTCXO by onboard DAC
    • Programmable clock generator for the FPGA reference clock input or LMS PLLs
  • Board Size 60mm x 100mm (2.36” x 3.94”)