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

The Notecarrier XP is compatible only with Notecard XP variants and should not be used with any other Notecard.

• Notecard XP

Package Configuration

Notecarrier XP v3.1

Notecarrier XP is the companion Notecarrier for the Notecard XP, our low-cost Notecard for volume deployments.

• Notecard edge connector socket and mounting screw receptacle.

• USB-C port to power Notecarrier and provide a USB Serial command interface to Notecard.

• Requires user provided U.FL cellular/Wi-Fi antenna and optional U.FL active GPS antenna.

• External Nano-SIM slot for use of an a required primary SIM.

• External power supply required by the Notecard for optimal radio operation.

• PCB Dimensions: 65mm x 38mm

• Center of Mounting Holes: 61mm x 34mm (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:

• applying 2.5-5.5VDC to the VBAT or VMAIN pins.

  Commonly provided via DC power supply or non-rechargeable 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.

Enabling Active GPS

If using Notecarrier XP v3.1 with an active GPS antenna, add a 0-Ohm 0603 jumper to the unpopulated spot between VGPS_OUT and VGPS_IN. This will power an active GPS LNA with a 3.8VDC bias voltage on the center conductor of its GPS U.FL connector.

Header Descriptions

Notecarrier XP v3.1 Dual 16-pin Headers

Specifications

Electrical Characteristics

DC Characteristics

Absolute Maximum Ratings

Ordering Information

Contact us for more information on ordering Notecarrier XP.

Design Files

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

Terms and Conditions

Visit Blues Hardware Terms & Conditions.

Revision History

Contact Information

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