USB-C Sensor Node

Created 5 project docs

Project Specification — USB-C WiFi BLE T-RH Sensor

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Status: Draft schematic complete / ready for review. A consumer USB-C powered environmental sensor node measuring temperature and relative h...

Design Notes and Power Budget — USB-C WiFi BLE T-RH Sensor

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USB-C receptacle in 5 V sink/device mode. TPS25940LRVCR eFuse for OVP, UVLO, overcurrent, inrush control, fault telemetry, current monitor, ...

Firmware Starter — ESP32-C3-WROOM-02-N4

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MCU/module: ESP32-C3-WROOM-02-N4 Framework: Arduino on PlatformIO

Board Bring-Up Plan — USB-C WiFi BLE T-RH Sensor

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Equipment: USB current-limited bench supply or USB power meter, DMM, oscilloscope, USB-C cable, PlatformIO host. Firmware: see Firmware Star...
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I added project documentation: specification, power/design notes, firmware starter, bring-up plan, and FCC/CE notes. I’m running checks now and will fix any real schematic issues found.
Implemented the schematic for the USB-C powered Wi‑Fi/BLE temperature/humidity sensor node with ESP32-C3, SHT40, TPS25940 input protection, TPS62840 3.3 V buck, USB programming, CC current sensing, boot/reset, and status LED. ERC/passive checks are clean; remaining reported errors are expected pre-layout airwires and generic-passive MPNs to resolve before manufacturing.
Project files created:
Suggested next steps:
  1. Do PCB placement with ESP32 antenna keepout and SHT40 thermal isolation.
  2. Route USB D+/D−, buck power loop, and sensitive sensor/ADC nets.
  3. Assign production MPNs to generic passives.
  4. Run full DRC/manufacturing checks after layout.
Place, route, assign MPNs
Start PCB placement
Route critical nets
Assign passive MPNs
Run full checks
Review USB-C compliance
J1
U1
U3
D1
U4
U2
C1
Capacitance
1µF
R23
Resistance
1kΩ
R3
Resistance
10kΩ
C2
Capacitance
100nF
R14
Resistance
100kΩ
R6
Resistance
10kΩ
R1
Resistance
5.1kΩ
R2
Resistance
5.1kΩ
C7
Capacitance
4.7µF
R20
Resistance
267kΩ
R7
Resistance
4.7kΩ
R10
Resistance
22Ω
R21
Resistance
100kΩ
R16
Resistance
100kΩ
C6
Capacitance
1.5nF
C8
Capacitance
10µF
R4
Resistance
10kΩ
R13
Resistance
40.2kΩ
R5
Resistance
10kΩ
R17
Resistance
100kΩ
R12
Resistance
464kΩ
C3
Capacitance
100nF
R24
Resistance
100kΩ
R15
Resistance
332kΩ
R22
Resistance
100kΩ
R11
Resistance
118kΩ
C4
Capacitance
10µF
C5
Capacitance
100nF
R19
Resistance
19.1kΩ
R18
Resistance
100kΩ
R8
Resistance
4.7kΩ
R9
Resistance
22Ω
R25
Resistance
100kΩ
SW2
D4
SW1
D5
D3
L1
Inductance
2.2µH
D2

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Project Specification — USB-C WiFi BLE T-RH Sensor
Project Overview
Status: Draft schematic complete / ready for review.
A consumer USB-C powered environmental sensor node measuring temperature and relative humidity and reporting data over Wi-Fi and BLE 5.x. The design uses a pre-certified Espressif ESP32-C3 wireless module, Sensirion SHT40 I2C T/RH sensor, protected 5 V USB-C input, and an ultra-low-IQ 3.3 V buck regulator.
Intended Use
  • Indoor consumer environmental monitoring node.
  • Powered from USB-C 5 V adapters, hosts, or hubs.
  • Designed to operate within a conservative sub-500 mA input budget while detecting Type-C current advertisement for firmware policy.
What the Device Should Do
  • Accept 5 V over USB-C in sink/device mode.
  • Protect downstream electronics against overcurrent, overvoltage, undervoltage, reverse-current/backfeed, ESD, and inrush.
  • Measure temperature and relative humidity digitally.
  • Connect using 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and BLE 5.x.
  • Support firmware flashing/debug over native ESP32-C3 USB Serial/JTAG.
Main Features
  • ESP32-C3-WROOM-02-N4 Wi-Fi + BLE module with integrated PCB antenna.
  • SHT40-AD1B-R3 I2C temperature/humidity sensor, address 0x44.
  • USB4105-GF-A USB-C receptacle with separate 5.1 kΩ Rd resistors on CC1/CC2.
  • CC1/CC2 ADC sensing through 100 kΩ resistors to classify default / 1.5 A / 3 A Type-C source advertisements.
  • TPS25940LRVCR eFuse input protection with adjustable UVLO/OVP/OCP and true reverse-current blocking.
  • TPS62840DLCR 3.3 V, 750 mA, 60 nA-IQ buck regulator.
  • Reset and boot buttons, status LED, eFuse PGOOD/FLT monitoring, eFuse IMON ADC telemetry.
System Architecture

Diagram


USB-C receptacle 5 V + USB2 VBUS and USB/CC ESD TPS25940 eFuse OVP UVLO OCP reverse block TPS62840 3.3 V buck ESP32-C3-WROOM-02 Wi-Fi + BLE SHT40 T/RH sensor Status LED
Hardware Subsystems
USB-C Input and Protection
  • USB-C sink role via R1/R2 = 5.1 kΩ from CC1/CC2 to GND.
  • D2 protects raw VBUS; D1 protects D+/D−; D4/D5 protect CC1/CC2.
  • U3 TPS25940 provides protected VBUS, inrush control, current limit, adjustable UVLO/OVP, fault output, current monitor, and reverse-current blocking.
3.3 V Power
  • U4 TPS62840 buck converts protected 5 V to 3.3 V.
  • L1 = 2.2 µH, C7 = 4.7 µF input, C8 = 10 µF output, R20 = 267 kΩ for 3.3 V.
  • MODE pulled low for automatic power-save mode; STOP pulled low so the converter runs by default.
Wireless MCU
  • U1 ESP32-C3-WROOM-02-N4 powered from 3.3 V.
  • EN has 10 kΩ pull-up and 1 µF reset delay capacitor; reset button pulls EN low.
  • GPIO9 has 10 kΩ pull-up and boot button to GND for download mode.
  • GPIO2 and GPIO8 have 10 kΩ pull-ups for valid boot/download strapping.
  • USB D−/D+ route to GPIO18/GPIO19 through 22 Ω series resistors.
Sensor
  • U2 SHT40 powered at 3.3 V with 100 nF local decoupling.
  • I2C on GPIO4/GPIO5 with one 4.7 kΩ pull-up pair to 3.3 V.
  • Layout must place the sensor away from ESP32, buck regulator/inductor, eFuse, USB-C shell, and LED heat.
Interfaces and Connections

Table


InterfaceNets / PinsNotes
USB-C VBUSVBUS_RAW → TPS25940 → VBUS_PROT5 V only; no PD negotiation
USB-C CCUSB_CC1/USB_CC25.1 kΩ Rd plus ADC current advertisement sense
USB 2.0 FSUSB_DN_CONN/USB_DP_CONN → 22 Ω → USB_DN_MCU/USB_DP_MCUNative ESP32-C3 USB Serial/JTAG
I2CI2C_SDA GPIO4, I2C_SCL GPIO5SHT40 address 0x44
eFuse statusEFUSE_PGOOD GPIO7, EFUSE_FLT_N GPIO10Pulled up to 3.3 V
Analog telemetryVBUS_IMON GPIO3, CC1_SENSE GPIO0, CC2_SENSE GPIO1ADC inputs
User controlsESP_EN, ESP_BOOTReset and boot buttons
Power and Runtime Expectations
  • USB-C 5 V input only; no battery.
  • Target conservative operation below default USB current. CC sensing allows firmware to adapt behavior for default / 1.5 A / 3 A sources.
  • Worst-case 3.3 V load target: <= 750 mA regulator capability; normal operation expected far lower.
Power Tree and Power Budget

Diagram


USB-C 5 V VBUS TVS TPS25940 current limit approx 0.75 A Protected 5 V TPS62840 3.3 V buck 750 mA ESP32-C3 peak supply >= 500 mA SHT40 up to 100 mA heater peak LED + pullups + status
See the Design Notes file for calculations and threshold values.
Manufacturing and Assembly Expectations
  • SMT assembly, consumer product orientation.
  • Keep ESP32 antenna at board edge with full antenna keepout.
  • Keep SHT40 exposed to airflow and isolated from heat sources; avoid contamination and conformal coating over sensor.
  • Add test access in layout for 5 V raw, protected VBUS, 3V3, GND, EN, BOOT, I2C, and USB if possible.
Firmware-Relevant Hardware Requirements
  • Platform: Arduino or ESP-IDF on ESP32-C3.
  • Firmware should read CC1/CC2 ADC at startup and limit high-current behaviors when default current is detected.
  • Firmware should avoid sustained SHT40 heater operation; SHT40 heater duty cycle must remain below datasheet limit.
  • USB Serial/JTAG flashing via USB-C with BOOT/RESET buttons.
Physical Design Expectations
  • Small 2-layer or 4-layer PCB; 4-layer recommended for RF/USB cleanliness.
  • ESP32 antenna at edge with no copper, traces, screws, enclosure metal, or components in keepout.
  • Buck inductor and eFuse away from ESP32 antenna and SHT40.
  • SHT40 near an airflow opening, with thermal relief/slots if enclosure allows.
Important Design Decisions
  • Use ESP32-C3-WROOM-02-N4 module instead of bare SoC to reduce RF design/certification risk.
  • Use TPS25940 eFuse instead of a simple polyfuse to satisfy OVP/UVLO/OCP/reverse-current requirements.
  • Use TPS62840 buck instead of LDO to avoid 0.5–0.85 W LDO heating during Wi-Fi peaks.
  • Use passive USB-C sink plus CC ADC sensing, not USB-PD, because product only needs 5 V.
Assumptions
  • USB-C source provides 5 V only; no power delivery voltage negotiation required.
  • Device target current remains below USB default current in normal operation.
  • Consumer indoor environmental range, not industrial/outdoor sealed operation.
  • BLE means BLE 5.x only, not Bluetooth Classic.
Change Notes
  • Initial schematic created with MCU, sensor, USB-C, eFuse protection, buck regulator, boot/reset, USB programming, CC sensing, and documentation.
  • Project Overview

  • Intended Use

  • What the Device Should Do

  • Main Features

  • System Architecture

  • Hardware Subsystems

  • USB-C Input and Protection

  • 3.3 V Power

  • Wireless MCU

  • Sensor

  • Interfaces and Connections

  • Power and Runtime Expectations

  • Power Tree and Power Budget

  • Manufacturing and Assembly Expectations

  • Firmware-Relevant Hardware Requirements

  • Physical Design Expectations

  • Important Design Decisions

  • Assumptions

  • Change Notes

USB-C WiFi BLE T-RH Sensor thumbnail
USB-C powered consumer temperature/humidity sensor node using a low-power Wi‑Fi + BLE 5.x MCU module, digital T/RH sensor, protected 5 V USB-C input, and 3.3 V regulation.

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