RAK19010 Quick Start Guide

This guide introduces the RAK19010 WisBlock Base Board with Power Slot and how to use it.

Prerequisite

What Do You Need?

Before going through each and every step on using the WisBlock Base Board with Power Slot, make sure to prepare the necessary items listed below:

Hardware

• RAK19010 WisBlock Base Board with Power Slot
• Your choice of WisBlock Power Slot Modules
• Your choice of WisBlock Core
• Your choice of WisBlock Modules. It is highly recommended to also check the dedicated Quick Start Guide that you can follow on various WisBlock Modules. Each Quick Start Guide of these modules contains detailed steps on how to open the example codes and upload them to the WisBlock Core.
• Li-Ion/LiPo battery (optional)
• Solar charger (optional)

Software

Based on the choice of the WisBlock Core, select a Development Environment:

Programming via Arduino IDE

• RAKwireless BSP support for Arduino In Arduino IDE, once you installed the BSP, the examples for WisBlock Core will be automatically included on the list of examples.

Programming via PlatformIO IDE:

• RAKwireless WisBlock modules in PlatformIO

Product Configuration

Overview

To give you a better understanding of how the WisBlock Base works, the block diagram and power supply diagram of RAK19010 are provided in this section.

Block Diagram

The block diagram shown in Figure 1 shows the internal architecture and external interfaces of the RAK19010 WisBlock Base Board with Power Slot.

Figure 1: RAK19010 WisBlock Base Board with Power Slot block diagram

The WisBlock Power Slot module provides external interfaces to the whole board. RAK19010 will not work without the Power Slot module attached to it.

The MCU in the WisBlock Core module offers the I2C, UART, and SPI data buses to the sensor modules. Through these buses, the MCU can control and retrieve data from the sensors. Some types of MCU have fewer IO pins. In such cases, not all pins of the data bus are connected. For example, only I2C and UART are connected.

Some MCU IO pins have an alternate function. In this case, you have the option to modify the IO via software or rework the hardware to redefine the function of the IO. Refer to the datasheet of WisBlock Core to get all the details.

Power Supply Diagram

Figure 1: RAK19010 power supply block diagram

The RAK19010 WisBlock Base board with Power Slot does not have a power regulator or other power-related components. It gets a 3.3 V voltage supply and battery voltage supply lines from the Power Slot module attached to it.

RAK19010 supports 3V3_S configurable supply lines to WisBlock modules like other WisBlock Base boards. This is ideal for low-power applications. 3V3_S can be controlled by the MCU to disconnect the power sensors during idle periods to save power. 3V3_S is controlled by the IO2 pin on the WisBlock Core board.

• Set IO2=1, 3V3_S is on.
• Set IO2=0, 3V3_S is off.

Hardware Setup

RAK19010 WisBlock Base Board with Power Slot Installation Guide

RAK19010 WisBlock Base Board with Power Slot is the main board that allows you to attach a WisBlock Core, power slot module, sensors, and IO modules through the standardized expansion connectors. These connectors provide a data bus interconnection between the modules attached to the RAK19010 Base Board.

This guide shows the details related to the installation of modules into the RAK19010 board. The following section discusses the general concepts to manipulate the WisBlock Connector in any WisBlock Module. The installation and removal details of each type of WisBlock module: Core and Sensor are explained.

Attaching a WisBlock Connector

The WisBlock Connector is the interface between the RAK19010 board and the WisBlock Core, Sensor, and IO modules. Before connecting these modules, read the following instructions:

NOTE

This guide uses two arrows. Refer to Figure 3 for its representation.

Figure 1: Notation within the guide

1. Align the connectors. Keep the header parallel and place it lightly in the corresponding lap joint of the socket.

Figure 1: Alignment of WisBlock Connector

2. Fit the connector. Tilt one end of the connector (header) less than 20 degrees, while do not apply force during this process, gently place the other end in parallel.

Figure 1: Fit the WisConnector’s header inside of the socket

3. After the above alignment steps, the header and socket are matched but still not buckled.

Figure 1: WisConnector’s header matched inside of the socket

4. Apply forces evenly by pressing in parallel, then there will be a sound confirming the completion of the buckling.

Figure 1: Apply forces to buckle the heard to the socket

5. In the process of buckling and applying force, avoid the application of uneven force on both sides.

Figure 1: Avoid applying uneven forces

6. When the buckling process is completed, check that the header and socket are kept in parallel.

Figure 1: Correct way to buckle the WisConnector’s header to the socket

7. If after buckling, the header and socket are not in a parallel state (not fully assembled in one place), then press the even force on both sides of the long side to complete the correct buckling.

Figure 1: WisConnector’s header is not parallel to the socket

8. When the aforementioned steps are not completed yet, do not apply force to buckle. Otherwise, there will be a risk to damage the connector. When the connector cannot be smoothly buckled down, repeat the alignment step.

Detaching a WisBlock Connector

1. To disconnect the header from the socket, pull out in parallel with even forces.

Figure 1: Correct way: Applying even forces to detach the header from the socket

2. Avoid pulling out the header asymmetrically in the long-side direction.

Figure 1: Wrong way: Applying uneven forces to detach the header from the socket

3. The short-side of the connector can be pulled out asymmetrically, but apply the force vertically and avoid rotating the header.

Figure 1: Wrong way: Do not rotate the header

4. Avoid applying forces in a single corner.

Figure 1: Wrong way: Do not apply force in a single corner of the header

Assembling a WisBlock Module

WisBlock Power Slot

A WisBlock Power Slot module is designed to be installed on the Power slot of the RAK19010 Base Board. As shown in Figure 15, the location is properly marked by silkscreen. Follow carefully the procedure defined in attaching a WisBlock Connector section in order to attach a Core module. Once attached, fix the module with four pieces of M1.2 x 3 mm screws.

Figure 1: WisBlock Power Slot on the RAK19010 Base Board

WisBlock Core

A WisBlock Core module is designed to be installed on the CPU slot of the RAK19010 Base Board. As shown in Figure 16, the location is properly marked by silkscreen. Follow carefully the procedure defined in attaching a WisBlock Connector section in order to attach a Core module. Once attached, fix the module with one or more pieces of M1.2 x 3 mm screws depending on the WisBlock Core.

Figure 1: WisBlock Core silkscreen on the RAK19010 Base Board

WisBlock IO

A WisBlock IO module is designed to be installed on the IO slot of the RAK19010 Base Board. As shown in Figure 17, the location is properly marked by silkscreen. Follow carefully the procedure defined in attaching a WisBlock Connector section in order to attach an IO module. Once attached, fix the module with one or more pieces of M1.2 x 3 mm screws depending on the WisBlock IO.

Figure 1: WisBlock IO silkscreen on the RAK19010 Base Board

WisBlock Sensor

A WisBlock Sensor module is designed to be installed on the sensor slots of the RAK19010 Base Board. As shown in Figure 18, the location of the slots is properly marked by silkscreen. Follow carefully the procedure of the section, attaching a WisBlock Connector, to attach a WisBlock Sensor module. Once attached, fix the module with an M1.2 x 3 mm screw.

Figure 1: WisBlock Sensor silkscreen on the top of RAK19010 Base Board

Disassembling a WisBlock Module

1. The procedure to disassemble any type of WisBlock module is the same. As shown in Figure 19, first, remove the screws.

Figure 1: Removing screws from the WisBlock module

2. Once the screws are removed, on the PCB of a WisBlock module, there is a silkscreen that shows the correct location where force can be applied. By applying even force under the marked area, the module can be detached from the Base Board. See Figure 20 and Figure 21.

Figure 1: Detaching silkscreen on the WisBlock module

Figure 1: Applying even forces on the proper location of a WisBlock module to detach the module from the Base Board

Software Setup

The WisBlock Core is designed to be interfaced with other WisBlock Modules like sensors, displays, and other interfaces. To make useful devices, you need to upload a source code to the WisBlock Core. Before you continue, you should have already set up either an Arduino BSP or PlatformIO.

WisBlock Examples Repository

To quickly build your IoT device with less hassle, example codes for WisBlock Core are provided. You can access the codes on the WisBlock Example code repository. The example codes on folder common are compatible with RAK4631, RAK11200, and RAK11310 WisBlock cores.