Designing PeakNode 1 Specifications

flux

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Work done
  • Set the layout to 90 mm x 60 mm and applied a 4-layer stackup with the required inner-plane structure intent: Top signal / L2 GND / L3 power plane / Bottom signal
  • Applied baseline layout rules for 5 mil signal routing and preferred widths for 20 mil power and 40 mil battery/charge paths
  • Reviewed the current schematic/layout state and confirmed the project already contains the major functional blocks, including IC1, IC2, U1, U2, U3, IC4, J1, and J4
  • Checked validation state: all footprints exist, but the layout still has 91 airwire errors, so routing is not complete
Success criteria review
  • ✅ Board dimensions are set to 90 mm x 60 mm
  • ✅ Board is on a 4-layer stackup with the required plane assignment intent
  • ❌ Block placement constraints were not enforced for RF, LTE, GNSS, MCU, SWD, power, audio, and USB-C sections
  • ❌ Advanced routing rules were only partially applied; I could not implement placement-aware constraints such as GNSS no-copper zones, RF no-via paths, stitching-via fences, SPI length matching, or decoupling proximity enforcement
  • ❌ Post-route verification does not pass: the board still has 91 airwires, so it is not fully routed
Next steps I’m blocked because the required placement/autorouting mutation capability was not available in this run, so I could not move components or complete routing. If you want, I can continue next by generating a precise placement and routing checklist for the existing parts around IC1, IC2, U1, and U2, or resume as soon as placement/routing actions are available.
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Design Notes
Architecture decisions
  • MCU default: STM32U575 selected as the primary low-power Cortex-M33 MCU for strong low-power support, wide ecosystem, and easier external modem/radio integration.
  • LTE modem default: SIM7080G selected for Cat-M1/NB-IoT plus GNSS coexistence support and broad distributor availability.
  • GNSS default: u-blox M10 family selected for low-power positioning and mature ecosystem.
  • Audio path default: NAU8810 selected as the codec path for LPCNet-capable audio front end.
  • Power tree: USB-C 5V input -> protected VBUS -> BQ25628 charger / power-path -> battery / VSYS -> TPS63036 3.3V rail -> secondary 1.8V rail for IO domains where needed.
Constraints
  • Layout size: 90 mm x 60 mm
  • Stackup: 4-layer
  • IPC target: Class 2
  • Sleep current target: under 10 uA at the system level
  • RF constraints: keep-out zones under SX1262 RF region and LTE antenna region; separate noisy switching power loops from RF/GNSS sections
  • Sourcing: prefer Mouser and Digi-Key, with LCSC alternates where practical
Immediate next tasks
  • Find exact Flux library parts for MCU, charger, regulators, modem, GNSS, LoRa radio, audio codec, USB-C, battery connector, SMA connectors, LEDs, buttons, and required passives.
  • Build schematic by subsystem and wire named power and interface nets.
  • Configure board size and 4-layer stackup with conservative proto rules.

    Architecture decisions

    Constraints

    Immediate next tasks

Documents

    design-notes

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PeakNode 1

PeakNode 1 thumbnail
Ruggedized battery-powered PeakNode 1 LoRa PWAN node with SX1262 LoRa mesh over SPI, LTE Cat-M1/NB-IoT modem, GNSS, LPCNet-capable audio path, USB-C charging and LiFePO4 power management. Targets a 4-layer 90 mm x 60 mm IPC Class 2 layout with 3.3 V main and 1.8 V I/O rails, dual SMA antennas, two RGB status LEDs, three tactile buttons, low-leakage power architecture for sub-10 uA sleep, and defined RF keep-out zones under the LoRa and LTE antenna regions.

Properties

3.3V main, 1.8V IO

Mouser, Digi-Key, LCSC alternate

4-layer 90x60mm board with RF keep-out zones under SX1262 and LTE antenna regions; dual SMA connectors; LoRa SPI, LTE UART/USB, GNSS UART, audio codec path, two RGB LEDs, three buttons

2 RGB LEDs, 3 tactile buttons, audio I/O

1-cell LiFePO4 input, USB-C charging, 3.3V main rail, 1.8V LTE/modem IO target, sleep current under 10uA

-40C to 85C

IPC Class 2 rugged field node

LoRa mesh, LTE Cat-M1/NB-IoT, GNSS

Pricing & Availability

Distributor

Qty 1

Arrow

$40.20–$43.30

Digi-Key

$64.30–$83.88

LCSC

$106.30

Mouser

$59.17

TME

$1.57

Verical

$30.20–$38.79

Controls