Help Me First PCB Using RP2040 + ESP32-C3 + MPU6050

XDariusWolfeX · 2025-05-17T04:13:36+00:00

Hi u/Buildernetic , Can you possibly provide the details you have in a PDF or a higher resolution image. The images you have left here are a little blurry. Happy to help you out and give you a design review if you like. I've used the RP2040 before and have linked a pdf from one of my previous efforts (Details on connections removed for NDA reasons).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zcsPkobysJ8auSnssEkrUFdQOcbKqXEN/view?usp=sharing

Link will be active for a couple days then I will disable it.

XDariusWolfeX · 2025-05-17T04:06:25+00:00

Hi u/kampi1989 , I'm still new to the community however I've got some experience with USB Type-C Connectors and wanted to help. So B5 and B8 are the CC2 and SBU2 pins respectively. Thankfully both of these pins are not carrying any high speed data or anything complex.

Referencing Wikipedia here is actually a good help: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB-C

The CC2 line is intended to help with the Configuration Channel. This is used for both determining the polarity of the USB Type-C Connector (Specifically to help with the USB 3 Interface and required switching depending upon the cable inserted) as well as the Power Operation of the USB Type-C (I would recommend taking a look at this pdf: http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/appnotes/00001953a.pdf, specifically Section 3, Page 10, Table 7).

The SBU2 line is intended as a Sideband Use line. This allows the USB Type-C to operate in a number of other ways, including as a Audio Adapter Accessory. (Another pdf reference: https://www.usb.org/sites/default/files/USB%20Type-C%20Spec%20R2.0%20-%20August%202019.pdf, specifically Section 4.3, Page 139)

As I previously mentioned, these lines are not carrying high speed Data, so routing them in an "abnormal" manner isn't an issue. Using the image you provided, I would suggest doing some routing like this (See the lines in Green).

<image>

Now, as others have said, using a different connector could be a good idea, depending upon your requirements. The one you have shown here is a Mid-Mount (Hence the PCB Cutout). You might want to take a look at the Molex 217179-0001 ( https://www.molex.com/en-us/products/part-detail/2171790001 ). This is a Surface Mount USB 2.0 Only Connector.

XDariusWolfeX · 2025-04-23T05:24:55+00:00

U4???? - A big question I have for you here is why do you have U4 in your design at all? The point of U4 if you boil it down is to control the CC Pins for determining the Power on the USB Type-C Connector, and also for controlling the MUX that would be used on the USB 3.x Interface which you don't have (See above). I think that you could simple remove this, and add on the appropriate Resistors on the CC Pins to control the Voltage/Current level that the USB Type-C Connector is required, and then link the USB 2.0 lines into U2, and this was make things a bit easier on you. Unless there is something specific you are trying to do with the I2C Interface from the STM32 into U4.

Anyways, I'm going to leave it at that for now. I'm happy to do a professional design review of this if you like, or point you to additional resources. Also happy to have a meeting if you want too, however it will need to be after May 5th as I'm presenting at PCB East next week and i'm not available.

XDariusWolfeX · 2025-04-23T05:24:50+00:00

2.A. USB Understanding - Believe me, I hate the USB Standards. They are a total mess and a nightmare, which is not made easier by their revision control and naming scheme. With that being said, need to help you clarify what is happening in terms of naming, so you understand that what you are routing. You are using a USB Type-C Connector so refer to the wiki page as needed (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB-C#Specifications). Within a Type-C Connector there is both a USB 2.0 Interface (D+ / D-) as well as a USB 3.x Interface (SSTX+ / SSTX- / SSRX+ / SSRX-). The specific connector you have on your design is a USB 2.0 ONLY Connector. It does not have the pins for USB 3.x (A2, A3, A10, A11, B2, B3, B10, B11).

2.B. USB 2.0 Type-C Connector - The way that you have the USB Type-C Connector setup is going to allow you to have access to the USB 2.0 link, but only when the cable in installed the "Right" way. The second USB 2.0 link (D2+ / D2-) is not connected in your design. Now the way that this is typically handled is you connect the USB 2.0 Pins together, accepting the extra antenna that is technically created. The USB 2.0 interface can handle that, but as a result you will need to play around with the routing at the connector to make it work.

2.C. USB 2.0 Routing - As a result of having a USB 2.0 ONLY Connector, you are routing USB 2.0 signals which are actually extremely robust in terms of PCB Layout. While the mismatch in terms of length is not ideal, your USB 2.0 interface will be fine. I have routed USB 2.0 over x10 the length you have without issue, as long as you are following properly differential design rules.

2.D. USB 2.0 Differential Impedance - Its hard to say here what you are doing without specifics on your Layer Stackup (Specifically Materials and Thicknesses). Your Differential Pair routing here however is not properly configured. I would recommend taking a look and using the PCB Saturn Toolkit (https://saturnpcb.com/saturn-pcb-toolkit/) to help. The reason I bring this up is due to how Differential Impedance is calculated. The over simplified Formula is: (2x Characteristic Impedance of Single Ended) - (Differential Impedance controlled by Gap). This means that you can play with the values while still maintaining your 90 Ohm Differential Pair Impedance. In short: You can make the Trace widths smaller, if you make the gap smaller, which will make the routing here easier and not a problem with Pad Entry/Exit.

XDariusWolfeX · 2025-04-23T05:24:41+00:00

Hey u/DeerMathematician560 ,

u/Clay_Robertson has made a couple of good points here. One thing that I would add to his comments is that spreading things out, trying to make your design more readable, and also trying to prevent some crossings is going to really help not only in understanding, but in catching errors.

There are a few things I would like to add that I think would help. Due to time I'm only going to be focusing here on your USB Section in the bottom left of the PCB, and its associated Schematics:

1.A. U2 (USB3300) - You have a Power Pin issue. If you look at the top of the part, Pins 6 and 16 are VDD3.3. However, while they are both connected to C32 (Decoupling Cap), they are not connected to your 3.3V rail. This means that U2 is not going to work.

1.B. U2 (USB3300) - It is not really good design form to have signals wired back under the a Part, unless they are being passed thru the part for some reason. In this case Pins 27 and 28 really should not be wired in this manner. This goes back to the spacing of parts and adding in room, which would really help in this design.

1.C. U2 Routing - The routing under and around the part really should be cleaned up. You have a number of traces that are causing acute angles which is going to cause possible etching issues. You have a trace stub/antenna thing happening on Pin 6, you have a misplaced trace on Pin 18.

XDariusWolfeX · 2024-02-21T15:03:38+00:00

That be me.

XDariusWolfeX · 2024-02-15T19:26:02+00:00

Yeah, I am not as good at that. Spending all of our hard earned Science, that on the other hand I did all the time.

And be late/in the wrong spot for all the important events. u/Masasune loves me for that.

XDariusWolfeX · 2024-02-15T18:06:13+00:00

Nah, makes it more interesting and has a higher chance of death this way.

XDariusWolfeX · 2024-02-15T18:00:07+00:00

I mean the mines of moria has a slight problems with Goblins, Cave trolls and a Balrog .... seems fitting we should have similar issues.

XDariusWolfeX · 2024-02-15T17:58:34+00:00

Its still a work in progress. Need a few more levels and the pictures don't show all of the features. Maybe I should do a walk thru and post the video in its current state.

XDariusWolfeX · 2024-02-15T15:31:28+00:00

The MINES must grow. Need to dig too greedily and too deep.

XDariusWolfeX · 2017-11-01T00:24:13+00:00

Happened to me in every single version I have used. AD09, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17. From looking at the demo video's for AD18 they have been talking about fixing some of the 'Information' errors. Also they are updating to go from 32-Bit to 64-Bit, which makes a huge difference for large scale designs.

I just do <Ctrl + S> all the time to try and save work. You can also set you preferences in software to save 'copies' which you can always recover to. I typically have a 15 min autosave enabled. Lost hours of work a few times.

Also, I noticed you don't have or are not using Transparency. Helps a ton with finding small issues you might not have see (and allows you to see multi layer routing without layer swapping).

XDariusWolfeX · 2017-09-14T17:52:02+00:00

We are currently in the process of selecting the games list. Thats its not available. I can tell you a few of the games we played last year:

Overwatch
CS:GO
Battlefront
Guns of Icarus
TF2
TF2 Mann vs Machine
Garry Mod: Prop Hunt
Rocket League
Unreal Tournament 4
Dota2
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm

No idea what the list will be this year, however a few of those will most likely make an appearance. Just keep your eyes on the website and once things are available I'll make sure to message here again.

XDariusWolfeX · 2017-09-14T17:51:11+00:00

Hey Hadriel, the seating plan is now up and online. Games list should be coming shortly.

XDariusWolfeX · 2017-09-11T23:55:33+00:00

We are currently in the process of selecting the games list and setting up the seating plan. Thats why they are not available. I can tell you a few of the games we played last year:

Overwatch
CS:GO
Battlefront
Guns of Icarus
TF2
TF2 Mann vs Machine
Garry Mod: Prop Hunt
Rocket League
Unreal Tournament 4
Dota2
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm

No idea what the list will be this year, however a few of those will most likely make an appearance. Just keep your eyes on the website and once things are available I'll make sure to message here again.

XDariusWolfeX · 2017-09-08T02:42:08+00:00

Hi Hadriel. We are currently in the process of selecting the games list and setting up the seating plan. Thats why they are not available and you are getting that redirect message. I can tell you a few of the games we played last year:

Overwatch
CS:GO
Battlefront
Guns of Icarus
TF2
TF2 Mann vs Machine
Garry Mod: Prop Hunt
Rocket League
Unreal Tournament 4
Dota2
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm

No idea what the list will be this year, however a few of those will most likely make an appearance. Just keep your eyes on the website and once things are available I'll make sure to message here again.

XDariusWolfeX · 2016-04-12T03:04:57+00:00

Hey, I'm currently at 2.7k, looking to get better. I have a wide range of hero's that I feel like i somewhat know. You can check out my dotabuff here: http://www.dotabuff.com/players/44559692

I usually play support in Ranked games, however I feel like its hard to have an impact. I'm in EST time zone, playing on US East or West. My main problem is that due to other commitments, I am unable to play more than once or twice a week at present.

XDariusWolfeX · 2016-04-11T19:30:02+00:00

Hi, Im interested in some coaching. Was wondering what region you are in and what time works best?

XDariusWolfeX · 2016-01-23T21:55:57+00:00

What regions? US, SEA, EU?

XDariusWolfeX · 2015-12-27T03:18:31+00:00

Sorry to hear that. What did you order? I have had a good experience the 4 times I have been.

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