Binho Supernova

Multi-protocol (I3C, I2C, SPI, UART), multi-port host adapter

Summary

The Binho Supernova Multi-Protocol Host Adapter joins the Binho family of USB host adapters as an all-in-one solution that supports I3C, I2C, UART, and SPI protocols in controller mode, plus I3C in target mode and GPIO. Paired with Binho Mission Control, our multi-platform desktop app, or our Python or C++ SDKs, the Supernova dramatically simplifies device orchestration during embedded system development and testing.

Description

The Supernova is a USB 2.0 Full Speed HID device that provides an array of connectors including an I2C qwiic 4-pin port, a versatile 2x15 pins connector for I2C/UART/SPI/GPIO functions, and a duo of I3C dedicated 10-pin ports segmented for low and high voltage.

In combination with our desktop app BinhoMissionControl, the Supernova enables Windows, Linux, and Mac users to quickly and easily start interacting with their testing devices through various protocols and GPIO. When used alongside the C++ and Python SDKs, users can write programs and scripts to create automations.

Common Applications

  • Testing and debugging: Streamlined testing and debugging of embedded systems.

  • Hardware and firmware design: Reduces the code-build-test cycle, increasing the speed of analysis and solution design.

  • Research and hands-on experimentation: Facilitates rapid trials with new devices such as sensors, accelerometers, microcontrollers, and more, across various protocols, without the need to write a single line of code.

  • Learning purposes: Eases the learning curve when mastering new protocols or devices.

Features

Device Management

  • Retrieve System Information: Easily access comprehensive device information.

  • Voltage Configuration: Flexibly adapt bus voltages to various device requirements.

  • Device Control: Provides straightforward mechanisms to reset the device or initiate boot mode.

I2C Communication Protocol

  • Roles: Comprehensive support for I2C Controller role.

  • Bus Voltage: Versatile voltage adjustment ranging from 1.2 V to 3.3 V.

  • Frequency Range: Adjustable SCL clock frequency to suit different communication needs, ranging from 10 KHz to 1 MHz.

  • Write and Read Operations: Streamlined operations to facilitate both writing to and reading from devices.

  • Register Address Setting: Offers the capability to set specific register addresses.

  • Non-Stop Transactions: Supports "non-stop" or "repeated start" conditions.

  • Parameter Setting: Simplified parameter configuration for optimal communication.

I3C Communication Protocol

  • Roles: I3C Controller in both SDR and HDR-DDR modes, I3C Target in both SDR and HDR-DDR modes, and I3C Target with Secondary Controller capability. I3C Basic v1.1.1 (backwards-compatible with I3C Basic v1.0).

  • Bus Voltage: Wide voltage range from 0.8 V to 3.3 V.

  • Working Frequencies:

    • Push-Pull Modes: 3.75 MHz to 12.5 MHz.

    • Open-Drain Modes: 100 KHz to 4.17 MHz.

  • Enhanced Features:

    • Dynamic Address Assignments for flexible device communication.

    • Comprehensive transaction types including I3C Private Write and Read, and Common Command Code (CCC) transactions.

    • Legacy I2C backward compatibility for seamless integration.

    • Advanced features like In-Band Interrupts (IBIs), Hot-Join, and Controller role handoff.

    • Efficient data operations with expansive write and read capabilities.

    • Dynamic Target Devices Table that's user-configurable and automatically updated.

UART Communication Protocol

  • Bus Voltage: Ample voltage range from 1.2 V up to 3.3 V.

  • Baudrate: Up to 115200 bps. (And even higher in the future).

  • Wide Bandwith: With a maximum transfer length of 1024 bytes.

  • Personalizable Set Up:

    • Parity: Even, Odd, or no parity set up.

    • Configurable Datasize: Data in 7 or 8 bits.

    • Assignable Stop Bits Quantity: With 1 or 2 stop bits.

    • Flow Control: With Optional RST/CTS handshake.

SPI Communication Protocol

  • Roles. Master role fully supported. Slave role will be supported in a future release.

  • Bus Voltage: Ample voltage range from 1.2 V up to 3.3 V.

  • High Frequency Support: Clock frequencies of up to 50 MHz.

  • Highly Customizable:

    • Configurable Bit Order: Set up standard MSB and LSB bit orders.

    • Mode Support: Modes 0, 1, 2, and 3 are supported.

    • Support for Varying Polarity: Set up Low and High polarity in the CS Pins.

  • Multi-Target Support: Connect multiple targets in the 4 available Chip Select Pins.

  • Wide Bandwith: With a maximum transfer length of 1024 bytes.

GPIO

GPIOs work differently depending on what revision of Supernova you are using, so please be mindful of their differences

  • Configurable GPIOs: All GPIO pins can be configured to be either Digital Input (DIN) or Digital Output (DOUT)

  • Configurable Interrupts: All DIN-configured pins support triggering interrupts on falling, rising and both edges

    • For Rev. B Supernovas, GPIO3 cannot have interruptions configured

  • Wide Voltage Range:

    • For Rev. B Supernovas

      • GPIO1 and GPIO2 share power domain with I3C from 1.2 V to 3.3 V

      • GPIO3 to GPIO6 work at a fixed 3.3 V

    • For Rev. C Supernovas

      • GPIOs share power domain with I2C, SPI and UART, from 1.2 V to 3.3 V

Hardware Specification

Power Requirements

  • Power Source: USB Type-C

  • Max. Voltage & Current: 500 mA @ 5 V

  • Max Power Consumption: 2.5 W

Interfaces

  • USB-C HID Class: Serves as both power input and data interface.

  • Unified Interface: Consolidates I2C, UART, SPI, and GPIO functions.

  • I3C Interfaces:

    • Low Voltage Interface: Supports I3C bus voltages ranging from 0.800 V to 1.199 V.

    • High Voltage Interface: Supports I3C bus voltages ranging from 1.200 V to 3.300 V.

Indicators

  • MCU Operation Indicators:

    • RGB Neopixels:

      • Normal Operation: Cycles between green and blue in a sinusoidal pattern when the device is in a resting state.

      • Command Reception: Pauses for 30 seconds upon receiving a command.

  • USB Communication:

    • Fourth Neopixel: Illuminates when the Supernova receives a message via USB.

    • Fifth Neopixel: Lights up upon sending a response back to the USB host.

Pinout Guide

QWIIC I2C Port

1 - GND

2 - VTARGET

3 - SDA

4 - SCL

I2C / UART / SPI / GPIO Port

I2C

1 - SCL

2 - GND

3 - SDA

4 - GND

UART

5 - RX

6 - GND

7 - TX

8 - GND

9 - RTS

10 - GND

11 - CTS

12 - GND

SPI

13 - MOSI

14 - GND

15 - MISO

16 - GND

17 - CLK

18 - GND

19 - CS 0

20 - CS 1

21 - CS 2

22 - CS 3

GPIO

23 - GPIO 1

24 - GPIO 2

25 - GPIO 3

26 - GPIO 4

27 - GPIO 5

28 - GPIO 6

29 - VTARGET

30 - AIN

Low Voltage I3C Port

1 - VTARGET

2 - DETECT

3 - VTARGET

4 - GND

5 - VTARGET

6 - GND

7 - SCL

8 - GND

9 - SDA

10 - GND

High Voltage I3C Port

1 - VTARGET

2 - DETECT

3 - VTARGET

4 - GND

5 - VTARGET

6 - GND

7 - SCL

8 - GND

9 - SDA

10 - GND

Unboxing the Supernova

  • 1 USB A to USB Type-C cable

  • 1 2x15 pin 1.27 mm pitch Flat Ribbon Cable.

  • 3 Qwiic JSH cables:

    • Qwiic JST SH 4-Pin Cable - 50mm Long.

    • Qwiic JST SH 4-pin to Premium Female Sockets Cable - 150mm Long.

    • Qwiic JST SH 4-pin to Premium Male Headers Cable - 150mm Long

    • Wire color reference:

      • Red = VTARG

      • Blue = SDA

      • Black = GND

      • Yellow = SCL

  • 1 I3C High-Quality Harness.

    • Connector pair 1: Black=GND, Red=VTARG

    • Connector pair 2: Black=GND, Blue=SDA

    • Connector pair 3: Black=GND, Yellow=SCL

  • 1 I3C Port connector to Qwiic Adapter board

  • 1 Binho Supernova Breakout Board for 2x15 1.27 mm pitch to 2x15 2.54 mm pitch male pin header adaptation.

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