• SPINet pics

    helge • 07/25/2020 at 13:30 • 0 comments

    Some more pictures of the SPINet module prototype. Fischer SIL 1 G 20 / 10045917 really seem to be somewhat cheaper than the MillMax equivalents.

    The contacts should have been a lot shorter, allowing a shielding can to be fitted to the top, and soldered on the bottom side around the exposed strips.

    The test board also includes PoE taps, which will be investigated later.

  • Rev1B: Ethernet Quadrature Decoder

    helge • 10/12/2016 at 12:47 • 1 comment

    SPINet has had some traces moved around and now incorporates two new I/O mapping flavors:

    - simple Quadrature Decoder: PHA+PHB only (utilizes the primary UART pins, however the ACT and LNK LEDs can be disconnected and a secondary UART option is routed to these pins). That's what was possible on a 2-layer PCB in the given area.

    - full Quadrature Decoder with rotation signal: PHA+PHB+IDX: (utilizes UART pins, LNK LED pin), maintains ACT pins

    all options do not touch I2C and SPI I/Os.

    Spot the differences ;-)

    ps. via-in-pad is usually not a good idea. However we gave the PCBs a shot and found the small via ID in conjunction with stop mask on the bottom layer (which tents/plugs the vias halfway through) keeps solder wicking under control. Back-to-back caps also seem to work without a concerning amount of tombstoning. Not good practice in general but ok-ish if proven to work under real conditions.