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Notecarrier Datasheet
Functional DescriptionPackage ConfigurationPower InformationGPS (GNSS) Antenna RequirementsHeader DescriptionsSpecificationsOrdering InformationDesign FilesTerms and ConditionsRevision HistoryContact Information
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homechevron_rightDocschevron_rightDatasheetschevron_rightNotecarrier Datasheet - Notecarrier A

Blues Notecarrier® Datasheet: Notecarrier A

Companion development boards for easy prototyping and deployment.

Notecarriers are available in several form-factors to facilitate rapid prototyping. Depending upon the variant, a Notecarrier may be designed with direct host integration, size optimization, integrated cellular/Wi-Fi and GNSS antennas, or even to be soldered directly into a solution for low-volume production.

Functional Description

Notecarriers are designed to bridge the gap between prototype and production for the Notecard. The Notecard is designed to be socketed directly onto the circuit board using an edge connector socket, along with a customer's MCU, sensors, and controls. While such a model provides a highly modular configuration for the final product, it can make prototyping unnecessarily difficult.

Notecarriers offer breakout connections for the Notecard, as well as circuitry to provide power management, protection and signal amplification.

Features

  • Simple. Provides breadboard compatible pins or solderable mask for direct connections.
  • Compatible. Level shifters ensure compatibility with 3.3V or 5V equipment.
  • Convenient. Powered by a USB connector (requires 2A supply).
  • GPS Ready. Models are either active GPS compatible, or feature a built-in antenna to enable GNSS connectivity.

Compatible Notecards

Due to differences in the physical size of Notecards, certain Notecarriers are only compatible with certain Notecards. The Notecarrier A is compatible with:

  • Notecard Cellular
  • Notecard Cellular (Legacy)
  • Notecard WiFi
  • Notecard LoRa

Package Configuration

Notecarrier A (Antenna)

Notecarrier A (CARR-A) is designed for building battery-powered wireless applications.

View in Store

FrontBack
Notecarrier A (front)Notecarrier A (back)
  • Pre-soldered female Notecarrier A 22-pin header for easy access to Notecard edge connector pins.
  • Notecard edge connector socket and mounting screw receptacle .
  • Micro-USB port to power Notecarrier and provide a USB Serial command interface to Notecard.
  • Onboard cellular/Wi-Fi and active GPS antennas.
  • External Nano-SIM slot for additional carrier connectivity.
  • JST PH connector for a LiPo battery.
  • JST PH connector for a solar panel.
  • Two Qwiic connectors for connecting I2C peripherals.
  • LiPo charging circuit.
  • PCB Dimensions: 68mm x 75mm
  • Center of Mounting Holes: 64mm x 71mm (measured from the edge of the PCB to the center of the furthest mounting hole)

Power Information

All Notecarriers can be powered by connecting directly to the USB port. However, most installations will not have USB power available, so several alternate power options are provided by the various Notecarrier models:

  • attaching a LiPo battery.

    The LiPo battery must be a single-cell 3.7V battery with a 2-pin JST PH connector.

  • attaching a solar cell (must be accompanied by LiPo).

    The solar charging circuit is designed for use with a 4.5-7V solar panel.

  • applying 2.5-5.5VDC to the V+ pin.

    Commonly provided via DC power supply or non-rechargeable battery.

warning

Typical USB ports may only be capable of supplying 500 mA of current, which might not be enough to power Notecard during a cellular connection to a GSM network (which can spike to 2A). In this situation, you're advised to supplement power to your Notecarrier with an external source (e.g. a LiPo battery).

GPS (GNSS) Antenna Requirements

All Notecarrier models are designed to support active GPS, and several Notecarrier models provide built-in antennas ready to be connected to a Cellular Notecard using the included U.FL cables.

Active GPS Onboard Antenna

The Notecarrier A models feature built-in, active GPS antennas and are designed with a sufficient buffer to isolate the antenna and minimize interference with the other electronics. Notecarrier A models do not support external active (powered) GPS antennas.

Header Descriptions

Notecarrier A 22-Pin Header

Samtec CES-122-01-T-S

Pin NameDirectionUsage
<VUSBIN/OUTDirect connect to VUSB pin of the USB connector
<BATIN/OUTDirect connect to the + pin of the battery connector
<MAINOUTDiode union of VUSB, VBAT, and V+ sources
<VIOOUTDigital I/O voltage source with 100mA available
V+IN2.5-5.5V, < 8µA@5V idle, < 500mA typical, 2A surge max (GPRS)
GNDINGround
ENINFor On/Off switching of customer product. Leave NC or connect to a physical switch or Open Drain output. Notecard will be OFF if pulled to GND. Never apply positive voltage to this pin.
RSTINFor development use only: MUST normally be NC or High Impedance and must never be pulled to GND. A VIO-level pulse of >250ms will reset the Notecard.
SCLIN/OUTI2C clock request interface (Notecard has onboard 10K pull-up resistors)
SDAIN/OUTI2C data request interface (Notecard has onboard 10K pull-up resistors)
ATTNOUTConfigurable interrupt signal
AUXENIN/OUTAPI-selectable modes of operation
AUXRXIN/OUTAPI-selectable modes of operation
AUXTXIN/OUTAPI-selectable modes of operation
AUX1IN/OUTAPI-selectable modes of operation
AUX2IN/OUTAPI-selectable modes of operation
AUX3IN/OUTAPI-selectable modes of operation
AUX4IN/OUTAPI-selectable modes of operation
RXINUART serial receive request interface (Notecard has onboard 10K pull-up resistors)
TXOUTUART serial transmit request interface

Specifications

Electrical Characteristics

DC Characteristics

DescriptionMinimumMaximumUnit
Supply Voltage2.55.5V
Supply Current5002000mA
Solar JST Charging Range**3.947.18V

**For detailed information regarding the solar charging circuit calculations and behavior, please refer to the Blues Notecarrier A Series Solar JST Input application note.

Absolute Maximum Ratings

DescriptionMinimumMaximumUnit
Storage temperature-3570°C
Solar JST Voltage018.18V
Solar JST Input Current-1250mA
note

Actual values may vary based on local conditions such as atmospheric conditions and distance to the cell tower.

Ordering Information

  • Notecarriers
  • Development Kits

Design Files

Open source hardware designs for all Notecarriers are maintained in the note-hardware GitHub repository.

Notecarrier Schematics

The following are a set of interactive KiCanvas -powered schematics of the Notecarrier A.

Notecarrier A Connectors

Notecarrier A Power

Notecarrier A Mechanical

Terms and Conditions

Visit Blues Hardware Terms & Conditions .

Revision History

AuthorDateSummary
Ray Ozzie2019-2020Document drafted
John Wiedey2020Various improvements
Sean Taylor2020Various improvements
Zachary J. Fields01 OCT 2020Updated information and translated to markdown
Brandon Satrom04 JAN 2021Added link to design resources
Greg Wolff13 JAN 2021Added BAT pin information to Notecarrier AF datasheet
Brandon Satrom07 APR 2022Added Notecarrier A information
Zachary J. Fields20 JUL 2022Added Notecarrier F information
Zachary J. Fields24 OCT 2022Added Notecarrier B v2 information
Rob Lauer28 OCT 2022Added versioning for Notecarrier B v1/v2
TJ VanToll05 JAN 2023Added Notecard Outboard Firmware Update information
Rob Lauer28 FEB 2023Re-labeling Notecarrier B as "Basic"
Rob Lauer01 MAR 2023Added PCB/Mounting Hole Dimensions
Rob Lauer07 SEP 2023Added Notecarrier F v1.3 information
Rob Lauer16 NOV 2023Added Notecarrier Pi v2.0 information
Rob Lauer14 MAR 2024Added Notecarrier B v3.1 and Notecarrier R v1.0 information
Rob Lauer05 JUN 2024Added Notecarrier XS v1.1 information
Rob Lauer10 JUN 2024Added KiCad schematics to A, B, F, and Pi Notecarriers
Rob Lauer18 JUL 2024Added Notecarrier XS v1.2 information
Rob Lauer22 JUL 2024Updated Notecarrier pin descriptions
TJ VanToll19 AUG 2024Added Notecarrier X v1.2, XM 1.2, and XP 3.1 information

Contact Information

Blues Inc.
https://blues.com
50 Dunham Ridge Suite 1650
Beverly, MA 01915
support@blues.com

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