Radxa ROCK 3C User manual

User Manual
Radxa ROCK 3C User Manual
Well established form factor Single Board Computer
Revision 1.0
2023-3-15

RadxaROCK3CUserManual
Contents
1 Revision 2
2 Introduction 3
3 Features 4
3.1 Hardware ...................................... 4
3.2 Interfaces ...................................... 5
3.3 Software ....................................... 5
4 Electrical Speci󰍓cation 5
4.1 Power Requirements ................................ 5
4.2 GPIO Voltage .................................... 6
5 Peripherals 6
5.1 GPIO Interface ................................... 6
5.1.1 GPIO Alternate Functions ......................... 6
5.2 eMMC Module Connector ............................. 6
5.3 Camera and Display Interfaces .......................... 7
5.4 USB ......................................... 7
5.5 HDMI ......................................... 7
5.6 Audio Jack ..................................... 7
5.7 M.2 Connector ................................... 7
5.8 Operating Conditions ............................... 8
5.9 Fan Connector ................................... 8
6 Availability 8
7 Support 8
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1 Revision
Version Date Changes from previous version
1.0 18/05/2023 First version
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2 Introduction
Radxa ROCK 3C is a Single Board Computer (SBC) in an ultra‑small form factor that o󽗿ers
class‑leading performance while leveraging outstanding mechanical compatibility. Radxa
ROCK 3C o󽗿ers makers, IoT enthusiasts, hobbyists, PC DIY enthusiasts and others a reliable
and extremely capable platform for building and tinkering their ideas into reality.
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3 Features
3.1 Hardware
・ Rockchip RK3566 SoC
・ Quad‑core Arm® Cortex®‑A55 (ARMv8) 64‑bit @ 1.6GHz
・ Arm Mali™‑G52‑2EE, OpenGL® ES1.1/2.0/3.2, Vulkan® 1.1, OpenCL™ 2.0
・ 1GB / 2GB LPDDR4 available
・ Storage is supported by eMMC storage, micro SD card and SSD through the M.2 con‑
nector
・ Display via HDMI or MIPI DSI. They can not work at the same time
・ H.264/H.265 decoder up to 4K@60fps
・ H.264/H.265 encoder up to 1080P@60fps
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3.2 Interfaces
・ 802.11 b/g/n/ac Wireless LAN support‑
ing WiFi 5
・ BT 5.0
・ 1x HDMI 2.0 port supporting displays
up to 1080P@60fps resolution
・ 1x SD Card slot
・ 2x USB2 HOST ports
・ 1x USB2 OTG/HOST port
・ 1x USB3 HOST port
・ 1x Gigabit Ethernet port. It supports
PoE with add‑on PoE HAT
・ 1x M.2 M‑Key connector for NVMe SSD
or SATA SSD
・ 1x camera port supporting 2‑lane MIPI
CSI
・ 1x display port supporting 2‑lane MIPI
DSI
・ 3.5mm jack with microphone. The HD
codec supports up to 24‑bit/96KHz au‑
dio
・ 40x user GPIO supporting various inter‑
face options:
–up to 5 x UART
–1 x SPI bus
–up to 2 x I2C bus
–1 x PCM/I2S
–up to 6 x PWM
–up to 28 x GPIO
–2 x 5V DC power in
–2 x 3.3V power pin
3.3 Software
・ ARMv8 Instruction Set
・ Debian/Ubuntu Linux support
・ Android 11 support
・ Hardware access/control library for Linux/Android
4 Electrical Speci󰍓cation
4.1 Power Requirements
Radxa ROCK 3C can only be powered by +5V.
・ USB Type‑C® 5V
・ 5V Power from the GPIO PIN 2 & 4
The recommended power source capacity is at least 5V/3A without M.2 SSD or 5V/4A using
with M.2 SSD.
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4.2 GPIO Voltage
GPIO Voltage Level Tolerance
All GPIO 3.3V 3.63V
5 Peripherals
5.1 GPIO Interface
Radxa ROCK 3C o󽗿ers 40P GPIO expansion which is compatible with most accessories on
the market.
5.1.1 GPIO Alternate Functions
Function5 Function4 Function3 Function2 Function1 Pin# Pin# Function1 Function2 Function3 Function4 Function5
+3.3V 1 2 +5.0V
I2C3_SDA_M0 UART3_RX_M0 GPIO1_A0 3 4 +5.0V
I2C3_SCL_M0 UART3_TX_M0 GPIO1_A1 5 6 GND
PWM14_M0 GPIO3_C4 7 8 GPIO0_D1 UART2_TX_M0
GND 9 10 GPIO0_D0 UART2_RX_M0
GPIO3_A1 11 12 GPIO3_A3 I2S3_SCLK_M0
I2S3_MCLK_M0 GPIO3_A2 13 14 GND
GPIO3_B0 15 16 GPIO3_B1 UART4_RX_M1PWM8_M0
+3.3V 17 18 GPIO3_B2 UART4_TX_M1 PWM9_M0
PWM15_IR_M1 I2S3_SCLK_M1 SPI3_MOSI_M1 GPIO4_C3 19 20 GND
UART9_TX_M1 PWM12_M1 I2S3_SDO_M1 SPI3_MISO_M1 GPIO4_C5 21 22 GPIO3_C1 I2S1_SDO2_M2
PWM14_M1 I2S3_MCLK_M1 SPI3_CLK_M1 GPIO4_C2 23 24 GPIO4_C6 SPI3_CS0_M1 PWM13_M1 UART9_RX_M1I2S3_SDI_M1
GND 25 26 GPIO4_D1 SPI3_CS1_M1
I2C4_SDA_M0 I2S2_SDI_M1 GPIO4_B2 27 28 GPIO4_B3 I2C4_SCL_M0 I2S2_SDO_M1
GPIO3_B3 29 30 GND
GPIO3_B4 31 32 GPIO3_C2 UART5_TX_M1 I2S1_SDO3_M2
UART5_RX_M1 I2S1_SCLK_RX_M2 GPIO3_C3 33 34 GND
I2S3_LRCK_M0 GPIO3_A4 35 36 GPIO3_A7
I2S1_SCLK_RX_M0 GPIO1_A4 37 38 GPIO3_A6 I2S3_SDI_M0
GND 39 40 GPIO3_A5 I2S3_SDO_M0
5.2 eMMC Module Connector
ROCK 3C o󽗿ers a high speed eMMC socket for eMMC modules which can be used for OS and
data storage. The eMMC socket is compatible with readily available industrial pinout and
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form factor hardware. The maximum eMMC size supported is 128GB.
5.3 Camera and Display Interfaces
Radxa ROCK 3C has 1x 2‑lane MIPI CSI camera connector and 1x 2‑lane MIPI DSI display
connector. These connectors are backwards compatible with standard industrial camera
and display peripherals.
5.4 USB
Radxa ROCK 3C has two USB2 HOST connectors, one USB3 HOST connector and one USB2
OTG/HOST connector. The board has a hardware switch to set the USB2 operation to ei‑
ther HOST or OTG. The power output across these ports is 2.8A in aggregate over the four
connectors.
5.5 HDMI
Radxa ROCK 3C has one HDMI port supporting CEC and HDMI 2.0 with resolutions up to
1080P@60fps.
5.6 Audio Jack
The ROCK 3C supports near‑CD‑quality analogue audio output via a 4‑ring 3.5mm head‑
phone jack. The HD codec supports up to 24 bit at 96Hz. The analog audio output can drive
32 Ohm headphones directly. The headphone jack also supports a mic line input.
5.7 M.2 Connector
Radxa ROCK 3C o󽗿ers a M.2 M‑Key 2230 connector with PCIe 2.1 1‑lane and SATA 3.0 combo
interfaces, providing high speed storage access. The M.2 M‑Key can be con󽘀gured either
to support NVMe SSD or SATA devices, an additional adapter board is required for SATA
support.
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5.8 Operating Conditions
The ROCK 3C has been designed to operate between 0°C to 50°C.
The ROCK 3C is built on a high‑performance mobile chipset which is designed to operate
for extended durations on batteries with e󽘂ciency at its core. As with all electronic devices
heat is a by‑product of operation which increases with performance and workload; during
basic use cases such as web browsing, editing text or listening to music the SoC will auto‑
matically select the dedicated hardware accelerators to reduce heat generation.
Radxa ROCK 3C limits its SoC maximum internal temperature to 85°C before throttling the
clock speeds to maintain reliability within the allowed temperature range. If the ROCK 3C
is intended to be used continuously in high performance applications, it may be necessary
to use external cooling methods (for example, heat sink, fan, etc.) which will allow the SoC
to continue running at maximum clock speed inde󽘀nitely below its prede󽘀ned 85°C peak
temperature limiter.
5.9 Fan Connector
Radxa ROCK 3C has a 2pin 1.25mm header that enables users to connect to a 5V fan (or
other peripheral). The fan can be PWM controlled without speed feedback.
6 Availability
Radxa guarantees availability of the ROCK 3C until at least September 2032.
7 Support
For support, please see the hardware documentation section of the Radxa Wiki website and
post questions to the Radxa forum.
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FCC WARNING
FCC Caution: Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user's authority to operate this equipment.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
This device and its antenna(s) must not be co-located or operating in conjunction
with any other antenna or transmitter.
15.105 Information to the user.
(b) For a Class B digital device or peripheral, the instructions furnished the
user shall include the following or similar statement, placed in a prominent
location in the text of the manual:
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy
and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not
occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
—Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
—Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
—Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which
the receiver is connected.
—Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled
environment. This equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance 20 cm
between the radiator and your body.
Radiation Exposure Statement:
This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an
uncontrolled environment.
This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other
antenna or transmitter.
The availability of some specific channels and/or operational frequency bands
are country dependent and are firmware programmed at the factory to match
the intended destination.
The firmware setting is not accessible by the end user.
The final end product must be labelled in a visible area with the following:
“Contains Transmitter Module 2A3PA-RADXA-ROCK3C”

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Requirement per KDB996369 D03
2.2 List of applicable FCC rules
List the FCC rules that are applicable to the modular transmitter. These are the rules that
specifically establish the bands of operation, the power, spurious emissions, and operating
fundamental frequencies. DO NOT list compliance to unintentional-radiator rules (Part 15
Subpart B) since that is not a condition of a module grant that is extended to a host
manufacturer. See also Section 2.10 below concerning the need to notify host manufacturers
that further testing is required.3
Explanation: This module meets the requirements of FCC part 15C(15.247).FCC Part 15.407
2.3 Summarize the specific operational use conditions
Describe use conditions that are applicable to the modular transmitter, including for example
any limits on antennas, etc. For example, if point-to-point antennas are used that require
reduction in power or compensation for cable loss, then this information must be in the
instructions. If the use condition limitations extend to professional users, then instructions must
state that this information also extends to the host manufacturer’s instruction manual. In
addition, certain information may also be needed, such as peak gain per frequency band and
minimum gain.
Explanation: The EUT only have one Chip antenna, Yes, the module contains a permanently attached
antenna, The 2.4G antenna gain is 1.5dBi. 5G antenna gain is 2.3dBi The use condition of the prototype
is mobile.
2.4 Limited module procedures
If a modular transmitter is approved as a “limited module,” then the module manufacturer
isresponsible for approving the host environment that the limited module is used with. The
manufacturer of a limited module must describe, both in the filing and in the installation
instructions, the alternative means that the limited module manufacturer uses to verify that the
host meets the necessary requirements to satisfy the module limiting conditions.
A limited module manufacturer has the flexibility to define its alternative method to address the
conditions that limit the initial approval, such as: shielding, minimum signaling amplitude,
buffered modulation/data inputs, or power supply regulation. The alternative method could
include that the limited module manufacturer reviews detailed test data or host designs prior to
giving the host manufacturer approval.
This limited module procedure is also applicable for RF exposure evaluation when it is
necessary to demonstrate compliance in a specific host. The module manufacturer must state
how control of the product into which the modular transmitter will be installed will be
maintained such that full compliance of the product is always ensured. For additional hosts
other than the specific host originally granted with a limited

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module, a Class II permissive change is required on the module grant to register the additional
host as a specific host also approved with the module.
Explanation: The module is a single module.
2.5 Trace antenna designs
For a modular transmitter with trace antenna designs, see the guidance in Question 11 of KDB
Publication 996369 D02 FAQ –Modules for Micro-Strip Antennas and traces. The integration
information shall include for the TCB review the integration instructions for the following aspects:
layout of trace design, parts list (BOM), antenna, connectors, and isolation requirements.
a) Information that includes permitted variances (e.g., trace boundary limits, thickness, length,
width, shape(s), dielectric constant, and impedance as applicable for each type of antenna);
b) Each design shall be considered a different type (e.g., antenna length in multiple(s) of
frequency, the wavelength, and antenna shape (traces in phase) can affect antenna gain and
must be considered);
c) The parameters shall be provided in a manner permitting host manufacturers to design the
printed circuit (PC) board layout;
d) Appropriate parts by manufacturer and specifications;
e) Test procedures for design verification; and
f) Production test procedures for ensuring compliance.
The module grantee shall provide a notice that any deviation(s) from the defined parameters of
the antenna trace, as described by the instructions, require that the host product manufacturer
must notify the module grantee that they wish to change the antenna trace design. In this case,
a Class II permissive change application is required to be filed by the grantee, or the host
manufacturer can take responsibility through the change in FCC ID (new application) procedure
followed by a Class II permissive change application.
Explanation: No, The module has no tracking antenna design, is Chip antenna.
2.6 RF exposure considerations
It is essential for module grantees to clearly and explicitly state the RF exposure conditions that
permit a host product manufacturer to use the module. Two types of instructions are required
for RF exposure information: (1) to the host product manufacturer, to define the application
conditions (mobile, portable –xx cm from a person’s body); and (2) additional text needed for
the host product manufacturer to provide to end users in their end-product manuals. If RF
exposure statements and use conditions are not provided, then the host product manufacturer
is required to take responsibility of the module through a change in FCC ID (new application).
Explanation: This module complies with FCC RF radiation exposure limits set forth for an
uncontrolled environment, This equipment should be installed and operated with a minimum
distance of 20 centimeters between the radiator and your body." This module is designed to
comply with the FCC statement, FCC ID:2A3PA-RADXA-ROCK3C

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2.7 Antennas
A list of antennas included in the application for certification must be provided in the instructions.
For modular transmitters approved as limited modules, all applicable professional installer
instructions must be included as part of the information to the host product manufacturer. The
antenna list shall also identify the antenna types (monopole, PIFA, dipole, etc. (note that for
example an “omni-directional antenna” is not considered to be a specific “antenna type”)).
For situations where the host product manufacturer is responsible for an external connector, for
example with an RF pin and antenna trace design, the integration instructions shall inform the
installer that unique antenna connector must be used on the Part 15 authorized transmitters
used in the host product. The module manufacturers shall provide a list of acceptable unique
connectors.
Explanation: The EUT only have one Chip antenna, Yes, the module contains a permanently
attached antenna, The 2.4G antenna gain is 1.5dBi. 5G antenna gain is 2.3dBi
2.8 Label and compliance information
Grantees are responsible for the continued compliance of their modules to the FCC rules. This
includes advising host product manufacturers that they need to provide a physical or e-label
stating “Contains FCC ID” with their finished product. See Guidelines for Labeling and User
Information for RF Devices –KDB Publication 784748.
Explanation:The host system using this module, should have label in a visible area indicated the
following texts: "Contains FCC ID: 2A3PA-RADXA-ROCK3C
2.9 Information on test modes and additional testing requirements5
Additional guidance for testing host products is given in KDB Publication 996369 D04 Module
Integration Guide. Test modes should take into consideration different operational conditions for
a stand-alone modular transmitter in a host, as well as for multiple simultaneously transmitting
modules or other transmitters in a host product.
The grantee should provide information on how to configure test modes for host product
evaluation for different operational conditions for a stand-alone modular transmitter in a host,
versus with multiple, simultaneously transmitting modules or other transmitters in a host.
Grantees can increase the utility of their modular transmitters by providing special means,
modes, or instructions that simulates or characterizes a connection by enabling a transmitter.
This can greatly simplify a host manufacturer’s determination that a module as installed in a
host complies with FCC requirements.
Explanation: WiFiRanger, A LinOra Company can increase the utility of our modular transmitters
by providing instructions that simulates or characterizes a connection by enabling a transmitter.
2.10 Additional testing, Part 15 Subpart B disclaimer
The grantee should include a statement that the modular transmitter is only FCC authorized for
the specific rule parts (i.e., FCC transmitter rules) listed on the grant, and that the host product
manufacturer is responsible for compliance to any other FCC rules that apply to the host not
covered by the modular transmitter grant of certification. If the grantee markets their product as
being Part 15

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Subpart B compliant (when it also contains unintentional-radiator digital circuity), then the
grantee shall provide a notice stating that the final host product still requires Part 15 Subpart B
compliance testing with the modular transmitter installed.
Explanation: The host shoule be evaluated by the FCC Subpart B.
This product uses Chip antenna with a maximum The 2.4G antenna gain is 1.5dBi. 5G
antenna gain is 2.3dBi