Status:

In Progress

2026

USB Jerry Can:

Link to this page

This is a board designed to use the USB C alternate modes to output DisplayPort and USB signals. While many adapters exist online, this was a good challenge to grow my knowledge in PCB design. It's designed on a 4-Layer board with proper impedance control for the USB and DisplayPort signals.

Please note that this is a board that is undergoing bringup currently, so this page is constantly being updated.


Design Overview:

This project was designed to challenge my skills working with high speed devices, and modern protocols. While many USB C DisplayPort adatpers exist on the market, this was designed to help myself understand the USB C protocol better, and be able to negotiate the modes myself, which I would be unable to do with these off the shelf components. The TUSB1064 and STM32 were selected so that I had full control over the PD protocol, and design around a priority of DisplayPort signals, or a priority of USB signals. To add a unique twist on these adapters, I wanted to be able to have a dual-role power (DRP) board as well, that way this could be used in future projects.

The project was constrained to a small, 4 layer board, so that I could keep the scope small, and routing simple for highspeed lines. The 20V 5A requirement helped with learning power path designs as well, as there needed to be clear and simple paths for the higher voltages and amperages to follow, without impacting the highspeed signals.

Features:

Key Specs:

Board size49.4 mm x 55.1 mm x 0.8mm
Layer count4-layer, impedance-controlled
Power deliveryDRP, up to 20V @ 5A (sink and source)
USB signalingUSB 3.0 (SuperSpeed) (Routed at 90 Ohms)
DisplayPort2 or 4 lane configurable (Routed at 100 Ohms)
Fab/AssemblyAssembled by JLCPCB
CAD SoftwareKiCAD 10.0
Parts count138
Current revisionRev 1 (in testing)

Skills Learned:

Based Upon:

Hardware:

Versions:

Rev 1 - No official revision, current revision 1 is in testing

Block Diagram:

Rough Block Diagram of the Circuit

Schematic & Layout:

Schematic:

This is still a Schematic I'd like to clean up - this will be improved before completion

If the PDF doesn't display above, click here to view it directly.

Layout Views:

Top Silkscreen

Top Copper and Silkscreen

Top Copper

Internal GND Plane

Internal Power Plane

Bottom Copper

Bottom Copper and Silkscreen

Bottom Silkscreen

Interactive 3D Model:

The full 3D board model isn't loaded automatically to keep this page fast.

Click-and-drag to orbit once loaded. Model file is served separately and only fetched on demand.

Instructions:

No instructions exist for this project, as the project is not yet complete. In addition, I do not plan on selling any, or providing files for this. This was a learning opportunity for myself, and it would take too much of my time to maintain files for others to make it.

Bring-up & Debugging:

Process Followed: Verified Placement under microscope, inspected solder joints. No solder bridges detected, and all components match the expected footprint pin indicator. Some connectors (barrel jacks) were left out due to part delays.

Correct
Correct

Process Followed:

  • Depopulated 0 Ohm resistor to the 3V3 Plane
  • Disconnected input end of ferrite bead
  • Tested for shorts on output and input
  • Tested continuity between feedback line and regulator.
  • Provided 5V input (lowest expected voltage), and measured output of regulator

Process Followed:

  • Depopulated 0 Ohm resistor to the 5V Plane
  • Disconnected input end of ferrite bead
  • Tested for shorts on output and input
  • Tested continuity between feedback line and regulator.
  • Provided 12V input (average expected voltage), and measured output of regulator

[Bring up process to be added]

[Bring-up photo and/or notes to be added]

Process Followed:

  • Confirm power first
  • Confirm pinout on Tag-Connect programmer
  • Open communication using ST Link V2 and ST Link Utility
  • The STM32 shows as currently blank. It is not yet programmed.

[Bring up process to be added]

[Bring-up photo and/or notes to be added]

[Bring up process to be added]

[Bring-up photo and/or notes to be added]

[Bring up process to be added]

[Bring-up photo and/or notes to be added]

Hangups

The first board is suspected to have developed a bad regulator. The regulator appears to have a low resistance between the feedback and GND pins. The regulator appears to output a stable voltage, however does heats up much quicker. Further investigation pending, suspected to be due to rework from testing. Currently device is not being powered for excessive times, to prevent permanent damage on regulators.

Can I buy this?

No, currently this board being tested, I built this for myself to learn from, I have no interest in selling it. I plan on using all of the boards I've assembled.

Images: