Hardware Configuration for SD Card on Jetson Orin Nano Custom Carrier Board

Issue Overview

Users developing custom carrier boards for the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano are encountering challenges when attempting to use SD cards as the primary storage medium instead of SSDs. This configuration is being considered due to thermal power consumption limitations. The main concerns revolve around the proper configuration of PWR_ON pins and CD (Card Detect) pins for the SD bus, as well as the availability of GPIO configurations for these pins on the Orin Nano module.

Possible Causes

1. Hardware Limitations: The Jetson Orin Nano module may not have native support for SD card interfaces, which could be the root cause of the configuration difficulties.

2. Misunderstanding of Module Capabilities: Users might be incorrectly assuming that the Orin Nano supports SD card interfaces, leading to attempts at configuring non-existent or unsupported features.

3. Inadequate Documentation: There may be a lack of clear documentation or guidelines regarding the storage interface options for custom carrier board designs using the Orin Nano module.

4. Power Consumption Misconceptions: The assumption that SD cards consume significantly less power than SSDs might be driving users towards an unsupported configuration.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify Hardware Specifications:

   • Carefully review the Jetson Orin Nano technical specifications and documentation to confirm the available storage interfaces.
   • Check the Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit carrier board design for reference on supported storage options.

2. Consider Alternative Storage Solutions:

   • Since the Orin Nano module does not support SD card interfaces, explore alternative low-power SSD options that meet your thermal and power requirements.
   • Research M.2 SSDs specifically designed for embedded systems with lower power consumption profiles.

3. Optimize SSD Power Management:

   • Implement advanced power management techniques for SSDs to minimize power consumption:
     • Utilize the ATA DEVSLP (Device Sleep) feature if supported by your chosen SSD.
     • Configure aggressive idle time-to-power-down settings in the operating system.
     • Consider using SSDs with lower capacity if full storage space is not needed, as they generally consume less power.

4. Custom Carrier Board Design Considerations:

   • Design your carrier board to accommodate an M.2 SSD slot instead of an SD card slot.
   • Implement proper thermal management solutions for the SSD, such as heat sinks or thermal pads, to mitigate temperature-related issues.

5. Explore eMMC Options:

   • If the Orin Nano supports eMMC storage, consider using eMMC chips on your custom carrier board as an alternative to SD cards or SSDs.
   • eMMC generally offers a good balance between power consumption, performance, and reliability for embedded systems.

6. Consult Nvidia Developer Support:

   • Reach out to Nvidia’s developer support channels for official guidance on storage options for custom carrier board designs.
   • Inquire about any upcoming features or modules that might support SD card interfaces if this is a critical requirement for your project.

7. Reevaluate Project Requirements:

   • If using an SD card interface is absolutely necessary for your project, consider alternative Jetson modules that natively support SD card interfaces.
   • Assess whether the power consumption difference between a properly managed SSD and an SD card justifies the complexity of changing hardware platforms.

By following these steps and considering the limitations of the Jetson Orin Nano module, developers can make informed decisions about storage solutions for their custom carrier board designs. It’s important to adapt the approach based on the actual hardware capabilities of the chosen module to ensure a successful and efficient implementation.