/sbc_allwinner_a13

Open hardware compute module with Allwinner A13 (ARM-A8 @1GHz), DDR3 (max 512MB) and expansions (USB, GPIO, WiFi, LCD, Audio)

Allwinner A13 Board

board_render

Description

Board overview (draft): [TBD]

Features

Characteristic Description
Dimensions 80mm x 40mm
Processor Allwinner A13 (ARM Cortex-A8 @ 1Ghz)
Oscillators 24MHz main clock
RAM DDR3 512MB max (8Gbit module)
Storage microSD
USB 1 microUSB OTG
Ethernet N/A
WiFi/BT RTL8188CUS module
LCD Parallel interface 18bit
Expansions 1xUART, 1xI2C, 1xSPI, 4xGPIO, Microphone, EarphoneOut
Supply Power path between USB/ACIN/Battery, 5V max

Expansions

The board can be combined with several predefined capes that add functionality.

  • LCD cape can be used to add a 3inch LCD/Touch with 800x480px resolution.
  • GPS cape adds GPS/GNSS/GLONAS capabilities
  • GSM cape adds GPRS connectivity.

Power considerations

A13 features a few power rails:

  • VDD-CPU - TBD - from AXP209
  • VDD-INT - 1.2V - from DCDC
  • VDD-GPIO - 3V3 - from AXP209
  • VDD-DRAM - 1V5 - from DCDC
  • AVCC - 3V - from AXP209

The datasheet states that AVCC and VDD-DRAM must be present at all times (even standby). VDD-INT and VDD-CPU can't be tied together because VDD-CPU is DVS enabled.

Memory considerations

A13 DRAM controller doesn't provide DDR-CS. On the memory side the pin is tied to GND. Memory tuning should be performed as described here

Building and flashing

Build U-Boot and Linux kernel + rootFS - TBD

Flash to SDCard - TBD

Resources

You can find all necesary information to build or evaluate the module here:

Inspiration for this has been drawn from:

  • Olimex boards
  • Sunxi community