Important Notice: Before using the Starterkit MBa7x or parts of the schematics of the MBa7x, you must evaluate it and determine if it is suitable for your intended application. You assume all risks and liability associated with such use. TQ-Systems GmbH makes no other warranties including, but not limited to, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION This User's Manual describes the hardware of the MBa7x Rev. ≥0200. The MBa7x is designed as a carrier board for the TQMa7x. The figures in this User's Manual refer to the TQMa7x. All interfaces provided by the TQMa7x are available on the MBa7x.
More information is to be taken from the TQMa7x User's Manual. The boot behaviour of the TQMa7x can be customised. The required boot-mode configuration can be set with DIP switches on the MBa7x, see chapter 4.3.5. 4.1.1.2 Connectors X1, X2, X3 The available signals are routed to three connectors on the MBa7x.
Audio codec TLV320AIC3204, port expander PCA9555, HSIC USB hub USB4604i and PCIe clock generator 9FGV0241 are connected at I2C2. All three I C buses are also routed to 100 mil headers X23 and X25 on the MBa7x. The following table shows the I C addresses used.
4.1.3 Temperature sensor An LM75A sensor is available on the TQMa7x and a second one on the MBa7x. Both sensors are connected to I2C1 and have different addresses, see 4.1.2. The address of the sensor on the MBa7x can be changed by reassembling configuration resistors.
4.1.4 RTC backup A CR2032 lithium battery with very low self-discharge is populated on the MBa7x to back-up the RTC on the TQMa7x. The TQMa7x provides an i.MX7-internal RTC and an optional, discrete RTC. Both RTCs are supplied by the lithium battery via pin LICELL of the TQMa7x.
4.1.5 Port Expander The 16-port port expander PCA9555 is used to control several components on the MBa7x. These include the alarm buzzer, User LEDs, User GPIOs, configuration signals for Mini PCIe and navigation buttons. The port expander is configured via I2C2. The sensor address can be changed by reassembling resistors. When changing the address, care must be taken to avoid address conflicts with existing I C devices.
Block diagram power supply The MBa7x is supplied with 24 V via X26 or X27. From this voltage 1.0 V, 1.5 V, 2.5 V, 3.3 V, 5 V and 12 V are generated on the MBa7x. These voltages are used to supply the components on the MBa7x.
Page 21 4.1.7.1 Protective circuitry of the MBa7x also supplies the 3.3 V / 5 V and the 12 V buck regulators on the MBa7x. The protective circuit (Figure 9) has the following characteristics: • Fuse, 4 A, slow blow •...
Power consumption When operating the MBa7x with the TQMa7x, power peaks of up to approx. 85 W can occur if all supply voltages from external modules at the headers are loaded with maximum current. The power supply used must be designed accordingly.
The firmware required by the USB hub is loaded by default from its own internal memory. As an assembly option, the USB hub can be connected to the I2C2 bus on the MBa7x. In this case, the firmware can also be loaded into the hub via this bus when the system is started.
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed OTG Both USB-OTG interfaces of the TQMa7x are provided on the MBa7x. OTG1 is available with all module variants as 5-pin Micro AB socket. OTG2 is only available at the Mini PCIe connector when the TQMa7D is used.
4.2.3 Ethernet 1000BASE-T Both Ethernet MACs of the TQMa7x are connected on the MBa7x via RGMII to two TI PHYs DP83867. The TQMa7D offers both MACs and thus both Ethernet interfaces, the TQMa7S offers only one Ethernet interface. The PHY DP83867 is started via boot straps with default values. All boot straps can be customized with assembly options.
Block diagram CAN Both CAN interfaces on the MBa7x are directly connected to the CAN ports of the TQMa7x and made available at the 3-pin connectors X10 and X11. Both interfaces are galvanically isolated with a dielectric strength of 1 kV.
Block diagram RS-232 / Debug The debug interface is implemented on the MBa7x as RS-232 and USB device interface. In both cases the UART6 interface of the TQMa7x is used. No software configuration is necessary. The interface is selected with the DIP switch S7, see Table 41.
4.2.7 LVDS An LVDS display can be connected to the MBa7x (4× TX pairs). Since the i.MX7 processor does not have a native LVDS interface, the LVDS signals are generated by the SN75LVDS83B transceiver connected to the parallel LCD interface.
The SD card slot is directly connected with the SDHC controller of the TQMa7x with a 4-bit interface. The SDHC controller in the TQMa7x supports the UHS-I mode, which is not used on the MBa7x. The maximum available mode is High-Speed. Booting from SD card is possible, see chapter 4.3.5.
Figure 32: Block diagram Mini PCIe A Mini PCIe slot (PCIe ×1) for full-size cards is available on the MBa7x. Pin assignment see Table 56. Any standard compliant Mini PCIe card can be used. An additional SIM card holder is installed to use a GSM card, see chapter 4.2.11.
PCIe clock generator The i.MX7 internal clock is not PCIe compliant. For this reason, a PCIe compliant clock can be generated on the MBa7x with a 9FGV0241AKILF clock generator as an assembly option. Figure 36, Figure 37 and Figure 38 show possible clock supplies.
Smart card X6 The smart card interface on the MBa7x supports Class B (3.0 V) and Class C (1.8 V) cards according to ISO/IEC 7816. It is not switched automatically between Class B and C, this can be done by software.
4.2.14 100 mil Headers All unused signals are routed to the headers X23, X24, X25 on the MBa7x, to permit a comprehensive evaluation of the TQMa7x modules. All headers are 60-pin with 100 mil pitch. The headers are positioned in such a way, that adaptor boards which additional electronics and connectors can be plugged in.
LCD interface to a pin header and an LVDS transceiver. On the MBa7x this was only implemented for functional Figure. In the final design, the LCD interface should be connected as short as possible and without stubs to only one type of display.
PE1_INT# INT# Figure 48: Block diagram buzzer The MBa7x provides a buzzer. The buzzer is controlled via the PCA9555 port expander. A high level of the BUZZER signal activates the buzzer. Figure 49: Position of buzzer – N2000 Table 68:...
The JTAG interface is routed to a 20-pin header (X22). The pull-ups for the lines TDI, TMS, TRST# and SRST# are assembled on the MBa7x. All signal lines use 3.3 V as a reference. The JTAG interface has no ESD protection.
The MBa7x has a maximum height of approximately 26.4 mm. The MBa7x has six 4.3 mm holes for mounting in a housing and three 3.2 mm holes for mounting a heat sink. The MBa7x weighs approximately 240 grams without TQMa7x.
10 % to 90 % Not condensing Protection against external effects Protection class IP00 was defined for the MBa7x. There is no protection against foreign objects, touch or humidity. Reliability and service life No detailed MTBF calculation was performed for the MBa7x.
By environmentally friendly processes, production equipment and products, we contribute to the protection of our environment. To be able to reuse the MBa7x, it is produced in such a way, that it can be easily repaired and disassembled. The energy consumption of the MBa7x is minimised by suitable measures.
Need help?
Do you have a question about the MBa7x and is the answer not in the manual?
Questions and answers