Anima Locus Hardware

CERN-OHL-S v2 Licensed | Open Hardware Design Files

Hardware design files for Anima Locus—an open, sensor-driven musical instrument.

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Overview

This repository contains complete fabrication sources for the Anima Locus hardware platform:

• Schematics (KiCad format)
• PCB layouts (multi-layer board designs)
• Bill of Materials (BoMs with part numbers and sourcing info)
• Enclosure designs (STEP files, 3D printable parts)
• Test fixtures (bring-up and validation hardware)
• Assembly documentation

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Hardware Platform

Main Components

• Arduino UNO Q (NXP i.MX 93 application processor + STM32U585 microcontroller)
• DSI/HDMI display interface
• USB audio/MIDI class-compliant peripherals
• Coral USB accelerator (optional ML)
• Sensor interfaces (I2C, UART, USB)

Sensor Suite

Gestural Sensors:

• 60-64 GHz mmWave radar module (baton space tracking)
• MGC3130 E-field sensor (near-surface gestures)
• VL53L5CX ToF 8x8 depth array
• Beamforming microphone arrays (DoA/VAD)

Environmental Sensors:

• BME688 (temperature, humidity, pressure, gas)
• SCD40/SCD41 CO₂ sensor
• MLX90640 thermal camera (32x24)
• VEML7700 ambient light sensor

Audio Post:

• Optional Nutube 6P1 dual-triode stage

Front Panel Controls & Human Interface

Add hardware controls for immediate performance and safe operation:

• Terroir Depth knob: analog or incremental encoder hooking to MCU ADC or encoder interrupts; master control for environmental coupling
• Baseline Set button: momentary pushbutton that triggers baseline capture flow on the MCU
• Macros (2–4 knobs): assignable hardware knobs, mirrored in the Conductor HUD
• XY pad: capacitive touch or mechanical pad for expressive 2D parameter control
• Nutube Drive & Output Level: potentiometers for analog preamp control

Panel wiring notes:

• Use hardware debouncing for contact switches and simple RC for analog anti-noise
• Provide ESD and EMI suppression for front-panel controls (e.g., surge protectors, ferrite beads)

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Repository Structure

hw/
├── schematics/          # KiCad schematic files
│   ├── main-board/
│   ├── sensor-board/
│   └── audio-post/
├── pcb/                 # PCB layouts and Gerbers
├── bom/                 # Bills of materials
├── enclosure/           # STEP, STL, CAD files
├── test-fixtures/       # Bring-up and test hardware
├── assembly/            # Assembly guides
└── fabrication/         # Fab packages (Gerbers, drill, PnP)

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Design Files

KiCad Version

Minimum: KiCad 8.0

All schematics and PCB layouts use KiCad 8.x format.

3D Models

Enclosure and mechanical parts provided as:

• STEP (universal CAD interchange)
• STL (3D printing)
• DXF (laser cutting)

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Fabrication

PCB Specifications

• Layers: 4-layer (signal, ground, power, signal)
• Thickness: 1.6mm
• Finish: ENIG (gold) for sensor pads, HASL for power
• Minimum trace/space: 0.15mm/0.15mm

Assembly

• SMT components: Professional assembly recommended (fine-pitch ICs)
• Through-hole: Hand-solderable connectors and headers

Full fabrication packages (Gerbers, drill files, BOM, PnP) available in fabrication/ directory.

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Bill of Materials

Complete BoMs with part numbers and supplier links in bom/ directory:

• bom-main-board.csv - Main controller and interfaces
• bom-sensor-board.csv - All sensor modules
• bom-audio-post.csv - Optional analog audio stage
• bom-mechanical.csv - Enclosure hardware, fasteners

Estimated component cost: $200-300 USD (quantity 1, excluding fabrication)

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Test Fixtures

Hardware test fixtures for bring-up and validation:

• Power supply test rig - Verify all rails, load testing
• Sensor breakout boards - Individual sensor validation
• Signal integrity probe points - Critical nets accessible

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Licensing

This hardware design is licensed under CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 - Strongly Reciprocal (CERN-OHL-S v2).

See LICENSE for full text.

What this means:

• ✅ You can: Use, study, modify, share, and manufacture
• ✅ You must: Share your modifications under the same license
• ✅ You must: Provide complete source (schematics, PCBs, BoMs)
• ❌ You cannot: Make it proprietary or close the design

Reciprocal hardware licensing protects the commons.

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Defensive Publication

This hardware design is part of a documented system establishing prior art for sensor-fusion musical instrument architectures. See top-level docs-site/ for full technical disclosure.

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Contributing

We welcome hardware contributions! See CONTRIBUTING.md for:

• Design guidelines
• KiCad library conventions
• PCB layout rules
• Testing requirements
• Pull request process

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Safety & Compliance

⚠️ This is open hardware for experimental/educational use.

• No EMC/FCC/CE testing has been performed
• No UL/CSA safety certification
• Power supply design uses standard components but requires careful review
• Nutube circuit operates at high voltage (100V+) - handle with care

Build and use at your own risk.

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Related Repositories

• mcu-stm32/ - Microcontroller firmware
• engine-ui/ - Audio engine and UI
• docs-site/ - Full system documentation

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Links

• Project Website: (Coming soon)
• KiCad Libraries: libraries/
• Fabrication Guide: assembly/fabrication-guide.md
• CERN-OHL-S v2: https://ohwr.org/cern_ohl_s_v2.txt

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Part of the Anima Locus project and The Authentic Rebellion Framework ecosystem.