Re: [ANN] Sfards: SF3301 sample chip is available [Updated 04/05/15]
The power boards are probably based on something like tps40140 or ltc3829.
They could have been ordered separately. worst case, they can be used to work on other chips later.
But I expected the power supply to be built in the dev board, and price for the dev board is almost twice what I expected, so sample chips will be fine and more fun.
Anyway, my 2 chips design only needs routing to be finished.
I've been away today and will be driving back home tomorrow (9hours trip at least), so I probably won't update until Wednesday.
Sample chips price is a little bit high too, I expected something closer to 50$ each, but if price for "small batches" is right, it doesn't really matters.
Before I buy 2 or 4 of them, I'll need some more technical informations than what can be found in the partial data sheet.
I'll check tomorrow or Wednesday for what's missing.
Can I assume the chips will be sent express (dhl/FedEx) within 1 or 2 days after payment will be made?
They could have been ordered separately. worst case, they can be used to work on other chips later.
But I expected the power supply to be built in the dev board, and price for the dev board is almost twice what I expected, so sample chips will be fine and more fun.
Anyway, my 2 chips design only needs routing to be finished.
I've been away today and will be driving back home tomorrow (9hours trip at least), so I probably won't update until Wednesday.
Sample chips price is a little bit high too, I expected something closer to 50$ each, but if price for "small batches" is right, it doesn't really matters.
Before I buy 2 or 4 of them, I'll need some more technical informations than what can be found in the partial data sheet.
I'll check tomorrow or Wednesday for what's missing.
Can I assume the chips will be sent express (dhl/FedEx) within 1 or 2 days after payment will be made?
Yes, we will ship (DHL/FedEx) within 48 hours after full payment.
Thanks for the confirmation, here are some of my questions regarding the chips:
Can we supply non symetrical voltages to body bias?
Let's say +0.8v and -1.1v
This could be an option to improve a little bit the global efficiency.
Also, can you confirm that both pairs are supposed to receive the same voltages?
BTC_VDDS0/1
BTC_GNDS0/1
I won't mix voltages, but since there are 2 pairs of pins, it could happen on different designs
What do we do with the last chip downstream UART pins?
Left open, pulled up/down?
Your schematics, with the 4.7k resistors, seems to suggest pulled up, but even the pins in use are shown with the same 4.7k resistor.
So it's not really clear which ones do need what.
What do you call "internal oscillator"
Is it an oscillator built in the SF3301, or does it refer to the on board oscillator?
And last one for now:
Will you provide the software you used to test the dev board in your github?
Sorry for my delay to response.
As for your question, please kindly find the answers below.
1. for non symmetrical voltages to body bias, we don't recommend it.
2. BTC_VDDS0/1 and BTC_GDNS0/1 are all for BTC, because the BTC has 160 cores and the area is so large, we need more pad to drive them.
3. if you have only one chip, for DNRX, please pullup. DNTX don't need any action.
4. internal oscillator, the SF3301 has an internal OSCILLATOR, but it need an crystal to connect XCLKIN and ZO. so if you use it, please reference the following schematic. Please note for internal OSC, at the same time, please connect the 2/3 of J1, make sure the OSC_BP = 0.
http://i58.tinypic.com/2w20g7d.jpg
BTW, we will upload the software very quickly
