6 layers90.2 × 95.9 mm
4 layers54.5 × 25 mm
Rf module
SpaceTeam/STS1_RF_Module3The full RF path of the STS1 COBC broken out as a separate module for testing and fun.
- Size
- 54.5 × 25 mm
- Copper layers
- 4
- Thickness
- 1.63 mm
- Parts
- 107
- Nets
- 74
- Pads
- 375
- Tracks, vias
- 397, 181
- Pours
- 1
- Routed
- Yes
- KiCad
- KiCad 7 (file 20221018)
- Created
- 2 Mar 2023
- Updated
- 8 Jul 2023
Overview
Rf module is an open-source printed circuit board by SpaceTeam, from the SpaceTeam/STS1_RF_Module repository on GitHub, published under the MIT licence. It is a 4-layer board of 54.5 × 25 mm with 107 parts on 74 nets, routed with 397 tracks and 181 vias.
It is built around the TQP3M9036, TQP7M9106 and FPF2701MX, with the LFCG-490+, LP2985-18DBV and SI4463DY among its other parts. Its parts include 46 capacitors, 19 inductors, 16 resistors, 10 ICs and 3 transistors. It belongs with the radio and wireless boards of this library.
Main components
7
TQP3M9036
DFN-8-EP(2x2)-40℃~+105℃ 0.45dB 19.8dB 20dBm 3.3V~5.25V DFN-8-EP(2x2) Low Noise Amplifiers (LNA) - RF ROHSQorvoLow Noise Amplifiers (LNA) - RF
TQP7M9106
QFN-24-EP(4x4)-40℃~+85℃ 1 4.75V~5.25V 455mA Enable/shutdown function、ESD protection、Overvoltage protection QFN-24-EP(4x4) Operational Amplifier ROHSQorvoOperational Amplifier
FPF2701MX
SOP-8-40℃~+85℃ 1 2.8V~36V 2A 88mΩ Active Low Load Switch Under-voltage lockout、Overcurrent Protection、Over temperature protection、Latch protection、Short-Circuit Protection SOP-8 Power Distribution Switches ROHSonsemiPower Distribution Switches
LFCG-490+
SMD-8P,2x1.2mm-55℃~+125℃ 0MHz~490MHz 1.5dB 45dB 490MHz 50Ω Low-pass Filter SMD-8P,2x1.2mm Ceramic Filters ROHSMini-CircuitsCeramic Filters
LP2985-18DBV
SOT-23-5-40℃~+125℃@(Tj) 1 1.8V 150mA 16V 30uVrms 45dB@(1kHz) 575mV@(150mA) 850uA Fixed Over Current Protection、Over Temperature Protection、Enable、Short Circuit Protection Positive SOT-23-5 Voltage Regulators - Linear, Low Drop Out (LDO) Regulators ROHSTexas InstrumentsVoltage Regulators - Linear, Low Drop Out (LDO) Regulators
SI4463DY
SOIC-8-55℃~+150℃ 1 P-Channel 1.532nF 1.5V 11.5A 17.5mΩ@2.5V 2.5W 20V 4.481nF 540pF 60nC@4.5V P-Channel SOIC-8 MOSFETs ROHSonsemiMOSFETs
TYKTBCSANF-26.000000
SMD2520-4PTemperature Compensated Crystal Oscillators (TCXO)TAITIEN Elec
README
README.mdSTS1 RF Module
This PCB is the RF subsystem of the STS1 COBC ("Communication and On Board Computer") isolated on a separate PCB to test the RF subsystem.
The complete RF path was simulated using QUCS (see the STS1_RF_Simulations repo for the files).
It is based around the Si4463 RF IC and features an LNA, 2W power amplifier and filtering built for our CubeSat and is designed for a frequency around 435MHz.
Feel free to use this for whatever you want but there are two important things to consider:
- 2W is way more than legal without some form of license in most countries so make sure that whatever you are planning to do is legal in your country.
- The filtering and matching is designed for 435MHz. For any other frequency you'll probably go into the QUCS project and find suitable values for your frequency.
- The matching of the Si4463 is described in AN643 and AN648
- The matching of the PA and LNA is done using the QUCS matching network calculation tool
- The low pass filters most likely can stay the same if you don't drastically change the frequency
- The band pass filters are stolen from ORESAT0 C3 so you'll have to figure this out on your own :P
- When using this in space, you'll want to add some form of watchdog to the
TX_Blockinput and latch-up protection for at least the 3.3V rail (the power amplifier has it's own e-fuse on the 5V rail)
Current state
v1.0
Currently untested!
The TX path excluding the RF switch were mostly tested before but the rest is untested.
Parts
107| Qty | Value | Footprint | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 100p | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C8, C9, C12, C14, C18, C19, C30, C31, C32, C36, C42, C43, C46 |
| 6 | 100n | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C1, C6, C15, C23, C33, C39 |
| 5 | 100 | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R2, R5, R8, R11, R16 |
| 5 | 24p | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C7, C11, C24, C29, C44 |
| 4 | 10k | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R3, R4, R14, R15 |
| 4 | 5.6n | Inductor_SMD:L_0402_1005Metric | L4, L6, L11, L14 |
| 4 | 68n | Inductor_SMD:L_0402_1005Metric | L5, L7, L13, L15 |
| 4 | MH | MountingHole:MountingHole_2.2mm_M2_Pad_Via | H1, H2, H3, H4 |
| 3 | 33n | Inductor_SMD:L_0402_1005Metric | L1, L3, L12 |
| 3 | SQ2318 | Package_TO_SOT_SMD:SOT-23 | Q1, Q2, Q3 |
| 2 | 100k | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R1, R12 |
| 2 | 10n | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C3, C21 |
| 2 | 2p | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C10, C28 |
| 2 | 4.7µ | Capacitor_SMD:C_0805_2012Metric | C5, C25 |
| 2 | 7.5p | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C2, C4 |
| 2 | NL17SV04XV5T2G | Package_TO_SOT_SMD:SOT-553 | U3, U10 |
| 1 | 100n | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C35 |
| 1 | 10u | Capacitor_Tantalum_SMD:CP_EIA-6032-28_Kemet-C | C40 |
| 1 | 10u | Capacitor_SMD:C_0805_2012Metric | C38 |
| 1 | 110k | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R13 |
| 1 | 15p | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C26 |
| 1 | 18n | Inductor_SMD:L_0402_1005Metric | L17 |
| 1 | 1n | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C41 |
| 1 | 1u | Capacitor_SMD:C_0805_2012Metric | C13 |
| 1 | 1µ | Capacitor_SMD:C_0805_2012Metric | C34 |
| 1 | 2.2p | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C22 |
| 1 | 220n | Inductor_SMD:L_0402_1005Metric | L8 |
| 1 | 240 | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R9 |
| 1 | 280 | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R10 |
| 1 | 3.3p | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C45 |
| 1 | 33k | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R7 |
| 1 | 33p | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C16 |
| 1 | 4.7 | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R6 |
| 1 | 4.7p | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C20 |
| 1 | 47n | Inductor_SMD:L_0402_1005Metric | L19 |
| 1 | 47µ | Capacitor_SMD:C_0805_2012Metric | C27 |
| 1 | 4n | Inductor_SMD:L_0402_1005Metric | L16 |
| 1 | 50p | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C37 |
| 1 | 51n | Inductor_SMD:L_0402_1005Metric | L2 |
| 1 | 56n | Inductor_SMD:L_0402_1005Metric | L10 |
| 1 | 5V_PA | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D1.0mm | TP5 |
| 1 | 62n | Inductor_SMD:L_0402_1005Metric | L9 |
| 1 | 8.2n | Inductor_SMD:L_0402_1005Metric | L18 |
| 1 | 9.1p | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C17 |
| 1 | Conn_01x15 | Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x15_P2.54mm_Vertical | J1 |
| 1 | F2972 | lsf-kicad-lib:IDT_NEG-12-1EP_2x2mm_P0.5mm_EP1.1x1.1mm_ThermalVias | U7 |
| 1 | FPF2701 | lsf-kicad-lib:MLP-8 | U8 |
| 1 | Ferrite_Bead | Inductor_SMD:L_0603_1608Metric | FB1 |
| 1 | GND | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D2.5mm | TP3 |
| 1 | LFCG-490+ | lsf-kicad-lib:GE0805C-2 | U6 |
| 1 | LP2985-1.8 | Package_TO_SOT_SMD:SOT-23-5 | U1 |
| 1 | PA_Fault | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D1.0mm | TP4 |
| 1 | RX_Active | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D2.5mm | TP6 |
| 1 | Si4463 | Package_DFN_QFN:QFN-20-1EP_4x4mm_P0.5mm_EP2.6x2.6mm_ThermalVias | U4 |
| 1 | TQP3M9036 | lsf-kicad-lib:DFN-8-1EP_2x2mm_P0.5mm_EP0.7x1.6mm_ThermalVias | U5 |
| 1 | TQP7M9106 | Package_DFN_QFN:QFN-24-1EP_4x4mm_P0.5mm_EP2.7x2.7mm_ThermalVias | U9 |
| 1 | TXRAMP | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D2.5mm | TP1 |
| 1 | TX_Active | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D2.5mm | TP2 |
| 1 | TYKTBCSANF-26.000000 | Crystal:Crystal_SMD_2520-4Pin_2.5x2.0mm | U2 |
| 1 | UHF | Connector_Coaxial:SMA_Amphenol_132134_Vertical | J2 |
Questions
How big is the Rf module PCB?
It measures 54.5 × 25 mm and has 4 copper layers, 1.63 mm thick.
What parts does the Rf module use?
107 parts, built around the TQP3M9036, TQP7M9106, FPF2701MX and LFCG-490+. 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 Rf module KiCad files?
From the SpaceTeam/STS1_RF_Module repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is rf_module/rf_module.kicad_pcb and its schematic rf_module/rf_module.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.
Can I use the Rf module design in my own project?
Its repository publishes it under the MIT 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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