Hardware PicoKey

PicoKey

I go to highschool, and teens are always around when i try to login to my mail or github or any other account, so my password can be compromised.

To solve this, I created PicoKey, which is a hardware pass key in a very small form factor(34.5mm x 18.5mm). It uses the RP2350A chip, although I wanted to use my favourite MCU, the rp2040, it was not safe as a pass key, so I used the rp2350A this time, which is much more safer and secure than the RP2350A.

I think it can also function as a USB-HID device because it has an external button too and 16Mb of memory size.

It has USB-A in the PCB itself soo need for external connectors, however, you either need to order a 2.0mm thick PCB(expensive) or you need to order a 1.6mm PCB(pretty cheap) and make up for the 0.4mm using tape or some other method.

Features:

Small form factor: 3.45cm x 1.85 cm
Uses the latest MCU from Raspberyy Pi, the RP2350A
Could Potentially have HID Compatibility
USB inbuilt the PCB

Idea taken from @Rudy 's RP2350 hardware key

How to Assemble this PCB?

It is basically a single pcb, so assembling this project means soldering on all the components.

To solder, I would recommend buying a stencil along with the PCBs, or opting for PCBA from your PCB manufacturer, I am using JLC for this, and I will be opting for PCBA, as this is a 2 sided board, it will be much easier for 1 side to be PCBA(bottom side) and other by hand(top side).

The RP2350A is housed on the bottom side along with most of the components, and I have placed easy to solder components on the top, and the small pads for resistors and LED are a little bigger, which would help in soldering by hand.

Why i chose to make this project

I chose to make this project mainly for 2 reasons:

1. i wanted to have a secure hardware key and didn't wanna sign in using passwords in front of everyone.

2. I wanted to try out making a 2 sided PCB(where components are on 2 sides), to learn how to make such projects and the learning curve for dual sided PCBs.

Images

BOM

PCB Components Breakdown

Note: There are a few resistors and capacitors, which had very high minimum order quantity(MOQ), about 50 pieces so i had to forcefully include those, which i will be utilising in my next highway projects. And tbh the prices were very less(about $0.02 per piece) so i think it is alright

if DNO is yes, i am not ordering the respective parts and thus i have not included the cost in BOM.