OBI Data Interconnect by nanographs: KiCad PCB

Overview

OBI Data Interconnect is an open-source printed circuit board by nanographs, from the nanographs/Open-Beam-Interface repository on GitHub. It is a 4-layer board of 40.3 × 80 mm with 23 parts on 64 nets, routed with 345 tracks and 230 vias.

Its parts include 6 capacitors, 5 connectors and 3 resistors.

README

readme.md

Open Beam Interface

Overview of PCB

Docs

Check out our docs at https://nanographs.github.io/Open-Beam-Interface/index.html

About

The Open Beam Interface project aims to make getting data into and out of scanning and patterning systems substantially more accessible. It is applicable to a variety of scanning and patterning systems but is especially useful for electron and ion microscopes.

Hardware

Two high-speed digital-to-analog converters position the beam in X and Y and a high-speed analog-to-digital converter acquires the signal from a detector.

Just what you need to control the beam and get an image.

Gateware

Built on Glasgow, written in Amaranth.

Glasgow makes getting bytes in and out of the FPGA over USB radically more accessible. We use that to make getting data into and out of your microscope radically more accessible.

Software

Glasgow handles getting the bytes in and out of your computer. Our software takes those bytes and forms an image, while simultaneously streaming bytes to Glasgow to support raster and vector patterning applications.

Example Images

Nanographs Logo Fib milled Diatom Milled with a FIB ICE 40 FIB Blasted PS4 FIB Xsection Mystery Chip FIB Blasted Mystery Cip FIB Xsection

Roadmap

FAQ

How many bits are the DACs and ADCs
- 14 bits
What are the range of dwell times?
- Minimum dwell time is 125ns, with a minimum temporal resolution of 20.83 ns
- Hardware supports 50ns dwells when controlling both DACs and the ADC
- Without sampling the ADC (no video signal), the hardware supports 25ns dwells
- The limiting factor in most modes is USB bandwidth

Supported microscopes

We have crafted this board to support as many microscopes as possible. We do not know of a SEM or FIB that specifically does not have these signals somewhere inside that can be tapped.

Many microscopes have an existing dedicated connector for external scan inputs. Originally, this was generally for external beam control coming from EDS or other X-Ray mapping systems.

For microscopes that do not have a dedicated external scan connector, the X and Y ramps that drive the scan coils exist somewhere. A relay can be installed to flip between internal and external scan. Sometimes, even when microscopes have a dedicated connector, it is better to tap the X and Y signals somewhere else.

General

Has a XY scan input that is either:
- ±1-10V differential
- ±1-10V single-ended
Has a video output that is:
- ±1-10V single-ended

Tapping into the signal path may require fabricating a custom cable.

Specifically Tested Microscopes

Microscopes the board has been specifically integrated into, this is far from an exhaustive list of microscopes that we could interface with.

Full Support

JEOL 35C
JEOL 840
JEOL 63/6400
JEOL T330
FEI xT Platform

Partial Support

FEI xP Platform (support for single beam XY input, video output. In progress: support for blanking and internal/external beam control)
- FIB 200
- Expedia 830
- Expedia 1230

Contributors

License

Hardware

CERN-OHL-W

Parts

23

Qty	Value	Footprint	References
3	0.1uF	Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric	C1, C2, C5
3	4.7uF	Capacitor_SMD:C_1206_3216Metric	C3, C4, C6
3	Conn_02x10_Odd_Even	OBI Data Interconnect:IDC-Header_Receptacle_2x10_P2.54mm_Vertical_No_Pin_1_Mark	J2, J3, J4
3	MountingHole	OBI Data Interconnect:MountingHole_3.5mm_Pad_Via_CrtYd	H1, H2, H3
3	R	Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric	R1, R2, R3
3	R_Pack08	OBI Data Interconnect:RES_EXB2HV	RN1, RN2, RN3
2	Jumper_2_Open	Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric	JP1, JP2
1	Conn_01x02_Pin	Connector_PinSocket_2.54mm:PinSocket_1x02_P2.54mm_Vertical	J5
1	Conn_02x22_Odd_Even	OBI Data Interconnect:PinReceptacle_2x22_P1.27mm_Vertical_BackSide_SMD	J1

The 22 most common of 23 parts.

Questions

How big is the OBI Data Interconnect PCB?

It measures 40.3 × 80 mm and has 4 copper layers, 1.57 mm thick.

What parts does the OBI Data Interconnect use?

23 parts. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.

Where can I download the OBI Data Interconnect KiCad files?

From the nanographs/Open-Beam-Interface repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is Hardware/PCBs/Data Interconnect/OBI Data Interconnect.kicad_pcb and its schematic Hardware/PCBs/Data Interconnect/Data Interconnect revA1/OBI Data Interconnect.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.