Fibocom NL668-LA Installation instructions

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FIBOCOM NL668-LA Series Hardware Guide Page 1 of 61
FIBOCOM NL668-LA Series
Hardware Guide
Version: V1.0.9
Date: 2022-03-29

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FIBOCOM NL668-LA Series Hardware Guide Page 2 of 61
Applicability Type
N
o.
Product Model
Description
7
NL668-LA
MCP is 4Gbit Flash + 2Gbit RAM, support MAIN_ANT, DIV_ANT

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FIBOCOM NL668-LA Series Hardware Guide Page 3 of 61
Copyright
Copyright ©2021 Fibocom Wireless Inc. All rights reserved.
Without the prior written permission of the copyright holder, any company or individual is prohibited to
excerpt, copy any part of or the entire document, or transmit the document in any form.
Notice
The document is subject to update from time to time owing to the product version upgrade or other
reasons. Unless otherwise specified, the document only serves as the user guide.All the statements,
information and suggestions contained in the document do not constitute any explicit or implicit
guarantee.
Trademark
The trademark is registered and owned by Fibocom Wireless Inc.

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FIBOCOM NL668-LA Series Hardware Guide Page 4 of 61
Change History
Version
Author
Reviewer
Approver
Update
Date
Description
V1.0.9
Yuan Dele
Yu Yong
Jin Haibo
2022-03-29
Update diversity sensitivity
Add development board models
Update RTS and CTS description
Added model NL668-LA-31-90
V1.0.8
Zheng
Shuai
Yu Yong
Jin Haibo
2021-08-30
Add software description
Update PIN description
Add model NL668-LA-30/40
V1.0.7
Guo
Zhenqi
Tan Lefan
Jin Haibo
2021-05-10
Modify pin 138 refer to design
description
V1.0.6
Tan Lefan
Hu Wenkai
Luke Liu
2021-03-10
Add model NL668-LA-05 and
NL668-LA-10
V1.0.5
Lee Du
Hu Wenkai
Luke Liu
2020-08-10
Update product appearance
V1.0.4
Hu Wenkai
Lee Du
Luke Liu
2020-03-13
Update power consumption
V1.0.3
Lee Du
Hu Wenkai
Luke Liu
2020-01-10
Add model NL668-LA-01
V1.0.2
Tan Lefan
Hu Wenkai
Luke Liu
2019-10-09
Modify module size. Increase the
requirements of boot_config1, 2, 3
pins forbidden to pull up externally.
V1.0.1
Liu Qiang
Li Xiyi
Chen
Guojiang
2019-07-09
Update RF parameters
V1.0.0
Gao Ying
Tu Min
Chen
Guojiang
2019-06-06
Initial version

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FIBOCOM NL668-LA Series Hardware Guide Page 5 of 61
Content
Content................................................................................................................................ 5
1Introduction .................................................................................................................. 8
1.1 Document Introduction..................................................................................................8
1.2 Safety Precautions .......................................................................................................8
2Product Overview....................................................................................................... 10
2.1 Product Introduction ...................................................................................................10
2.2 Product Specification..................................................................................................10
2.3Functional Diagram ....................................................................................................11
2.4 Evaluation Board........................................................................................................12
3Pin Description........................................................................................................... 13
3.1 Pin Assignment...........................................................................................................13
3.2 Pin Function ...............................................................................................................13
4Electrical Characteristics .......................................................................................... 21
4.1 Power.........................................................................................................................21
4.2 Power Supply.............................................................................................................21
4.3 1.8V Output................................................................................................................22
4.4 Power Consumption...................................................................................................23
5Functional Interface................................................................................................... 25
5.1 Control Interface.........................................................................................................25
5.1.1 Power On/Off......................................................................................................................25
5.1.1.1 Power On...................................................................................................................................25
5.1.1.2 Power Off...................................................................................................................................26
5.1.2 RESET................................................................................................................................27
5.2 Network Status Indicate Interface...............................................................................29
5.2.1 Interface Status Description ...............................................................................................29
5.3 (U)SIM Card Interface ................................................................................................30
5.3.1 (U)SIM Pin Definition..........................................................................................................30
5.3.2 (U)SIM Interface Circuit......................................................................................................30
5.3.2.1 (U)SIM Card Connector with Card Detection Signal..................................................................30
5.3.2.2 (U)SIM Card Connector Without Detection Signal.....................................................................32
5.3.3 (U)SIM Hot Plug .................................................................................................................32
5.3.4 (U)SIM Design Requirements ............................................................................................33
5.4 USB Interface.............................................................................................................34

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5.4.1 USB Pin Definition..............................................................................................................34
5.5 UART Interface...........................................................................................................35
5.5.1 UART Interface Definition...................................................................................................35
5.5.2 UART Port Application........................................................................................................35
5.6 ADC Interface.............................................................................................................36
5.7 PCM Interface ............................................................................................................37
5.7.1 Supported Model................................................................................................................37
5.7.2 PCM Interface Definition ....................................................................................................37
5.7.3 PCM Interface Description .................................................................................................38
5.7.4 PCM Signal Description......................................................................................................38
6Low Power Consumption .......................................................................................... 40
6.1 Airplane Mode ............................................................................................................40
6.2 Sleep Mode................................................................................................................40
6.2.1 USB Application (Nonsupport USB Suspend, Support VBUS)..........................................40
6.2.2 USB Application (Nonsupport USB Suspend, Nonsupport VBUS)....................................41
6.2.3 USB Application (Support USB Suspend)..........................................................................41
6.2.4 UARTApplication (WAKEUP_IN Pin Level Control)..........................................................41
6.2.5 UARTApplication (DTR Pin Level Control)........................................................................42
6.2.6 ATS24 Command ...............................................................................................................42
7RF Interface................................................................................................................. 44
7.1 Operating Bands.........................................................................................................44
7.2 Output Power .............................................................................................................44
7.3 Receive Sensitivity .....................................................................................................45
7.4 GNSS Receiver..........................................................................................................46
7.4.1 GNSS Specification............................................................................................................46
7.4.2 GNSS Observe Protocol ....................................................................................................46
7.5 Antenna Design..........................................................................................................46
7.5.1 Antenna Index.....................................................................................................................46
7.5.2 Antenna Reference Design ................................................................................................48
8Reliability .................................................................................................................... 50
8.1 Limiting Voltage Range...............................................................................................50
8.1.1 Absolute Voltage Range.....................................................................................................50
8.1.2 Operating Voltage Range...................................................................................................50
8.2 Environment Temperature Range...............................................................................50

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8.3 Environmental Reliability Requirements......................................................................51
8.4 ESD Characteristics ...................................................................................................51
9Structure Specification.............................................................................................. 53
9.1 Product Appearance...................................................................................................53
9.2 Structure Dimension...................................................................................................53
9.3 PCB Soldering Pad and Stencil Design ......................................................................54
9.4 SMT............................................................................................................................54
9.5 Carrier and storage.....................................................................................................54
10 Regulatory ............................................................................................................ 55
11 Terms and Acronyms........................................................................................... 59
11.1 Related Documents....................................................................................................60
11.2 Reference Standards..................................................................................................61

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1 Introduction
1.1 Document Introduction
This document describes the electrical characteristics, RF performance, structure size, application
environment, etc. of NL668-LA module. With the assistance of the document and other instructions, the
developers can quickly understand the hardware functions of the NL668-LA module and develop
products.
1.2 Safety Precautions
By following the safety guidelines below, you can protect the personal safety and help protect the product
and work environment from potential damage. Product manufacturers need to communicate the
following safety instructions to end users. In case of failure to comply with these safety rules, Fibocom
Wireless will not be responsible for the consequences caused by the user’s misuse.
Road safety first! When you drive, do not use the handheld devices even if it has a
hand-free feature. Please stop and call!
Please turn off the mobile device before boarding. The wireless feature of the mobile
device is not allowed on the aircraft to prevent interference with the aircraft
communication system. Ignoring this note may result in flight safety issue or even
breaking the law.
When in a hospital or health care facility, please be aware of restrictions on the use of
mobile devices. Radio frequency interference may cause medical equipment to
malfunction, so it may be necessary to turn off the mobile device.
The mobile device does not guarantee that an effective connection can be made under
any circumstances, for example, when there is no prepayment for the mobile device or
the (U)SIM is invalid. When you encounter the above situation in an emergency,
remember to use an emergency call, while keeping your device turned on and in areas
where signal is strong.
Your mobile device receives and transmits RF signals when it is powered on. Radio
interference occurs when it is near televisions, radios, computers, or other electronic
devices.

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Keep the mobile device away from flammable gases. Turn off the mobile device when
near gas stations, oil depots, chemical plants or explosive workplaces. There is a
safety hazard in operating electronic equipment in any potentially explosive
environment.

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2 Product Overview
2.1 Product Introduction
The NL668-LA series wireless module is a broadband wireless terminal product applicable to various
network formats and multi-bands include FDD-LTE/WCDMA.
2.2 Product Specification
Table 2-1 Product specification
Specification
Operating frequency
LTE FDD: Band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28
WCDMA/HSPA+: Band 1, 2, 5, 8
Data transmission
LTE FDD Rel.9
150Mbps DL/50Mbps UL (Cat 4) LTE Downlink MIMO
2×2, 4×2 (support part of R10)
WCDMA Rel.8
UMTS: 384 kbps DL/384 kbps UL
DC-HSDPA+: 42MbpsDL (Cat24)/HSUPA:5.76Mbps UL
(Cat 6)
Power
3.3V to 4.3V (typical 3.8V)
Temperature
Normal: -30°C to +75°C
Extended:-40°C to +85°C 1
Storage:-40°C to +90°C
Power consumption
Base current: < 2mA
Sleep mode: ≤ 4mA
Idle mode: < 20mA (USB sleep), < 30mA (USB wakeup)
Physical characteristics
Package: LCC+LGA 144 Pin
Size: (32.0±0.15) mm ×(29.0±0.15) mm ×(2.4±0.2) mm
Weight: about 5.2g
Interface
Antenna
Antenna: MAIN, GNSS, DIV
Functional Interface
(U)SIM 3.0V/1.8V
USB 2.0
Status Indicator