Source of the comprehensive KiCad Library for the Raspberry Pi Pico 🥧

Providing footprints, symbols, & models for the module's various forms & implementations

For the git submodule, see Ki-Lime Pi To-Go

Some of the offered footprints of the Raspberry Pi Pico; additional more specific footprints also included.

Some of the offered schematic symbols of the Raspberry Pi Pico; many pins provide alternate pin definitions.

The models feature the original Pico, Pico H, Pico W, and Pico WH; they are able to be visualised in surface-mount, through-hole, and socketed forms.

 

Features

• KiCad 8.0 support (For KiCad 7.0 support, see release 1.1.0)
• Schematics with alternate pin definitions to select more specific behaviours for each GPIO, as well as specify power directionality
• Generic and specific footprints for the Pico and Pico W
  • Through-hole and surface-mount footprints with and without mounting holes
  • Hand-solderable test points (ie. USB signals) in footprints with underside castellations
  • Optional pin labels as an add-on footprint
  • Optional keepout zone for 2.4 GHz RF on shared footprints
  • Ability to add individual schematic symbols for sockets, and a virtual Pico for the BOM and rendering
• Diverse 3D models for surface-mount, through-hole, and socketed forms of the Pico, Pico H, Pico W, and Pico WH using photorealistic materials
• Majority adherence to the KiCad Library Conventions version 3.0.41

 

How do I use this library?

If you want to include this library as a git submodule, check out Ki-Lime Pi To-Go

• Ensure you are running KiCad 8.0 or later (For KiCad 7.0 support, see release 1.1.0)
• Download the most recent release of the library
• Unzip the file contents
• If not already created, create a new KiCad project
• Move the root library directory RaspberryPi_Pico/ to a folder anywhere within your KiCad project

  If using the library globally, move RaspberryPi_Pico/ to a globally accessible location

• Open the relevant KiCad project
• Select Preferences > Manage Footprint Libraries...
• Select the Project Specific Libraries tab

  If using the library globally, select the Global Librarires tab instead

• Click the folder icon in the lower left to Add Existing
• Navigate to and select .../RaspberryPi_Pico/Module_RaspberryPi_Pico.pretty/
• Click OK
• Select Preferences > Manage Symbol Libraries...
• Select the Project Specific Libraries tab

  If using the library globally, select the Global Libaries tab instead

• Click the folder icon in the lower left to Add existing library to table
• Navigate to and select .../RaspberryPi_Pico/MCU_Module_RaspberryPi_Pico.kicad_sym
• Click OK

To use, simply add a symbol to your schematic as you would any other; symbols should be located under the section MCU_Module_RaspberryPi_Pico, and footprints under Module_RaspberryPi_Pico.

You're all set to design exciting new circuit boards using the Raspberry Pi Pico! 🎉

 

Further reading

Other KiCad implementations of the Raspberry Pi Pico:

Some adjacent solutions I encountered during my research for this project

• Official Raspberry Pi KiCad library files for the Pico and Pico W provided in Hardware design with the RP2040, Section 3
  • https://datasheets.raspberrypi.com/rp2040/VGA-KiCAD.zip
  • https://datasheets.raspberrypi.com/rp2040/VGA-PicoW-KiCAD.zip
• A detailed SketchUp model of the surface-mount Pico incorporating the above Pico library
  • https://github.com/ncarandini/KiCad-RP-Pico
• A similarly versatile library found on the KiCad forums for all the Pico variants, including a castellated add-on board footprint
  • https://gitlab.com/mgyger/kicad-symbols/-/blob/pico/MCU_Module.kicad_sym
  • https://gitlab.com/mgyger/kicad-footprints/-/tree/pico/Module.pretty

Pico W antenna radiation pattern resources:

• Great teardown featured:
  • https://electronupdate.blogspot.com/2022/07/raspberry-pi-pico-w-silicon-level.html
    • https://youtu.be/dWJE1ALMlBw
• Antenna info:
  • https://www.antenna-theory.com/design/raspberry-pi-antenna.php
    • https://youtu.be/MQ8gCsPoo6k
  • https://www.tablix.org/~avian/blog/archives/2022/03/effect_of_ground_cutout_on_the_cm4_antenna/
• Possible antenna radiation pattern:
  • https://abracon.com/parametric/antennas/PRO-EB-592
    • https://abracon.com/datasheets/PRO-EB-592.pdf
  • https://abracon.com/parametric/antennas/PRO-EB-594
    • https://abracon.com/datasheets/PRO-EB-594.pdf
  • https://embeddedcomputing.com/technology/analog-and-power/power-semiconductors-wireless-charging/a-lesson-in-wireless-engineering-from-the-raspberry-pi
  • https://antennatestlab.com/antenna-examples/raspberry-pi-model-3b-antenna-evaluation-gain-pattern

Additional further reading:

• A similar example of implementing 3 discrete components as one apparent symbol for a socketed device on the KiCad forums

 

License / Access

This work is made freely available under your choice of the MIT-0 license or CC0-1.0.
Although attribution is not required, sharing when you've made something with my work is really cool 💖

No additional/conflicting permissions were present in this repository at the time of release.

---

Repository: https://gitlab.com/recursivenomad/ki-lime-pi-pico/
Releases: https://gitlab.com/recursivenomad/ki-lime-pi-pico/-/releases/
Submodule: https://github.com/recursivenomad/ki-lime-pi-to-go/
Contact: [email protected]

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