Chipsee CS-A55-BOX User manual

Industrial PC
CS-A55-BOX
PN: CS-RK3568-BOX
Content can change at anytime, check documentation website for latest information.
www.chipsee.com

Contents
3CS-A55-BOX
71. Product Overview
82. Ordering Options
82.1. Operating System
92.2. Optional Features
103. Hardware Features
124. Power Input
145. Connectivity
145.1. RS232/RS485/CAN
165.2. USB Connectors
185.3. LAN Connectors
195.4. WiFi & BT Module
205.5. 4G/LTE Module
226. TF Card & SIM Card Slot
237. Audio Connectors
248. HDMI Connector
259. PROG Button
2610. GPIO
2911. Mounting Procedure
3012. Mechanical Specications
3113. Disclaimer
3114. Technical Support
Chipsee IPC Page 2 of 31

CS-A55-BOX
Front View
CS-A55-BOX
Chipsee IPC Page 3 of 31

Rear View
CS-A55-BOX
Chipsee IPC Page 4 of 31

Side View 1
CS-A55-BOX
Chipsee IPC Page 5 of 31

Side View 2
CS-A55-BOX
Chipsee IPC Page 6 of 31

Product Overview
The fanless embedded PC CS-A55-BOX (PN: CS-RK3568-BOX) is a Cortex -A55 series high-
quality industrial PC. Thanks to the fanless design, it is stable and reliable in client terminal,
multimedia and other industry applications.
Key Applications
Industrial Automation
Process Control
Smart Grid Management
CNC Manufacturing
Environmental Monitoring
Predictive Maintenance
The oered CPU consumes very little power, around 4.35W (max). From the ground-up, the
CPU is built for low power consumption. As such, it is best suited for mobile and power-
constrained industrial or eld applications. A specially designed aluminum alloy housing
with ns for increased heat dissipation serves as a passive cooler, eliminating the need for
built-in fans. The fanless design reduces noise, as well as the maintenance costs and eorts,
leading to increased reliability at the same time.
The CS-A55-BOX Industrial PC is based around the powerful RK3568 System on Chip (SoC),
powered by the Rockchip RK3568 low-power processor which integrates a quad-core
Cortex -A55 2.0GHz processor.
The RK3568 supports multi-format video decoders and has a high-performance 2GB
LPDDR4 RAM capable of sustaining demanding memory bandwidths. It also provides a
complete set of peripheral interfaces.
®
•
•
•
•
•
•
®
CS-A55-BOX Product Overview
Chipsee IPC Page 7 of 31

Ordering Options
Chipsee products can be customized during the ordering process. The product will be
shipped with the pre-installed factory defaults if no extra requirements are specied. The
table in the Hardware Features section provides information about the default options
bundled with the product.
Operating System
This product comes with a pre-installed OS of your choice. Please see the list below for the
supported OSes, which can also be obtained from the Software Documentation section,
along with the detailed installation instructions.
Debian 11
Android 11
Buildroot Linux Qt 5.15
Note
You can order the CS-A55-BOX from the ocial Chipsee Store or from your nearest distributor.

•
•
•
Warning
The Software Documentation section provides a detailed instruction on how to install dierent OSes on your own.
However, bear in mind that Chipsee can’t take the responsibility of inadequate installation procedure. If you “brick”
your device, please contact Chipsee Technical Support at [email protected] for further assistance

CS-A55-BOX Ordering Options
Chipsee IPC Page 8 of 31

Optional Features
The CS-A55-BOX Industrial PC does not include 4G/LTE module by default. The module is
optional and can be selected at the Chipsee store during the ordering process.
Warning
Installation, repair, and maintenance tasks should be performed by trained personnel only. Chipsee does not bear
any responsibility for damage caused by inadequate handling of the product.

CS-A55-BOX Optional Features
Chipsee IPC Page 9 of 31

Hardware Features
The CS-A55-BOX Industrial PC oers a broad range of performance and connectivity options
for scalable integration, providing expandability according to future needs. Some of the key
features are listed in the table below.
CS-A55-BOX
CPU Rockchip RK3568, Quad-core Cortex-A55 (2.0GHz)
RAM 2GB LPDDR4
eMMC 16GB
SSD N/A
Storage TF Card, Supports up to 128GB SDHC
Display N/A
HDMI 1 x HDMI-D (Micro-HDMI) Out
Touch N/A
USB 1 x USB 2.0 HOST, 1 x USB 3.0 HOST, 1 x USB Type-C
LAN 2 x RJ45, GbE
POE Supported for 1 x optional POE RJ45
Audio 3.5mm Audio In/Out Connector, 2W Internal Speaker
Buzzer Yes
RTC
High accuracy RTC with farad capacitor, can work 1 week after power o (default).
High accuracy RTC with lithium coin battery, can work 3 years after power o
(optional).
RS232 default 2 x RS232 (Optional 6 x RS232 at most, include 1 debug port)1
RS485 default 3 x RS485 at most1
CAN default 2 x CAN
GPIO 8 Channels Isolated IO, 4 x Input and 4 x Output
WiFi/BT Integrated WiFi/BT Module
4G/LTE Supported, Optional
Power Input From 6V to 36V
Current 290mA (max) at 15V
Power
Consumption 4.35W (max)
Working
Temperature From 0°C to +60°C
CS-A55-BOX Hardware Features
Chipsee IPC Page 10 of 31

1(1,2)This product has 6 x UART channels in total. The default conguration is 2 x RS232 and 3 x RS485, include 1
debug port. UART can be swapped between RS232 and RS485 modes easily, if you need a dierent RS232/
RS485 conguration, please get in touch with the Chipsee Technical Support at [email protected]
CS-A55-BOX
OS Android 11, Debian11, Buildroot Linux Qt 5.15
Dimensions CS-A55-BOX (PN: CS-RK3568-BOX): 209 x 125 x 37.3mm
Weight CS-A55-BOX (PN: CS-RK3568-BOX): null
Mounting CS-A55-BOX (PN: CS-RK3568-BOX): Rear, VESA
Table 164 Key Features
CS-A55-BOX Hardware Features
Chipsee IPC Page 11 of 31

Power Input
The CS-A55-BOX Industrial PC can be powered by a wide range of input voltages: From 6V to
36V DC.
There are two DC input interfaces on this device: a 3-pin, 3.81mm terminal, and a 2.1mm
I.D x 5.5mm O.D x 9.5mm DC connector.
Power Input
Note that the “+” sign represents the positive power input, and it is printed both at the
casing and as a silk-screen on a PCB of the embedded version. The “-” terminal is shorted to
the ground.
For a proper DC power connector, refer to the gure below.
Power Input Denition
Pin Number Denition Description
Pin 1 Positive Input DC Power Positive Terminal
Pin 2 Negative Input DC Power Negative Terminal
Pin 3 Ground Power System Ground
Table 165 Power Connector
Note
The system ground “G” is connected to power negative “-” on board.

CS-A55-BOX Power Input
Chipsee IPC Page 12 of 31

DC Jack
CS-A55-BOX Power Input
Chipsee IPC Page 13 of 31

Connectivity
There are many connectivity options available on the CS-A55-BOX industrial PC. It has 1 x
USB 2.0 HOST, 1 x USB 3.0 HOST, 1 x USB Type-C, 2 x RJ45, GbE (RJ45) Ethernet connector
supporting up to 1 Gbps, and 5 x UART terminals (RS232/RS485/CAN).
RS232/RS485/CAN
The serial communication interfaces (RS485, RS232, and CAN) are routed to a 16-pin
3.81mm terminal, as illustrated on the gure below.
RS232 RS485 CAN Pins
The table below oers more detailed description of every pin and its denition:
RS232 / RS485 / CAN Pin Denition:
Pin Number Denition Description
Pin 16 CAN1_H CAN H signal
Pin 15 CAN1_L CAN L signal
Pin 14 CAN0_H CAN H signal
Pin 13 CAN0_L CAN L signal
Pin 12 RS485_5- CPU UART5, RS485 –(B) signal
Pin 11 RS485_5+ CPU UART5, RS485 +(A) signal
Pin 10 RS485_4- CPU UART4, RS485 –(B) signal
Pin 9 RS485_4+ CPU UART4, RS485 +(A) signal
CS-A55-BOX Connectivity
Chipsee IPC Page 14 of 31

RS232 / RS485 / CAN Pin Denition:
Pin 8 RS485_3- CPU UART3, RS485 –(B) signal
Pin 7 RS485_3+ CPU UART3, RS485 +(A) signal
Pin 6 RS232_0_RXD CPU UART0, RS232 RXD signal
Pin 5 RS232_0_TXD CPU UART0, RS232 TXD signal
Pin 4 RS232_2_RXD CPU UART2, RS232 RXD signal, Debug Port
Pin 3 RS232_2_TXD CPU UART2, RS232 TXD signal Debug Port
Pin 2 GND System Ground
Pin 1 +5V System +5V Power Output, No more than 1A Current output
Table 166 Connectivity Section
Attention
RS485_3,RS485_4 and RS485_5 can control the input and output direction automatically. There’s no need to
control it from within the software.
The 120Ω match resistor for the RS485 is mounted by default.
The 120Ω match resistor for the CAN bus is NOT mounted by default.

1.
2.
3.
CS-A55-BOX RS232/RS485/CAN
Chipsee IPC Page 15 of 31

USB Connectors
There are 2 x USB HOST and 1 x USB DEVICE (for ashing OS) ports onboard: 1 x USB 2.0
HOST, 1 x USB 3.0 HOST, 1 x USB Type-C , as shown in the gures below.
USB 2.0 HOST Port (embedded / enclosed PC version)
USB 3.0 HOST Port (embedded / enclosed PC version)
CS-A55-BOX USB Connectors
Chipsee IPC Page 16 of 31

USB Type-C Port (embedded / enclosed PC version)
Warning
Be careful not to touch surrounding electronic components accidentally while plugging USB devices into the
embedded IPC version.

CS-A55-BOX USB Connectors
Chipsee IPC Page 17 of 31

LAN Connectors
LAN (RJ45) connector provides 2 x RJ45 Ethernet (including 1 x optional POE port: LAN0)
Ethernet connectivity over standardized Ethernet cables as shown in the gure below. The
integrated Ethernet interface supports up to 1 Gbps data throughput.
RJ45 LAN Connector
Note
Use CAT5 or better cables to achieve full data throughput over maximum distance dened by the 1000BASE-T
standard (100m).

CS-A55-BOX LAN Connectors
Chipsee IPC Page 18 of 31

WiFi & BT Module
The CS-A55-BOX Industrial PC is equipped with the popular Realtek RTL8821CS WiFi/BT
module which supports BT/BLE 2.1/3.0/4.2, as well as 802.11ac/abgn 433Mbps 2.4/5.8 GHz
Wireless LAN (WLAN).
Figure 619: RTL8821CS WiFi/BT Module
The CS-A55-BOX includes an SMA connector for an external WiFi/BT antenna, as illustrated
in the gure below.
WiFi+BT Antenna SMA
CS-A55-BOX WiFi & BT Module
Chipsee IPC Page 19 of 31

4G/LTE Module
The CS-A55-BOX Industrial PC is equipped with a mini-PCIe connector that can connect a
4G/LTE module. The customer will also need a SIM Card Holder and a 4G/LTE Antenna
Connector to ensure 4G/LTE works on the CS-A55-BOX. SIM card does NOT support hot
plug. Power o before inserting or removing SIM card.
Figure 620: mini-PCIe Connector & 4G Module
Figure 621: SIM Card Holder & 4G Antenna
CS-A55-BOX 4G/LTE Module
Chipsee IPC Page 20 of 31