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2 layers11.3 × 20.7 mmDongle, the printed circuit board in 3D

A minimal dongle for use with zmk.

Size
11.3 × 20.7 mm
Copper layers
2
Thickness
1.6 mm
Parts
29
Nets
73
Pads
160
Tracks, vias
237, 52
Pours
2
Routed
Yes
KiCad
KiCad 7 (file 20221018)
Created
18 Mar 2024
Updated
19 Mar 2024

Overview

Dongle is an open-source printed circuit board by nmunnich, from the nmunnich/mini-dongle repository on GitHub, published under the Apache-2.0 licence. It is a 2-layer board of 11.3 × 20.7 mm with 29 parts on 73 nets, routed with 237 tracks and 52 vias.

It is built around the USBLC6-2P6. Its parts include 17 capacitors, 3 resistors, 2 ICs, 2 inductors and 1 connector. It belongs with the keyboards and input boards and the nRF52 and nRF5x boards of this library.

Main components

1

README

README.md

Render using JLCPCB's PCBA visualiser

This is an attempt to make as miniature of a dongle for ZMK as is realistically possible. PCB size: 20.66mmx11.3mm

By realistically, I mean to not be completely unaffordable to produce. It could be made smaller through the use of components on both sides and via-in-pad, but this would raise the cost by a large degree. Likewise for reducing the width of traces even further - theoretically sound and wouldn't have any issues with the current levels we are dealing with, but financially unviable.

Despite my best efforts, it turns out to be financially unviable for PCBA -- in large enough quantities it would be fine, but thanks to FCC/CE certification the amount of orders needed would be unrealistic for something like this.

However, it should be perfectly fine for someone who has a hot plate and happens to be ordering parts from a site such as digikey/mouser already. If someone has a reflow oven and wants me to design a version that has components on both sides, let me know.

Note that the PCB antenna trace width to get the correct impedence was calculated using JLCPCB's tool, so I cannot recommend ordering this from anywhere else without first redoing said calculation and adjusting the width appropriately.

Disclaimer: I am not a professional RF engineer, I merely followed the schematics on the datasheets for the components as closely as possible. I am fairly confident that it works, but there is always the chance of an error as it has not been tested.

Parts

29
QtyValueFootprintReferences
5100nFCapacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005MetricC5, C7, C8, C12, C31
34.7uFCapacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005MetricC6, C19, C20
20.8pFCapacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005MetricC3, C30
215pFCapacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005MetricC1, C2
21uFCapacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005MetricC14, C15
25.1KResistor_SMD:R_0402_1005MetricR4, R5
10.5pFCapacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005MetricC4
1100pFCapacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005MetricC11
12.2Resistor_SMD:R_0402_1005MetricR1
132MHzCrystal:Crystal_SMD_2016-4Pin_2.0x1.6mmY1
14.7nHInductor_SMD:L_0402_1005MetricL1
15.6nHInductor_SMD:L_0402_1005MetricL3
1820pFCapacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005MetricC9
1AntennaRF_Antenna:Johanson_2450AT43F0100AE1
1SWCTestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_2.0x2.0mmTP2
1SWDTestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_2.0x2.0mmTP1
1USBLC6-2P6Package_TO_SOT_SMD:SOT-666U1
1USB_C_Plug_USB2.0Connector_USB:USB_C_Plug_Molex_105444P1
1nRF52840Package_DFN_QFN:Nordic_AQFN-73-1EP_7x7mm_P0.5mmU2

Questions

How big is the Dongle PCB?

It measures 11.3 × 20.7 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.

What parts does the Dongle use?

29 parts, built around the USBLC6-2P6. 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 Dongle KiCad files?

From the nmunnich/mini-dongle repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is dongle.kicad_pcb and its schematic dongle.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.

Can I use the Dongle design in my own project?

Its repository publishes it under the Apache-2.0 licence: you may reuse it on that licence's terms (keep the author's notice, and for a copyleft licence share your changes alike).

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