Point at it. Ask.
Pin a question to any spot on your board, and Inky answers from what the design says is there.
Fig. 01 · 9 questions pinned to the PSLab board and answered in heypcb, replayed · Reference design: Pocket Science Lab v6 · FOSSASIA PSLab · GPL-3.0 · opened, checked and cased in heypcb
Put a pin on the schematic, the PCB or the case in the Product view. It reads what the design says is under it — the part, the pin, the net — and Inky answers about exactly that.
A replay of the heypcb editor with HackRF One open and Comment armed. On the schematic, a pin on J1 · pin 3 · Net-(J1-Pad3): “What is this pin?” Inky: This is J1 pin 3, D+, the USB Micro-B connector’s positive data line. On this board it connects to R57 (0 Ω) and U15 (TVS protection). On the schematic, a pin on U15: “Why is this here?” Inky: U15 is here to protect the USB connector’s data lines from electrostatic discharge. Its ESD pins connect to J1 pins 2 and 3, with GND and USB VBUS providing the protection device’s reference connections. On the PCB, a pin on J1 · pad 3 · Net-(J1-Pad3): “Where does this go?” Inky: J1 pad 3 is the USB D+ line. From this pad, Net-(J1-Pad3) runs to R57 (a 0 Ω resistor) and U15 (a TVS protection device). The provided facts don’t show where the signal goes beyond R57. On the PCB, a pin on U23: “What does this chip do?” Inky: U23 is the board’s microcontroller: it handles USB signals and provides GPIO and ADC connections. Its USB DP and DM pins run through R57 and R58, while several GPIO and ADC pins connect to P20. On the case in the Product view, a pin on P22: “What plugs in here?” Inky: A mating 2×13 connector or cable plugs into P22, the header labeled I2S. It brings I2S clock and data signals, plus I²C clock and data, to the U23 microcontroller. The design does not identify a specific accessory or mating part.
Fig. 02 · 5 questions asked on HackRF One in heypcb, replayed · Reference design: HackRF One · Great Scott Gadgets · CERN-OHL-P-2.0 · opened, checked and cased in heypcb
PCB · Schematic · 3D view
Each answer names what is really there — the part, the pin, the net and where it goes — and says so when the design does not. A pin drops the same way on the 3D view and on the case in the Product view.
PCB
What is this part?
U21 · pad 25 · GND
You
Inky
U21 is an IP5189T battery power-management IC; the pin is on its large GND pad 25, not a separate part. Its connections to the battery, input supply, and 4.7 µH inductor support charging and power conversion. The GND via on the pad connects it to the board’s ground copper.
PCB
What is this capacitor for?
C21
You
Inky
C21 supports the VCAP pin of U3, the PIC24EP256GP204 microcontroller. Its 10 µF capacitance connects U3 pin 7 to ground, providing local charge storage and helping keep that voltage stable.
PCB
Why so many vias here?
via · GND
You
Inky
The via under the pin connects the top-layer GND pour to the GND pour on In1.Cu; nearby ground vias likely serve the same stitching purpose. This area is beside the grounded shield connections of J8 and J12, so multiple vias can give those connections short paths into the ground plane. The context confirms this via, but not the number or placement of the others.
Schematic
What feeds this pin?
U4 · pin 3 · Net-(J13-+)
You
Inky
U4 pin 3 (VBAT) is fed by J13, the CR1225 battery connection, through net Net-(J13-+). It provides backup power to the real-time clock; U4’s main supply is on its separate +5V pin.
3D view
What goes in here?
J13
You
Inky
A CR1225 coin-cell battery goes in J13. It provides backup power to U4 (the DS1307 real-time clock); the holder’s other contact connects to ground.
PCB
Where does this pin go?
J2 · pad 3 · SCK
You
Inky
J2 pin 3 is on the SCK net. It connects to U3 pin 36, J8 pin 5, U14 pin 7, U18 pin 7, and U20 pin 3. The SCK track at the pin is on the far-side B.Cu layer.
PCB
What does this do?
U14
You
Inky
U14 is a programmable-gain amplifier: it takes a signal through its CHA input and sends the amplified output on CH1_IN to the PIC24 microcontroller. Its VREF pin connects to the TL082-based /OSC_REF1 reference, while CS1, SCK, and SDI provide control signals.
Schematic
What is this pin?
U15 · pin 4 · /D+
You
Inky
This is U15 pin 4, D+, the USB data-positive connection for the CP2102N USB-to-serial chip. Its /D+ net runs to both D+ contacts on the USB-C receptacle J12, test point TP10, and protection part U16.
PCB
Why is this here?
F1
You
Inky
F1 protects the USB power input: it is a 1A resettable fuse between /VUSBIN from the USB-C receptacle and /VINPUT, which feeds the board’s input circuitry. If excessive current flows, a polymeric resettable fuse typically heats up and limits the current, then recovers after the fault is removed.
PCB
What plugs in here?
J8
You
Inky
A microSD card plugs into J8. Its 3.3 V power and SPI signal connections link it to the PIC24 microcontroller; the connector’s card-detect pin is unconnected.
How do I ask about my own board?
Comment is in the composer’s mode menu, right under Ask. Pins stay on the board for everyone it is shared with.
heypcb
