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Dcmini

dcmini-org·dcmini-hw·dcmini/dcmini.kicad_pcb

Dcmini PCB layout, top view — open source Nordic nRF board by dcmini-org

About the Dcmini PCB

Dcmini is an open source Nordic nRF PCB design by dcmini-org, published on GitHub under the CERN-OHL-P-2.0 license. It is a 2-layer board measuring 127 × 86.5 mm, with 189 components from 55 distinct parts.

Its main chip is the MDBT50Q-1MV2, from the Nordic nRF family. Other key parts include the TLV70025DDCT, LM2664M6, ADS1299-x, MAX1735EUK25 and SN74LVC1T45DRL. By type, the board carries 83 capacitors, 43 resistors, 24 ICs, 19 connectors, 11 diodes and 3 inductors.

It belongs with the iot & wireless, power & battery and sensors designs in this gallery.

From the project

dcmini hardware repository

© 2025 The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC

DCMini is a miniaturized biopotential amplifier and multi-sensor system designed for research applications in brain-computer interfaces (BCI), muscular interfaces, and closed-loop biofeedback. It combines a flexible set of sensors with powerful wireless telemetry and SD logging — in a package you can stick on your head.

Dcmini, from the project README
From the project README

Main components on the Dcmini

TLV70025DDCTLM2664M6ADS1299-xMAX1735EUK25SN74LVC1T45DRLTS3USB3000TPS2116DRLMDBT50Q-1MV2MX25R1635FZUIL0APDS-9253SPK0838HT4H-1DRV2605LDGSICM-45605nPM1300TPS61030ADUM4160ADuM6000TXS0104RUTMAX30101OPA196xDBVDAC80502

Dcmini bill of materials (BOM)

189 components, 55 distinct parts.

QtyPartRefs
1
TLV70025DDCT
U1
1
LM2664M6
U2
2
ADS1299-x
U3, U23
1
MAX1735EUK25
U4
2
SN74LVC1T45DRL
U5, U16
1
TS3USB3000
U6
1
TPS2116DRL
U7
1
MDBT50Q-1MV2
U8
1
MX25R1635FZUIL0
U9
1
APDS-9253
U10
1
SPK0838HT4H-1
U11
1
DRV2605LDGS
U12
1
ICM-45605
U13
1
nPM1300
U14
1
TPS61030
U15
1
ADUM4160
U18
1
ADuM6000
U19
1
TXS0104RUT
U20
1
MAX30101
U21
2
OPA196xDBV
U24, U61
Show 35 more
QtyPartRefs
1
DAC80502
U25
1
LRA
M1
10
1000pF
CN1, CN2, CN3, CN4, CN5, CN6, CN7, CN8 +2
1
DCM_B2B_AFE
J1
1
AFE
J2
1
DCM_B2B_EXT
J3
1
EXT
J4
1
AFE_FPC
J5
1
USB_C
J8
1
MicroSD
J9
2
EXTREF
J61, J62
1
LIPO
BT2
1
POWER
SW1
1
10k
TH1
1
LIPO+
TP4
1
LIPO-
TP5
10
TPD4E1B06DRL
D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D9, D10, D11 +2
1
WS2812B
D7
1
6.8uH
L1
2
2.2uH
L2, L3
6
2.2uF
C1, C3, C4, C14, C24, C42
17
10uF
C2, C10, C13, C18, C23, C28, C37, C39 +9
35
0.1uF
C5, C7, C11, C15, C19, C20, C26, C27 +27
20
1uF
C6, C8, C9, C12, C16, C17, C21, C22 +12
3
100uF
C25, C44, C64
2
300pF
C29, C30
3
1M
R1, R10, R22
13
10k
R2, R3, R12, R13, R14, R21, R23, R24 +5
4
5.1k
R4, R5, R15, R16
1
47k
R6
2
270k
R7, R26
4
100k
R8, R9, R11, R27
4
24
R17, R18, R19, R20
2
TBD
R32, R61
10
2.2k
RN1, RN2, RN3, RN4, RN5, RN7, RN8, RN9 +2

Dcmini design files

The KiCad project lives in the dcmini-org/dcmini-hw repository on GitHub; these links point at the commit this page was built from.

Dcmini: common questions

What microcontroller does the Dcmini use?

The Dcmini is built around the MDBT50Q-1MV2, from the Nordic nRF family.

How big is the Dcmini PCB?

The Dcmini measures 127 × 86.5 mm, has 2 copper layers and is 0.191599 mm thick.

How many components are on the Dcmini?

189 components, from 55 distinct parts. The full bill of materials is listed on this page.

Where can I download the Dcmini design files?

From the dcmini-org/dcmini-hw repository on GitHub, which has the KiCad layout and the schematic; the links under Design files point to each one.

Can I use the Dcmini design in my own project?

Yes, under the terms of its CERN-OHL-P-2.0 license, which dcmini-org chose for the repository.

Can I test firmware for the Dcmini without the hardware?

Yes. HardLabs builds a simulation of the board from its netlist and BOM, so you can run and debug Nordic nRF firmware against it before you order a PCB.

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