Blade 3 Introduction

Introduction

Mixtile Blade 3 is a low-cost, low-power SBC based on the next-generation, 8 nm Rockchip RK3588 CPU. It is ideal for quick development, AI-application prototyping, and edge computing, and it allows you to extend your deployment by clustering several Mixtile Blade 3 SBCs. It also features a 4-lane PCIe Gen3 port for communicating with other processing nodes, allowing for high-performance computing with minimal carbon footprint.

Main Features

  • CPU: Rockchip Octa-core Cortex-A76/A55 SoC processor RK3588

  • NPU: Up to 6 TOPS

  • Memory: Up to 32 GB LPDDR4/LPDDR5 memory, up to 256 GB eMMC storage

  • HDMI interface: HDMI 2.1 output (8K @ 60 FPS or 4K @ 120 FPS) HDMI 2.0 input (4K @ 60 FPS)

  • Video encoder: H.264/H.265 video encoder up to 8K @ 30 FPS

  • Video decoder: H.265/H.264/VP9 video decoder up to 8K @ 60 FPS

  • Camera Input: 4-lane MIPI-CSI

  • PCIe expansion: Mini-PCIe socket with PCIe Gen 2.1, USB 2.0 support

  • Storage expansion: 4-lane PCIe Gen 3 in U.2 port SATA 3.0 in U.2 port, Micro-SD 3.0 flash socket

  • Ethernet expansion: Dual 2.5 gigabit Ethernet ports

  • USB: Dual USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C ports, DisplayPort 1.4 A

  • GPIOs: 30-pin GPIO socket Digital I/O, I²C, USB 2.0, TTL UART, SPI, I²S

  • Software support: Preload customized Debian 11 Support other Linux distributions and Android 12 (will release in future)

  • Power: USB1/PD Type-C Port support USB PD 2.0 protocol (Optional: 12 V DC standard SATA power in via U.2 port)

  • Dimensions: 2.5-inch Pico-ITX form factor, 100 x 72 mm

Connectors and Pinouts

1. Block Diagram

The Block diagram for the Blade 3 single-board computer is shown below with descriptions for each function of connectors and pinouts.

Blade_3_block_diagram

2. Specs Layout

The specification layout is depicted in the picture below, along with the ports accessible on Blade 3 for application-based development.

blade3_quickStart

3. Connectors & Pinouts Description

The following section lists the interfaces connector pin assignments, pin types with corresponding signal descriptions. The interface connectors on Blade 3 are listed in the table below.

30PIN Header

Pin Name Type Input/Output Description
1 VCC_5V0 Power Output Power supply  for USB,5V output MAX 500mA.
2 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
3 USB20_HOST0_DM LVDS BI USB20 HOST Port0 Data Minus
4 I2S2_SDI_M1 signal Input I2S2 data    input
5 USB20_HOST0_DP LVDS BI USB20 HOST Port0 Data Plus
6 I2S2_SDO_M1 signal Output I2S2 data  output
7 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
8 I2S2_MCLK_M1 signal Output I2S2 Master clock
9 I2C5_SDA_M3 signal BI I2C5 Bus Date
10 I2S2_SCLK_M1 signal BI I2S2 serial clock or BCLK
11 I2C5_SCL_M3 signal Output I2C5 Bus clock
12 I2S2_LRCK_M1 signal BI I2S2 Left/Right channel clock
13 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
14 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
15 SPI4_MISO_M2 signal Input SPI4 Master input,Slave output
16 CAN2_RX signal Input CAN2 receive data
17 SPI4_MOSI_M2 signal Output SPI4 Master output,Slave input
18 CAN2_TX signal Output CAN2 transmit data
19 SPI4_CLK_M2 signal Output SPI4 clock
20 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
21 SPI4_CS0_M2 signal Output SPI4 Chip Select 0
22 GPIO0_B0 signal BI GPIO bank 0 port B0
23 GPIO1_A4 signal BI GPIO bank 1 port A4
24 SARADC_VIN7 Analog Input SAR ADC Channel 7 input
25 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
26 SARADC_VIN6 Analog Input SAR ADC Channel 6 input
27 PWM14 signal BI Pulse Width Modulation 14 input or output
28 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
29 PWM15 signal BI Pulse Width Modulation 15 input or output
30 VCC_3V3_S0 Power Output Power supply  for peripheral,3.3V output MAX 500mA.

2PIN FAN

Pin Name Type Input/Output Description
1 VCC5V_FAN Power Output Power supply  for FAN,5V output MAX 400mA.Control by GPIO3_C0
2 GND Power NA Power reference ground.

mini-PCIe

Pin Name Type Input/Output Description
1 MINIPCIE20_WAKEN_3V3_L signal Input Wake up signal from mini-PCIe device
2 VCC3V3_MINIPCIE Power Output Power supply  for mini-PCIe device,3.3V output MAX 3A in all pins
3 NC float NA No connected to this pin
4 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
5 NC float NA No connected to this pin
6 NC float NA No connected to this pin
7 MINIPCIE20_CLKREQN_3V3_L signal Input PCIe2.0 Channel Reference clock request
8 NC float NA No connected to this pin
9 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
10 NC float NA No connected to this pin
11 PCIE20_2_REFCLKN LVDS Output PCIe20 Port2 differential clock Negative
12 NC float NA No connected to this pin
13 PCIE20_2_REFCLKP LVDS Output PCIe20 Port2 differential clock Positive
14 NC float NA No connected to this pin
15 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
16 NC float NA No connected to this pin
17 NC float NA No connected to this pin
18 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
19 NC float NA No connected to this pin
20 W_DISABLEN signal Output PCIE device wireless disable
21 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
22 MINIPCIE20_PERSTN signal Output PCIE device reset
23 PCIE20_2_RXN LVDS Input PCIe20 receive differential Negative
24 VCC3V3_MINIPCIE Power Output Power supply  for mini-PCIe device,3.3V output MAX 3A in all pins
25 PCIE20_2_RXP LVDS Input PCIe20 receive differential Positive
26 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
27 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
28 NC float NA No connected to this pin
29 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
30 NC float NA No connected to this pin
31 MINIPCIE20_TX_N LVDS Output PCIe20 transmit differential  Negative
32 NC float NA No connected to this pin
33 MINIPCIE20_TX_P LVDS Output PCIe20 transmit differential  Positive
34 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
35 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
36 MINIPCIE_USB_DM LVDS BI USB20 HOST Port1 Data Minus
37 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
38 MINIPCIE_USB_DP LVDS BI USB20 HOST Port1 Data Plus
39 VCC3V3_MINIPCIE Power Output Power supply  for mini-PCIe device,3.3V output MAX 3A in all pins
40 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
41 VCC3V3_MINIPCIE Power Output Power supply  for mini-PCIe device,3.3V output MAX 3A in all pins
42 NC float NA No connected to this pin
43 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
44 NC float NA No connected to this pin
45 NC float NA No connected to this pin
46 NC float NA No connected to this pin
47 NC float NA No connected to this pin
48 NC float NA No connected to this pin
49 NC float NA No connected to this pin
50 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
51 NC float NA No connected to this pin
52 VCC3V3_MINIPCIE Power Output Power supply  for mini-PCIe device,3.3V output MAX 3A in all pins

30PIN MIPI-CSI

Pin Name Type Input/Output Description
1 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
2 MIPI_CSI0_RX_D0N LVDS Input MIPI CSI0 receive  differential data lane 0 Negative
3 MIPI_CSI0_RX_D0P LVDS Input MIPI CSI0 receive  differential data lane 0 Positive
4 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
5 MIPI_CSI0_RX_D1N LVDS Input MIPI CSI0 receive  differential data lane 1 Negative
6 MIPI_CSI0_RX_D1P LVDS Input MIPI CSI0 receive  differential data lane 1 Positive
7 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
8 MIPI_CSI0_RX_CLK0N LVDS Input MIPI CSI0 receive  differential Clock 0 Negative
9 MIPI_CSI0_RX_CLK0P LVDS Input MIPI CSI0 receive  differential Clock 0 Positive
10 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
11 MIPI_CSI0_RX_D2N LVDS Input MIPI CSI0 receive  differential data lane 2 Negative
12 MIPI_CSI0_RX_D2P LVDS Input MIPI CSI0 receive  differential data lane 2 Positive
13 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
14 MIPI_CSI0_RX_D3N LVDS Input MIPI CSI0 receive  differential data lane 3 Negative
15 MIPI_CSI0_RX_D3P LVDS Input MIPI CSI0 receive  differential data lane 3 Positive
16 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
17 MIPI_CAM_PWM2 signal Output PWM2 for LENS
18 NC float NA No connected to this pin
19 VCC_3V3_S0 Power Output Power supply for sensor board,3.3V output
20 MIPI_CAM_RESETN signal Output GPIO out for sensor reset
21 NC float NA No connected to this pin
22 MIPI_CAM_PDN signal Output GPIO out for sensor power down
23 I2C3_SDA_M3_MIPI signal BI I2C5 Bus data
24 I2C3_SCL_M3_MIPI signal Output I2C5 Bus clock
25 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
26 MIPI_CAM2_CLK_M1_3V3 signal Output Camera Master clock output
27 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
28 VCC_5V0 Power Output Power supply for sensor board,5V output
29 VCC_5V0 Power Output Power supply for sensor board,5V output
30 VCC_5V0 Power Output Power supply for sensor board,5V output

U.2 Plug

Pin Name Type Input/Output Description
E1 PCIE30_REFCLKP_SLOT LVDS Output RC PCIe30 differential clock Positive
E2 PCIE30_REFCLKN_SLOT LVDS Output RC PCIe30 differential clock Negative
E3 VCC_3V3_S0 Power Output Power supply for IO
E4 PCIE30X4_CLKREQN_M1_L signal Output DM PCIe30 Channel Reference clock request
E5 PCIE30X4_PERSTN_M1_L signal Input DM PCIe30 Channel reset
E6 PCIE30X4_CLKREQN_M3 signal Input RC PCIe30 Channel Reference clock request
E7 PCIE30_PORT1_REFCLKP LVDS Input DM PCIe30 differential clock Positive
E8 PCIE30_PORT1_REFCLKN LVDS Input DM PCIe30 differential clock Negative
E9 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
E10 PCIE30_PORT1_TX2P LVDS Output DM PCIe30 transmit differential  Positive
E11 PCIE30_PORT1_TX2N LVDS Output DM PCIe30 transmit differential  Negative
E12 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
E13 PCIE30_PORT1_RX2N LVDS Input DM PCIe30 receive differential  Negative
E14 PCIE30_PORT1_RX2P LVDS Input DM PCIe30 receive differential  Positive
E15 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
E16 NC float NA No connected to this pin
E17 PCIE30_PORT0_RX1P LVDS Input RC PCIe30 receive differential  Negative
E18 PCIE30_PORT0_RX1N LVDS Input RC PCIe30 receive differential  Positive
E19 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
E20 PCIE30_PORT0_TX1N LVDS Output RC PCIe30 transmit differential  Positive
E21 PCIE30_PORT0_TX1P LVDS Output RC PCIe30 transmit differential  Negative
E22 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
E23 I2C4_SCL_M0 signal Output I2C4 Bus clock
E24 I2C4_SDA_M0 signal BI I2C4 Bus data
E25 DUALPORT_EN# signal Output GPIO for Enable dual port,default low
P1 PCIE30X4_WAKEN_M1_L signal Output DM PCIE30 Wake up signal from RC
P2 PCIE30X4_WAKEN_M3 signal Input RC PCIE30 Wake up signal from DM
P3 PWRDIS signal Output GPIO for power disable to device
P4 IFDET signal Input GPIO for detect inteface of device
P5 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
P6 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
P7 NC float NA No connected to this pin
P8 NC float NA No connected to this pin
P9 NC float NA No connected to this pin
P10 PRSNT# signal Input GPIO for detect  device if present
P11 ACTIVITY# signal Input GPIO for detect  device if activity
P12 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
P13 U2_12V Power Input Power supply for blade3,input 12V
P14 U2_12V Power Input Power supply for blade3,input 12V
P15 U2_12V Power Input Power supply for blade3,input 12V
S1 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
S2 SATA0_TXP LVDS Output SATA30 Port0 transmit differential Positive
S3 SATA0_TXN LVDS Output SATA30 Port0 transmit differential Negative
S4 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
S5 SATA0_RXN LVDS Input SATA30 Port0 receive differential Positive
S6 SATA0_RXP LVDS Input SATA30 Port0 receive differential Negative
S7 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
S8 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
S9 NC float NA No connected to this pin
S10 NC float NA No connected to this pin
S11 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
S12 NC float NA No connected to this pin
S13 NC float NA No connected to this pin
S14 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
S15 PCIE30X4_PERSTN_M3 signal Output RC PCIe30 Channel reset
S16 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
S17 PCIE30_PORT1_TX3P LVDS Output DM PCIe30 transmit differential  Negative
S18 PCIE30_PORT1_TX3N LVDS Output DM PCIe30 transmit differential  Positive
S19 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
S20 PCIE30_PORT1_RX3N LVDS Input DM PCIe30 receive differential  Negative
S21 PCIE30_PORT1_RX3P LVDS Input DM PCIe30 receive differential  Positive
S22 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
S23 PCIE30_PORT0_RX0P LVDS Input RC PCIe30 receive differential  Negative
S24 PCIE30_PORT0_RX0N LVDS Input RC PCIe30 receive differential  Positive
S25 GND Power NA Power and signal reference ground.
S26 PCIE30_PORT0_TX0N LVDS Output RC PCIe30 transmit differential  Negative
S27 PCIE30_PORT0_TX0P LVDS Output RC PCIe30 transmit differential  Positive
S28 GND Power NA Po+A137:E196wer and signal reference ground.

3PIN DEBUG Header

Pin Name Type Input/Output Description
1 UART2_RX_M0_DEBUG signal Intput UART2 Receive Data for debug
2 UART2_TX_M0_DEBUG signal Output UART2 Transmit Data for debug
3 GND signal NA Signal reference ground.

Dimensions of Blade 3

The detailed dimensions layout of Blade 3 device can be seen here: Blade3_dimensions.pdf