Yeah, it's pretty tough if you've got something complex. I'm developing my own hardware and software with ARM processors, DSP, and PHYs, etc... I just had to do a high level overspimlifcation in the hopes I was getting the critical points captured.
You can always try next time!
-Mezz
Oh yes I watched your video and i only got like 10% of what you are doing
Do you design this stuff at home?
In my master thesis i musst interface an MII so at least i know whats going on there
Yeah! It seems pretty daunting but honestly the biggest barriers for me were initially was trying to use BGA package types and the cost of boards that come along with them. However I found out chips like the AM335, TI Sitara processor that the beagle bone uses, are actually offered in two packages: ZCZ and ZCE. The ZCE has a reduced IO set and fewer supply pins but the ball grid actually comes in a pattern that can be routed on four layers. I don't know what boards cost in your area but Advanced Circuits actually offers impedance controlled four layer boards for 66 US dollars for 30sq inches. This obciously has some restrictions like via type and no internal routes but still a great deal if you really think about your board and get the majority right the first time. I am very curious if I can have multiple pours for reference planes on one layer for different potentials, does that count as a route???
Then BGA aren't too bad if you practice a lot on them. My recommendation is to actually buy like 20 voltage translators or something for about 50 cents each and then practice on those, you can etch your own two layer boards dirt cheap to practice on too. Super easy and cheap to build a circuit to test if the connections are good, TI actually makes several fine pitch BGA packages for these parts that are tiny!
Yeah, and sorry the video was so fast, I hope it looked interesting enough to get the win! The DSPs I plan on using actually have MACs and switches built in that I hope to use. Then it can also do all the number MAC (operation) and send that off to the AM3358 that will control all the general operations and motors. I'll let you know how the media converter section works out too, just sent REV1 out to get turned, I got the one with no solder mask and it only cost like twenty bucks or something!
Sorry for the book,
-Mezz