NOVA34 Ultra Small Linux Board - Custom PCB Open Source 🚀

Overview

This is an open-source headboard custom PCB designed in Altium for integration with the NXP MIMX8MN5DVPIZAA (I.MX 8M NANO - ULTRALIGHT 11x11MM 14nm). The board is designed to support essential peripherals such as eMMC storage, LPDDR4X RAM, WiFi/Bluetooth, camera module, and display. The design is optimized for performance and ease of assembly, with a compact form factor.

🎯 The goal was to make it accessible to everyone—hobbyists, makers, robotics enthusiasts—without minimum order limitations. This project follows the workflow of creating an SBC (Single Board Computer), robot board, and wearable device.

Preview from Rev_1.3

🛠️ Technical Specifications

📏 Dimensions

• Width: 34mm
• Height: 30.946mm
• Thickness: 1mm

Primary Components

Back Side

• NXP MIMX8MN5DVPIZAA (I.MX 8M NANO - ULTRALIGHT 11x11mm)
• PMIC NXP PCA9450BHNY
• Antenna M310220 Kyocera Avx
• ADG824BCPZ-REEL7 (For Antenna Diversity)
• Camera 5MP (Autofocus, 24Pins, around 110° FOV)
• Connector JST B4B-ZR-SM4-TF (1.5mm, 1 Row, 4 Contacts) – Used for power input and serial communication; the same 4-pin header must be present on the new board.
• USB Pads for SDM (Serial Download Mode for firmware flashing)
• Speaker Pads and External Speaker

Combo Chip:

• Rev_1.0 to Rev_1.3: (Realtek) RTL8723DS (6x6mm Wi-Fi + Bluetooth)
• Final Revision: CYW43012 (Infineon)- 106-ball WLBGA (3.76 x 4.43mm; 0.35mm pitch)
• Storage: (Kingston) 32EP16-M4FTC32-GA68 (eMMC 5.1 HS400 + LPDDR4X 144-FBGA)

Front Side

• IMU BMI160 Bosch
• Display ST0103A2W-WSNLW-F Santek
• NC7SP125P5X Onsemi Fairchild
• MAX98357AETE+T Analog Device

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🔧 Design and PCB Progress

Revision Notes

In Rev_1.0 to Rev_1.3, the process included several testing phases to assess the engineering validity of component research and selection.

• During this phase, we identified the ADP191ACBZ-R7, an ultra-compact high-side load switch. This component could be useful for managing power distribution efficiently, providing controlled power switching to different subsystems while offering short-circuit and overcurrent protection.

• With the latest revision, we implemented the ADP191ACBZ-R7, Now, the ADP191ACBZ-R7 also provides ESD protection, which was previously required only for USB connections. To ensure stable voltages, we added protection for the CAMERA, DISPLAY, and WIFI module using the ADP191ACBZ-R7. Additionally, we included a differential pair for the USB connection. The ADP191ACBZ-R7 is now connected with GPIO pins, allowing it to be enabled and disabled as needed.

• Additionally, we replaced the RTL8723DS (6x6mm) combo-chip Wi-Fi/Bluetooth. Its footprint fit comfortably in the upper-right section of the back-side of the board. However, after further evaluation, we found a better and more compact alternative: the CYW43012, which offers improved efficiency and performance.

• Initially, we also considered the AMA3B1KK-KBR-B0 (Apollo3 Blue), but in the end, we opted for the CYW43012 as the best choice for this design. That said, we could still explore future variants incorporating different wireless solutions based on project needs.

• Placement and optimization trials were conducted, along with numerous other evaluations, successfully achieving the set objectives.

• Additionally, for the RF switch component, we utilized the ADG824BCPZ-REEL7 instead of the QPC8020QTR13 (Qorvo, RF switch) to support Antenna Diversity, which includes both traced and ceramic antenna configurations.

Now, with the final revision, the schematic is fully defined and accurate, allowing for a more streamlined approach to PCB design in High-Speed Design & Signal Integrity.

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Test in old revisions component placements

Top Signal	Top SilkScreen	Solder Mask

Old preview 3D

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Status:

Schematic: ██████████ 100% (Complete)
PCB: ███░░░░░░░░ 30% (In Progress)

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📋 Component List & Costs (Prices may vary depending on the supplier, market trends or other reasons)

📄 A detailed spreadsheet with reference links (primary components) has been created. You can find it here: Components/components.md.

Componente	Part Number	Price (€)
Processor	MIMX8MN5DVPIZAA (NXP)	22.14
Memory ePOP	32EP16-M4FTC32-GA68 (KINGSTON)	25.35
Connector	B4B-ZR-SM4-TF (JST)	0.66
PMIC	PCA9450BHNY (NXP)	4.11
IMU	BMI160 (BOSCH)	1.46
WiFi/Bluetooth	CYW43012TC0KFFBH (Infineon Technologies)	10.00
Antenna	M310220 (KYOCERA AVX)	0.91
Display	ST0103A2W-WSNLW-F (SANTEK DISPLAY SPECIALIST)	31.84
DAC	MAX98357AETE+T (ANALOG DEVICE)	4.50
External Speaker	RS PRO 8Ω 0.5W Miniature Speaker 20mm (RS PRO)	15.00
RF SWITCH	ADG824BCPZ-REEL7 (ANALOG DEVICE)	3.00
Buffer	NC7SP125P5X (Onsemi Fairchild)	0.70
Camera	5MP MIPI Camera Module – MCM5M120M6F1 (IADY)	15.00 (USD)
Power Switch	ADP191ACBZ-R7 (ANALOG DEVICE)	1.91 (USD)
PCB + Stencil	JLPCB	120-150

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Requirements:

• Software: Altium Designer v24.6.1 or later. (Fully compatible with MacOS via Parallels Desktop with Windows 11 ARM).

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🚀 Getting Started

The official documentation can be found in the nova34_docs repository at the following link: nova34-docs.vercel.app

1. Download the Design Files

   • GitHub Repository
   • Open Project group file (.Nova.DsnWrk)

2. Schematics, Library and Netlist

   • At this stage, the schematic files, library, and netlist are fully completed and ready for review.
   • The PCB design is still in progress, and full assembly instructions will be provided once completed.

3. Upcoming Documentation (to be released soon)

   • Complete PCB assembly guide for both factory production and homemade/hobbyist assembly.
   • List of required tools for manual assembly.
   • Technical drawings and reference materials.
   • Decals and labeling for easy identification.
   • Additional resources to streamline the build process.

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🤝 Contributing

This project is open-source, and contributions are welcome! You can help by:

• Suggesting improvements or fixes.
• Testing and documenting.
• Creating alternative designs or add-ons.
• Developing a custom jig with pogo pins.
• Generating an interactive BOM (HTML/PDF).
• Designing a high-speed circuit with signal integrity considerations.
• Performing thermal simulations.

We encourage you to submit a pull request with your contributions to help improve the project!

How to Submit a Pull Request

1. Fork the repository to your GitHub account.
2. Create a new branch dedicated to your revision (e.g., Rev_1.4-fix-component-placement).
3. Make your changes and ensure everything works as expected.
4. Commit and push your changes to your forked repository.
5. Open a pull request with a clear description of the modifications and improvements.

⭐ Star project and stay tuned for updates!

📜 License

This project is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License. You are free to modify and share the design, but commercial use is not permitted.

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🔗 Other Similar Projects

If you're interested in open-source compact boards and embedded devices, you might also find this project useful:

  ESP32-REACTJS-DEVKIT – An ultra-compact 35mm board based on ESP32-DOWDQ6 + 16MB, perfect for IoT projects and ReactJS development.

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For any questions or discussions, feel free to open an issue on GitHub or contact me directly.