Quectel 5G Module Series Supplement

RM500Q-AE&RM502Q-AE
Hardware Design
5G Module Series
Version: 1.0
Date: 2021-03-06
Status: Released
www.quectel.com

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Copyright
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Copyright © Quectel Wireless Solutions Co., Ltd. 2021. All rights reserved.

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Safety Information
The following safety precautions must be observed during all phases of operation, such as usage, service
or repair of any cellular terminal or mobile incorporating the module. Manufacturers of the cellular terminal
should notify users and operating personnel of the following safety information by incorporating these
guidelines into all manuals of the product. Otherwise, Quectel assumes no liability for customers’ failure to
comply with these precautions.
Full attention must be paid to driving at all times in order to reduce the risk of an
accident. Using a mobile while driving (even with a handsfree kit) causes
distraction and can lead to an accident. Please comply with laws and regulations
restricting the use of wireless devices while driving.
Switch off the cellular terminal or mobile before boarding an aircraft. The operation
of wireless appliances in an aircraft is forbidden to prevent interference with
communication systems. If there is an Airplane Mode, it should be enabled prior to
boarding an aircraft. Please consult the airline staff for more restrictions on the use
of wireless devices on an aircraft.
Wireless devices may cause interference on sensitive medical equipment, so
please be aware of the restrictions on the use of wireless devices when in
hospitals, clinics or other healthcare facilities.
Cellular terminals or mobiles operating over radio signal and cellular network
cannot be guaranteed to connect in certain conditions, such as when the mobile bill
is unpaid or the (U)SIM card is invalid. When emergency help is needed in such
conditions, use emergency call if the device supports it. In order to make or receive
a call, the cellular terminal or mobile must be switched on in a service area with
adequate cellular signal strength. In an emergency, the device with emergency call
function cannot be used as the only contact method considering network
connection cannot be guaranteed under all circumstances.
The cellular terminal or mobile contains a transmitter and receiver. When it is ON, it
receives and transmits radio frequency signals. RF interference can occur if it is
used close to TV set, radio, computer or other electric equipment.
In locations with potentially explosive atmospheres, obey all posted signs to turn
off wireless devices such as mobile phone or other cellular terminals. Areas with
potentially explosive atmospheres include fuelling areas, below decks on boats,
fuel or chemical transfer or storage facilities, areas where the air contains
chemicals or particles such as grain, dust or metal powders.

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About the Document
Revision History
Version
Date
Author
Description
-
2020-10-22
Jared WANG
/Hank LIU
Creation of the document
1.0
2021-03-06
Jared WANG/
Hogan SHENG/
/Hank LIU
First official release

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Contents
Safety Information.......................................................................................................................................3
About the Document...................................................................................................................................4
Contents.......................................................................................................................................................5
Table Index...................................................................................................................................................8
Figure Index...............................................................................................................................................10
1Introduction........................................................................................................................................12
1.1. Introduction ...............................................................................................................................12
1.2. Reference Standard..................................................................................................................12
1.3. Special Mark .............................................................................................................................13
2Product Concept................................................................................................................................14
2.1. General Description..................................................................................................................14
2.2. Key Features.............................................................................................................................15
2.3. Evaluation Board.......................................................................................................................18
2.4. Functional Diagram...................................................................................................................18
2.5. Pin Assignment.........................................................................................................................19
2.6. Pin Description..........................................................................................................................20
3Operating Characteristics.................................................................................................................25
3.1. Operating Modes.......................................................................................................................25
3.1.1. Sleep Mode....................................................................................................................25
3.1.2. Airplane Mode................................................................................................................27
3.2. Communication Interface with a Host.......................................................................................27
3.3. Power Supply............................................................................................................................28
3.3.1. Decrease Voltage Drop..................................................................................................28
3.3.2. Reference Design for Power Supply..............................................................................29
3.3.3. Monitor the Power Supply..............................................................................................30
3.4. Turn on......................................................................................................................................30
3.5. Turn off......................................................................................................................................32
3.5.1. Turn off the Module through FCPO# .............................................................................32
3.5.2. Turn off the Module through AT Command...................................................................33
3.6. Reset.........................................................................................................................................34
4Application Interfaces .......................................................................................................................36
4.1. (U)SIM Interface........................................................................................................................36
4.1.1. Pin definition of (U)SIM..................................................................................................36
4.1.2. (U)SIM Hot-plug.............................................................................................................37
4.1.3. Normally Closed (U)SIM Card Connector......................................................................38
4.1.4. Normally Open (U)SIM Card Connector........................................................................38
4.1.5. (U)SIM Card Connector Without Hot-plug.....................................................................39
4.1.6. (U)SIM Design Notices...................................................................................................40
4.2. USB Interface............................................................................................................................40

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4.3. PCIe Interface...........................................................................................................................42
4.3.1. PCIe Operating Mode....................................................................................................42
4.3.2. Pin Definition of PCIe.....................................................................................................43
4.3.3. Reference Design for PCIe............................................................................................44
4.3.4. PCIe Timing....................................................................................................................45
4.4. PCM Interface...........................................................................................................................46
4.5. Control and Indication Interfaces..............................................................................................48
4.5.1. W_DISABLE1#...............................................................................................................48
4.5.2. W_DISABLE2#...............................................................................................................49
4.5.3. WWAN_LED#.................................................................................................................50
4.5.4. WAKE_ON_WAN#.........................................................................................................51
4.5.5. DPR* ..............................................................................................................................52
4.5.6. STATUS*........................................................................................................................52
4.6. Cellular/WLAN COEX Interface*...............................................................................................52
4.7. Antenna Tuner Control Interface*.............................................................................................53
4.8. Configuration Pins.....................................................................................................................53
5RF Characteristics.............................................................................................................................55
5.1. Cellular Antenna Interfaces.......................................................................................................55
5.1.1. Pin Definition..................................................................................................................55
5.1.2. Port Mapping..................................................................................................................56
5.1.3. Operating Frequency .....................................................................................................56
5.1.4. Receiving Sensitivity......................................................................................................58
5.1.5. Output Power .................................................................................................................61
5.2. GNSS Antenna Interface ..........................................................................................................61
5.2.1. General Description .......................................................................................................61
5.2.2. GNSS Frequency...........................................................................................................62
5.2.3. GNSS Performance .......................................................................................................62
5.3. Antenna Connectors.................................................................................................................63
5.3.1. Antenna Connector Location .........................................................................................63
5.3.2. Antenna Connector Size................................................................................................64
5.3.3. Antenna Connector Installation......................................................................................65
5.3.4. Recommended RF Connector Installation.....................................................................67
5.3.4.1. Assemble Coaxial Cable Plug Manually.............................................................67
5.3.4.2. Assemble Coaxial Cable Plug with Jig ...............................................................68
5.3.5. Recommended Manufacturers of RF Connector and Cable.........................................69
5.4. Antenna Requirements.............................................................................................................69
6Electrical Characteristics and Reliability........................................................................................70
6.1. Power Supply Requirements ....................................................................................................70
6.2. Current Consumption................................................................................................................70
6.3. Digital I/O Characteristic...........................................................................................................75
6.4. Electrostatic Discharge.............................................................................................................76
6.5. Thermal Dissipation ..................................................................................................................77
6.6. Absolute Maximum Ratings......................................................................................................78

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6.7. Operating and Storage Temperatures......................................................................................79
7Mechanical Dimensions and Packaging .........................................................................................80
7.1. Mechanical Dimensions of the Module.....................................................................................80
7.2. Top and Bottom Views of the Module.......................................................................................81
7.3. M.2 Connector...........................................................................................................................82
7.4. Packaging .................................................................................................................................82
8Appendix References........................................................................................................................84

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Table Index
Table 1: Special Mark.................................................................................................................................13
Table 2: Frequency Bands and GNSS Type of RM500Q-AE&RM502Q-AE Module................................ 14
Table 3: Key Features of RM500Q-AE&RM502Q-AE............................................................................... 15
Table 4: Definition of I/O Parameters......................................................................................................... 20
Table 5: Pin Description............................................................................................................................. 20
Table 6: Overview of Operating Modes .....................................................................................................25
Table 7: Definition of VCC and GND Pins.................................................................................................28
Table 8: Definition of FCPO#.....................................................................................................................30
Table 9: Trun-on Timing of the Module......................................................................................................31
Table 10: Turn-off Timing of the Module through FCPO#.........................................................................32
Table 11: Turn-off Timing of the Module through AT Command and FCPO#........................................... 33
Table 12: Definition of RESET# Pin........................................................................................................... 34
Table 13: Reset Timing of the Module....................................................................................................... 35
Table 14: Pin Definition of (U)SIM Interface.............................................................................................. 36
Table 15: Pin Definition of USB Interface.................................................................................................. 40
Table 16: Pin Definition of PCIe Interface.................................................................................................. 43
Table 17: PCIe Power-up Timing of M.2 Specification..............................................................................45
Table 18: PCIe Turn-on Timing of the Module........................................................................................... 46
Table 19: Pin Definition of PCM Interface.................................................................................................. 47
Table 20: Pin Definition of Control and Indication Interfaces..................................................................... 48
Table 21: RF Function Status ....................................................................................................................49
Table 22: GNSS Function Status...............................................................................................................49
Table 23: Network Status Indications of WWAN_LED#............................................................................51
Table 24: State of the WAKE_ON_WAN#.................................................................................................51
Table 25: Function of the DPR Signal........................................................................................................ 52
Table 26: Pin Definition of COEX Interface ............................................................................................... 52
Table 27: Pin Definition of Antenna Tuner Control Interface..................................................................... 53
Table 28: Configuration Pins List of M.2 Specification.............................................................................. 53
Table 29: Configuration Pins of the Module...............................................................................................54
Table 30: RM500Q-AE&RM502Q-AE Pin Definition of Antenna Interfaces..............................................55
Table 31: RM500Q-AE & RM502Q-AE Antenna Mapping........................................................................ 56
Table 32: RM500Q-AE&RM502Q-AE Operating Frequencies.................................................................. 56
Table 33: RM500Q-AE&RM502Q-AE Conducted Receiving Sensitivity (Unit: dBm)............................... 58
Table 34: Cellular Output Power................................................................................................................61
Table 35: GNSS Frequency....................................................................................................................... 62
Table 36: GNSS Performance ...................................................................................................................62
Table 37: Major Specifications of the RF Connector................................................................................. 65
Table 38: Antenna Requirements..............................................................................................................69
Table 39: Power Supply Requirements .....................................................................................................70
Table 40: RM500Q-AE&RM502Q-AE Current Consumption....................................................................70
Table 41: Logic Levels of Digital I/O (1.8 V).............................................................................................. 75

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Table 42: (U)SIM 1.8V I/O Requirements.................................................................................................. 76
Table 43: (U)SIM 3.0V I/O Requirements.................................................................................................. 76
Table 44: Electrostatic Discharge Characteristics (Temperature: 25 ºC , Humidity: 40 %)....................... 76
Table 45: Absolute Maximum Ratings....................................................................................................... 78
Table 46: Operating and Storage Temperatures.......................................................................................79
Table 47: Related Documents....................................................................................................................84
Table 48: Terms and Abbreviations........................................................................................................... 84