Link Play A98x PCM5121 EVB V0 User manual

Linkplay Technology Inc. A98x_EVB_V04 Board Quick Start Guide Rev: V0.1
Linkplay Technology Inc. Confidential 1
A98x_PCM5121_EVB_V04 Board Quick Start
Guide

Linkplay Technology Inc. A98x_EVB_V04 Board Quick Start Guide Rev: V0.1
Linkplay Technology Inc. Confidential 2
Table of contents
1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 3
2 Overview of the A98x_EVB_V04 .................................................................................................. 3
3 Modules Interface ............................................................................................................................ 4
4 Power Interface ............................................................................................................................... 4
5 Mode Select Interface...................................................................................................................... 5
6 A98x Interface ................................................................................................................................. 5
7 UART Interface ............................................................................................................................... 6
8 Buttons ............................................................................................................................................ 7
9 Audio Interface ................................................................................................................................ 7
10 Setup Wireless Network .............................................................................................................. 8
11 Firmware Update ......................................................................................................................... 8
12 Revision History ........................................................................................................................ 13

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1 Introduction
This document provides guidance to set up the A98x Evaluation Kit (EVK), version 3. The EVK
could be used to evaluate Linkplay A98 platform or develop additional software. The SDK
documentation will be provided separately.
2 Overview of the A98x_EVB_V04
Figure 1. A98x EVB_V04
The interfaces are listed in the following table:
Item Name Function Remark
1 Micro USB Power in 5V and firmware
downloading
In OTG mode, used for
firmware downloading
2 Slide Switch OTG/HOST state control
3 A98x module Wi-Fi smart audio module
4 USB Host for USB disk Used in USB host mode
5 8 pins header GPIO Headers
6 6 pins header UART Headers(x2)
7 Push buttons ADC KEY and MIC MUTE
8 MIC PDM MIC(x6)
9 LED RGB(x12)
10 HP OUT Audio out
11 MFI Apple Authentication 3.0

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The EVB has these features:
▪ A98x module supported
▪Digital PDM MIC supported
▪ Audio output for headphone or active speaker
▪One Micro USB connector for power and firmware download
▪One Type A USB connector for USB flash disk
▪NGFF headers for connecting external daughter boards with A98x module
▪8 Bit ADC push buttons for application use
▪UART, GPIO, PWM are connected to the headers
▪ Apple Authentication 3.0 for Apple device
3 Modules Interface
This EVK board could be used with all A98 series modules
Figure 2. A98x EVB_V04 Modules Interface
1: The item 1 is for A98 or A98L/G series
2: The item 2 is for A98M series
4 Power Interface
This board is powered by 5V with a Micro USB. Please connect the Micro USB to a 5v adapter with
a USB cable.

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Figure 3. A98x EVB_V04 Power Interface
5 Mode Select Interface
Figure 4. A98x EVB_V04 Mode Select Interface
When the switch moves to the HOST position, the module is in HOST mode. If the switch moves to
the OTG position, the module will enter into the OTG mode.
6 A98x Interface
The interface of the A98x module is 67-pin NGFF and displayed as below.

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Figure 5. A98x EVB_V04 A98x NGFF Interface
7 UART Interface
UART0: UART0 is the debug interface
UART1: UART1 is a common serial communication interface
Figure 6. A98x EVB_V04 A98x UART Interface

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8 Buttons
Figure 7. A98x EVB_V04 A98x Buttons
Function of Buttons:
Button Short Press Long Press (3 seconds) ADC
voltage
TALK Push to talk Restore to factory
setting
0.151V
VOL- Volume down one step 0.435V
VOL+ Volume up one step 0.573V
WPS Enter BT pairing mode 0.743V
PREV Previous music 0.900V
NEXT Next music 1.224V
PLAY/PAUSE Play/Pause 1.505V
SLEEP/WAKE UP Sleep/Wake up 1.648V
MUTE MIC mute Enter Wi-Fi Setup
mode
/
9 Audio Interface
HP OUT: Connect with EARPHONE or Active Speaker

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Figure 8. A98x EVB_V04 A98x audio Interface
10 Setup Wireless Network
The platform provides wireless network provisioning via BLE. Please download the setup App from
the following links:
iOS: https://dln.bz/i/imuzo/2.9.7524/1447
Android: https://dln.bz/a/muzoplayer/3.1.0.190425
Press and hold "MUTE" key for three seconds to enter network setup mode, then open the App and
follow the network setup guide.
11 Firmware Update
There are two ways to update firmware on the EVK. The easiest one is to update the firmware image
via the web browser.
To do that, first get the IP address of the EVK via the setup App. Then find one PC connected into
the same LAN, launch web browser and enter the IP address into the address bar. Choose the system
and enter the follow page:

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Choose the firmware update and tap the Apply button. One progress bar will be shown. When the
update is complete, the EVK will be reboot.
There is another way to use the PC burning tool described below.
Micro USB: used as firmware burning by PC tool (Select the OTG mode).
Move the mode selector switch to the OTG position as follows
Figure 9. A98x EVB_V04 A98x OTG Interface
The steps of burning firmware are operated as following:
[1]. Store the USB driver on your PC, the folder of the driver is named “USB_Burning_Tool.exe”

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[2]. Click ‘File-import Image’ button and select the firmware
[3].Then click Open button

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[3]. Click Start button
[4]. Connect the OTG cable to your PC and then firmware burning process will start

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[5]. firmware burning ends and reset board.
12 Revision History
Revision Date Originator Comments
V0.1 12/11/2019 Weiwei Nie Initial release