HardLabs

Brain core

shmoergh·moduleur·modules/07-brain/electronics/core/brain-core.kicad_pcb

Brain core PCB layout, top view — open source RP2040/RP2350 board by shmoergh
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About the Brain core PCB

Brain core is an open source RP2040/RP2350 PCB design by shmoergh, published on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board measuring 60.5 × 110 mm, with 95 components from 40 distinct parts.

Its main chip is the Pico, from the RP2040/RP2350 family. Other key parts include the LM7805_TO220, 6N137, TL072, MCP4822 and 74HC4053B. By type, the board carries 37 resistors, 20 capacitors, 12 connectors, 11 ICs, 6 diodes and 4 transistors.

It belongs with the audio designs in this gallery.

From the project

Fully analog DIY-friendly modular synth

Brain is a universal digital module for the Shmøergh Moduleur which enables the development of new functions like sequencers, MIDI features, digital voices and synths and whatever comes to mind. The module uses a Raspberry Pi Pico / Pico 2 so all features of the board are available in any language (Micropython, C++, Rust). To speed up development we provide an SDK that makes it easy to use the available pots, buttons, I/O and MIDI.

Brain core, from the project README
From the project README

Main components on the Brain core

LM7805_TO2206N137PicoTL072MCP482274HC4053B74HC4051

Brain core bill of materials (BOM)

95 components, 40 distinct parts — part numbers from the project's BOM.

QtyPartRefs
1
LM7805_TO220
Mouser
U1
1
6N137
JLCPCB
U2
1
Pico
Mouser
U3
5
TL072
JLCPCB
U4, U5, U8, U9, U11
1
MCP4822
JLCPCB
U6
1
74HC4053B
JLCPCB
U7
1
74HC4051
JLCPCB
U10
4
MMBT3904
JLCPCB
Q1, Q3, Q6, Q7
3
CONN_02X03_ODD_EVEN
Conn_02x03_Odd_Even
Mouser
J1, J4, J8
2
CONN_02X02_ODD_EVEN
Conn_02x02_Odd_Even
Mouser
J2, J3
3
CONN_01X02
Conn_01x02
Mouser
J5, J9, J10
1
CONN_02X05_ODD_EVEN
Conn_02x05_Odd_Even
Mouser
J6
1
CONN_02X05_ODD_EVEN
Conn_02x05_Odd_Even
Mouser
J7
1
CONN_01X01
Conn_01x01
Mouser
J11
1
CONN_01X03
Conn_01x03
Mouser
J13
1
Conn_01x02
J_DEV1
1
USB_C_Receptacle_USB2.0_16P
J_USB_C_EXTENSION1
2
10k
RV_CV_GAIN1, RV_CV_GAIN2
1
SW_SPST
Mouser
SW1
3
1N5817
JLCPCB
D1, D2, D3
Show 20 more
QtyPartRefs
1
BAT54
JLCPCB
D4
2
BAT54S
JLCPCB
D5, D6
1
10U
10u
JLCPCB
C1
1
330N
330n
JLCPCB
C2
13
100N
100n
JLCPCB
C3, C6, C7, C8, C9, C12, C13, C14 +5
2
100U
100u
JLCPCB
C4, C5
2
22P
22p
JLCPCB
C10, C11
1
10U
10u
JLCPCB
C18
15
100K
100k
JLCPCB
R1, R14, R15, R16, R17, R18, R19, R20 +7
2
3.3K
3.3k
JLCPCB
R2, R7
1
10K
10k
JLCPCB
R3
1
7.5K
7.5k
JLCPCB
R4
1
2.2K
2.2k
JLCPCB
R5
1
120
JLCPCB
R6
2
47K
47k
JLCPCB
R8, R9
2
62K
62k
JLCPCB
R10, R11
6
1k
JLCPCB
R12, R13, R22, R23, R34, R35
2
120K
120k
JLCPCB
R25, R27
2
33K
33k
JLCPCB
R28, R29
2
5.1K
5.1k
JLCPCB
R36, R37

Brain core design files

The KiCad project lives in the shmoergh/moduleur repository on GitHub; these links point at the commit this page was built from.

Brain core: common questions

What microcontroller does the Brain core use?

The Brain core is built around the Pico, from the RP2040/RP2350 family.

How big is the Brain core PCB?

The Brain core measures 60.5 × 110 mm, has 2 copper layers and is 1.6 mm thick.

How many components are on the Brain core?

95 components, from 40 distinct parts, with part numbers taken from the project's own BOM. The full bill of materials is listed on this page.

Where can I download the Brain core design files?

From the shmoergh/moduleur repository on GitHub, which has the KiCad layout, the schematic and the BOM; the links under Design files point to each one.

Can I use the Brain core design in my own project?

The repository has no license, so all rights stay with shmoergh. Use it as a reference, and ask the author before reusing the design.

Can I test firmware for the Brain core without the hardware?

Yes. HardLabs builds a simulation of the board from its netlist and BOM, so you can run and debug RP2040/RP2350 firmware against it before you order a PCB.

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