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Hardware Overview

OLED

The 1.3" OLED is a small, monochrome, blue on black display with a 128 x 64 dot matrix panel and a 7-bit unshifted I2C address of 0x3D. To change the I2C address to 0x3C, cut the D/C jumper on the back of the board. For more information, refer to the datasheet.

1.3" OLED Screen

1.3" OLED Screen

The Navigation Switch allows for navigation of the configuration modes and menus related to the RTK or other loaded software.

Navigation Switch

Navigation Switch

GPIO Expander

The TCA9554 GPIO Expander is used for I2C interfacing with the Navigation Switch, 1.3" OLED display, the fuel gauge, and the SD Card Detect. Its 7-bit unshifted address is 0x20.

GPIO Expander

GPIO Expander

Power

Power is provided by either the LiPo Battery or the 5V/GND pins. Maximum input to the board is 5V.

Battery Connector/Power Pins

Battery Connector/Power Pins

Current Measurement

There are two plated through holes available on the bottom of the board to measure current if desired.

Current Measurement PTHs

Current Measurement PTHs

On/Off Switch

How handy! There is an On/Off switch at the top of the board.

On/Off Switch

On/Off Switch

Fuel Gauge

The MAX17048 uses the Li+ battery-modeling algorithm ModelGauge™ to track the battery relative state-of-charge (SOC) continuously over widely varying charge and discharge conditions. This eliminates current-sense resistor and battery learn cycles required in traditional fuel gauges and allows for the most accurate battery percentage readings. Its 7-bit unshifted address is 0x36. For more information, you can refer to the datasheet.

Fuel Gauge

Fuel Gauge

LiPo Charging Circuit

The charge circuit charges Li+ batteries at 500mA. The equation below shows our calculation for this rate.

Charge Circuit Equation

Charge Circuit

MicroSD Card

The microSD Socket Friction Fit slot allows for data logging or easy upload of programming files.

Warning

Do NOT drive the microSD card pins high if the card is not powered. Damage could occur!

microSD Card Slot

microSD Card Slot

Shield Connectors

The offset PTHs allow for a snug fit when soldering headers to the board. Once male headers are soldered in, the SparkFun Portability Shield can be fit to the main board of choice.

If 5V is present, LiPo charging commences. Below 5V, the battery will provide VBATT to the mainboard 3.3V is not provided to mainboard - 5V/VBATT powers local 3.3V_P.

Shield Connectors

Shield Connectors

Jumpers

  • CHG: Cutting this jumper will disconnect the power to the CHG LED on the front of the board.

  • PWR: Cutting this jumper will disconnect the power to the PWR LED on the front of the board.

  • D/C: Cutting this jumper will change the I2C address from 0x3D to 0x3C.

D/C I2C Addr
0 0x3C
1 0x3D (default)
  • I2C: The SparkFun Portability Shield has built-in 2.2k pull-up resistors on the SDA and SCL lines. These are needed for normal I2C communication. The I2C jumper has two small traces connecting the pull-ups to 3.3V. For general use you can leave this jumper unmodified. If you have many (over 7) devices on the I2C bus, each with their own pull up resistors, then you may want to cut the I2C jumpers to disconnect the 2.2k resistors on each Qwiic board.

Jumpers

Jumpers

Board Dimensions

The board dimensions are illustrated in the drawing below; the listed measurements are in millimeters.

Board measures 43.18mm x 43mm

SparkFun Portability Shield Board Dimensions