fs-ulx3s/README.md

ULX3S PCB

This is work-in-progress place for putting some wishes of a small (94x51 mm) FPGA board.

Instead of describing in written, it is better explained when drawn in kicad:

kicad ulx3s.pro

Schematics is mostly complete. PCB routing is complete, but needs improvement mainly for the power supply.

3D preview

Features

FPGA: Lattice ECP5 LFE5U-25F-6BG381C

USB: FTDI FT231XS (1Mbit JTAG and 3Mbit usbserial)

GPIO: All differential, PMOD-friendly

RAM: 32MB SDRAM MT48LC16M16

Flash: 8MB SPI flash S25FL164 for FPGA config

Storage: Micro-SD slot

LEDs: 10 (8 blink-LEDs, 2 USB leds)

Buttons: 6 (4 direction and 2 fire buttons)

Audio: 3.5 mm stereo jack

Video: GPDI connector with 3.3V-5V I2C bidirectional level shifter

Display: placeholder for 0.96-1.3" SPI OLED COLOR or B/W

WiFi+bluetooth: placeholder for ESP-32 (JTAG and serial over WiFi possible)

Power: 3 Switching voltage regulators: 1.2V, 2.5V, 3.3V

Low power sleep: RTC clock wakeup, quartz and battery

GPDI is General Purpose Differential Interface, Electrically LVDS, mostly TMDS tolerant female receptacle more-or-less compatible with digital monitors/TVs

Todo

Finish routing and especially improve Power section (thicker power lines, separately routed feedback)

[x] Silkscreen Double outline for BGA chip
[x] Solder stop mask must go inbetween all SMD chip pads
[ ] Do not write silkscreen over the pads
[ ] Silkscreen BGA names on ESP32 placeholder
[ ] Silkscreen remove OLED outline
[ ] Thinner copper, more spacing to SDRAM-FPGA
[ ] physically sprinkle VCC blocator capacitors under BGA
[ ] Values on silkscreen
[ ] Dedicated antenna pin
[ ] onboard 433 antenna (lower side, remove GND infill)
[x] Resistors for LEDs
[x] Move USB LEDs from bottom to top side
[ ] Improve SDRAM routing - use VIAs for closest pins
[x] Increase thickness of power lines (5V, 3.3V, 2.5V)
[x] Compile a f32c bitstream using the schematics
[x] Compile differential GPDI output
[x] Connect more lines from ESP-32 to FPGA
[x] Connect FPGA USB D+/D- with 1.5k pullup in USB 1.1 (full speed) mode
[x] FPGA USB add 27 ohm + 3.6 V zener
[x] Symmetrically place USB connectors left-right 
[ ] Jumpers to switch 2.5V/3.3V for left IO banks
[x] External JTAG header
[ ] Move WiFi Disable jumper above the buttons
[x] Sprinkle 2.2uF capacitors on power lines
[ ] Spice simulation of power-up/shutdown network
[x] 27ohm D+/D- to FT231XS
[x] DIP switch (4 switches)
[x] MAX11123 ADC SPI
[x] I2C for RTC
[x] main usb connector on top side 
[ ] space screw to other parts
[x] move battery away from screw hole
[ ] move 32k to the right
[x] top layer GND fill
[x] R25 move away from oled screw hole
[ ] board cut off nothches inisde for space saving
[x] DIP switch to the right near RAM
[ ] move HDMI a bit closer to OLED