About this Manual

This manual can be downloaded from the DFI website. It is subject to change and update without notice and may be based on editions that do not resemble your actual products. Please visit the DFI website or contact sales representatives for the latest editions.

Copyright

(c) 2021. All Rights Reserved. This publication contains information protected by copyright. No part may be reproduced or used to make transformations without prior written permission from the copyright holders. This publication is provided for informational purposes only. DFI makes no representations or warranties with respect to the contents or use of this manual and specifically disclaims any express or implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. The user assumes the entire risk of use or the results of use of this document. DFI reserves the right to revise this publication and make changes to its contents at any time without obligation to notify any person or entity of such revisions or changes. Changes after the publication's first release will be based on the product's revision. The website will always provide the most updated information.

Trademarks

Product names or trademarks appearing in this manual are for identification purposes only and are the properties of their respective owners.

FCC and DOC Statement on Class B

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio TV technician for help.

Notice:

• The changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
• Shielded interface cables must be used in order to comply with the emission limits.

Warranty

1. Warranty does not cover damages or failures that arise from misuse of the product, inability to use the product, unauthorized replacement or alteration of components and product specifications.
2. The warranty is void if the product has been subjected to physical abuse, improper installation, modification, accidents, or unauthorized repair of the product.
3. Unless otherwise instructed in this user's manual, the user may not, under any circumstances, attempt to perform service, adjustments, or repairs on the product, whether in or out of warranty. It must be returned to the purchase point, factory, or authorized service agency for all such work.
4. DFI will not be liable for any indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages to the product that has been modified or altered.

Static Electricity Precautions

It is easy to inadvertently damage your PC, system board, components, or devices even before installing them in your system unit. Static electrical discharge can damage computer components without causing any signs of physical damage. You must take extra care in handling them to ensure against electrostatic build-up.

• To prevent electrostatic build-up, leave the system board in its anti-static bag until you are ready to install it.
• Wear an antistatic wrist strap.
• Do all preparation work on a static-free surface.
• Hold the device only by its edges. Be careful not to touch any of the components, contacts, or connections.
• Avoid touching the pins or contacts on all modules and connectors. Hold modules or connectors by their ends.

Important: Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage your processor, disk drive, and other components. Perform upgrade instruction procedures described at an ESD workstation only. If such a station is not available, you can provide some ESD protection by wearing an antistatic wrist strap and attaching it to a metal part of the system chassis. If a wrist strap is unavailable, establish and maintain contact with the system chassis throughout any procedures requiring ESD protection.

Safety Measures

• To avoid damage to the system, use the correct AC input voltage range.
• To reduce the risk of electric shock, unplug the power cord before removing the system chassis cover for installation or servicing. After installation or servicing, cover the system chassis before plugging the power cord.

About the Package

The package contains the following items. If any of these items are missing or damaged, please contact your dealer or sales representative for assistance.

• 1 M8MP553 board
• 1 Terminal block for RS485 (COM3) 342-361021-000G
• 1 Heatsink (Height: 21mm) A71-008168-000G

Note: The items are subject to change in the developing stage. The board and accessories in the package may not come similar to the information listed above. This may differ in accordance with the sales region or models in which it was sold. For more information about the standard package in your region, please contact your dealer or sales representative.

Before Using the System Board

When installing the system board in a new system, you will need at least the following internal components:

• Power adapter

External system peripherals may also be required for navigation and display, including at least a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display monitor.

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Specifications

Block Diagram

i.MX8M Plus

ARM Cortex

The block diagram illustrates the connectivity and components of the i.MX8M Plus processor, including interfaces for DDR memory, eMMC, uSD slot, PCIe, USB 3.0 hub, USB 3.1 Gen2, USB 2.0, I2C, LVDS, HDMI, Ethernet PHYs, and serial ports (RS485, RS232).

Chapter 2 - Hardware Installation

Board Layout

The board layout section provides a visual representation of the M8MP553 motherboard, highlighting the placement of various connectors and components such as LAN ports, HDMI, COM ports, USB ports, DC-in, FAN connector, DIO, SPI, Audio, Front Panel connector, COM1/COM4, I2C/Touch, Debug port, CAN bus connectors, M.2 slots, SIM slot, eMMC, CPU, DDR, and uSD card slot. It also indicates the location of jumpers like Boot-CNFG and LED Backlight.

Important: Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage your board, processor, disk drives, add-in boards, and other components. Perform installation procedures at an ESD workstation only. If such a station is not available, you can provide some ESD protection by wearing an antistatic wrist strap and attaching it to a metal part of the system chassis. If a wrist strap is unavailable, establish and maintain contact with the system chassis throughout any procedures requiring ESD protection.

Installing the Heat Sink

The CPU must be kept cool by using a heat sink to prevent overheating and potential damage to the CPU and system board.

1. Before installing the fan/heat sink, apply thermal paste to the top of the CPU. The thermal paste is usually supplied with the fan/heat sink assembly. Do not spread the paste all over the surface; when the heat sink is placed on the CPU, the compound will disperse evenly. Some heat sinks come with pre-applied thermal paste; do not apply additional paste if this is the case. Peel the protective strip covering the paste before placing the heat sink on the CPU.
2. Place the heat sink on top of the CPU. The 4 spring screws around the heat sink must align with the 4 mounting holes on the system board.
3. Screw tight two of the spring screws at opposite corners into the mounting holes, then proceed with the other two spring screws.

HARDWARE INSTALLATION

Jumper Settings

Boot-CNFG (JP1)

The JP1 is used to determine the boot configuration. Pin #3, #4 are NC (No Connect).

Boot Mode

This jumper selects the boot mode. With pins 1-2 ON, it enables Download Mode. With pins 1-2 OFF, it sets the Normal boot mode.

Boot Device

• Pins 5-6 OFF: EMMC (default)
• Pins 5-6 ON: uSD

LED Backlight

This jumper is used to select the voltage level and power level of the LED Backlight: +5V or +3.3V for voltage, and +12V or +5V for power.

Control Signal Voltage

• Pins 1-2 ON: 3.3V (Default)
• Pins 1-3 ON: 5V

Backlight Power

• Pins 5-6 ON: Backlight Power 12V (default)
• Pins 4-6 ON: Backlight Power 5V

External I/O Ports

Rear

The rear I/O ports include:

• 1 x DC-in 2-poles Terminal Block
• 2 x USB 3.1 Gen1
• 2 x USB 2.0
• 2 x GbE LAN (RJ-45)
• 1 x COM 3 (RS485, 2-wire)
• 1 x HDMI
• 1 x Micro USB (for Download mode)
• 1 x uSD Slot

Side

The side I/O ports include:

• 1 x FAN 1 connector
• 1 x DIO (5V) connector
• 1 x SPI (3.3V) connector
• 1 x Audio connector
• 1 x Front Panel connector
• 1 x COM1/COM4 connector
• 1 x SIM slot
• 1 x M.2 B Key connector
• 1 x M.2 E Key connector
• 1 x JTAG connector
• 1 x Battery connector
• Jumpers: Boot-CNFG (JP1), USB 2.0 Download Mode, LED Backlight, I2C, LCD LVDS, USB2_3/4

9 36V DC-in (CN14)

This 2-pole terminal block is a low power solution. Connect a DC power cord to this terminal block. Using a voltage more than the recommended range may fail to boot the system or cause damage to the system board. A 4-pin vertical power connector is available upon request.

USB 2.0/3.1 & Micro USB (UBCN2 / UBCN1 & UBCN3)

USB allows data exchange between your computer and a wide range of simultaneously accessible external Plug and Play peripherals.

LAN1 / LAN2 (ETCN1 / ETCN2)

The onboard RJ45 LAN ports allow the system board to connect to the network via Ethernet.

COM 3 (TSCN1)

The COM 3 port provides 2-wire RS485 communication with support for auto flow control.

HDMI (DPCN1)

The HDMI port, which carries both digital audio and video signals, is used to connect an LCD monitor or digital TV.

uSD Slot (SDCN1)

This slot is for a MicroSD card.

Internal I/O Connectors

USB2_3/4 (UBJ1)

The USB device allows data exchange between your computer and a wide range of simultaneously accessible external Plug and Play peripherals. The internal USB pin headers may be connected to a card-edge bracket. Install the card-edge bracket to an available slot at the rear of the system chassis and then insert the USB port cables to a connector.

Debug Port (COM2, J10)

The debug port is used for debugging purposes.

Audio (AUJP1)

The AUJP1 is used for inputting/outputting Audio signals.

I2C (TPJP1)

The I2C connector is used to monitor or communicate with system components.

DIO (IOJP1)

The Digital I/O connector supports 8-bit digital input/output signals to provide signal control of the connected devices.

Front Panel (FPJP1)

The front panel pins link to these functions:

• Power Button: Powers the system on or off.
• Reset Button: Reboots the system.
• Power LED: Indicates power status.

COM1 / COM4 (TSJP1)

I2C / Touch (TPJ1)

The I2C connector is used to monitor or communicate with system components.

LCD Backlight (BLJ1)

The LCD Backlight connector controls the backlight of the LCD panel.

CAN1 & CAN2 (CBCN1 & CBCN2)

The CAN bus (Controller Area Network) connector is used for interconnecting electronic control units (ECUs).

FAN (SFJ1)

SPI (SPJP1)

LCD LVDS (DPJ1)

The system board allows connecting a LCD Display Panel via the LVDS LCD panel connector and the LCD/Inverter power connector. These connectors transmit video signals and power from the system board to the LCD Display Panel.

JTAG (J1)

The JTAG port is used for debugging purposes.

Battery (BTJ1)

The external lithium-ion battery supplies power to the real-time clock and CMOS memory as an auxiliary power source when the main power is shut off.

Safety Measures:

• There is an explosion hazard if the battery is incorrectly installed.
• Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer.
• Dispose of used batteries according to local ordinances.

Expansion Slots

Installing the M. 2 Module

Before installing the M.2 module into the M.2 socket, ensure the following safety precautions are followed:

1. Make sure the PC and all other peripheral devices connected to it are powered down.
2. Disconnect all power cords and cables.
3. Locate the M.2 socket on the system board.
4. Ensure the notch on the card is aligned with the key on the socket.
5. Ensure the standoff screw is removed from the standoff.

Installation Steps:

1. Insert the card into the socket at an angle, ensuring the notch and key are perfectly aligned.
2. Press the end of the card far from the socket down until it rests against the standoff.
3. Screw the card tightly onto the standoff with a screwdriver and a standoff screw until the gap between the card and the standoff closes. The card should be parallel to the board when correctly mounted.

Chapter 3 - Software User Guide

Flash Yocto Images to eMMC using UUU tool - V1.1

How to flash images

Connect the M8MP553 to a PC via a UART-USB debug board and a USB cable for displaying debug logs at the terminal (optional). Ensure the USB cable is connected to the microUSB slot. Set the JP1 Boot jumper to pins 1-2 ON for Download mode.

Option 1: Start to flash images on Windows

After plugging in the USB cable, ensure it appears in the device manager. Execute "update_all.bat" with administrator privileges. The update process will begin, indicated by command line windows showing progress. During flashing, the red and blue lights are active. If the text "Done" appears in green, the process is finished. After completion, switch JP1 back to 1-2/5-6 OFF to boot from eMMC.

Option 2: Start to flash images on Linux

After plugging in the USB cable, ensure it appears in the list after typing "lsusb" in the terminal. Set the JP1 Boot jumper to pins 1-2 ON for Download mode. Navigate to the "Linux" directory and type "./update_all.sh" in the terminal. The update process will begin, showing progress in the terminal. If the text "Done" appears in green, the process is finished. Remember to switch JP1 back to 1-2/5-6 OFF to boot from eMMC.

Flash Yocto Images to SD using UUU tool - V1.1

How to flash images

Insert the uSD card into the M8MP553 board. Connect the M8MP553 to a PC via a UART-USB debug board and a USB cable for displaying debug logs at the terminal (optional). Ensure the USB cable is connected to the microUSB slot. Set the JP1 Boot jumper to pins 1-2 ON for Download mode.

Option 1: Start to flash images on Windows

After plugging in the USB cable, ensure it appears in the device manager. Execute "SD_update_all.bat" with administrator privileges. The update process will begin, indicated by command line windows showing progress. During flashing, the red and blue lights are active. If the text "Done" appears in green, the process is finished. After completion, switch JP1 back to 1-2/3-4 OFF to boot from SD.

Option 2: Start to flash images on Linux

After plugging in the USB cable, ensure it appears in the list after typing "lsusb" in the terminal. Set the JP1 Boot jumper to pins 1-2 ON for Download mode. Navigate to the "Linux" directory and type "./sd_update_all.sh" in the terminal. The update process will begin, showing progress in the terminal. If the text "Done" appears in green, the process is finished. Remember to switch JP1 back to 1-2/3-4 OFF to boot from SD.

Flash Images into eMMC/SD using UUU tool

For Windows:

1. Install Windows drivers first if you intend to flash images using the UUU tool in Windows 7. Unzip the M8MP553 image package.
2. Before flashing, configure BOOTCNFG to BOOT Type (Serial Download mode) by plugging a jumper into JP1, shorting pins 1 and 2. Note: For REV.2 boards, pins 3 and 4 at JP1 must be open.
3. Connect M8MP553 with PC via UART-USB debug board and USB cable for debug logs, and via USB Type-C cable for flashing. Power on M8MP553 (12V adapter).
4. Open Command Prompt (Windows 7) or Terminal (Ubuntu). Enter the image release folder.
5. Execute the command: >uuu.exe debian12_emmc_all_hdmi.uuu for eMMC flashing. For Ubuntu: $ sudo ./uuu debian12_emmc_all_hdmi.uuu. Wait for the process to complete.

For Ubuntu:

1. Flash u-boot/kernel/rootfs images. Identify the SD card device name (e.g., /dev/sda).
2. Execute commands: $ sudo ./flex-installer -i pf -d /dev/sdX, then $ sudo ./flex-installer -d /dev/sdX -m imx8mpevk -f ./debian_files/firmware_imx8mpevk_sdboot.img -b ./debian_files/boot_IMX_arm64_lts_6.6.36.tar.zst -r ./debian_files/rootfs_Isdk2412_debian_desktop_arm64.tar.zst.
3. This process may take up to 30 minutes. After completion, mount the boot partition and configure the required file: $cd /media/XXX/boot, $cp imx8mp-m8mp553-hdmi.dtb imx8mp-m8mp553.dtb, $sync, $cd -.
4. Configure SD boot mode by connecting JP1 as shown in the diagrams and powering on the device.

Note on Windows Driver Installation: If flashing fails in Windows, ensure necessary drivers are installed. This may involve unzipping winusb.zip, running install.bat as administrator, and using Zadig to install the WinUSB driver or installing the WCID driver.

Flash Android Images to eMMC/SD using UUU tool - V1.1

How to flash images

For eMMC Boot:

1. Configure BOOTCNFG to Serial Download mode by shorting JP1 pins 1 and 2.
2. Connect M8MP553 to PC via UART-USB debug board and USB cable (optional), and via Micro USB cable for flashing. Power on the device (12V adapter).
3. For Ubuntu: Navigate to the image release folder and execute: $ chmod 777 uuu_imx_android_flash.sh, $ chmod 777 uuu_imx_android_flash_hdmi.sh, $ chmod 777 uuu, then $ sudo ./uuu_imx_android_flash.sh -f imx8mp -a -e (for LVDS dual display) or $ sudo ./uuu_imx_android_flash_hdmi.sh -f imx8mp -a -e (for HDMI output only).
4. For Windows 10: Execute: >uuu_imx_android_flash.bat -f imx8mp -a -e (for LVDS dual display) or >uuu_imx_android_flash_hdmi.bat -f imx8mp -a -e (for HDMI output only).
5. After flashing, turn off the device and switch BOOTCNFG to Normal mode by removing all jumpers from JP1. Turn on the device for eMMC boot.

For SD Card Boot:

1. Insert the SD card into the device.
2. Connect JP1 as shown in the diagrams and power on the device to enter SD card download mode.
3. For Ubuntu: Execute: $ sudo ./uuu_imx_android_flash.sh -f imx8mp -a -e -t sd (for LVDS dual display) or $ sudo ./uuu_imx_android_flash_hdmi.sh -f imx8mp -a -e -t sd (for HDMI output only).
4. For Windows 10: Execute: >uuu_imx_android_flash.bat -f imx8mp -a -e -t sd (for LVDS dual display) or >uuu_imx_android_flash_hdmi.bat -f imx8mp -a -e -t sd (for HDMI output only).
5. After flashing, turn off the device and switch BOOTCNFG to Normal mode. Turn on the device for SD boot.

Note: The M8MP553 UUU MFGTool must be located on a local disk, not a network disk.

Software Feature

General Support List

(*) depends on NXP support.

Linux AP/API Support List

(*) depends on NXP support.

Yocto Support List

(*) depends on NXP support.

Debian Support List

(*) depends on NXP support.

Android Support List

(*) depends on NXP support.

U-BOOT Function Available

a. Booting: eMMC/SD Card
b. eMMC & SDCARD Function
c. UART Console Debug
d. Save U-BOOT environment in eMMC or SD Card