Quectel LTE-A Series Supplement

EG18 Hardware Design
LTE-A Module Series
Rev. EG18_Hardware_Design_V1.1
Date: 2019-12-21
Status: Released
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LTE-A Module Series
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About the Document
History
Revision
Date
Author
Description
1.0
2019-07-25
Oscar LIU/
Xavier XIA
Initial
1.1
2019-12-21
Archibald JIANG/
Xavier XIA
1. Updated the current consumption and sensitivity
data of EG18-NA;
2. Updated the timing information of powering on,
powering off, resetting, (U)SIM and USB in
Chapter 3;
3. Added description about the position of the
temperature sensors corresponding to the
temperatures obtained with AT+QTEMP command
in Chapter 6.8.

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Contents
About the Document...................................................................................................................................2
Contents.......................................................................................................................................................3
Table Index...................................................................................................................................................6
Figure Index.................................................................................................................................................8
1Introduction........................................................................................................................................10
1.1. Safety Information....................................................................................................................11
2Product Concept................................................................................................................................12
2.1. General Description.................................................................................................................12
2.2. Key Features ...........................................................................................................................14
2.3. Functional Diagram .................................................................................................................16
2.4. Evaluation Board .....................................................................................................................17
3Application Interfaces .......................................................................................................................18
3.1. Pin Assignment........................................................................................................................19
3.2. Pin Description.........................................................................................................................20
3.3. Operating Modes.....................................................................................................................31
3.4. Power Saving...........................................................................................................................32
3.4.1. Sleep Mode....................................................................................................................32
3.4.1.1. UART Application.................................................................................................32
3.4.1.2. USB Application with USB Remote Wakeup Function........................................33
3.4.1.3. USB Application with USB Suspend/Resume and RI Function ..........................34
3.4.1.4. USB Application without USB Suspend Function................................................34
3.4.2. Airplane Mode................................................................................................................35
3.5. Power Supply...........................................................................................................................36
3.5.1. Power Supply Pins.........................................................................................................36
3.5.2. Decrease Voltage Drop..................................................................................................37
3.5.3. Reference Design for Power Supply..............................................................................38
3.5.4. Monitor the Power Supply..............................................................................................38
3.6. Turn on and off Scenarios.......................................................................................................39
3.6.1. Turn on the Module Through PWRKEY.........................................................................39
3.6.2. Turn off the Module........................................................................................................41
3.6.2.1. Turn off the Module Through PWRKEY..............................................................41
3.6.2.2. Turn off the Module Through AT Command........................................................41
3.7. Reset the Module.....................................................................................................................42
3.8. (U)SIM Interfaces.....................................................................................................................44
3.9. USB Interface ..........................................................................................................................47
3.10. UART Interfaces......................................................................................................................50
3.10.1. Main UART Interface......................................................................................................50
3.10.2. Debug UART Interface...................................................................................................51
3.10.3. BT UART Interface.........................................................................................................51
3.10.4. UART Application...........................................................................................................51

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3.11. SPI Interface*...........................................................................................................................53
3.12. PCM and I2C Interfaces..........................................................................................................55
3.13. ADC Interfaces ........................................................................................................................57
3.14. Network Status Indication........................................................................................................58
3.15. Operation Status Indication.....................................................................................................60
3.16. RI Behaviors............................................................................................................................60
3.17. PCIe Interface* ........................................................................................................................61
3.17.1. Root Complex Mode ......................................................................................................63
3.17.2. Endpoint Mode...............................................................................................................64
3.18. SDIO Interface*........................................................................................................................65
3.19. Antenna Tuner Control Interfaces*..........................................................................................67
3.20. USB_BOOT Interface..............................................................................................................68
3.21. GPIOs......................................................................................................................................69
4GNSS Receiver...................................................................................................................................70
4.1. General Description.................................................................................................................70
4.2. GNSS Performance.................................................................................................................70
4.3. Layout Guidelines....................................................................................................................71
5Antenna Interfaces.............................................................................................................................72
5.1. Main/Rx-diversity/MIMO Antenna Interfaces...........................................................................72
5.1.1. Pin Definition..................................................................................................................72
5.1.2. Operating Frequencies...................................................................................................72
5.1.3. Reference Design of RF Antenna Interfaces.................................................................74
5.2. GNSS Antenna Interface.........................................................................................................75
5.2.1. Pin Definition..................................................................................................................75
5.2.2. GNSS Frequency...........................................................................................................75
5.2.3. Reference Design of GNSS Antenna Interface.............................................................76
5.3. Reference Design of RF Layout..............................................................................................77
5.4. Antenna Installation.................................................................................................................78
5.4.1. Antenna Requirements ..................................................................................................78
5.4.2. Recommended RF Connector for Antenna Installation.................................................79
6Electrical, Reliability and Radio Characteristics............................................................................81
6.1. Absolute Maximum Ratings.....................................................................................................81
6.2. Power Supply Ratings.............................................................................................................82
6.3. Operation and Storage Temperatures ....................................................................................82
6.4. Current Consumption ..............................................................................................................83
6.4.1. EG18-EA Current Consumption.....................................................................................83
6.4.2. EG18-NA Current Consumption ....................................................................................85
6.5. RF Output Power.....................................................................................................................87
6.6. RF Receiving Sensitivity..........................................................................................................87
6.6.1. EG18-EA Receiving Sensitivity......................................................................................87
6.6.2. EG18-NA Receiving Sensitivity......................................................................................88
6.7. Electrostatic Discharge............................................................................................................89
6.8. Thermal Considerations ..........................................................................................................89

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7Mechanical Dimensions....................................................................................................................93
7.1. Mechanical Dimensions of the Module....................................................................................93
7.2. Recommended Footprint.........................................................................................................95
7.3. Design Effect Drawings of the Module....................................................................................96
8Storage, Manufacturing and Packaging..........................................................................................97
8.1. Storage ....................................................................................................................................97
8.2. Manufacturing and Soldering ..................................................................................................98
8.3. Packaging................................................................................................................................99
9Appendix A References...................................................................................................................101

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Table Index
TABLE 1: FREQUENCY BANDS, CA COMBINATIONS AND GNSS TYPES OF EG18 MODULE................. 12
TABLE 2: KEY FEATURES OF EG18............................................................................................................... 14
TABLE 3: I/O PARAMETERS DEFINITION...................................................................................................... 20
TABLE 4: PIN DESCRIPTION........................................................................................................................... 20
TABLE 5: OVERVIEW OF OPERATING MODES ............................................................................................ 31
TABLE 6: RF FUNCTION STATUS AND RELEVANT AT COMMANDS.......................................................... 35
TABLE 7: VBAT AND GND PINS...................................................................................................................... 36
TABLE 8: PWRKEY PIN DESCRIPTION.......................................................................................................... 39
TABLE 9: RESET_N PIN DESCRIPTION......................................................................................................... 42
TABLE 10: PIN DEFINITION OF THE (U)SIM INTERFACES.......................................................................... 44
TABLE 11: PIN DEFINITION OF USB INTERFACE......................................................................................... 47
TABLE 12: PIN DEFINITION OF MAIN UART INTERFACE ............................................................................ 50
TABLE 13: PIN DEFINITION OF DEBUG UART INTERFACE......................................................................... 51
TABLE 14: PIN DEFINITION OF THE BT UART INTERFACE......................................................................... 51
TABLE 15: LOGIC LEVELS OF DIGITAL I/O ................................................................................................... 51
TABLE 16: PIN DEFINITION OF SPI INTERFACE .......................................................................................... 53
TABLE 17: PARAMETERS OF SPI INTERFACE TIMING ............................................................................... 54
TABLE 18: PIN DEFINITION OF PCM INTERFACE AND I2C INTERFACE ................................................... 56
TABLE 19: PIN DEFINITION OF THE ADC INTERFACES.............................................................................. 58
TABLE 20: CHARACTERISTICS OF ADC INTERFACES................................................................................ 58
TABLE 21: PIN DEFINITION OF NETWORK STATUS/ACTIVITY INDICATOR.............................................. 58
TABLE 22: WORKING STATE OF THE NETWORK STATUS/ACTIVITY INDICATOR................................... 59
TABLE 23: PIN DEFINITION OF STATUS........................................................................................................ 60
TABLE 24: RI BEHAVIORS............................................................................................................................... 61
TABLE 25: PIN DEFINITION OF THE PCIE INTERFACE................................................................................ 61
TABLE 26: PIN DEFINITION OF SDIO INTERFACE ....................................................................................... 65
TABLE 27: PIN DEFINITION OF RFFE INTERFACE USED TO CONTROL ANTENNA TUNER................... 67
TABLE 28: PIN DEFINITION OF GPIO INTERFACE USED TO CONTROL ANTENNA TUNER.................... 67
TABLE 29: PIN DEFINITION OF USB_BOOT INTERFACE............................................................................. 68
TABLE 30: PIN DEFINITION OF GPIOS .......................................................................................................... 69
TABLE 31: GNSS PERFORMANCE................................................................................................................. 70
TABLE 32: PIN DEFINITION OF THE MAIN/RX-DIVERSITY/MIMO ANTENNA INTERFACES..................... 72
TABLE 33: EG18-EA OPERATING FREQUENCIES........................................................................................ 72
TABLE 34: EG18-NA OPERATING FREQUENCIES ....................................................................................... 73
TABLE 35: PIN DEFINITION OF GNSS ANTENNA INTERFACE.................................................................... 75
TABLE 36: GNSS FREQUENCY ...................................................................................................................... 75
TABLE 37: ANTENNA REQUIREMENTS......................................................................................................... 78
TABLE 38: ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS ................................................................................................. 81
TABLE 39: THE MODULE’S POWER SUPPLY RATINGS .............................................................................. 82
TABLE 40: OPERATION AND STORAGE TEMPERATURES......................................................................... 82
TABLE 41: EG18-EA CURRENT CONSUMPTION.......................................................................................... 83

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TABLE 42: EG18-NA CURRENT CONSUMPTION.......................................................................................... 85
TABLE 43: RF OUTPUT POWER..................................................................................................................... 87
TABLE 44: EG18-EA CONDUCTED RF RECEIVING SENSITIVITY............................................................... 87
TABLE 45: EG18-NA CONDUCTED RF RECEIVING SENSITIVITY............................................................... 88
TABLE 46: ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE CHARACTERISTICS................................................................. 89
TABLE 47: RECOMMENDED THERMAL PROFILE PARAMETERS .............................................................. 98
TABLE 48: RELATED DOCUMENTS ............................................................................................................. 101
TABLE 49: TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS................................................................................................... 101

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Figure Index
FIGURE 1: FUNCTIONAL DIAGRAM............................................................................................................... 16
FIGURE 2: PIN ASSIGNMENT (TOP VIEW).................................................................................................... 19
FIGURE 3: DRX RUN TIME AND CURRENT CONSUMPTION IN SLEEP MODE ......................................... 32
FIGURE 4: SLEEP MODE APPLICATION VIA UART INTERFACES.............................................................. 33
FIGURE 5: SLEEP MODE APPLICATION WITH USB REMOTE WAKEUP.................................................... 33
FIGURE 6: SLEEP MODE APPLICATION WITH RI......................................................................................... 34
FIGURE 7: SLEEP MODE APPLICATION WITHOUT SUSPEND FUNCTION................................................ 35
FIGURE 8: POWER SUPPLY LIMITS DURING TX POWER........................................................................... 37
FIGURE 9: STAR STRUCTURE OF THE POWER SUPPLY........................................................................... 37
FIGURE 10: REFERENCE CIRCUIT OF POWER SUPPLY............................................................................ 38
FIGURE 11: TURN ON THE MODULE WITH A DRIVING CIRCUIT ............................................................... 39
FIGURE 12: TURN ON THE MODULE USING A BUTTON............................................................................. 40
FIGURE 13: TIMING OF TURNING ON THE MODULE................................................................................... 40
FIGURE 14: TIMING OF TURNING OFF THE MODULE................................................................................. 41
FIGURE 15: REFERENCE CIRCUIT OF RESET_N WITH A DRIVING CIRCUIT........................................... 42
FIGURE 16: REFERENCE CIRCUIT OF RESET_N WITH A BUTTON........................................................... 43
FIGURE 17: TIMING OF RESETTING THE MODULE..................................................................................... 43
FIGURE 18: REFERENCE CIRCUIT OF A (U)SIM INTERFACE WITH AN 8-PIN (U)SIM CARD CONNECTOR
................................................................................................................................................................... 45
FIGURE 19: REFERENCE CIRCUIT OF A (U)SIM INTERFACE WITH A 6-PIN (U)SIM CARD CONNECTOR
................................................................................................................................................................... 45
FIGURE 20: TIMING OF (U)SIM....................................................................................................................... 46
FIGURE 21: TIMING OF HOT-PLUG................................................................................................................ 46
FIGURE 22: REFERENCE CIRCUIT OF USB APPLICATION......................................................................... 48
FIGURE 23: TIMING OF USB ENUMERATION ............................................................................................... 49
FIGURE 24: LEVEL TRANSLATION REFERENCE CIRCUIT WITH AN IC..................................................... 52
FIGURE 25: LEVEL TRANSLATION REFERENCE CIRCUIT WITH MOSFETS............................................. 53
FIGURE 26: TIMING OF SPI INTERFACE....................................................................................................... 54
FIGURE 27: PRIMARY MODE TIMING............................................................................................................ 55
FIGURE 28: AUXILIARY MODE TIMING.......................................................................................................... 56
FIGURE 29: REFERENCE CIRCUIT OF PCM APPLICATION WITH AUDIO CODEC ................................... 57
FIGURE 30: REFERENCE CIRCUIT OF THE NETWORK INDICATOR ......................................................... 59
FIGURE 31: REFERENCE CIRCUITS OF STATUS ........................................................................................ 60
FIGURE 32: PCIE INTERFACE REFERENCE CIRCUIT (RC MODE)............................................................. 63
FIGURE 33: PCIE INTERFACE REFERENCE CIRCUIT (EP MODE)............................................................. 64
FIGURE 34: REFERENCE CIRCUIT OF SD CARD APPLICATION................................................................ 66
FIGURE 35: REFERENCE CIRCUIT OF USB_BOOT INTERFACE................................................................ 68
FIGURE 36: REFERENCE CIRCUIT OF RF ANTENNA INTERFACES.......................................................... 74
FIGURE 37: REFERENCE CIRCUIT OF GNSS ANTENNA INTERFACE....................................................... 76
FIGURE 38: MICROSTRIP DESIGN ON A 2-LAYER PCB.............................................................................. 77
FIGURE 39: COPLANAR WAVEGUIDE DESIGN ON A 2-LAYER PCB.......................................................... 77

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FIGURE 40: COPLANAR WAVEGUIDE DESIGN ON A 4-LAYER PCB (LAYER 3 AS REFERENCE GROUND)
................................................................................................................................................................... 77
FIGURE 41: COPLANAR WAVEGUIDE DESIGN ON A 4-LAYER PCB (LAYER 4 AS REFERENCE GROUND)
................................................................................................................................................................... 78
FIGURE 42: DIMENSIONS OF THE U.FL-R-SMT CONNECTOR (UNIT: MM)............................................... 79
FIGURE 43: MECHANICALS OF U.FL-LP CONNECTORS............................................................................. 80
FIGURE 44: SPACE FACTOR OF MATING PLUGS (UNIT: MM).................................................................... 80
FIGURE 45: REFERENCE DESIGN OF HEATSINK (HEATSINK AT THE TOP OF THE MODULE)............. 90
FIGURE 46: REFERENCE DESIGN OF HEATSINK (HEATSINK AT THE BACKSIDE OF PCB)................... 90
FIGURE 47: RESPONSE OF AT+QTEMP ....................................................................................................... 91
FIGURE 48: TEMPERATURE SENSOR DISTRIBUTION................................................................................ 92
FIGURE 49: MODULE TOP AND SIDE DIMENSIONS (UNIT: MM) ................................................................ 93
FIGURE 50: MODULE BOTTOM DIMENSIONS (TOP VIEW, UNIT: MM)....................................................... 94
FIGURE 51: RECOMMENDED FOOTPRINT (TOP VIEW, UNIT: MM) ........................................................... 95
FIGURE 52: TOP VIEW OF THE MODULE...................................................................................................... 96
FIGURE 53: BOTTOM VIEW OF THE MODULE.............................................................................................. 96
FIGURE 54: REFLOW SOLDERING THERMAL PROFILE.............................................................................. 98
FIGURE 55: TAPE SPECIFICATIONS (UNIT: MM).......................................................................................... 99
FIGURE 56: REEL SPECIFICATIONS (UNIT: MM)........................................................................................ 100