Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board Power Cycling Issue

Issue Overview

Users of a custom carrier board designed for Jetson SODIMM modules (Nano, Xavier, or Orin) are experiencing a power cycling problem. When power is removed and quickly restored, the system fails to boot up. However, if the module is physically removed from the SODIMM connector for a few seconds before reapplying power, it boots successfully. This issue is particularly concerning for systems that rely on hard power-off scenarios, such as those without internal write operations.

Possible Causes

1. Excessive Capacitance: The custom carrier board design includes three 3300uF capacitors on the power input to the module. This high capacitance may be preventing proper power-down sequencing.

2. Power Sequencing Violation: The inability to boot after a quick power cycle suggests that the power-down sequence required by the Jetson module is not being met. This could be due to the slow discharge of the large capacitors.

3. Design Incompatibility: The carrier board design, while based on the dev kit, may not fully comply with the power management requirements of the Jetson modules for scenarios involving rapid power cycling.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Reduce Capacitance:

   • Consider reducing the number or capacity of the input capacitors on the carrier board.
   • Experiment with smaller capacitor values to find a balance between power stability and proper power sequencing.

2. Analyze Power Sequencing:

   • Use an oscilloscope to probe the power-down sequence of your custom design.
   • Compare the observed sequence with the requirements specified in the Jetson Design Guide document.

3. Review Design Guide:

   • Carefully study the power sequencing requirements in the Jetson Design Guide.
   • Ensure that your carrier board design adheres to the specified power-down sequence and timing.

4. Implement Power Sequencing Circuit:

   • If necessary, design and implement a power sequencing circuit that ensures proper power-down timing, even with the presence of large capacitors.
   • This circuit should control the discharge rate of the capacitors to meet the Jetson module’s requirements.

5. Test with Reduced Capacitance:

   • Temporarily remove or reduce the capacitance on your carrier board.
   • Test the power cycling behavior with the modified setup to isolate the impact of the capacitors.

6. Consult Nvidia Support:

   • If the issue persists after implementing the above steps, consider reaching out to Nvidia’s support team for further guidance on custom carrier board designs for Jetson modules.

7. Alternative Power Management:

   • If hard power-off scenarios are essential for your application, explore alternative power management strategies that comply with Jetson module requirements while meeting your system’s needs.

Remember to document all changes and test results thoroughly during the troubleshooting process. This will help in identifying the most effective solution and aid in future design iterations or support requests.