How to Design a Custom RK3568 Motherboard PCBA for Industrial Use

The Rockchip RK3568 is a powerful and versatile SoC widely adopted in industrial applications due to its robust performance, flexible I/O, and long-term availability. Designing a custom motherboard PCBA based on RK3568 requires a detailed understanding of both hardware engineering and the real-world demands of industrial environments.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the key steps and considerations for designing a custom RK3568 motherboard PCBA, highlight practical design strategies, and explain how Portworld can help you reduce cost, optimize performance, and shorten development cycles.

Why Choose RK3568 for Industrial Applications?

RK3568 is a quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 processor with integrated GPU, AI capabilities, and a comprehensive set of interfaces. It offers the following advantages for industrial projects:

• Long-term availability and industrial-grade reliability
• Dual Gigabit Ethernet, PCIe 3.0, SATA 3.0, USB 3.0
• Support for multiple displays (LVDS, MIPI-DSI, HDMI)
• Flexible memory options (LPDDR4, DDR4)
• Expandable with 4G/5G, WiFi/BT, Zigbee, LoRa via interfaces
• Wide temperature operation (-20°C to 85°C)

These features make it ideal for smart control panels, industrial HMIs, gateways, AI edge devices, kiosks, and more.

Step-by-Step Guide to Designing a Custom RK3568 PCBA

1. Define Use Case and I/O Requirements

Start by identifying the intended application:

Use this information to define PCB stack-up, interface distribution, and expansion headers.

Choose the Right System Design: SOM or Full Custom

• SOM + Carrier Board: Faster prototyping using off-the-shelf SOM with RK3568 core. Ideal for startups or fast pilots.

• Full Custom PCBA: Integrate RK3568 directly on board for optimized BOM, cost savings, and industrial customization.

Portworld offers both approaches, depending on your project needs.

High-Speed Signal Design

RK3568 includes multiple high-speed interfaces (USB 3.0, PCIe, SATA). Key considerations:

• Match impedance (90Ω diff) for differential pairs
• Length match signals (e.g., USB, PCIe < 150mil skew)
• Use ground shielding and proper layer stack-up
• Follow Rockchip reference designs and signal integrity rules

Power Management and Thermal Design

• Implement PMIC (e.g., RK809) or DCDC + LDO for stable multi-rail power supply
• Consider wide input voltage (9V–36V) for industrial setups
• Add ESD and surge protection on all I/Os
• Use metal shielding and thermal pads with aluminum chassis or active cooling if needed

Portworld helps optimize power/thermal balance, especially in compact designs like 5-inch smart control panels.

Peripheral Expansion and Isolation

• Add RS232/RS485/CAN transceivers with isolation
• Design relay control circuits with flyback diodes
• Include optional eMMC, SD card, and SPI/NAND boot support
• Enable GPIO configuration via software for flexible I/O mapping

EMC & Reliability Considerations

Industrial applications demand strict EMC, vibration, and ESD resilience:

• Ground stitching vias near connectors
• Use TVS diodes for USB, LAN, RS485 lines
• Shielded connectors and mounting holes with grounding
• Apply conformal coating for moisture protection

Portworld can assist with certification compliance (CE, FCC, RoHS, EMC testing).