Difference between revisions of "PineNote"

Line 127:

This section includes discussions and their results regarding hardware changes to the PineNote.

The following topics have resolved:

* [[PineNote/Hardware_Changes/Closed_Case_UART]]

* '''Could the USB-C port support USB 3.1 5Gbps?''' Yes and no. The RK3566 only has a host-mode 5Gbps controller, meaning it can only negotiate such a high data rate with a device such as a flash drive. When the RK3566 is acting as a device, it only supports 480Mbps transfer rates. The hardware required to switch between these modes would raise the PineNote's price unreasonably. Therefore, the USB-C port will remain at USB 2.0 speeds for Host and Device mode.

* '''Could the USB-C port output DisplayPort?''' Yes and no. The hardware required to support such a feature would raise the PineNote's price unreasonably. Therefore, DisplayPort output will not be possible through the USB-C port.

* '''Where is the microSD card slot?''' The case design of the PineNote is fixed, making physical changes like adding a microSD card slot would raise the cost unreasonably. However, revisions of the PineNote motherboard after 1.1 will feature an internal ribbon cable connector where a microSD card slot may be attached. Attaching such a device will require taking the PineNote apart.

* '''How will I install software to the PineNote?''' This is a hardware and software question. If the software on your PineNote is completely broken and cannot boot to a recoverable state, a Hall (magnet) sensor was fitted to the PineTab motherboard as U9009. This sensor is attached to SARADC_VIN0_KEY/RECOVERY on the RK3566. With the device powered off, holding a magnet over U9009 and plugging in a USB-C cable causes the device to boot into [http://opensource.rock-chips.com/wiki_Rockusb|"rockusb"] flash mode. With proper flashing software and drivers, it should be possible to load a new operating system using rockusb if the system is soft-bricked. Of course, software vendors will need to be more careful with flashing firmware and providing useful "recovery" options on this device due to this process's relative difficulty to other PINE64 devices.

The following concerns have been brought up as open, unanswered topics:

* Does [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB-C#Audio_Adapter_Accessory_Mode_2|USB-C Audio Adapter Accessory Mode] work? It appears that the Headphone output of the audio codec was routed to the USB-C audio+USB switch, but it's unclear whether CC lines are hooked up correctly for detection of such a device. The PineNote hardware team will be testing this functionality soon (as of August 19, 2021).

* Why is the Headphone output of the audio codec routed to the speakers? HPL_OUT is routed from the RK817 PMIC and audio codec to U9010 (the USB-C switch) and U6 (the audio amplifier). SPK_OUT is unused. It seems like SPK_OUT should be routed to U6 and HPL_OUT to U9010.

* Nitpick: The cold white charging LED bleeds through the gap between the rear case and the device's face. It does not bleed onto the screen, but it is jarring in low-light conditions or when the screen is amber. Could be resolved in software by turning off the charge LED when the screen is on.

* Is there any way to indicate when the device is in rockusb mode, such as connecting a certain magic pin to the power LED?

== BSP Linux SDK ==

@@ Line 127: / Line 127: @@
 This section includes discussions and their results regarding hardware changes to the PineNote.
+The following topics have resolved:
 * [[PineNote/Hardware_Changes/Closed_Case_UART]]
+* '''Could the USB-C port support USB 3.1 5Gbps?''' Yes and no. The RK3566 only has a host-mode 5Gbps controller, meaning it can only negotiate such a high data rate with a device such as a flash drive. When the RK3566 is acting as a device, it only supports 480Mbps transfer rates. The hardware required to switch between these modes would raise the PineNote's price unreasonably. Therefore, the USB-C port will remain at USB 2.0 speeds for Host and Device mode.
+* '''Could the USB-C port output DisplayPort?''' Yes and no. The hardware required to support such a feature would raise the PineNote's price unreasonably. Therefore, DisplayPort output will not be possible through the USB-C port.
+* '''Where is the microSD card slot?''' The case design of the PineNote is fixed, making physical changes like adding a microSD card slot would raise the cost unreasonably. However, revisions of the PineNote motherboard after 1.1 will feature an internal ribbon cable connector where a microSD card slot may be attached. Attaching such a device will require taking the PineNote apart.
+* '''How will I install software to the PineNote?''' This is a hardware and software question. If the software on your PineNote is completely broken and cannot boot to a recoverable state, a Hall (magnet) sensor was fitted to the PineTab motherboard as U9009. This sensor is attached to SARADC_VIN0_KEY/RECOVERY on the RK3566. With the device powered off, holding a magnet over U9009 and plugging in a USB-C cable causes the device to boot into [http://opensource.rock-chips.com/wiki_Rockusb|"rockusb"] flash mode. With proper flashing software and drivers, it should be possible to load a new operating system using rockusb if the system is soft-bricked. Of course, software vendors will need to be more careful with flashing firmware and providing useful "recovery" options on this device due to this process's relative difficulty to other PINE64 devices.
+The following concerns have been brought up as open, unanswered topics:
+* Does [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB-C#Audio_Adapter_Accessory_Mode_2|USB-C Audio Adapter Accessory Mode] work? It appears that the Headphone output of the audio codec was routed to the USB-C audio+USB switch, but it's unclear whether CC lines are hooked up correctly for detection of such a device. The PineNote hardware team will be testing this functionality soon (as of August 19, 2021).
+* Why is the Headphone output of the audio codec routed to the speakers? HPL_OUT is routed from the RK817 PMIC and audio codec to U9010 (the USB-C switch) and U6 (the audio amplifier). SPK_OUT is unused. It seems like SPK_OUT should be routed to U6 and HPL_OUT to U9010.
+* Nitpick: The cold white charging LED bleeds through the gap between the rear case and the device's face. It does not bleed onto the screen, but it is jarring in low-light conditions or when the screen is amber. Could be resolved in software by turning off the charge LED when the screen is on.
+* Is there any way to indicate when the device is in rockusb mode, such as connecting a certain magic pin to the power LED?
 == BSP Linux SDK ==

Difference between revisions of "PineNote"

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