MirkoPC -> CM4 carrier board

Description

Carrier board for Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4.

Main features:
- full support of the Raspberry CM4 module,
- M.2 2242/2280 M-Key slot (PCIe x1 Gen2 5Gbps),
-Wifi 2.4GHz/5GHz + Bluetooth 5.0 BLE (CM4 module),
- MicroSD card slot,
- extra eMMC 5.1 memory (standard FBGA-153 chip),
- 4x USB 2.0 ports (Host mode, Type A connectors),
- Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 with IEEE1548 support,
- 2x HDMI 2.0 ports (4K @60Hz),
- 2x MIPI CSI camera interfaces,
- 2x MIPI DSI display interfaces,
- USB-C for power supply (5VDC@3A) and for boot mode (device),
- dedicated power supply connector,
- high-quality audio DAC I2S (32-bit/384kHz) with headphone amplifier (DitectDrive, 128mW output power),
- RTC clock with battery.

For current status and more details please follow me on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Mirek34416541

Here you can find a short introduction to the MirkoPC board by Jeff Geerling:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Womn10v71s&t=10s

Details

PCB is 4-layer, with impedance control.

PCB dimensions: 100 x 100mm.

2021-02-10

Project is under development - I ordered PCBs and assembly for passive components.

I will receive PCBs boards in 3 weeks (up to end of Feb), due to chinise new year.

Then I need about 1-2 weeks for assembly rest components (ICs, connectors) and to bring-up hardware.

Here is the 3D model in PDF format and STEP file:

https://github.com/mfolejewski/MirkoPC

Hardest thing in this project is the PCIe M.2 slot implementation. I 'm not sure for 100% if this will work but it seems that the design should be OK.

I would like to test SSD NMVe drives and Coral Edge TPU modules.

Target applications:
· Machine learning platform (Coral Edge TPU)
· Cloud computing
· NAS server
· BOINC client
· Small server
· Home automation controller
· Smart controller
· HiFi media player (Volumio, RuneAudio)
· Home media center (OSMC, OpenELEC, XBMC/Kodi)
· and many more...

Files

MirkoPC_V1R1_3D_model.pdf

3D model (PDF format)

Adobe Portable Document Format - 27.87 MB - 02/11/2021 at 11:25

Preview

Download

Project Logs

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REV1 assembled boards (beta)
Mirko • 2 days ago • 0 comments
Assembled REV1 prototype (beta)
Mirko • 2 days ago • 0 comments

PCB boards are ready for shipping to the first customers (the whole world).

I'm working on ordering the next batch and on the official user manual.
DSI LCD testing
Mirko • 2 days ago • 0 comments

Both MIPI CSI and DSI interfaces are working (cam #0, cam #1, disp #0, disp #1).

And finally, I can say: all the CM4 interfaces are working 100% on this carrier board without any circuit or PCB footprint errors.
News media and press releases
Mirko • 2 days ago • 0 comments

You can find more information about the MirkoPC project on the internet. Several press releases in the media about the project have been published so far.
The most important are listed below.
So far, most of this media news about the project was published thanks to the well-known IT enthusiast Jeff Geering by a demonstration of the new feature of booting a Raspberry Pi CM4 module from an NVMe disk based on the MirkoPC board.
Jeff Geerling blog and Youtube channel:
https://pipci.jeffgeerling.com/boards_cm/mirkopc.html

https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2021/raspberry-pi-can-boot-nvme-ssds-now
https://github.com/geerlingguy/raspberry-pi-pcie-devices/issues/101
LinuxGizmos.com:
http://linuxgizmos.com/open-spec-piunora-and-mirkopc-carriers-for-rpi-cm4-feature-m-2-for-nvme/
Tom's Hardware:
https://www.tomshardware.com/news/raspberry-pi-compute-module-4-nvme
Hackaday:
https://hackaday.com/2021/03/29/nvme-boot-finally-comes-to-the-pi-compute-module-4/
Hackster.io:
https://www.hackster.io/news/this-lets-you-boot-compute-module-4-with-nvme-sdds-b1ff4c39a4eb
Raspberry Pi Projects:
https://raspberrypiprojects.com/raspberry-pi-boots-off-an-nvme-ssd-natively/
MirkoPC current status -> Twitter
Mirko • 03/25/2021 at 06:13 • 0 comments

For current status and more details please follow me on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Mirek34416541

Here you can find a short introduction to the MirkoPC board by Jeff Geerling:
MirkoPC current status
Mirko • 03/25/2021 at 06:09 • 1 comment

So far I tested successfully:

- installed CM4 Lite, CM4 (+8GB eMMC), CM4 Lite with WiFi/BT,

- GbE ETH,
- 4-port USB hub 2.0 (connected keyboard, mouse, pendrive, USB Audio DAC),
- M.2 PCIe socket -> connected NVMe SSD drives Sandisk (2242 size, 3V3 @1.5A) and Kingston (2280 size 3V3@3A),
- Coral TPU (initially, not supported yet by CM4)
- USB-C (power/data),
- boot from USB-C,
- HDMI #0, HDMI #1,
- RESET button,
- power switch,
- 2-pin pwr connector,
- RTC + battery backup,
- temp. sensor,
- 2x status LEDs,
- buzzer,
- MIPI CSI cameras outputs (#0 & #1),
- overclocking CM4 up to 2.21 GHz,
- fan connector and dedicated heatsink with 5V fan,
- DAC + headphone amplifier,
- external eMMC BGA153 v5.1 IC chip (8GB FORESEE),
- @volumio (+ DAC + usb + eth),
- @LibreELEC (+ DAC + usb + eth),
- @MoodeAudio (initially, too long configuration),
- other OS (Raspbian, RiscOS),

TODO list:
- 4K HDMI,
- dual monitor (Full HD & 4K),
- HAT board (any original)
- Coral TPU & AI/ML apps (not supported yet, needed drivers)
- DSI LCD panel (display #0/#1 outputs)
- M.2 3V3 max. current

Fully assembled MirkoPC with installed SSD NVMe drive (2280 size):

Tested with SD Card:
And also with external eMMC BGA153 v5.1 IC memory:
WiFi testing
Mirko • 03/10/2021 at 08:41 • 0 comments

Yeah, WiFi definitely is working. BT also.

80 Mbps... Nice.
More photos
Mirko • 03/10/2021 at 08:40 • 0 comments

After soldering.
MIPI CSI-2 Camera interface
Mirko • 03/10/2021 at 08:39 • 0 comments

MIPI CSI-2 interfaces for Cameras are working.
IR sensor
Mirko • 03/10/2021 at 08:38 • 0 comments

Yeah, the IR receiver is working!