Power Button on Jetson Orin Nano

Issue Overview

Users have reported issues with the power button functionality on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Development Kit and Seeed Studio Orin NX development kit. The main symptoms include:

• Power Button Non-Functionality: Despite connecting multiple switches to the PWR BTN/GND, LED +/-, and Auto ON/DIS, pressing the power button does not turn on either device when the Auto ON jumper is connected.
• Inconsistent Booting: Both devices boot without issue when using a jumper instead of the power button, indicating a potential wiring or design issue.
• Context of Problem: This problem arises during attempts to use custom cases with integrated power/reset buttons, which worked with previous Jetson models (e.g., Jetson Nano B).
• Frequency of Issue: This problem appears to be consistent among users who have attempted similar setups with the Orin line of SoMs.
• User Experience Impact: The inability to use the power button significantly hampers user experience and functionality, as users are required to resort to using jumpers for powering on their devices.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes for the power button issue have been identified:

• Wiring Errors: Users may have incorrectly wired the LED and power button connections, leading to non-responsiveness. This was confirmed by one user who resolved their issue by swapping these connections.
• Hardware Design Limitations: The design of the Orin line may not support certain cases or configurations that worked with earlier models, suggesting a design feature rather than a fault.
• Pull-Up/Down Resistor Requirement: Some users speculated that a pull-up or pull-down resistor might be necessary for proper button functionality, which can stabilize voltage levels in button circuits.
• User Error: Misconfigurations or misunderstandings of wiring diagrams can lead to persistent issues.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address the power button issue on the Jetson Orin Nano, follow these troubleshooting steps and solutions:

1. Verify Wiring Connections:

   • Double-check all wiring against the official wiring diagram. Ensure that PWR BTN and GND are correctly connected.
   • Specifically, ensure that LED +/- connections are not swapped with PWR/GND.

2. Test Power Button Functionality:

   • Temporarily bypass the power button by using a jumper wire to connect PWR BTN directly to GND. If this powers on the device, it confirms an issue with the button setup.

3. Consider Pull-Up/Down Resistors:

   • Experiment with adding a pull-up resistor between PWR BTN and VCC or a pull-down resistor between PWR BTN and GND. This may help stabilize signal levels when the button is pressed.

4. Isolation Testing:

   • Test each component separately (e.g., different switches or buttons) to determine if any specific part is faulty.
   • If possible, test with another case that has a known working power/reset button configuration.

5. Firmware and Software Checks:

   • Ensure that you are using compatible firmware versions as specified in the Nvidia documentation. Update if necessary.

6. Documentation Review:

   • Refer to Nvidia’s official documentation for any notes on hardware compatibility or specific requirements for using custom cases with the Orin Nano.

7. Community Support:

   • Engage with community forums for additional insights or similar experiences from other users. Sharing findings can lead to quicker resolutions.

8. Best Practices for Future Setups:

   • When building custom setups, always verify compatibility with existing hardware configurations before finalizing designs.
   • Keep spare components on hand (like switches and resistors) for quick replacements during troubleshooting.

9. Unresolved Aspects:

   • Further investigation may be needed regarding whether this issue is widespread across all Orin models or specific to certain batches.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and potentially resolve issues related to the power button functionality on their Jetson Orin Nano devices.