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This project implements a retro-inspired connected tabletop radio inside a warm wood-look enclosure with an overall product width target of 220 mm. The electronics center on an ESP32-S3 wireless module for WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, a compact center-front display, two front-panel knobs for primary interaction, a rechargeable single-cell Li-ion battery with charge-and-play power path, and a digital audio chain suitable for streaming playback. The board is intended to support early prototyping, enclosure integration, and a clean transition toward manufacturable PCB and product development.
2. Goals and Non-Goals
This revision establishes the first complete electrical and packaging baseline for the radio concept.
2.1 Goals
Deliver a complete schematic integrating wireless compute, audio output, display, user controls, and rechargeable battery management
Fit the electrical architecture within a product concept targeting 220 mm overall width and a single main PCB envelope of roughly 140 mm to 170 mm by 45 mm to 70 mm
Support WiFi and Bluetooth streaming-ready operation with a rechargeable battery option for a few hours of unplugged use
Preserve front-panel industrial design intent: two knobs, small centered display, restrained speaker fields, hidden antenna treatment
Establish a practical PCB baseline including board shape, mounting, placement zones, and RF/power/audio constraints
2.2 Non-Goals
Final acoustic tuning of speaker enclosure and passive radiator strategy
Final industrial CMF release data, tooling details, and production DFM for enclosure plastics/wood veneer
Full firmware implementation beyond architecture and hardware support requirements
Final battery pack industrial safety certification package
3. System Overview
The radio uses a single main logic board mounted within a wood-look tabletop enclosure. A USB-C power input feeds a single-cell Li-ion charger with power-path management so the system can operate while charging. A regulated 3.3 V rail powers the ESP32-S3 module, display, and low-voltage control circuitry. The battery/system input also supplies a speaker amplifier path for higher audio efficiency. The ESP32-S3 manages WiFi, Bluetooth, display rendering, user input, and audio streaming. A compact front display provides status, metadata, onboarding, and battery information while two front knobs act as the primary physical interface.
3.1 Block Diagram
System block diagram
Diagram
4. Requirements
The design requirements below describe what the product must achieve independent of exact implementation details.
4.1 Functional Requirements
The product shall present a retro-inspired tabletop radio appearance with a wood-look cabinet and a calm symmetrical front composition
The product shall target an overall enclosure width of approximately 220 mm
The product shall include two front-panel knobs as the primary user controls
The product shall include a small center digital display in place of an analog band scale
The product shall support WiFi connectivity for streaming-ready operation
The product shall support Bluetooth connectivity for streaming-ready operation
The product shall support rechargeable battery-backed operation for a few hours unplugged runtime
The product shall support external powered operation while charging the battery
The product shall display source, playback, connectivity, and battery information to the user
4.2 Electrical Requirements
Use an ESP32-S3 module architecture to simplify WiFi/Bluetooth implementation and native USB support
Use a single-cell rechargeable Li-ion battery architecture with charge management and system power-path support
Provide a regulated 3.3 V digital rail for MCU, display, and logic
Provide an audio power path suitable for a compact Class-D speaker amplifier
Include one pair of I2C pull-ups if an I2C display or peripheral bus is used
Include per-IC local decoupling, with 100 nF ceramic decoupling at each IC power input and additional bulk capacitance as needed
Provide USB-C sink configuration resistors on CC pins for 5 V input operation
4.3 Environmental and Reliability Requirements
The architecture shall avoid exposed antennas and minimize RF performance degradation from nearby metal, battery, and speaker structures
The design shall consider thermal buildup inside a partially enclosed wood-look cabinet
The product shall support typical indoor tabletop consumer use
5. Constraints
These are hard constraints or strong project-shaping limits.
5.1 Mechanical Constraints
Product width target: 220 mm
Product height target: 125 mm nominal
Product depth target: 95 mm nominal
Main PCB target envelope: 140 mm to 170 mm wide and 45 mm to 70 mm tall
Display visible window baseline: 62 mm x 22 mm
Knob diameter baseline: 32 mm
Reserve front left and right cavity regions for speakers and knob mechanics
Maintain a non-metallic keepout region around the wireless antenna area
5.2 Power and Thermal Constraints
Battery must coexist safely with audio amplifier, charger, and wireless electronics
Charger architecture should support status indication and battery protection-oriented UX
Power architecture should support charge-and-play rather than battery disconnect during plugged operation
High dissipation parts must be kept away from battery and RF-sensitive regions where practical
5.3 Layout / Implementation Constraints
Use a 4-layer PCB baseline for RF, audio return control, and simplified power distribution
Place the ESP32-S3 module at a board edge with antenna keepout on all copper layers
Keep audio power paths separated from noisy digital and charging regions
Keep display and knob support aligned with the front-panel mechanical envelope
Keep mounting holes at corners and preserve mechanical clearances around them
5.4 Cost and Sourcing Constraints
Prefer module-based RF implementation to reduce development risk
Prefer commonly available library parts and generic passives where appropriate
Use a charger with power-path management instead of a simpler charge-only part, because the product is intended to operate while charging
6. Assumptions and Dependencies
A single-cell Li-ion battery is assumed as the rechargeable energy source
A compact I2S Class-D amplifier is assumed for the first-pass audio output path
The first-pass display is assumed to be a small SPI or I2C module centered on the front panel
Firmware will implement knob push/long-press interaction states so additional front-panel buttons can be minimized
Acoustic tuning, speaker choice, and exact battery capacity remain open and will refine PCB and enclosure details later
7. Validation Criteria
The design is considered ready for the next prototype phase when the following evidence is available.
7.1 Acceptance Tests
Schematic includes complete wireless, power, battery, display, user-control, and audio subsystems
PCB layout shape and mounting align with the enclosure-driven dimensions and front-panel concept