Lava nLTS Series User manual

nLTS Product Family
Reference Manual
Mar. 26, 2021
Revision A04
Abstract
The nLTS family of products permits the charging of select Lenovo mobile devices while
simultaneously interacting with USB 2.0 accessories.
This product’s mode of operation charges your mobile device battery to 100% as long as external
power is attached. This mode of operation supports Docking Detect, which ensures the mobile
device enters the correct state during a “hot connect” to the LAVA product.
This document describes the connectors and configuration options for the product line. All
supported devices use the Micro-USB interface.
Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 2
nLTS Product Family ...................................................................................................................... 3
Product Operation ........................................................................................................................... 4
Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 4
USB Host Operation with Simultaneous Mobile Device Charging ............................................ 5
USB 2.0 Ports for User Accessories ........................................................................................... 5
Wired Network Operation........................................................................................................... 6
Status LED lights ............................................................................................................................ 7
Mobile Device Charging with USB Host Operation (SimulCharge) .............................................. 8
Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 8
Charge-Only Mode ..................................................................................................................... 8
USB Host versus Accessory ....................................................................................................... 8
SimulCharge Mode ..................................................................................................................... 9
Connection Descriptions ............................................................................................................... 10
USB Micro-B “To Tablet” ........................................................................................................ 10
Barrel Jack “9-36 VDC In” ....................................................................................................... 10
USB Micro-B “5V Input” ......................................................................................................... 11
USB Micro-B “Aux 5V” ........................................................................................................... 12
USB-A Receptacles .................................................................................................................. 12
RJ45 “PoE Ethernet Port” ......................................................................................................... 13
RJ45 “Ethernet Port”................................................................................................................. 14
Technical Support ......................................................................................................................... 15

LAVA Computer MFG Inc. nLTS Product Family - Reference Manual – A04
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Introduction
The nLTS (Lenovo Tablet Simulcharge) product line allows USB 2.0 peripherals to be attached
to a mobile device, while permitting simultaneous battery charging.
No software needs to be installed on the mobile device to use the LAVA product.
The mobile device’s Micro USB-B receptacle is connected to the LAVA product using a custom
cable provided by LAVA. An external power supply provides power for both the mobile device
and USB peripherals.
The core products are powered using a standard 5V USB power supply, such as the charging
brick supplied with the mobile device.
The “vc” products can operate from a 9 to 36 VDC unregulated power supply. This power option
is ideal in vehicle-based applications or any stand-alone unit running from a storage battery. In a
retail or business environment, this option permits the power brick to be placed a considerable
distance away from the product, while using a thin power cable.
The Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) products require a suitable Network Switch with PoE support. A
non-PoE Network Switch can use a PoE Power Injector for each port to operate with a LAVA
PoE capable product. A PoE Power Injector is a standard add-on available from many Network
Switch vendors.
Each member of the product family uses a pair of status LEDs.
The nLTS products only function with select Lenovo mobile devices. For a complete list of
tested tablets please check the compatibility list, which can be found using the link located on
each product page.
For mobile devices using a USB-C receptacle for data and power, please contact LAVA Sales or
Technical support.

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nLTS Product Family
All members of the nLTS Product Family provide the same core functionality of allowing USB
peripherals to be attached to a mobile device while permitting simultaneous battery charging.
nLTS Product Family Overview
Product
USB 2.0
Ports
[Type A]
Ethernet
Adapter
Power
over
Ethernet
5 VDC
Input
[Micro-B]
9/36 VDC
Input
[Barrel]
Description
nLTS E - YES - YES - Ethernet Adapter
nLTS PE - YES YES Optional - Ethernet Adapter
nLTS vcE - YES - - YES Ethernet Adapter
nLTS 2UE 2 YES - YES - 2-port USB Hub &
Ethernet Adapter
nLTS P2UE 2 YES YES Optional - 2-port USB Hub &
Ethernet Adapter
nLTS vc2UE 2 YES - - YES 2-port USB Hub &
Ethernet Adapter
nLTS 3U 3 - - YES - 3-port USB Hub
nLTS vc3U 3 - - - YES 3-port USB Hub
nLTS 1U OEM 1 - - YES - 1-port OEM Adapter
(board only)
The “vc” products can operate from a 9 to 36 VDC unregulated power supply via a DC Barrel
Jack with a 2 mm positive center pin.
The optional 5 VDC Inputs on the PoE products are labelled “Aux. 5V”.

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Product Operation
Overview
The nLTS products contain the following core features:
 USB Host operation with simultaneous device charging
 Up to three USB-2.0 receptacles
 Wired networking (10/100 Ethernet) support
 Option for Power over Ethernet (PoE) support
 Option to be powered from a standard USB Power Adapters
 Option to be powered from any regulated 5-volt power supply
 Option to be powered from a 12 or 24 volt unregulated DC power source
The product’s mode of operation charges a mobile device battery to 100% as long as external
power is attached. This product supports Docking Detect, which ensures the mobile device enters
the correct state during a "hot connect” to the LAVA adapter.
The LAVA nLTS products require no mobile device software or configuration.
The mobile device’s Micro USB-B receptacle is connected to the nLTS product with a custom
cable provided by LAVA.
The core products are powered using a standard 5V USB power supply, such as the charging
brick supplied with the mobile device. The “vc” products can operate from a 9 to 36 VDC
unregulated power supply, which drives both the mobile device and USB accessories. The PoE
capable products derive power from the network cable.
USB accessories can be attached at any time.
The products do not draw power from the mobile device if the external power is removed.
The attached USB accessories do not function when external power is removed.
Note: If your use-case requires USB accessories to be operated with and without an external
power source, please contact LAVA Sales as other LAVA products not described in this
document are designed for this situation.

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USB Host Operation with Simultaneous Mobile Device Charging
LAVA nLTS products allow the charging of select Lenovo mobile devices while interacting with
USB accessories. The LAVA products do not draw power from the Lenovo mobile device and
only allow USB accessory operation while being powered by an external power source.
Unlike many other Android mobile devices on the market, Lenovo mobile devices can operate as
a USB host while being charged. LAVA calls this feature SimulCharge, for simultaneous
charging while working with USB accessories. The System Requirements section states which
mobile devices have been tested for the ability to employ SimulCharge.
USB 2.0 Ports for User Accessories
The LAVA products include an internal USB 2.0 Hub, which is used to connect integrated and
user-supplied USB accessories. Up to three user-accessible USB 2.0 ports are available
depending on which LAVA product is selected.
User accessories are attached to USB 2.0 ports with a standard A-type receptacle. Each
receptacle provides power to each USB Accessory up to a maximum of 500 mA, as per the USB
specification. The power supply used must have sufficient capacity for the mobile device, LAVA
hardware, and USB accessories.
A LAVA product must be powered for a USB-A receptacle to function. The LAVA products
have a dedicated power input and are not intended to draw power from the tablet or mobile
phone they are connected to.
A power budget must be developed for a system to handle additional USB accessories and the
related cables. Power loss in each cable results in lower voltages at each device. Using self-
powered USB Hubs may be required in some systems, to offload the power supply responsible
for the tablet or mobile phone.

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Wired Network Operation
Many nLTS products provide a 10/100 Fast Ethernet wired interface. This feature relies on
standard support from the mobile device. A wired networking solution is more reliable than WiFi
and has greater security.
Mobile devices supporting Wired Ethernet operation provide options for dynamic address setup
(DHCP) and static address setup. The choice of address management is a Network system issue.
The Ethernet addressing configuration is performed within the mobile device setup menu.
The mobile device setup and Ethernet port status are located in the Network & internet >
Ethernet menu. The Ethernet menu can only be entered when a powered Ethernet adapter is
present. The standard mobile device options permit the use of static address assignments or
dynamic address assignments via DHCP. The menu reports if the Ethernet adapter is active as
well as serving as the adapter enable.
When using DHCP, the mobile device attempts to fetch the network addressing information from
a DHCP server. If the addressing information is not located within the timeout period, the mobile
device makes no further attempts. The user must manually retrigger the Ethernet interface to start
the DHCP process. The retrigger is a simple matter of pressing the Ethernet "box" again in the
Ethernet menu.

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Status LED lights
A Yellow LED and a Green LED are used to report the state of the unit. When power is applied
to the board, the two status LEDs are flashed in unison to confirm the unit is operational and
report the active mode.
The start-up LED flash duration is approximately ½ second on and ½ second off.
During regular operation the LED patterns will vary depending on the active mode.
Status LED behaviour
–
after power
-
up
LED
Behavio
ur
Description
The
Yellow LED is off.
The Green LED pulses twice quickly, followed by a short
pause, and then repeats.
The unit is waiting for a mobile device to be attached.
The Yellow LED is off.
The Green LED pulses rapidly for two seconds.
The
unit
h
as detected a
mobile device
and is in the process of
attaching
to the device. This LED state is a momentary state, after which the
device is treated as connected.
The
Yello
w LED flashes on and off slowly
,
the
n
repeats.
The Green LED is on solid.
The
m
obile device
is attached and being charged.
USB peripherals are available to the mobile device.
The Yellow LED blinking on and off and is mostly on.
The Green LED is on solid.
The mobile device
is attached and being charged.
USB peripherals are available to the mobile device.
The
Yellow LED blinking on and off
and is mostly off.
The Green LED is on solid.
The
mobile device
has been removed.
USB peripherals are available to the mobile device.

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Mobile Device Charging with USB Host Operation (SimulCharge)
Overview
The Lenovo mobile device was intended as a stand-alone device. When the mobile device
battery requires charging, it is plugged into a Wall/USB Charger to restore the battery charge.
The mobile device can continue being used while it is charging. Once the battery is charged, the
mobile device may use the charger as a supplementary power source if the mobile device is left
running. It is preferable to charge a mobile device with the unit off and remove the supply once a
full charge has been reached for the longest battery life.
When using a Lenovo Wall/USB Charger, the mobile device charges at a high rate that is mobile
device specific. The charge rate is also limited to the power available from the attached charger.
The Lenovo Wall/USB Chargers come in several power ratings, each matched to the original
mobile device requirements.
Charge-Only Mode
The Lenovo Wall/USB Charger is equivalent to a USB Charger with a Dedicated Charge Port
(DCP) as defined by the USB Battery Charging Specification R1.2.
The nLTS products use the term Charge-Only Mode to indicate the battery is being charged at
the highest rate permitted by the mobile device and is equivalent to a USB Charger with a
Dedicated Charge Port (DCP).
USB Host versus Accessory
A mobile device plugged into a desktop (or laptop) PC is treated as a USB Accessory (also
referred to as a USB Target). The PC operates as a USB Host Controller when the mobile device
is attached. The PC provides power to the mobile device, but the mobile device battery is being
charged at a low rate. In some cases, the battery may not charge.
To plug a USB Accessory into a mobile device, the mobile device must operate as a USB Host
Controller rather than a USB Accessory. The USB Standard has the On-The-Go (OTG) feature,
in which the mobile device detects that a USB Accessory has been plugged in and automatically
switches to operate as a USB Host Controller. Not all mobile devices support the USB OTG
feature. When operating as an OTG USB Host, the mobile device is expected to supply power to
the attached accessories, which means power is drained from the mobile device battery.

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SimulCharge Mode
The nLTS products place a Lenovo mobile device into the SimulCharge Mode. SimulCharge
Mode informs the mobile device to operate as a USB Host controller, but not to provide power
for USB accessories. With SimulCharge mode active, the mobile device is expecting power to be
provided to it for battery charging and running the mobile device. This allows the mobile device
to be run while simultaneously interacting with one or more USB accessories. The SimulCharge
charging rates are specific to each mobile device.
Lenovo mobile devices operating in SimulCharge mode may limit the amount of power drawn
from the external power source. Limiting the power drawn from the external supply allows the
supply to be shared between the mobile device and USB accessories. If there is not enough
power coming in, the mobile device takes the extra from the battery. Therefore, in this case the
battery will not be charging. The screen brightness may have to operate at less than 100% to
allow the battery to charge. The color scheme of the device application can be designed to reduce
the power required. Application processes requesting too much CPU time increase the power
needed for the mobile device.
The nLTS products use features specific to a set of Lenovo mobile devices which are identified
in the System Requirements section. Simultaneous battery charging and USB Host operation are
not universal among Lenovo mobile devices. Mobile device models have different features
based on country/region.
The nLTS products must always be powered to keep the mobile device charged, and allow
operation with USB accessories.

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Connection Descriptions
USB Micro-B “To Tablet”
The “To Tablet” receptacle is a standard Micro USB-B receptacle.
The custom 3.3 foot (1 meter) cable, included with the LAVA product, provides the connection
between the LAVA product and the mobile device. The custom cable has a male Micro USB-B
connector at each end. It does not matter which end of the cable is attached to the mobile device
or the LAVA product.
The LAVA product to mobile device cable must not be extended, as the additional power loss
in the wires will result in unreliable device charging and operation.
The LAVA product to Mobile device cable cannot be replaced with a third party cable. The
LAVA provided cable is specially designed to facilitate Simulcharge operation.
Barrel Jack “9-36 VDC In”
LAVA products equipped with the “vc option” include a power option that uses a DC barrel jack
with a 2-millimetre positive center pin. The power cable and power supply are supplied by the
user.
Many use-cases require up to a 24 watt power supply (12 volts at 2 amperes or 24 volts at 1
ampere). The permitted input range is 9 to 36 volts. Any unregulated power supply can be used.
This range of supported voltages permits the power supply to be placed up to 50 feet away from
the LAVA product when a suitable wire gauge is used.
The minimum power specification for a use-case requires developing a power budget that is
based on the USB peripherals you wish to use and the mobile device. In cases where no external
USB peripherals or a few low-power peripherals are used, the power supply requirements can
drop down to 12 watts (12 volts at 1 ampere, or 24 volts at 0.5 amperes). The internal power
converter within the LAVA product is 80% efficient at full load, therefore 12 watts into the
product results in 10 watts for system use.
A power supply with a higher power rating that the required minimum is always permitted. This
has the benefit of your hardware system running cooler. As an example, if your system ideally
requires a 12 volt 2 ampere power supply, then a 12 volt 2.5 ampere supply is acceptable.
The length and gauge of wire used to connect the power supply to the LAVA product results in a
loss of voltage and therefore power reaching the LAVA product. This additional loss must be
factored into the power budget as well. A higher power supply voltage is always preferred to
minimize the power loss in the wire.

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When connecting the LAVA product to the supply, ensure the wiring is such that the center pin
is positive. If the polarity is reversed, the damage to the LAVA product is immediate.
Application of the wrong input voltage violates LAVA’s Manufacturer Warranty.
The attached power supply and wiring are responsible for providing short circuit protection.
USB Micro-B “5V Input”
The 5V Power input provides power for the LAVA product, the device, and for attached USB
accessories. This receptacle is present on units without the “vc” or “PoE” power options.
The LAVA product will not function if external power has not been applied. The LAVA
products are not intended to draw power from the mobile device.
The attached USB accessories do not function if external power has not been applied.
A typical USB power supply is rated at 5 volts nominal, with a 5.25 volts maximum. The most
common USB Power supply is rated at 10 watts (2 amperes at 5 volts DC). The voltage at this
input should not be much below 5 volts. The preferred level is 5.1 to 5.25 volts. The voltage at
this input must never exceed 5.25 volts.
The Adaptive Fast Chargers being shipped with many mobile devices are fully compatible with
the LAVA products. The LAVA products automatically use the 5 volt option.
The 5V Power input can be used with an external USB Power Bank. This ability can be useful in
some deployments. The USB Power Bank must be physically removed for recharging.
The cable length between the power supply and the LAVA product must be as short as possible.
The cable experiences power loss proportional to the cable length and wire thickness. The
voltage present at the LAVA product receptacle will be lower than the supply output due to cable
power loss. If the voltage at the mobile device is too low, the mobile device will not charge. The
voltage reaching the LAVA product should be at least 4.9 volts, with a preferred range of 5.1 to
5.25 volts.
The voltage at this input must never exceed 5.25 volts. Application of the wrong input voltage
violates LAVA's Manufacturer Warranty.
The attached power supply and wiring are responsible for providing short circuit protection.

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USB Micro-B “Aux 5V”
The Auxiliary Power input is a Micro USB-B receptacle on LAVA “vc” and PoE capable
products.
The Auxiliary Power input is intended to be used for system testing when PoE or vc power is not
available or present. The receptacle is not intended for use during standard operation of the
device (with PoE or vc power).
The same USB Power Supply described for the “5V POWER” input is used with the Auxiliary
Power input.
The LAVA product will be fully functional, including the 10/100 Ethernet, when this power
input is used.
This receptacle is only for providing power to the LAVA product.
Warning: When supplying power through the “Aux. Power” input, you must not
use PoE supplied power.
USB-A Receptacles
Several LAVA products support one or more USB 2.0 ports with a standard A-type receptacle.
Each receptacle allows a USB Accessory to be accessed by the mobile device.
Each receptacle provides power to each USB accessory up to a maximum of 500 mA, as per the
USB specification. The product power supply must have sufficient capacity to supply power for
the mobile device, the LAVA product, and the attached USB accessories combined.
The USB ports can be extended using a compatible USB 2.0 Hub. If the external Hub is not self-
powered, then the LAVA product’s power supply must have sufficient capacity for the Hub, the
mobile device, the LAVA product, and the attached USB accessories combined. The external
Hub and accessories are not permitted to draw more than 500 mA from a USB-A port.

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RJ45 “PoE Ethernet Port”
The PoE Ethernet Port has all the features of the Ethernet Port described in the next section and
resolves the problem of getting power to a mobile device and peripherals.
This port is attached to a Network Switch, which has been configured for PoE operation.
Use of a PoE Injector allows a non-PoE switch to be used with a PoE enabled product. A PoE
Power Injector is a standard add-on available from many Network Switch vendors.
The PoE (Power over Ethernet) specification allows the unit that is being powered to be located
up to 330 feet (100 meters) away from the Network Switch or PoE Injector.
Deploying network cabling with PoE support can be significantly cheaper than installing
dedicated power lines through a facility. Using PoE to supply power to a unit can be
advantageous even with no Ethernet data is required.
The LAVA PoE products provide up to 10.4 watts of power for the device and attached
peripherals. The 10.4 Watt limit allows the unit to be treated as a PoE Class 0 device by a PoE
switch.
The LAVA product is capable of supplying 13.5 watts to the device and peripherals. However,
this requires the Network Switch to provide more power to the Ethernet cable than is permitted
for Class 0 devices. The LAVA product does not prevent the attached devices from attempting to
draw more than 10.4 watts. The accompanying device and USB accessories must be designed to
work within the design limits.
The system designer must budget for the charging requirements of the device and the power
required by USB accessories. The LAVA products do not provide diode protection between the
module and the peripheral ports.
The LAVA PoE products do not function if power is not available from the PoE Ethernet
interface or the Auxiliary Power input. The LAVA products are not intended to draw power from
the mobile device. The Auxiliary Power input is only to be used if power is not being provided
over the Ethernet cable. The Auxiliary Power input is intended for the initial testing of a LAVA
product. The Auxiliary Power input is described in a separate section of this document.
Warning: When supplying power using the "Aux. Power” input, you must not
use PoE supplied power.

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RJ45 “Ethernet Port”
The Ethernet Port is an IEEE 802.3 10BASE-T / 100BASE-TX compatible Fast Ethernet
interface. The Ethernet port accepts a standard RJ45 connector. The ETHERNET port is present
on a number of LAVA products.
The Ethernet Port only functions when the LAVA product is powered. The LAVA products have
a dedicated power input and are not intended to draw power from the mobile device.
The Ethernet port has two status indicators labelled "USB Activity" and "Link/Activity'.
Figure 1: RJ45 Status Indicators
The USB Activity is a yellow indicator. The USB Activity is solid yellow when the LAVA
product is powered and connected to the mobile device. The USB Activity flashes when there is
traffic between the mobile device and a LAVA product.
The Link/Activity is a green indicator. The Link/Activity is solid green when the Ethernet Link
has been established. The Link/Activity flashes when there is network traffic through the
Ethernet interface. The Link/Activity indicator remains off when the mobile device is not
attached.
The Ethernet peripheral integrated within a LAVA product is subject to support built into the
mobile device. Any details related to Ethernet setup and Network configuration are described in
the documentation provided by the manufacturer of the mobile device.

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Technical Support
LAVA Technical support is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday (EST).
Telephone: [phone]
Toll-Free (the US and Canada): 800 241-5282
Internet: www.lavalink.com/helpdesk