TECH

piBrick Pocket-CM5: Raspberry Pi handheld with keyboard and AMOLED unveiled

A new handheld comes with a keyboard and should be particularly versatile thanks to support for desktop operating systems. The piBrick is based on the Raspberry Pi in an especially compact and slim form factor.

The Raspberry Pi is a versatile single-board computer that is also offered in various model versions, including as a particularly flat Compute Module that lacks conventional ports and is therefore usually operated with a dedicated PCB, or carrier board. The piBrick Pocket-CM5 is a new DIY handheld PC based on the Raspberry Pi CM5 that users can build themselves and that is available under the GPL 3.0 license.

In addition to the Raspberry Pi CM5, suitably adapted PCBs are also required. These are provided as templates and can then be manufactured by a suitable supplier. A BBQ20 keyboard is used, which is intended to allow relatively fast text input. This keyboard also includes a trackpad. A 3.92-inch AMOLED display is installed, which can process up to five touch inputs at the same time and is connected via MIPI-DSI. The resolution is relatively high at 1080 x 1240 pixels, which could have a positive effect on interface usability. Even so, the 560-nit display is still significantly smaller than that of a smartphone. Video outputs are available.

There is also a rotary control on the side, along with five buttons. A 5,000mAh battery is used, which means the system can also be used on the go. Stereo speakers and a microphone are included, and there is also a headphone jack. An SSD can be installed, while a microSD card can also be used depending on the Raspberry Pi CM5 model version. Sensors and actuators can be connected via GPIO. The parts are listed at around $172, although this is likely to depend heavily on the specific Raspberry Pi version used.

Description...piBrick Pocket-CM5 is a smartphone-sized handheld PC powered by the Raspberry Pi CM5, featuring a 3.92" AMOLED touch display and a QWERTY keyboard+trackpad from BBQ20.

This pocket computer is compact enough for mobile use, yet powerful and versatile for everyday computing. With its wide range of ports, it can be connected to a desktop setup and used as a full desktop computer.

piBrick Pocket-CM5 is an Open Source Hardware.

piBrick Pocket-CM5 is a great tool for engineers, sysadmins, and hackers.

The built-in QWERTY keyboard can function as an external USB keyboard and mouse — simply plug it into another computer or server and use it as a USB-HID device.

It runs a full Linux desktop with unlimited system administration and hacking tools, making it a compact yet complete on-site tool for your work.

There are many possible use cases for this device. It’s a building block — your creativity is the only limit.

This device was designed for manufacturing at JLCPCB, including component selection, design rules, and overall manufacturability. Anyone can easily order and assemble it through JLCPCB.

Specifications:

CORE: Raspberry Pi CM5

Dimensions: 80 × 145 × 19.6 mm

Display

3.92 Inch AMOLED Display

1080x1240 pixels @ 90Hz Refresh Rate

16M Colors

560 Nits

Capacitive Multitouch up to 5 Fingers (OnCell Touchscreen)

MIPI DSI Interface

Asahi Tempered Glass (Custom Design for piBrick)

Display Output: Full-size HDMI + micro-HDMI

USB:

1× USB 3 Type-A

1× USB 3 Type-C

1× USB 2 Type-C

1× USB 2 Type-A

1x USB 2 for Internal Add On

Battery: 5000mAh LiPo Battery

HID:

BBQ20 QWERTY keyboard with integrated trackpad as mouse

Side rotary encoders with push switch

5x Side User Buttons

Audio:

Internal Sound Card with Amplifier

Internal Stereo speaker

Microphone from BBQ20 Keyboard

3.5mm audio jack for headphone

Accelerometer sensor

Front camera (Raspberry Pi MIPI/CSI camera)

Storage

Internal CM5 eMMC or Micro SD

M.2 NVMe Connector for SSD

Expansion Connector

Internal USB 2.0

I2C Connector

GPIO Extension Connector

User RGB LED, and Keyboard Layout RGB Indicator

Body: Open Source 3D printable frame & casing

Reproducable...The main PCB and Flex-PCB are easily reproducible at JLCPCB. You can open the project in EasyEDA Pro and simply click Order PCB. Everything is already configured for JLCPCB — you only need to adjust anything you feel is necessary.

Here are some optional tips for ordering:

-Make sure you use the default JLCPCB stack-up: JLC04161H-7628 (or just leave Specify Stackup set to No).

-The board already includes a 5×5 mm rectangular silkscreen area for the JLCPCB 2D barcode. Choose 2D Barcode (Serial Number), select 5×5 mm size, and Specify Position.

All components are compatible with Economic Assembly. Extended parts cost slightly more but are still cheaper than Standard.

For better cost efficiency, it’s recommended to order 10 pcs. Group-ordering for multiple people is often the most affordable approach.

Project on EasyEda Pro...For the best PCB and schematic appearance, please install the Roboto Condensed and Roboto Condensed Bold fonts first.

You may modify and reproduce the design as you like, but please keep the license intact.

Always follow the design rules and run DRC checks before manufacturing.

 

by mundophone