A13-SOM-256 and A13-SOM-512
System-on-Module boards capable of Linux boot
USER’S MANUAL
Revision B, March 2015
Designed by OLIMEX Ltd, 2014
All boards produced by Olimex LTD are ROHS compliant
OLIMEX© 2015
A13-SOM user's manual
DISCLAIMER
© 2015 Olimex Ltd. Olimex®, logo and combinations thereof, are registered trademarks of Olimex Ltd. Other product
names may be trademarks of others and the rights belong to their respective owners.
The information in this document is provided in connection with Olimex products. No license, express or implied
or otherwise, to any intellectual property right is granted by this document or in connection with the sale of
Olimex products.
The hardware designs of A13-SOM-256 and A13-SOM-512 development boards are considered intellectual property to
Olimex. The hardware design files are considered copyright material and would not be distributed.
The hardware designs of the boards that can be attached over A13-SOM-256 and A13-SOM-512 (e.g. A13-SOM-WIFI,
A13-SOM-WIFI, A13-SOM-LTE, etc) are considered open source hardware. The source design files are published
online and accessible by everyone.
The software is released under GPL.
It is possible that the pictures in this manual differ from the latest revision of the board.
The product described in this document is subject to continuous development and improvements. All particulars of the
product and its use contained in this document are given by OLIMEX in good faith. However all warranties implied or
expressed including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for purpose are excluded. This
document is intended only to assist the reader in the use of the product. OLIMEX Ltd. shall not be liable for any loss or
damage arising from the use of any information in this document or any error or omission in such information or any
incorrect use of the product.
This evaluation board/kit is intended for use for engineering development, demonstration, or evaluation purposes only
and is not considered by OLIMEX to be a finished end-product fit for general consumer use. Persons handling the
product must have electronics training and observe good engineering practice standards. As such, the goods being
provided are not intended to be complete in terms of required design-, marketing-, and/or manufacturing-related
protective considerations, including product safety and environmental measures typically found in end products that
incorporate such semiconductor components or circuit boards.
Olimex currently deals with a variety of customers for products, and therefore our arrangement with the user is not
exclusive. Olimex assumes no liability for applications assistance, customer product design, software performance, or
infringement of patents or services described herein.
THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE DESIGN MATERIALS AND THE COMPONENTS
USED TO CREATE A13-SOM-256 AND A13-SOM-512. THEY ARE CONSIDERED
SUITABLE ONLY FOR A13-SOM-256 AND A13-SOM-512 RESPECTIVELY.
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OLIMEX© 2015
A13-SOM user's manual
Table of Contents
DISCLAIMER............................................................................................................. 2
CHAPTER 1: OVERVIEW........................................................................................5
1. Introduction to the chapter.......................................................................................................5
1.1 Introduction to SOM (System-On-a-Module).......................................................................5
1.2 Target market of the board.....................................................................................................6
1.3 Features of A13-SOM boards................................................................................................. 7
1.4 Board variants..........................................................................................................................7
1.5 Board version used in the manual..........................................................................................7
1.6 Document organization........................................................................................................... 8
CHAPTER 2: SETTING UP THE A13-SOM BOARD........................................... 9
2. Introduction to the chapter.......................................................................................................9
2.1 Electrostatic and electrical polarity warning........................................................................ 9
2.2 Requirements........................................................................................................................... 9
2.3 Powering the board................................................................................................................10
2.3.1 Stand-alone powering...................................................................................................................................10
2.3.2 Mounted powering........................................................................................................................................11
2.4 Button functions..................................................................................................................... 11
2.5 Interacting with the board....................................................................................................12
2.6 Changing the default image resolution................................................................................12
2.7 Connecting and calibrating a display...................................................................................15
2.7.1 Android calibration......................................................................................................................................16
2.7.2 Debian calibration........................................................................................................................................16
2.8 Software support....................................................................................................................16
CHAPTER 3: BOARD DESCRIPTION................................................................. 18
3. Introduction to the chapter.....................................................................................................18
3.1 Layout (top view)...................................................................................................................18
3.2 Layout (bottom view).............................................................................................................19
CHAPTER 4: THE ALLWINNER A13 MICROCONTROLLER.......................20
4. Introduction to the chapter.....................................................................................................20
4.1 The processor......................................................................................................................... 20
4.2 Block diagram........................................................................................................................ 21
CHAPTER 5: CONTROL CIRCUITY................................................................... 22
5. Introduction to the chapter.....................................................................................................22
5.1 Reset........................................................................................................................................22
5.2 Clocks......................................................................................................................................22
5.3 Power supply circuit.............................................................................................................. 22
CHAPTER 6: CONNECTORS AND PINOUT......................................................23
6. Introduction to the chapter.....................................................................................................23
6.1 Communication with A13-SOM...........................................................................................23
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OLIMEX© 2015
A13-SOM user's manual
6.1.1 UART1 interface...........................................................................................................................................24
6.2 MicroSD card connector....................................................................................................... 24
6.2.1 SD/MMC slot................................................................................................................................................25
6.3 Power pins for external power supply..................................................................................25
6.4 GPIO connectors....................................................................................................................26
6.4.1 GPIO-1 (General Purpose Input/Output) 40pin connector..................................................................... 27
6.4.2 GPIO-2 (General Purpose Input/Output) 10pin connector..................................................................... 27
6.4.3 GPIO-3 (General Purpose Input/Output) 10pin connector..................................................................... 28
6.5 LCD_TR 40pin connector.....................................................................................................28
6.6 Jumper description................................................................................................................29
6.7 Additional hardware components........................................................................................ 29
CHAPTER 7: SCHEMATICS..................................................................................30
7. Introduction to the chapter.....................................................................................................30
7.1 Eagle schematic......................................................................................................................30
7.2 Physical dimensions...............................................................................................................31
CHAPTER 8: REVISION HISTORY AND SUPPORT........................................ 32
8. Introduction to the chapter.....................................................................................................32
8.1 Document revision................................................................................................................. 32
8.2 Board revision........................................................................................................................ 32
8.3 Useful web links and purchase codes...................................................................................33
8.4 Frequently asked questions...................................................................................................34
8.5 Product support..................................................................................................................... 36
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OLIMEX© 2015
A13-SOM user's manual
CHAPTER 1: OVERVIEW
1. Introduction to the chapter
Thank you for choosing this single board computer from Olimex! This document provides a user’s
guide for the A13-SOM boards. It covers both the -256 and the -512 version board. In the text
below 'A13-SOM' is used to address both “A13-SOM-256” and “A13-SOM-512”; if a specific
feature is available to only one of the boards then this is specifically mentioned and the board is
addressed with the RAM-indicating suffix.
As an overview, this chapter gives the scope of this document and lists the board’s features. The
document’s organization is then detailed.
The A13-SOM development board enables code development of applications running on the A13
microcontroller, manufactured by Allwinner Technology from China.
The A13-SOM board is typically used together with A13-SOM-WIFI or A13-SOM-WIFI-4GB
which provides the following expansions over the original design:
1) an USB-OTG connector for easier powering or adding USB modules to the board (via a splitter
or adapter)
2) a built-in WIFI module (Realtek 8188CUS)
3) an LCD display connector with 0.1'' step
4) 4GB NAND memory (only in A13-SOM-WIFI-4GB)
All of the features listed above are also supported in the software releases suitable for the board.
The hardware design of A13-SOM development board is considered intellectual property to
Olimex. The hardware design files are considered copyright material and would not be distributed.
The expansion boards available for A13-SOM are an open-source, open-hardware projects and all
documentation is available to the customer.
The software support for both boards is open-source and released under GPL license.
1.1 Introduction to SOM (System-On-a-Module)
OLIMEX System-on-Module (SOM) boards are powerful Linux-capable boards. They follow a
low-cost modular design which allows rapid product development. Each of these boards has two
parts – a main part which nests the processor, the memory and the power control unit and the
peripheral part which contains the USB ports, the video output and most of the connectors. SOM
designs are targeted at customers who want to apply custom modifications and own solutions based
on a specific processor without having to deal with multi layer PCBs with controlled impedance and
BGA assembly. This makes it possible to create simple boards (that might be manufactured by your
local board manufacturer) containing only the peripherals you need with the dimensions and shape
suitable for your specific solution.
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模拟电子
