Senoko PVT ECO List

This is a list of all the changes applied to the board from DVT to PVT (Crowd Supply initial campaign) release. If it's not on this list, it didn't happen.

Each change has the format of issue summary/resolution, and specific change

ECO 1: Improve inductor clearance
The ferrite MSS1260 used as the primary power inductor is a bit too tall and large. Use a composite molded core XAL7030 which is a bit more compact.

Pros/cons: XAL7030 has a better rated Irms than MSS1260, but seems mostly due to better heat conduction out of the package, not due to better electrical performance. The DCR of XAL7030 is 19.5mOhm, MSS1260 is 12.60mOhm, so conduction losses are greater. Isat of the XAL7030 is better due to soft-saturating characteristic of the composite core. Overall, I expect there to be very little change in practical circuit performance, perhaps a little extra heat during peak battery charging situations.

The MSS1260 isn't removed from the PCB layout. Instead, XAL7030 shall be fitted inside the footprint of the MSS1260. This allows for going back to the original inductor in case there is a design issue with the XAL7030.

This change is coordinated onto Novena BOM as well.

ECO 2: Route power switch to mainboard
Power switch pin is routed to mainboard for pass-through to front panel.

Pin 14 (previously an NC 3.3V pin) is now dedicated to CHG_PWRSWITCH.

ECO 3: Add power supply detection hooks
Per xobs' request, a spare ADC and UART TX/RX pin is routed to a test point, to enable auto-detection of power supplies that offer such a feature.

Conveniently, USART2_TX is multiplexed with an ADC inside the STM32. This means we can have one connector to do it all.

P102 is re-purposed from a general analog input to use as an ADC/one-wire interface. In order to make this work, a 4.7k pull-up is added to 3.3V_UC.

The header is also replaced to be a JST-B2B-EH-A type connector, which offers a friction-lock modular solution for wiring, as opposed to the current rather slippery pin header.

ECO 4: Remove JTAG and replace with test pads
Remove the JTAG header to make space for other mods. We've never really used it anyways.

ECO 5: Add notch for case support
A small rib is added near Senoko to prevent the lid from pushing in when a lot of force is applied on it. This requires a notch to be put into the Senoko PCB to accommodate. Some small components are moved, no BOM change.

ECO 6: Upgrade thermal sensor connectors
P302/P303 are currently right-angle headers, which have no friction lock.

Upgrade to JST EH series with friction lock.

The downside is bypassing the thermal sensor requires a cable assembly instead of a simple header. But ideally, we should be using the thermal sensor capability on the battery pack for safety's sake. RC packs don't include a thermal sensor but most likely we'll include a cable assembly with a thermal sensor that can be taped onto the battery pack as a recommended best practice.

ECO 7: Upgrade DAC output header
While we're at it, might as well make the DAC output header a "real" connector as well. We have no use for this header right now, but maybe someone will find one.

ECO 8: Fix BQ29412DCT EOL issue
BQ29412DCT is EOL in a pretty bad way.

Unfortunately, there are no pin-compatible substitutes, so the secondary protection network has to be redesigned.

Use the bq77PL157A4225 instead. It's fairly similar, and it offers a driver for a low-side NFET that can disconnect battery pack ground in case of failure. This obviates the need of keeping the microcontroller in the loop for disconnecting the pack in case of catastrophic failure, which arguably makes this a safer design.

Furthermore, the form factor of the battery board is extended slightly to accommodate the larger protection circuit.

This is considered to be a high-risk change, and must be re-qualified for production.

ECO 9: Make programming header DNP
We program via the serial interface, not SWD. No need for header.

ECO 10: Add IRQ line
Compliment of IRQ line ECO on Novena. Adding IRQ line because it's too hard to write a console driver to recognize data coming across the UART into the CPU.

=Release B=

ECO 11: Improve I2C signal quality
Some concerns over rise time on I2C being too slow.