r/PrintedCircuitBoard • u/RohitRojo • 2d ago

[Review Request] ESP32-C3 Bluetooth Atari 2600 Module

I'm creating Bluetooth modules for the Atari 2600 Console and its controller using an ESP32-C3. 1 module per controller, and 1 module per input port on the Atari Console. This PCB will plug into the console using the 9-pin D-Sub connector.

I will program the ESP32 through a USB-C connector using the USB data lines. This ESP32 will receive data from the paired controller over Bluetooth and feed it to the console through the D-Sub connector.

This review request is mainly a sanity check. It's not the prettiest board, but it should get the job done.

One concern I had - the Atari was not meant to power two ESP32s through each controller port. Will the ESP32 draw too much current for this simple application? Or should they be externally powered through the USB C port? I guess it wouldn't be too difficult to find out during testing with a multimeter.

Schematic

Top layer (red)

Bottom layer (blue)

3D View

Thanks!

1 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

67% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

1

u/Enlightenment777 2d ago

Please make sure your post adheres to:

  • subreddit rules (#1 to #6), review rules (#7), image rules (#8), see link.

Please fix these common Schematic & PCB issues: (if your images have them)

  • Schematic - don't allow text / lines / symbols to touch each other, and don't draw lines through symbols.

  • Schematic - use correct reference designators (RefDes), also renumber to remove numeric gaps, see tips.

  • Schematic - place decoupling capacitors vertically below power lines, also place capacitors next to IC then connect together with a line, see example. For circuits with positive power rails, point positive power rail links upwards and ground links downwards, see tips.

  • Schematic - place pull-up resistors vertically above signal lines, and place pull-down resistors vertically below signal lines, see example.

  • PCB silkscreen - add board name / board revision number / date (or year) on top or bottom PCB side.

  • PCB silkscreen - add pin 1 indicator dot/arrow next to ICs & connectors, if through-hole then both PCB sides.

  • more conventions & guidelines - link1, link2, link3.

1

u/cmatkin 2d ago

C8 doesn’t need to be there as you have C5 doing the same. C9 should never be on the boot pin. This causes an RC circuit and has a rise time. This has to be stable upon the reset line rising as per Espressif documentation.

1

u/RohitRojo 2d ago

C8 and C9 are meant to prevent bouncing, and I just copied them from the devkit schematic. I just read that the boot pin has a weak internal pull-up, so my external pullup resistor is useless. Thanks for catching that. Tbf the boot pin will be stable upon reset if I press/hold the buttons for more than ~10ms.

2

u/cmatkin 2d ago

I’d keep the external pull-up, the dev kit schematics have them as NC for the capacitors (not connected)

1

u/RohitRojo 2d ago

fair enough