PRAXIS PROFILINE Computer-On-Modules English Computer-On-Modules Computer-On-Modules Venco Electronica S. A. ies Industrie-Elektronik Schmitz,Ineltro, nextSystem, Ultratronik, VDC, Computer Components, Intel, b-plus, datakampSystem, FORTEC Elektronik, HY-LINE A VOGEL andKontron Special forprofessionals incollaborationwith: With highscalabilityand Value-Add Service With highscalabilityand Value-Add Service German & for your customized solution for your customized solution Basics Hands-On CompanyProfiles foryour Alookatthefuture ofCOMs IntelMulti-Core inEmbedded ModuleMARS Battery Smart E ETX®3.0– Your ETXLong Term microETXexpress ETXexpress® /COM up Express COMs foryour highscalability customised COM solution Systems applications – Requirements formobile Support to IntelMulti-Core processor mobile applications Applications ² Brain – Technology and ISBN 3-8259-1944-7 TM foryour 19,80 %
PRAXIS PROFILINE Computer-On-Modules Computer-On-Modules Into the future with Computer-On-Modules
The standardized Computer-On-Modules DIMM-PC, X-board, E2Brain, ETX, microETXexpress and ETXex- press/COM Express, provide the standard functionality you need, while the custom features demanded by your application are integrated into the baseboard design. This separation allows for a high degree of flexibility in the mechanics of the base-board since it is a custom made part, but offers you the flexibility to switch boards within the module family. Total design time for the baseboard is very short compared to a full custom design cycle. This keeps the costs down and ensures a short time-to-market. Products based on embedded modules are highly scalable and have longer lifecycles than the alternatives.
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Vogel Industrie Medien · 97064 Würzburg · www.praxis-profiline.de Editorial
COM Express – modular solutions for embedded processing
The advent of the Computer-on-Module interconnects like USB and Serial ATA created (COM) turned the old notion of add on the opportunity to defi ne a standardized pro- modules on its head. Originally, daughter cessing module form factor and interconnect. boards or add on modules were designed This effort was undertaken within the PICMG to add specifi c IO functionality to a general process and resulted in the PICMG COM.0, or purpose processor base boards. OEMs would COM Express specifi cation that was approved add their unique connectivity or input output by PICMG on 10th July 2005. requirements to an off the shelf processor The specifi cation incorporates all the latest board to develop a complete computer interfaces necessary to support a complete based control system. Over the years the Computer-on-Module while providing fl exibi- computing functions have become more lity to support a wide range of performance generalized, more integrated, smaller and and functional requirements. Two modules less expensive to the point where it is now sizes are defi ned so customers can choose the application specifi c functions that take from the basic form factor or an extended up more of the design time and board space form factor that supports more memory, in an embedded application. larger processors and a higher thermal enve- Keeping track of chipset advances and lope. Two rows of connectors are part of the synchronizing them with processor evolution specifi cation with the second being optional is a major challenge that most embedded if more interfaces and capacity is required. system OEMs don’t want to deal with. The COM Express modules are already making relentless advances in processor speed and inroads in the embedded computing market density call for designs that are “future where OEM designed systems are common. proofed” with a clearly defi ned growth These markets include medical, test and path to the next round of improvements. measurement, gaming, industrial automation, The use of Computer-on-Modules based security, point of sale, advertising, military designs simplifi es the life of the embed- and others. ded system designer and leaves them The COM Express specifi cation has effec- free to concentrate on their specialty tively aligned the latest needs of embedded will providing them with an automatic systems developers with the latest advances upgrade path. in computer and interface technologies and The latest generation of interconnects provides the leading modular solution for based on Low Voltage Differential Signaling embedded processing. (LVDS) technologies have made it possible to generalize the interfaces to a generic pro- cessing module. The advent of new LVDS based interconnects such as PCI Express as well the next generation of peripheral
Rob Davidson, Vice President Marketing, PICMG www.picmg.org
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 3 Table of Content
Computer-On-Modules With high scalability and Value-Add Service for your customised solution
Editorial 3
Basics Intel Multi-Core Processors for COMs 6 A rich array of options for applications requiring increased performance Computer-On-Modules 8 A global market analysis A comparison of embedded COMs 10 Processing power and expansion buses determine COM form factors Small Footprint, Great Potential 16 microETXexpress heralds the second COM Express standardization round ETX 3.0 18 Small Footprint, Great Potential Sound Investment for Hundreds of Thousands of ETX Designs microETXexpress was developed in response Multi Core COMs 19 to the huge demand for PCI Ex- One processor, two cores, a wealth of options for COM press-based COMs in the A Standard for Embedded-RISC-Systeme 20 segment for microapplica- Defi ne the choices tions such as mobile appli- The Case for Ready Made-Processor Modules 22 cations. It takes the shape of High-end Digital Camera with RISC-COMs more compact COM Express COM Management made easy 24 module and is compatible with EVA: A single board handling standard for all COMs other ETXexpress/COM Express Easy Graphic Adaption 26 products. The right fl at panel controller is usually available as an accessory page 16 Service for COMs 27 Customer-specifi c solutions increasingly important Power supply via “copy and paste” 28 The Case for Ready-Made Processor Modules MARS: Modular energy management development platform Selecting an appropriate processor module can save large The borrowed Eye 30 amounts of development and test effort and allow a Wearable PC with Kontron ETX COM used around the world in mobile service company to concentrate Flash as Hard Drive 32 on using its expertise Robust but only long-lived when the right technolo gy is used in a target market to add unique value. page 22
4 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 Table of Content
embedded solutions for industrial and automotive markets B-plus develops, manufactures and sells electro- Computer-On-Modules nic system components for industrial applications. At the forefront are With high scalability and Value-Add Service for your customised solution modern embedded computer systems, on the basis of ARM, Xscale and X86 architectures. page 46
Talk to Experts Teamwork with COMs 14 More service for developers – Armin Schwarz talks with Kontron CTO Dirk Finstel Solution, service and Support from one source Application News HY-LINE Computer Compo- ETX-Modules - the third generation 34 nents GmbH is specialised in sales and support of Product News embedded computing and Latest COMs 37 display technology page 42 Company Portraits Datakamp 40 Flexible and high quality Fortec 41 All the Know-how of a reliable partner Hy-Line 42 Solutions, service and support from one source Speed & versatility IES 43 ies Industrie-Elektronik Speed & versatility Schmitz GmbH & Co. KG Ineltro 44 develops, produces and mar- Comprehensive range kets electronic system com- Ultratronic 45 ponents which are designed Successful for more than 30 years for industrial applications. B-Plus 46 page 43 Embedded solutions for industrial and automotive markets Next System 47 Head up in the sky - feet on the ground Venco Electronica S.A. 48 Complete solutions from customized to COTS systems Successful for more than 30 years COM Partner-List 49 Products of Ultratronik are essential in automation and process controlling. The cur- Imprint, Copyrights and Trademarks 12 rent product portfolio ranges from electronic components to servers, from industrial displays to so called Open Frame Smart Panels with included operating system. page 45
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 5 Basics
IntelProcessors Multi-Core for COMs
A rich array of options for applications requiring increased performance
“The trend across the Intel Core Micro- architecture industry will be in Forecasted Normalized Performance vs. Initial Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor Intel Core microarchitecture the direction of mul- provides enhanced energy-effi cient
Multi-Core processors: delivering performance Multi-Core performance to help equipment ti-core processors to improvments well into the future Processor manufacturers optimally balance increase performance processing capabilities within power while maintaining or and space constraints. This allows decreasing chip power 10X for the use of Intel processors in embedded and communications consumption.” applications where they had not Single-Core Processor been thought before. The key new Jim McGregor, Principle features include: 2000 2004 2008+ Intel Wide Dynamic Execu- Analyst with In-Stat tion: Executes four instructions per clock cycle to improve exe- cution speed and effi ciency. Each core can complete up to four full Ajit D. Patel Marcos Garcia-Acosta instructions simultaneously using an effi cient 14-stage pipeline. Intel’s product line of multi-core ded application environments, it is Intel Advanced Smart Cache: processors for the communications possible to run real-time tasks on a Improves system performance by and embedded applications market dedicated execution core, unencum- signifi cantly reducing memory segments offers scalable processing bered by tasks that would otherwise latency to frequently used data capability while addressing the compete for CPU resources. through dynamic allocation of constraints of both COM footprints Using virtualization technology shared L2 cache to each of the and power consumption. with multi-core processing, it is pos- processor cores. While incorporating advan- sible to run two non-SMP operating Intel Smart Memory Access: ced processor technology, these systems and unmodifi ed software Optimizes use of available data multi-core processors remain stacks for increased aggregate bandwidth from the memory sub- software-compatible with previous performance. system to accelerate out-of-order Ajit D. Patel 32-bit Intel Architecture processors. In a single compute intensive or execution. A newly designed pre- is Business And, since applications use system data intensive application environ- diction mechanism reduces the Alliance Manager resources differently, Intel offers a ment, multi-core technology can time in-fl ight instructions have in the Intel Communications number of ways to enhance embed- enhance performance by enabling to wait for data. New pre-fetch Alliance ded application’s performance. the developer to decompose the algorithms move data from sys- www.intel.com application into parallel instruction tem memory into fast L2 cache Power-Effi cient Perfor- and/or data streams. in advance of execution. These mance Headroom Intel Software Development functions keep the pipeline full, Marcos Garcia- Acosta With each execution core Products ease the transition from improving instruction throughput is Business functioning as a separate processor, sequential to parallel processing and performance. Alliance Manager multi-core designs allow specifi c ap- by assisting the developer in Intel Advanced Digital in the Intel plications to be assigned to different identifying threading opportunities Media Boost: Accelerates Communications Alliance cores, enhancing performance and and in tuning threaded application execution of SSE/2/3 instruc- www.intel.com security. For example, in embed- performance. tions to signifi cantly improve
6 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 Basics
multimedia performance. 128-bit SSE instructions are issued at a Intel multicore processors deliver breakthrough throughput rate of one per-clock energy-effi cient per- cycle, effectively doubling the formance for embedded speed of execution on a per-clock platforms basis over previous-generation processors. Intel Intelligent Power Capability: Manages runtime power consumption of execution cores by turning on computing functions only when needed. Reduces overall power con- sumption, enabling quieter, more power-effi cient system designs. Intel Core Duo Processors Intel Core Duo processors meet the needs of a wide range of low-power embedded solutions, such as industrial control, test and instrumentation, aerospace, defense and medical imaging systems. Intel Core Duo processors integrate two execution cores derived from the Intel Pentium M processor, whose cores in one physical package, technology allows the processor to The wide variety of features power effi ciency is enabled through providing advancements in simulta- run either 32-bit or newly written offered by Intel processors, chipsets signifi cant hardware architecture en- neous computing for multithreaded 64-bit code. Intel platform-based and platforms has given birth to a hancements in stack management, applications and multi-tasking network acceleration addresses the vast community of innovative compa- instruction execution, and branch environments. These processors data movement, data access, and nies that have produced solutions in prediction. Integrating two execu- meet the needs of a wide range of system overhead problems inherent a wide range of communications and tion cores enables Intel Core Duo performance intensive, low-power in network I/O. By offl oading CPU- embedded market segments. processors to provide signifi cant embedded applications in smaller intensive TCP/IP stacks, Intel I/O These companies offer unique performance improvements while re- form factors such as interactive Acceleration Technology will move hardware designs and innovative maining in a thermal envelope that clients (i.e., point-of-sale terminals data to and from some applications software products to address the is similar to existing Intel Pentium M and ATMs), gaming platforms, much faster, allowing network needs of embedded and com muni- processors. industrial control and automation, and system managers to realize a cations OEMs. Intel products, Intel Intel Core Duo processors are digital security surveillance and greater performance return on their people and an extensive ecosystem validated with the Mobile Intel medical imaging. While incorpora- investments in increased network that includes members of the Intel 945GM Express chipset. This chipset ting advanced processor technology, and storage capabilities. Communications Alliance stand provides greater fl exibility for deve- these processors remain software- The Intel Core microarchitecture ready to help you put together all the lopers of embedded applications by compatible with previous IA-32 clearly means more customer value building blocks needed to effectively offering improved graphics and in- processors. and new business opportunities in serve the needs of your embedded creased I/O bandwidth over previous With Intel 64, software deve- the form of increased performance customers. Intel chipsets. And, it offers remote lopers can address up to 1TB of and new functionality. Whether your end user is looking asset management capabilities and physical memory, paving the way for for raw performance, enhanced se- improved storage reliability. greater performance by eliminating Conclusion curity, or remote management capa- paging penalties associated with Intel has long been the leader bility, by building upon Intel platform Intel Core2 Duo smaller memory spaces. in the design and manufacture of technology a trusted ecosystem such Processors For applications requiring com- microprocessor technology. Through as the Intel Communications Alliance, Intel Core2 Duo processors are plex calculations and a high level of its advanced component design you will be able to increase the value members of Intel’s growing product precision, developers may consider and manufacturing capabilities, you bring to your customer. line of multi-core processors and writing 64-bit code. Because the Intel delivers reliable, high volume are based on Intel Core microar- system can manipulate data and platforms optimized across multiple More Information chitecture, delivering breakthrough execute instructions in 64-bit processor, chipset, memory, and con- More on Intel multi-core processors energy-effi cient performance for chunks, these applications can yield troller components. Intel engineers for Communications and Embed- embedded platforms. Intel 65nm vastly improved performance over are pushing the envelope in silicon ded Applications: process technology makes it possible their 32-bit counterparts. Intel’s design to improve energy effi ciency http://www.intel.com/products/ embedded/processors.htm to integrate two complete execution approach to extended memory and functionality.
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 7 Basics
Computer on Modules A global market analysis
Computer-on-Modules (COMs), sometimes referred to as Sys- tems-on-Modules (SOMs), are small, relatively highly in- tegrated CPU boards intended to plug into, and be used with, carrier boards.
Eric Heikkila
By utilizing COMs an OEM fi rm can reduce time-to- market signifi cantly
Unlike processor mezzanine its own board offerings and for DIMM-PC; cards, COMs are not intended to be users. ETX; optional additions to their carriers VDC has completed its 2006 Global STX; (although they may be used in this Market Analysis of Computer- SOM-144; manner). Rather, COMs are intended On-Modules that examines the COM Express; and to be integral parts or macro-com- market into great detail and deep Proprietary. ponents of systems or sub systems, segmentation. Form factors and wherein the carrier boards (which architectures examined include, but The concept of COMs originated may be active backplane mother- are not limited to: in Europe, so it is logical that the boards, passive backplane slot cards of various types, etc.) require computing power. COM and COM Carrier Shipments by Channel of Distribution, 2005 & 2007 By utilizing COMs/SOMs (note that these terms may be considered synonymous), an OEM fi rm can: Reduce time-to-market signifi - VARs VARs 8% 10% Manufacturers´ Manufacturers´ cantly Reps/Agents Reps/Agents 15% 17% Concentrate on its areas of prime Distributors Distributors 19% competency (the carrier boards), 21% rather than devoting engineering Direct Field Internet talent and other resources to 3% Direct Field Sales Force Direct Internal Sales Force Eric Heikkila designing the compute portion of Internet 36% Sales 39% 3% Direct Internal 14% is Director Em- these boards; and Sales bedded Hardware May be able to provide a rela- 15% & Systems with tively painless path for compute- VDC (% of Dollar Volume Shipments) www.vdc-corp.com power upgrade, both in terms of
8 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Module – February 2007 Basics
COM and COM Carrier Shipments by Consuming Customer Class, COM and COM Carrier Shipments by Geo graphic Region, 2005 & 2007 2005 & 2007
VARs VARs 10% 9% Asia-Parcific Asia-Parcific 15% 17% Equipment Equipment OEMs Distributors OEMs EMEA Distributors 36% 19% EMEA 23% 39% 42% 47%
Americas End Users Americas 13% 38% 41% End Users Systems Systems 15% Integrators Integrators 16% 20%
largest shipment share of these computing products. The dollar vo- COMs meeting the standards many ing, remain the biggest consumers would be consumed in this geo- lume shares of these two customer manufactures still seem to prefer of COMs in 2005 and in 2007 graphic region. However, projections classes are projected to increase to keep the manufacture of these projections. Medical is projected to show increasing penetration into through 2007 at the expense of the products close to home where they be the biggest share gainer through other geographic regions and the shares consumed by distributors and can control it. 2007. COMs provide a very cost ef- Americas are projected to nearly VARs. Distributors and VARs are pro- A very small percentage of COMs fective and somewhat painless path catch the European region by 2007. jected to lose share through 2007, are manufactured in the United towards compute-power upgrades. The concept surrounding the however the overall growth of the States. Again this is due to the COMs allow computing suppliers implementation of COMs continues COMs market more than makes up fact that the COMs market got its to these vertical markets to design to resonate with new audiences as for these decreases and shipments roots from the EMEA region where products that take advantage of a relatively painless way to provide to distributors and VARs are still pro- companies such as Kontron, MEN the most cost effective processors path for future compute-power jected to grow through 2007. Mikro, DIGITAL-LOGIC, Compulab, offered today that will still get the upgrade to products. As stated In-House manufacture remains SECO, and MSC Vertriebs remain job done, while also providing the previously growth will be greatest the very predominant mode of leaders. Other COMs innovators ability to easily upgrade the products in the Americas and Asia-Pacifi c as manufacture and is even projected based in Asia-Pacifi c include Advan- in the future as more processing the European market has had longer to have a greater share, over 90 tech, ADLink Technologies, ARBOR power is need. It is both easy and exposure to the COMs concept. per cent, by 2007. This reason for Technologies, and PFU Systems. cost effective because it allows for this is most likely attributable to the The only major COM supplier so replacement of only the processor COMs become in- proprietary beginnings of the COM far based in the United States is and not carrier boards. Although creasingly popular marketplace. At the beginning diffe- Radisys. there are projected changes in ship- with OEMs rent manufacturers were producing ment shares to the various examined COMs are beginning to see their own different form factor COM Vertical markets remain verticals, overall market growth will greater penetration with both products. Open standards such as strong more than compensate for these OEMs and Systems Integrators as ETX and COM Express have helped Vertical markets such as industrial shifts. these classes of customers become to change the proprietary nature automation & control, medical, and Since 1982, this regularly-sche- more familiar and comfortable of the COMs market, however, instrumentation, which are very price duled market intelligence program with the concept of using COMs in with variations possible even in sensitive when it comes to comput- examines established and emerging global markets for embedded slot Single Board Computers, CPU COM and COM Carrier Shipments by Vertical Market, Blades, mezzanine cards, Computer- 2005 & 2007 on-Modules (COMs), “stackable” Communications: Edge Communications: Edge 9% 8% architectures such as PC/104, and other related technologies. Reports Communications: Core Communications: Core Other Other 6% 10% 7% 7% emphasize granular, accurate market estimating and forecasting, as well Transportation Transportation 13% 13% as detailed segmentation across Military/ Military/ vertical and application markets. Aerospace/Defense Aerospace/Defense 8% 7% Industrial Control Industrial Control & Automation & Automation Medical 31% Medical 30% 14% 18% Links
The latest reports are available at: http://www.vdc-corp.com/ehw/ Instrumentation Instrumentation mcbrea.asp 11% 10%
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Module – February 2007 9 Basics
A comparison of on-Modules embedded COMs Processing power and expansion buses determine COM form factors
The embedded com- puting Computer-on- Module (COM) mar- ket is still relatively young: the fi rst COM, the DIMM-PC, was launched in 1998.
Zeljko Loncaric
The most popular Computer-on-modules
Today, a variety of COMs are embedded baseboard designs was assuming overall growth of CAGR available as standard COTS hard- worth US$ 44 million [1]. In 2004, 33.57 per cent for COM til 2008. [2] ware. They provide core PC functions it reached US$ 121 million, and in According to VDC, the most in customer-specifi c embedded 2008 the market volume for COMs prominent form factors prior to systems. In recent years, there have and COM base boards should be COM Express were DIMM-PC, been intense discussions on the worth around US$ 515 million, ETX, SOM144, and STX, sharing right concept for COMs; a 2002 VDC 11.1 per cent of the total embedded 51.6 per cent of the COM market, study and PICMG’s publication of board market. In 2005, COMs have which VDC expects to increase. the COM Express standard with PCI a mere 3.9 per cent of the market VDC classifi ed comparable modules Express on board in 2005, seem to in value terms, although its market from Ampro Computers, Inc., Bright indicate that development is con- signifi cance is greater in terms of Star Engineering, Inc., Digital- centrating on a few open standards numbers, because module prices Logic AG, PFU Systems, Inc., and that will give the greatest benefi t to are approximately 40-60 per cent TQ- Components GmbH as proprie - Zeljko Loncaric customers. lower than boards. For 2004, the tary. [1] is Product Mar- According to a report by market whole embedded board market was Today, VDC indicates that keting Manager Module with analyst VDC (Natick, Massachusetts, worth US$ 3,668 million; in 2008, ETX-based modules dominate Kontron USA), in 2002, the Computer-On- it should reach US$ 4,636 million. the market, followed by propri- www.kontron.com Module market for customer- specifi c Market researchers are therefore etary COM designs; this ranking
10 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 Basics
is expected to remain the same in individual backplanes and to the 2008, even if the new COM Express ISA bus, I²C bus, and the usual I/O standard grows from today’s 3 per ports for keyboard, fl oppy, IDE hard cent to an impressive 16 per cent drive, printer, serial interfaces and with the COMs and base boards in optional USB and LAN for headless 2008. [3] In terms of open stand- applications via the 144 con- ards, the COM market is focusing nections; expansion is possible using on DIMM-PC, ETX and its deriva- application-specifi c interfaces via tives, as well as COM Express (or the baseboard, or I/O cards in the ETXexpress - the trademark of the same format as the DIMM-PC. If the signifi cant market player) as a new required format for the PCI design is PICMG standard. Looking beyond credit card-sized; the X-board COM x86 systems, E²Brain, a new COM form factor may be of interest. standard for RISC-based systems, is also an option, although it is in a X-board different league. We will look fi rst This COM concept is also an at x86 COMs and the c lassifi cation open standard. X-boards offer USB of the open form factors DIMM-PC, ports instead of legacy interfaces, ETX, SOM144, and STX by VDC. such as keyboard and mouse, as well as PCI and I²C instead of ISA. DIMM-PC Expansion is possible via Mini-PCI. The DIMM-PC form factor is the These small computers are ideal for classic example of 386 to 586 sy- space-saving applications and are The ETXexpress-CD with IntelCore 2 Duo ist he latest high-end COM stem solutions which only need limi- used, for example, in top-hat rail and was fi rst introduced on the Embedded World 2007. ted functionality and usually do not PCs and handheld computers. As a have graphics onboard. They offer a platform for various rugged PDAs, application. STX, designed by IBSmm COM Express/ complete set of peripheral interfaces the X-board will increasingly offer Industrieelektronik Multimedia and ETXexpress on a form factor smaller than a RISC-based processors in the future fi rst supported by AXIOMTEK, Delta Brought into being at the end business card (40 mm x 68 mm) and and withdraw the range of x86 Components GmbH, AMOTEC, and of 2003 by Kontron and Intel, serve often as a convenient alterna- systems. ROI, was accepted as an open stan- ETXexpress was fi nally published tive to intricately programmable dard by VDC. However, current prod- by PICMG in July of this year under microcontrollers. ETX3.0 etc. uct development at these companies the neutral name COM Express; DIMM-PCs use the DIMM slot, Apart from a few design differ- leaves something to be desired; and it has been largely unchallenged typically used in current PCs for ences, ETX3.0, SOM144, and STX ROI is now a member of the Kontron to date. COM Express is the trade memory modules, to connect to the essentially target the same types of group and new Kontron COM-based name used by most providers of designs will be implemented on ETX these modules. ETXexpressmodules’ respectively ETXexpress . primary function is to bring the ETXbecame the COM fl agship fast PCIe bus onto COMs. How within six years of its launch and much new appli cations with fast received with the latest ETX 3.0 peripheral demands can benefi t specifi cation an appealing upgrade: from PCIe can be seen in the As a fundamental improvement 2x bandwidth of Gigabit Ethernet serial ATA was implemented, with (125 MB/s), combined with ATA150 ETX3.0 computer on modules being (150 MB/s), for example. If the 100 percent pin-to-pin compatible communication of both interfaces with previous ETXspecifi cations. runs over a PCI bus (133 MB/s), the Furthermore a large number of maximum throughput of 275 MB/s providers have committed to the cannot be achieved. With PCIe, standard and its market share is there is no bottleneck: a standard correspondingly large. If DIMM-PC- PCIe interface (PCIe x1) offers covers a maximum of 10 per cent of 250 MB/sec – in both directions the market, ETXshould end up with – so the PCIe lane has almost twice more than 40per cent, if not 50 per the bandwidth of PCI. Also, several cent, since the market share of open lanes can be combined so PCIe has systems in 2002 was more than 51 enormous performance potential, ETX-LX 3.0: The ETX-LX is the fi rst COM applying to the ETX 3.0 speci- per cent. Detailed market data can which predestines it to be the fi cation with SATA on board and 100 percent pin-to-pin compatible to be found in the current VDC study, dominant datapath for upcoming previous ETX base board designs. which can be purchased from VDC. x86 systems.
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 11 Imprint
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer-On-Modules First Edition, February 2007 Order-No.: 1944-7 Computer-On-Modules ISBN 3-8259-1944-7 With high scalability and Value-Add Service for your customized solution
Publisher Vogel Industrie Medien GmbH & Co. KG Redaktion PRAXIS PROFILINE Max-Planck-Str. 7/9 97064 Wuerzburg, Germany Tel.: +49 931 418-2420 Fax: +49 931 418-2543 E-Mail: contact@praxis-profi line.de
Editor-in-chief Armin Schwarz Our front cover: The picture above shows the draft from Computer- Editor on-Modules (Source: Kontron). The Thomas Sümmerer picture below shows the end version. from Carolin Tomschik. Contributors to this issue Michael Hennen (SAMS Network) Christof Wilde (SAMS Network)
Assistant to the Editor Anja Kemmer
Layout Carolin Tomschik, Vogel Services GmbH & Co. KG, 97064 Würzburg
Titel Carolin Tomschik
Managing director Ralf Eberhardt
Availiability Fax orders can be sent to the publisher at: Vogel Industrie Medien, Wuerzburg/Germany Fax: ++49 931 418-2543 Trademarks and Copyright In case of fax orders you will get an invoice about 19,80 ` plus shipping cost. DIMM-PC®, ETX®, ETXexpress® , microETXexpressTM, X-board®, DIMM-IO® and DIMM- (2,50 ` – Germany, 5,– ` foreign countries) BUS® are trademarks or registered trademarks of Kontron Embedded Modules GmbH. Kontron is trademark or registered trademark of Kontron AG. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks or copyrights by their respective owners and are recognized. Trademarks and Pictures All trademarks used are property of the owner. Kontron Embedded Modules GmbH is a founding member of the ETX® Industrial Group the pur- Some photos and drawings are property of the involved companies. pose of which is the defi nition, marketing and promotion of the Embedded Technology eXtended (ETX®) Industrial Standard. Kontron Embedded Modules GmbH has signifi cantly contributed to the development and pro- Printing motion of the ETX® Industrial Standard and administrates the ETX® Industrial Group’s website Vogel Druck und Medienservice GmbH & Co. KG (www.etx-ig.com). Kontron Embedded Modules GmbH is the owner of the ETX® trademark which is protected as a registered trademark under various jurisdictions worldwide. Kontron Em- bedded Modules GmbH has licensed the ETX® trademark to all members of the ETX® Industrial Place of jurisdiction Group. All members of the ETX® Industrial Group have committed themselves to fulfi lment of Wuerzburg/Germany the current specifi cations of the ETX® Industrial Standard which can be downloaded from the ETX® IG’s website. Companies which are not a member of the ETX® Industrial Group are not authorized to use Internet-Addresses the trademark ETX® for their products. Neither the ETX® Industrial Group nor its members can www.praxis-profi line.de monitor the compliance of third parties with the ETX® Industrial Standard’s specifi cations. More information on how to become a member of the ETX® Industrial Group as well as on the terms of use of the trademark ETX® can be downloaded from the website of the ETX® Industrial Group (www.etx-ig.com).“
12 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 Basics
The COM Express/ETX- Recognized as open I/O bus expansion not Form faktor Form faktor in cm2 Pins standard by VDC study express specifi cation linked to function Boards with the new standard or PICMG standard measure 95 mm x 125 mm and, in DIMM-PC 27,2 144 ISA and I²C yes the basic version, offer eight PCIe X-board 32,83 200 PCI and I²C no x1 lanes. The variant microETXex- SOM144 68 144 PCI yes press is a bit smaller (95mm x STX 87,93 400 PCI and ISA yes 95mm) with 100% compatible ETX 114 400 PCI, LPC and ISA yes footprint and identical pin out. An E²Brain 86,25 440 PCI LPC, I²C, no 440 PCI or PCI and PCI Express Conforms to PICMG COM.0 x16 lane is included in the standard microETXexpress 90,25 (not all used) and LPC with limited pin layout for applications that require a ETXexpress/COM Express 118,75 (Basic) 440 PCI Express and PCI yes dedicated graphics processor. Besides PCIe, ETXexpress offers 32 bit PCI and LPC (as a replace- multimedia ports and serial DVO, as thermal interface, the standardized there are only as many varieties ment for the ISA bus). well as ACPI (Advanced Confi gu- heat spreader. as there are buses: ETXfor PCI, Thus, access to designs and ration and Power Interface) for ETXexpressfor PCI Express etc. At assemblies available today is optimized power management. All Streamlining leads to most, two related buses can be guaranteed. Moreover, componen- the interfaces – as in all other open economies of scale combined in order to allow for evo- ts that do not conform to PCIe, COM standards – are implemented In contrast to the variety of lution of systems. With ETX, it made such as PCI/PCI-X slot cards, can in the same place on each module form factors that exist for SBCs, sense to place ISA alongside PCI. optionally be supported via a PCI 2 in order to guarantee scalability motherboards, and slot assemblies, ETXexpress has PCI Express and x 32 bit interface. Four serial ATA in- within the module family in future. it seems that there is little room also PCI. ETXexpress modules that terfaces and a parallel ATA interface Signals are transmitted via two different formats in the COM conform to PICMG COM Express are available for connecting storage 220-pin SMT high speed connec- market, and only a few COM can be used immediately. Hopefully, media.Besides these individually tors; not all of the pins are currently standards have been able to assert uncertainty will not be generated usable interfaces, ETXexpress used: some are reserved for future themselves. Why is that? Essenti- in the market by too many diverse provides a Gigabit Ethernet port chipsets and processors. Six moun- ally, the choice of the right form alternatives being touted to users and eight USB 2.0 ports and ting holes mean that the board can factor for COMs made according in the coming years. Experience ETXexpress supports dual-channel be securely fi xed and make it shock to the expansion bus which is dictates that it is not wise to rely on storage technology. In addition, and vibration resistant. Furthermore, implemented, because, as with SBC also-ran products, since these have all ETXexpress modules offer LVDS as with ETX, heat is dissipated via a and motherboards, most demonstrably not prevailed. customer-specifi c functions are connected via the bus. In one Last but not least RISC-COMs –COM standards for special applications version via expansion assemblies, This short overview provides with COMs on the baseboards, a pragmatic basis for the choice or via additional slots on the of the appropriate COM solution. With the publication of the E²Brain specifi ca- baseboard, again via expansion Other than the trio from the tion in 2005, the fi rst assemblies. The number of variants fi eld of x86 COMs, there are, of open Computer-on- is thus very limited. The only ones course, other COMs on the market; Module standard for worth mentioning are ISA, PCI, however they are only of secondary RISC-based systems and PCI Express, as the dominant importance and are mostly pro- is available based on PC buses, and I²C and LPC as prietary technology. PowerPC, Power- Quicc, and XScale. supplemental buses. Thus, the The specifi cation can only difference between systems More information: be downloaded from based on SBC/motherboards www.kontron.com/pp05 http://www.e2brain. and those based on COMs is the com/. The new open 2 amount of in-house development Computer-on-Module E Brain, the RISC-based alternative to COM with a supply guarantee for ten years or more necessary. With SBC/motherboards, standard E²Brain offers Links an economical alterna- either nothing at all is develo- tive for cost- sensitive embedded E²Brain standard, RISC-based ap- ped in-house and the functions [1] http://www.vdc-corp.com/ computer applications, where, plications are accessible as well. In of the system are im plemented embedded/press/03/ in the past, pro prietary designs general, E²Brain modules stand out entirely by COTS assemblies, or only pr03-12.html have predo minated. The use of thanks to their high processing and special expansion assemblies are communications performance with [2] http://www.vdc-corp. swappable and scalable standard developed in-house. With COMs, modules offers system integrators low energy requirements and are com/embedded/white/05/ a signifi cant reduction in time-to- often available with an extended the share of in-house development 05mcbreavol5.pdf market. Up to now, these advantag- temperature range from -40 °C to is larger, because the buyer of the [3] http://www.vdc-corp.com/ es were limited to developments +85 °C and a supply guarantee for COM defi nes the fi nal function of embedded/annual/05/ with x86 technology. With the ten years or more. the system. In terms of the most br05-17.html commonly used COM standards,
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 13 Talk to Experts
Teamwork with COMs More service for developers – Armin Schwarz talks with CTO Dirk Finstel of Kontron Embedded Modules
As a Computer-On-Module develop ment at this level today All other designs which cannot be presented for the fi rst time. Like (COM) supplier you used to be have to come to companies like implemented on standard boards or Kontron, globally active providers a competitor and today you Kontron. Today developing COM slightly modifi ed standard boards have formed which, like us, employ are a partner for electronics architecture requires the investment must use COMs to remain competi- a staff of more than 2400 employ- developers. How did you do it? of several hundred thousand Euros tive over the long term. ees and which offer large, reliable That’s right. In the past many which means that COM product and inexpensive manufacturing developers were unsure whether purchases will continue to increase. How large do you estimate capacity and experienced service they should take the chance CPU Core developments are our the COM market to be? and support. Today the market is of using COMs, which means core competence and every year The market for merchant more matured. There is no plausible letting others handle the CPU we strengthen this by reinvesting boards and merchant COMs does economic reason left to retain CPU core development. For many, it’s almost 14 percent of our profi ts not cover the whole embedded development at the OEM. particularly attractive to be able back into development. computing market by a long shot. to “get their hands on” the latest We estimate that today more What does this mean for processor technology. But, let’s be That sounds very pragmatic! than 70 percent of the processors COM providers? honest. The people who offer CPU Isn’t there some solution in utilized in the embedded market Today we no longer need to between? are still being used in customer- travel the countryside like prophets Of course there is. Otherwise specifi c designs. To put it another preaching the advantages of COMs there wouldn’t be any growth in way, during the last six to eight to OEMs. Today it’s a fact that the future! There will always be years since the fi rst COMs were COMs offer the best solution for customers who do not outsource launched, COMs have been able to customized CPU Boards. Instead, this technology. Reasons for this capture around 30 percent of the today we must offer further added vary from technological to security potential designs (although back value in addition to a wide portfolio and also business concerns. But, then we assumed 80 to 90 percent of COM products so that we can every year more and more OEM were full-custom designs). In about differentiate ourselves from other customers turn to Kontron because 20 percent of the current total providers. there is no economical reason for market, we believe developers will performing CPU core development continue to implement their own How do you do that? themselves. The only acceptable CPU designs because few compa- We try to exceed the expec- solution for OEMs with very large nies in this category manu facture tations of our customers. This production quantities is to license large numbers of products. So, the includes all services from the fi rst the CPU and chipset design data so remaining 50 percent of the market sales talk to clear handling of that full custom designs can be im- is made up of companies whose product life cycle management plemented, which reduces handling conser vative structure has so far to com prehensive design-in and costs in production and assembly. rejected the idea of using externally after-sales support. When you start developed solutions, often because off, you begin, of course, with a they have felt that the technology well-rounded product portfolio and was still new and the providers with all your homework done. The were relatively small. problem for an OEM is not to fi nd a suitable COM, but to determine Dirk Finstel Has this situation changed? whether that COM will also is Chief Technical Offi cer at Kontron Embedded Yes. Absolutely. Much has hap- function correctly under all required Modules pened since 2000 when ETX was software and I/O confi gurations.
14 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 Talk to Experts
This requires a lot of development I see what you mean. How- is a comparable competitor, but it periodic drops in demand. However, effort and it is important that this ever, smaller competitors are does most of its business in Asia. these players are currently not work be done before a problem not the players against whom In Europe our lead is clear and as important to the COM market. In occurs. We place great store in you really have to compete. the only provider with head quarters contrast, COMs are suitable for this. Many studies confi rm that Surely there are also providers in Europe, we are a premier many sectors and support Kontron’s we achieve these goals. For in the COM market who are member of the Intel Communi- diversifi cation. This means that example, for the last three years comparable to Kontron? cations Alliance and “Member of COM providers are for the most VDC has awarded Kontron the The market has consolidated the Year 2006.” All of the other part independent of specifi c trends status of “Platinum Vendor” based during the past few years and will global players are concentrating of certain markets and thus solid on customer surveys. This is the continue to consolidate since we on other form factors (such as, for business partners for large OEMs highest honor for manufacturers have reached the phase of maturity example, AdvancedTCA) and are with whom we maintain a part- of merchant boards which can be where a few providers will share running the risk of supplying a ner-like relationship and whose awarded worldwide and we are an increasingly larger piece of the very cyclic market without being developers recognize us as team continuously working to improve whole pie. As far as the number of able to generate sales from other workers. our processes in the future. employees goes, only Advantech sectors to make up for this market’s How would you describe You just said that the teamwork with your products themselves no Embedded News cus tomers’ development longer monopolize the teams? center of attention but Intel recognizes Kontron as Book entitled “Linux Goes For us in particular, teamwork then you con tinue to base “Partner of the Year” Mobile” soon available means doing our homework since your arguments on product Intel honored Kontron AG at Matthias “Kalle” Dalheimer and that is the duty of every team features. this year’s Intel® Communications Michael Klar, well-known developers member. That includes all individual Alliance (ICA) Congress in Arizona, in the open source community, will Product features will be soon services which our customers USA as “ICA Partner of the Year produce their fi rst book “Linux Goes defi ned by the bare feature set. 2006.” With more than 200 Mobile”, covering the development observe as added value. We call Comprehensive board support members around the world, the Intel of Linux-based mobile devices. It these Embedded Value Adds, which packages (BSPs) and standardized Communications Alliance is Intel’s will be published in German and we combine into a well-rounded software add-ons are not noticed partner program for embedded English by Franzis in cooperation comprehensive offering and from until much later. Frequently other computer manufacturers, particularly with Kontron, illustrated on the ePDA which our customers’ developers in the area of telecommunications. with an Intel Xscale 80219 processor criteria come into play, such as “on can choose the components which Only four of these members enjoy based X-board
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 15 Basics
Small Footprint, Great Potential microETXexpress heralds the second COM Express standardization round microETXexpress was developed in response to the huge demand for PCI Ex- press-based COMs in the segment for microapplications such as mobile ap- plications. It take the shape of more compact COM Express module and is compa- tible with other ETXex- microEXTexpress-PM with press/COM Express Intel Pentium M processor is the starting board for products. COM Express-compliant designs with a minimized footprint and, due to its Martin Bodenschatz compactness, is predestined for mobile applications.
The goal of microETXexpress is latest processors. The new con- this, the only other difference is the to build PCI Express-based COMs nector for COM Express, however, in clusion of an additional mounting on the smallest possible form factor. has substantial room for growth: hole in the upper right corner for Kontron will propose that this this results in the availability of a securing the small module to a COM c ompact form factor be added to reliable new COM standard for PCI- Express application-specifi c carrier the PICMG controlled COM Express based designs that can also conti- board. standard and be given a neutral nue to integrate the latest high-end name of “Compact COM Express”. processors. Several manufacturers ETXexpress/COM The already approved COM Express have already demonstrated their Express: Specifi es three standard allows for this in concept commitment to this new Compact different formats but has yet to be adopted. COM Express form factor. Kontron ETXexpress Basic (COM Express This Compact COM Express will launch the new standard Basic) measures 125 x 95 mm/4.9 x standard will also provide a pure Compact COM Express under the 3.7 in = 118.75 cm²/approx. 18.5 sq Martin PCI bus version. The inclusion of PCI trademark “microETXexpress.” in (100 per cent) microETXexpress Bodenschatz is highly interesting for developers The mechanical design of the (the proposed COM Express Com- is Product Marke- of current systems: The baseboard new 95 x 95 mm (3.7- x 3.7-in) pact) measures 95 x 95 mm/3.7 x ting Manager at Kontron. connector specifi ed in 2000 for ETX form factor essentially differs only 3.7 in = 90.25 cm²/approx. 14.0 sq www.kontron.com provides only limited support for the in one aspect: size! Other than in (76 per cent).
16 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 Basics
ETXexpress Extended (COM Ex- USB 2.0.The user can therefore High performance for for PC-based PLCs. Nevertheless, press Extended) measures 155 x 110 design-in PCI Express and SATA in PC-based PLCs large PC-based PLCs need to have mm/6.1 x 4.3 in = 170.5 cm²/ap- advance on a single baseboard; if With the launch of the new form high performance. In that regard, prox. 26.4 sq in (143.58 per cent). they are needed later, a change of factor for PCI and PCI Express- the two new standards perfectly modules allows them to be used based designs with new high-per- round out the product family Specifi cation details can immediately. PCI and/or PCI Express formance connectors, a clear line developed around ETXexpress. The be transferred on a „copy support is provided by the chipset. was drawn simultaneously to ETX new specifi cations, documentation, & paste“ basis microETXexpress with SATA and designs and their former derivatives and manuals have been published Everything extending beyond PCI Express in this new compact and new modifi cations: everything as an open standard. Experience the physical limitations of the format are already available with that needs to deliver more energy has shown that the PICMG new, smaller COMs is eliminated, microETXexpress-PM. via the connector (but not more standardization process could take of course. However, what remains Ultimately, with a single carrier performance) should be equipped some time because procedures and the same is the positioning of board, both microETXexpress and with microETXexpress-compliant appeal deadlines must be complied the two high-speed connectors in ETXexpress can be supported with COMs. Every design with the with. Because, however, the new relation to the baseboard. Thus, full scaling for processors, IDE connector for ETX (or more recent standard drafts involve variants numerous specifi cation details can to SATA, PCI to PCI Express, and designs) will automatically reach of COM Express, the PIN assign- be transferred on a “copy & paste” 10/100 to GigaBitLAN, to ensure the limits of what is possible much ments agreed on by the currently basis, thereby providing advantages that the system is capable of hand- sooner than COM Express-compli- participating companies will not be beyond ease of documentation. ling all future demands. ant designs will. The step of expan- disputed: ultimately, every designer The pin assignments for the new The greater simplicity of PCB ding the COM Express specifi cations is striving for the most EMC-compli- compact microETXexpress conform layout for baseboards with PCI further in the direction of smaller ant design. In addition, PICMG has to COM.0 (pin-out type 2) and are Express due to the lower number of variants also caters to users’ desire agreed in principle to support this hence identical for PCI and PCI Ex - tracks per bus segment provides a for paying only for what they really type of standard expansion. press as well as for all peripheral, real advantage for developers, since need. High-performance graphics network, and memory interfaces, everything else can mostly stay the cards with PCI Express x 16 lanes More information: including PCI, IDE, LAN, and 6 x same. are, for example, not really required www.kontron.com/pp07
Certifi ed Design Partner
Value Adds for COMs by Certifi cation for independent Baseboard Design Companies
Due to the rapidly growing datakamp System demand for custom baseboard Diamond Point International, designs that support the latest ies Industrie-Elektronik technologies including PCIe and Schmitz, multi-core, Kontron expands WOLF and reorganizes its ETX Cer- World Micro. tifi ed Design Partner Program (CDP) that was originally Further companies are alrea- founded in the year 2000. dy in the certifi cation process. The revamped ETX CDP will Experts in developing dedicated support additional ETX design solutions from industrial partners and also Certifi ed computing, communications and Design Partners for ETXexpress/ defense to mobile, multimedia, COM Express Computer-On- medical and other emerging Modules, micro-ETXexpress, certifi ed services for OEMs that The new community of cer- industries are invited to join the X-board and DIMM-PC. choose to outsource their entire tifi ed baseboard designers that Kontron Certifi ed Design Partner With the expansion and hardware design. Computer-On- support Kontron’s expansive Program for COM baseboard reorganization of the Design Modules are ideal for custom product families of highly inte- designs. Partner Program Kontron wants applications that need many grated Computer-On-Modules to enhance support for a wider special features in that fl exible is starting with seven global More information about the spread of Kontron Certifi ed way. Kontron Certifi ed Design members: ETX Certifi ed Design Partner Design Partners. Partners offer very quick-to- Program is available at: The advanced ETX CDP market and reliable baseboard ACCES I/O Products will offer more value added projects. b-plus, http://www.etx-cdp.com
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 17 Basics
ETXETX 3.0 3.0 Sound Investment for Hundreds of Thousands of ETX Designs with New High-End Performance including ISA-Support
The new ETX 3.0 Since Specifi cation specifi cation found 3.0 was passed, 10 leading pro- numerous supporters viders worldwide right from the begin- have announced ning. This makes the support for the updated version introduction of ETX of the most used 3.0 the fastest de Computer-on- Module (COM) facto standardization standard - ETX. process in the history More providers are of the embedded com- also planning to support ETX 3.0 in puter industry. the near future.
Integration of 2 x SATA COM Express specifi cation as defi - high-end COM for ETX 3.0-based Dirk Finstel As primary expansion, ETX 3.0 ned by the PCI Industrial Computer developments. Confi gured with includes two SATA interfaces; it Manufacturers’ Group (PICMG) various Intel Core Duo processors also retains 100 percent and was defi ned for the new PCI and the Mobile Intel 945GM pin-to-pin compatibility Express bus architecture. Express chipset as well as up to with the predecessor 2-GByte DDR2 S0DIMM, it offers ETX specifi cation. The ETX-CD – Dual-Core- the highest computing and graphic two SATA interfaces are Performance for performance with an internal implemented with plug ETX 3.0 950GMA graphics controller and connectors on the ETX With the launch of the ETX-CD comparatively low power loss. module itself, so that with Intel Core Duo processor in existing baseboard designs October 2006, Kontron underscores do not have to be changed the long-term availability of to allow the use of SATA ETX. Thanks to the double-core hard drives. ETX 3.0 also processor, the RoHS compliant More information: ETX-LX 3.0: The ETX-LX is the fi rst board defi nes USB 2.0 com- ETX-CD is currently the absolute www.kontron.com/pp09 from Kontron built in accordance with the munications via existing ETX 3.0 Specifi cation, with SATA on board ETX plug connectors. and 100 percent pin-to-pin compatibility The ETX 3.0 specifi - The ETX 3.0 success story with previous ETX Baseboard Designs cation emphasizes the ETX Consortium’s intention to continue March 2006: ETX 3.0 specifi cation passed ETX support for many years to Kontron, Adlink and MSC support the new specifi cation come. April 2006: Evalue joins supporters Dirk Finstel Whoever needs PCI-Express uses June 2006: Aaeon, Seco, Arbor, Axiomtek and Blue Chip Technology is CTO of ETXexpress/COM Express that has also support ETX 3.0 October 2006: Advantech, founding member of the ETX Industrial Embedded Mo- already been confi rmed by many dules Division, Group, joins ETX 3.0 supporters and collaborates with at Kontron design-wins today. ETXexpress is Kontron on forthcoming Revision 3.01. www.kontron.com 100 percent com pliant with the
18 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 Basics
Multi-Core-COMs One processor, two cores, many options for COM Express/ETXexpress-based designs
Embedded designs and systems continues to grow. All processing power and interfaces are with Intel Core concentrated on one 95 x 125-mm Duo technology on module. A uniform concept for heat ETXexpress modules dissipation simplifi es the mechanical requirements when the device is in conformance with subsequently designed. COM Express are COM Express, the predominant enjoying a break- standard for COMs specifi ed by the PICMG, is designed so that the per- neck-speed increase formance of modern processors and mance at the same in demand for many their chipsets can be fully utilized. clock frequency and The applications. The specifi ed performance capability consumes approxima- ETXexpress of the computer components must tely 15 percent more module was presen- be transmitted with high signal power. Module designs ted at the Embedded World 2007 with Intel 64-bit Core2 Duo and with 2 or Josef Fromberger quality to the baseboard for the that require optimal computer system. The recognized power consumption 4-Mbyte L2 Cache. standard minimizes design risk over are the prerequisite to many years. Suitable transmission longer-lasting storage 3.0 (upwards-compatible integration The idea behind the success of media, such as the plug connectors batteries in mobile applications. of serial ATA drives on the module). multiple processors is to counter to the baseboard which are designed This ensures that scaling will be the so-called „GHz Race“ and its for full-bandwidth operation, ensure Module performance possible in higher-performance high power consumption, with high functionality. Proprietary deve- can be expanded processors for the wide variety of parallel-functioning computer cores lopments frequently lead to a dead Applications with high data ETX-based designs without having to which offer increased computing end which means that they must be throughput, real-time demands with make expensive changes to existing performance and moderate power redesigned later. different operating systems, and high baseboards. Module performance consumption. Use of mobile compu- graphics performance are already can be functionally expanded by ters in particular has encouraged this Dual-core technology on taken care of with ETXexpress Core using dual-channel DDR memory trend. This means no performance modules Duo modules. Available interfaces - also implemented on ETXexpress restrictions for the processor boards The introduction of dual-core include up to 5 PCIe x1 ports, PCI, modules. The next generation of pro- and modules designed for low technology on a module was started LPC, 8 USB 2.0, 1x GBit Ethernet, cessor performance will be the Intel power consumption. Additionally, at the 2006 Embedded World event 2 serial-ATAs or parallel-ATAs. This Core 2 Duo processor T7400 at 2.16 multi-core technology offers inde- in Nuremberg. Kontron presented an module includes the Mobile Intel GHz, run on ETXexpress with the pendent, asynchronous utilization ETXexpress module, which complies 945GM Express chipset, offering 945GME/ICH7 chipset – producing of the respective computer cores for with COM Express standard, built fl exible and high-performance a further, noticeable increase in per- „hybrid“ tasks in a single embedded around the Intel Celeron M 423 display links for demanding graphics formance with only a slight increase system. This means that the freedom (1.06 GHz), Intel Core Duo processor applications. Standards such as EDID in power consumption (3 Watt TDP / in design of COM-based devices L2400 (1.66 MHz) and T2500 and Kontron’s own JILI3 interface compared with the T2400 Core Duo). (2.0 GHz) embedded processors. make it easier for the user to link va- In addition to Intel, other manufac- ETXexpress conforms fully to COM rious displays of different resolutions turers are also planning additional Express, but still offers its own and sizes. The resounding success multi-core designs which promise to IPs (Intellectual Properties) which of COMs technology that found be useful for ETXexpress modules, Josef Fromberger simplify its integration in embedded its starting place with ETX is now particularly for performance-hungry is Product Line designs. This high-end ETXexpress being continued with COM Express. graphics applications. Sales Manager module is designed especially for However, it is still worthwhile to add for COMs at Kontron performance-hungry applications. It a Core Duo module with 945GME/ More information: www.kontron.com achieves almost double the perfor- ICH7 chipset to the ETX-Standard www.kontron.com/pp08
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 19 Basics
Embedded A Standard RISC-COMs for Defi ne the choices
Many embedded An analysis of RISC applications The table shows that RISC CPUs, Simplifying the computer users has allowed the defi nition of a unlike x86 processors, are not just Alternatives standard RISC computer on module. “general purpose CPUs,” but are Based on the variety of appli- have known and However, the problems associated designed to fi t to the needs of cations, a standardized Compu- taken advantage of with embedded applications must dedicated application areas. These ter-On-Module platform for RISC the benefi ts of RISC be understood to appreciate the processors frequently provide CPUs needs considerably more I/O proposed standard. a multitude of communication fl exibility to host all the different (reduced instruction interfaces, but typically not more CPU interfaces. Nevertheless, set computers) versus Choosing RISC vs. x86 CPU performance than a WLAN keeping a common system and I/O x86 CISC (complex for Embedded Applica- gateway, intelligent router, or interface ensures a certain amount tions other target application requires. For of compatibility and upgradeabi- instruction set com- The Computer-On-Modules example, in table 1, both products lity. This requires some amount of puters) processors market currently is x86 centric with integrate a second RISC engine compromising between an indi- a multitude of different standards (Communication Processor Module) vidual custom design with strictly for years. One of the and numerous proprietary solutions. to offl oad the communication tasks dedicated interfaces on one hand, to main advantages See sidebar for more details. These from the main RISC processor and a standard approach that achieves has always been one modules differ in size and some provide lower power consumption. compatibility and upgradeability on minor features, but all of them have However, the one unit has four the other hand. the main drawbacks one thing in common: the products Serial Communication Controllers The size of a standardized module – the variety of RISC are more or less PC compatible. They and much more memory. As a result, must consider several areas. On choices has prevented provide all the interfaces demanded the chip size (silicon area) for any one hand, it must be small enough by Windows operating systems particular application is based on to fi t into small embedded systems a standard approach and the ones PC users are used to the computing core and peripherals such as handheld devices. At least to specifying portions working with. The main variable is required for that application. Since three units should fi t on a 6U carrier of the RISC design. the CPU performance specifi ed in smaller chip size means lower cost, board to satisfy common require- x86 variations, such as Pentium, there are considerable variations in ments in networking, industrial au- Core Duo, etc. In general, CISC RISC processors to meet the various tomation, and military applications. Winfried Wolf x86 processors have fi x defi ned application cost targets. On the other hand, it has to have interfaces such as IDE/SATA, PCI/PCI express, serial, and USB. Features\Processor Freescale MPC855T Freescale MPC860P RISC processors on the other hand have a greater variety of interfaces Performance 105 MIPS @80 MHz [1] 106 MIPS @80MHz [1] that include PCI, LPC, I²C, Ethernet, Communication Processor Module Yes Yes serial, and more. Serial Communication Controller 1 4 In addition to the interfaces, Other Serial Channels (2) SMCs, (1) SPI, (1) I2C (2) SMCs, (1) SPI, (1) I2C the picture is quite different with I-Cache 4 16 RISC CPUs such as PowerPC or XScale processors. Since there is no D-Cache 4 8 standardized system architecture Ethernet 10/100 10/100 (like the PC for x86) RISC CPUs have ATM Yes Yes spawned a number of proprietary Multi HDLC Yes Yes designs. In addition to the interfaces Package size 357-pin BGA 357-pin BGA Winfried Wolf mentioned earlier, RISC architectures is product also include multiprotocol serial for [1] Using Dhrystone 2.1 manager E²Brain example HDLC and Utopia). Table 1 The variations within a single semiconductor companies RISC family are Module for Kontron provides a comparison of two RISC obvious. The increased number of Serial Communication Controllers and www.kontron.com processors from one supplier. increased amount of memory address different application requirements.
20 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 Basics
suffi cient area to provide the neces- Application Cost sensitive embedded real-time Performance and bandwidth demanding sary space for powerful processors control applications embedded control and communication and their chipsets that could take applications as much as 16 cm2. RISC CPUs are RISC module EB405 EB8540 low power devices by nature, but a Processor IBM/AMCC 405EP PowerPC Freescale MPC8540/8541 PowerPC module hosting a high-end PowerPC Memory 16/64 MB SDRAM 128/256 MB DDR-SDRAM must be able to cope with 20W Flash 4/8 MB 8/16 MB power consumption and the result- Interfaces PCI 32/33, LPC, I²C, JTAG/BDM, PCI 32/33, LPC, I²C, JTAG/BDM, Compact- CompactFlash (IDE), 2/4 serial ports, Flash (IDE), 6 serial ports, dual Gigabit ing heat dissipation (thermal enve- dual Fast Ethernet Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, CAN lope). A typical member of the RISC Power Consumption 4W typ. (3.3V) 12W typ. (3.3V) family - the PowerPC - frequently Performance (Dhrystone 2.1 MIPS) 404 1850 operates in harsh environmental Additional Features Real-time clock, watchdog, 15 GPIO Real-time clock, watchdog, temperature conditions such as industrial control, sensor military or transportation applica- Design Focus Cost optimized Highest performance tions due to its real time features, Comparing the features and performance of a cost sensitive RISC board to an identical size high perform- an excellent MIPS/Watt ratio, and ance RISC board shows the versatility of the proposed standard. The two RISC processors from different long-term availability. manufacturers satisfy the applications while having drastically different memory, interface, and performance Many applications require an requirements. extended temperature range from -40 °C to +85 °C and a supply Module specifi cation. In addition, RISC CPU, memory, and interfaces. on CISC processors or CISC-based guarantee for more than ten years. the industry’s fi eld experience from Power supply, physical interfaces modules. To create module families For that reason, a RISC Computer- years of x86-based Computer-On- for the ports, and possible required focused on communication or On-Module platform targeting these Module design provided an excellent function expansion are implemented automation, E²Brain uses the applications must be robust with all foundation and basis for layout and on a carrier board. The board-level individual interfaces (up to 2x FastE- components soldered to the PCB to connector defi nition. As a result, methodology simplifi es the choices thernet or GigaBitEthernet, and Mul- withstand shock and vibration. Mass a 4-connector, 115 mm x 75 mm without limiting the perform- tiprotocol Serial, for example HDLC storage with moving parts is not an board was chosen. ance options for embedded RISC and Utopia) of each processor. The option, since it would have diffi culty This newly defi ned standard can processors. E²Brain approach to a Computer-On- meeting the shock and vibration be viewed as a RISC version of the Module standard for RISC provides requirements. accepted Computer-On-Modules ap- Options Within the a means of addressing application These and many other consider- proach, which Kontron has dubbed, Standard areas including: net working, ations have all gone into the E²Brain™ modules. The modules Two extremes demonstrate the telecom, datacom, industrial control, defi nition of the RISC Computer-On- are complete computer units with a fl exibility of the standard: transportation, military, and medical. (1) a low cost Computer-On- The form factor provides scalable Module RISC product targeted at performance and up gradeability as a cost sensitive real-time control well as the fl exibility to use a variety application and of RISC processors. Consideration (2) a high performance Compu- for ruggedness and extended tem- ter-On-Module RISC product for a perature range in the most critical demanding control or communi- applications ensures a successful cation application. An IBM/AMCC design for the entire range of targe- 405EP operating at 266 MHz ted applications. provides 404 MIPS (Dhrystone 2.1) performance for the low cost appli- More information: cation. Fitting with the same defi ned www.kontron.com/pp10 space, a Freescale MPC8540/8541 operating at 800 MHz provides E²Brain 1850 MIPS (Dhrystone 2.1) and low power consumption for the high The specifi cations for E2Brain performance application. Table 2 were fi rst published in May 2005. shows the summary of key features Only eight months later, in January of these two modules. 2006, the E²Brain Interest Group was founded. Its core task and The standard board dimensions measure 115 mm x 75 mm or 4.5 x E²Brain takes advantage of the 3 inches for the RISC Computer-On-Module, or E2Brain module. The responsibilty is the joint develop- RISC processor interfaces and offers ment and marketing of RISC-based four connector locations, Pn1 (System), Pn2 (System Expansion), Pn3 COMs designed around E²Brain. (I/O) and Pn4 (I/O Expansion), were chosen for the high pin count they a fi xed interface set, including PCI, LPC, I²C, 1xFastEthernet, 2xSerial, The specifi cation can be provide with little real estate, and their robustness and reliability. Pn1 downloaded at: www.kontron. and Pn4 have 140 pins and Pn2 and Pn3 have 80 pins for a total of 440 and 1xCompactFlash. These indi- com/e2brain pins for the module. vidual interfaces are not standard
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 21 Basics
The Case for Ready- Made Processor Modules High-end High-end Digital Camera with RISC-COMs
The Ikegami Editcam DNS-33W, the latest model, achieves real nonlinear acquisition and avoids a time-consu- ming digitizing procedure. Video clips can be accessed direktly and edited by Avid nonlinear Editors such as Avid MC/NC Adrenaline, Xpress PRO and Xpress DV.
That Was Then For the next generation in disk recorders, the Editcam DNS-33W, a portable disk-based recorder (Figure 1) and the SAT2000 tabletop digital recorder, an out side supplier would be chosen to provide the digital processing power. Since the Selecting an appro- When nonlinear disk-based portable application, the design Editcam is an embedded portable priate processor recording fi rst appeared in 1995, is rather tightly constrained from camera that runs from batteries, the choices for the embed ded mechanical and power standpoints. lower power consumption was module can save large processor were limited and the Even today, there are not a lot of essential for longer use in the fi eld. amounts of develop- application requirements were options in off-the-shelf boards that The same modules go into both the rather strict. This dictated an provide the required interfaces, Editcam and the SAT2000, but the ment and test effort in-house design. Since that time, are small enough and draw power Editcam defi ned the space limita- and allow a company the application requirements low enough to meet the overall tions. Additional key criteria in the to concentrate on are even tighter but the choices system requirements. To meet these selection process were requirements for em bedded computing have require ments in the initial design, for supporting PCI, networks and using its expertise in increased dramatically. Today, NL Technology (NLT) designed the core interfaces, which were basic a target market to add an embedded 5.4 x 3-inch RISC computing portion of the nonlinear requirements. unique value. Computer-On-Module (COM) board dig ital recording system in house. Originally, NLT selected the provides the computing power The initial design was used PowerPC RISC architecture because for many of the highlights shown for many years and had a great it was used in the previous design Peter Ahne after football games and other on- deal of success but eventually and was one of the initial RISC the-spot news clips. The transition outgrew the processing speed. For products in the E2Brain fam ily. The provides a useful example to others the second-generation design, a Intel XScale processor, in Kontron’s who struggle with the „make newer processor architecture, the EB425 shown in Figure 2, provided versus buy“ decision for embedded PowerPC860, was used, but the an upgrade for increased processing computers. board was still designed in house. capability with reduced power Smart Acquisition Technology For the third generation, the decision consumption. The tran sition did not (SAT) integrates the process of was made to look for a third-party require changing any of the NLT capturing, logging and organizing solution rather than repeat the layout since the EB425 module had clips and data for use in nonlinear development process. the same form-factor. systems. SAT is built around video Realizing that NLT’s value-added This was the initial appeal of the Peter Ahne and audio acquisition. Since SAT was not in processor design, the E2Brain approach—transitions could is Marketing is digital, it pro vides high video focus was placed on the unique occur easily as new RISC products Manager at quality with no generation loss and video, audio and media manage- were developed within the standard Kontron works with any industry-standard ment capabilities required in digital form-factor. Physically, the two www.kontron.com camera and editing system. In a disk recording. boards are plug-and-play. However,
22 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 Basics
there was software code that had the Kontron family of products. The to be ported from one to the other, connector placement and board size but all E2Brain modules support were fi xed and Kontron would be VxWorks so the overall transition developing future mod ules was rather straightforward. The using this same approach. upgrade allowed disk-based digital The standards-based ap- recorder improve ments without proach provides the scalability investing additional time chasing for future product enhancements state-of-the-art processing technol- and avoids starting from scratch ogy.When the initial disk-based every time a product upgrade is recorder was developed in 1998, it defi ned. Other advantages included The EB425 has a fi xed took about a one and a half years not having to build and debug board size and connector of engineering time to develop the this portion of the system, and the placement meeting Kontron‘s boards in house. Using the avail able warranty was handled by Kontron defi nition for an E2Brain standart RISC embedded RISC board, the develop- during production. prozessing computer-on-module ment time was reduced to about 6 months saving a considerable A Standard Approach to amount of time-to-market. NLT Embedded RISC wer consumption. Reduced silicon The „Build Versus Buy“ was a beta-site for the EB425, so The whole point of using a RISC area allows this integration, so an Decision integration of the board into the processor in many applications external chipset to get connectivity Questions that should be answe- end prod uct occurred concurrently comes down to MIPS/watt and such as Ethernet capability is not red to deter mine “make versus buy” with Kontron’s development of the feature integration. In real-time required. include: XScale version E2Brain module. The recording, fast boot time is critical In the case of the NLT recorder, 1. Is the company’s core com- develop ment time could have been as well. RISC-based systems tend obtaining the level of performance petence in using rather than even less if development started to boot faster due to smaller size (533 MHz) of an IXP425 processor designing computers? after the beta phase. of the boot code, compared to that from an x86-type CISC processor, 2. Can the design be completed One of the major advantages of an embedded PC BIOS, and the the performance per clock before the mar ket changes? of buying the board developed by use of light weight RTOSs, such as cycle would have to approach an 3. Can the advantages of today’s a third party was the support of VxWorks. Sometimes it can take as 800 MHz Pentium class processor computing performance be used another engineering team working much as 30 seconds to boot a PC and the CISC processor would dis- before the next advance ment in on both hardware and soft ware de- BIOS. The small footprint for the sipate from 15 to 20 watts instead computing performance occurs? signs. NLT’s team did not have to fo- computing core in RISC processors of 2.8 watts. Even in the newer, 4. What is the cost versus time tra- cus on these issues because it came allows integration of peripherals on more effi cient desktop processors, deoff of “do it yourself” versus as part of the package. Part of the the processor die without creating power dissipation still approaches “off the shelf”? benefi ts of the E2Brain architecture an excessively large chip that would 10 watts. With advancements in techno- was its status as a standard within increase the cost, footprint and po- logy and new approaches for One form factor - many standardizing embedded RISC choices modules, such as the E2Brain The table shows the versatility modules, a previously successful Onboard Features EB860 EB425 of the standard approach to internal development does not Processor Freescale MPC 8860 @ Intel XScale IXP425 @ embedded RISC processing. The two provide suffi cient reason to ignore 80 MHz (other MPC85x, 266/533 MHz (other IXP 42x on request) 86x, on request) processors being compared operate the benefi ts of an off-the-shelf Memory 64/128 MB SDRAM soldered 128 MB SDRAM soldered at completely different speeds, have solution. If the incremental cost of (up to 256 MB possible) different external memory, and buying a module can be absorbed, Flash 4/8 MB Flach soldered 4/8 MB Flach soldered performance is drastically different: it gets a new design to market (up to 32 MB possible) (up to 256 MB possible) 106 Dhrystone 2.1 versus 1066. quicker, and avoids internal design SRAM 1 MB buffered by auxillary 1 MB buffered by auxillary However, they both fi t inside the efforts or external contract manufac- power (optional) power (optional) E2Brain form-factor. turing. A standard module can be Fieldbus CAN (optional) CAN (optional) For NLT, the choice of a standard a lower cost alterna tive to doing SRAM RTC, watchdog, CAM RTC, watchdog embedded module knocked a year all the engineering or subcontrac- Miscellaneous (Ethernet adress fi lter) off of the development cycle and ting the full engineering design. Temperature Range 0C up to 70C 0C up to 70C advanced the introduction of the Otherwise, the time-to-profi t cost -40C up to +85C (optional) -40C up to +85C (optional) SAT2000. could ultimately limit the product’s Power Consumption 3W typ. 2.8W typ. The question arising is: How success. Performance Dhrystone 2.1 106 1066 (CPU core + 3 NPEs) does a company know if its next product is appropriate for modules The performance of a RISC board, the EB860 with an MPC 8860 compared to the or a candidate for a full COTS or full More information: same size standard board, an EB425, with an Xscale IXP425 processor custom board? www.kontron.com/pp11
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 23 Basics
COM Management made easy EVA: A single board handling standard for all COMs
The new Kontron EVA (Embedded Value Add) program stan- dardizes for the fi rst time the Advanced Programming Inter- face (API), internal design, and manage- ment structure of Computer-On-Mo- dules (COMs) and Single Board Compu- ters (SBCs) in so far as they are not already defi ned by the form factor standard.
Josef Behammer
EVA: The main features of COMs with standardized Embedded Value Adds
For developers of embedded extended features and value-added with the “Embedded Value Add” system applications, hardware services for different product ranges seal of approval are available for handling is thus identical for all and vertical markets. By choosing LINUX, Windows CE, Windows XP form factors and operating systems. this solution, OEM customers gain em bedded, VxWorks (as license), The uniform management structure substantial competitive advantages. and QNX (on request). offers an identical look & feel and Kontron’s “Embedded Value The new and comprehensive simplifi es software development Add” program (EVA) will be EVA feature set is ideal for the user. and porting of applications for implemented immediately for the It not only guarantees a high and all form factors. The benefi ts are form factors ETX and ETX 3.0, standardized level of board deve- numerous: greater effi ciency, ETXexpress / COM Express, micro- lopment for new customers, but re duced development times, and ETXexpress, X-board, DIMM-PC, also is a key element in customer shorter time to market. EVA is JRex, 3.5”, MOPS PC/104 and EPIC. retention. Josef Behammer Kontron‘s fi rst step as part of its For example, these features are fully Thus, along with the dedi- is Sales & Mar- ‚Kontron IP‘ program. supported by Kontron COM and cated interfaces, standards, and keting Manager To differentiate itself from SBC platforms built around the Intel certifi cates, it will become the most at Kontron Em- bedded Modules its competitors, Kontron’s IP Pentium M processor. Advanced important decision-making criterion www.kontron.de program will integrate standardized board support packages (BSPs) for developers.
24 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 Basics
The specifi cation 1. Standardized hardware monitor charging control of multiple components with temperature, voltage, and batteries in parallel for realizing Wath`s IPs? Besides the uniform API (JIDA32 fan control including threshold mobile systems via ACPI and INT 15), version 1.0 of the EVA value and hysteresis program- In the area of electronics specifi cation offers in general every ming 4. Standardized GPIO access via I2C development, IPs (intellectual of these features a user could want bus with speed of up to 100 kHz. properties) characterize solutions within the scope of standardization 2. Standardized CPU management Standardized remote control fea- that are functional building of the feature set aside from the by means of throttling and tures with JRC client integrated blocks, i.e., unfi nished products. They help customers implement dedicated interfaces: Hardware frequency control for customized into the BIOS for editing BIOS, their own solutions, simplify monitoring and control, CPU variable control of CPU perfor- CMOS, and EEPROM as well designs, and reduce the time to management, thermal and (mobile) mance with separate software as handling images via ISDN, prototype. power management, CMOS access, programming and in addition to modem, or Internet. display connection, GPIO addres- ACPI control sing, and remote maintenance are 5. Standardized board informa- 6. Standardized service interface via all standardized and programmable 3. Standardized hardware watch- tion data area for tracking ALCD for connecting an alpha- via the uniform API. dog with NMI (nonmaskable serial number, runtime, boot numeric dot matrix display for the interrupt) or reset functionality counter, and repair date for output of secondary information. Overview of key for executing precisely timed, quality assurance Standardized features dedicated functions TFT connection via JILI (intelligent Six Embedded Value Adds stand- Standardized smart battery LVDS interface) with EDID ardize the board handling beyond support (SBS) including battery ( Extended Display Identifi cation More information: the form factor: status query and intelligent Data) support www.kontron.com/pp13
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 25 Basics
Easy Graphic Adaption
Whether it’s a simple the connection of TTL displays which are still in use is also possible LVDS display adapter through conversion. Some 450 or a more complex different display/board combina- CRT-to-LCD converter, tions are currently covered by JILI. Since new fl at displays are regularly the right fl at panel brought onto the market, Kontron controller for COMs is also develops corresponding JILI usually already availa- display adapters as required. ble as an accessory.
More information: Daniel Piper www.kontron.com/pp16
OEM customers no longer have time to deal with the technical from Kontron. The module offers e.g. all ETX compliant COMs are Flat panel controller details of the basic platforms: they conversion of image data according equipped with a JILI-Interface. want quick and effi cient solutions to fl at panel type, extensive “image The market potential for such The RoHS-compliant CRTtoLCD-7 and not just for fi nished industrial tuning” operations, including solutions results from the fact that fl at panel controller from the aFLAT PCs in housings, but increasingly for zooming, scaling, rotating, mirroring, the “self-confi guration” of monitors series will support the TV tuner Computer-On-Modules (COMs). and deinterlacing, under software is usual in the commercial sector, expansion module as an option and For this reason, Kontron is always control. thanks to the standardized VESA is mechanically compatible with its leaded predecessors CRTtoLCD-2 working on new functions and This module has a “plug & display” EDID (Enhanced Display Identifi ca- and CRTtoLCD-3, which makes standardized features to minimize connector for fast connection to the tion Data) process. conversion particularly simple. the time-to-prototype for COM COM baseboard, for example via Besides RGB and DVI input, the users. One important example a VGA output (analog RGB). This EDID 1.3 support multimedia and TV CRTtoLCD-7 fl at panel controller from the aFLAT of this is graphics adapters for variant of the fl at panel control is However, this does not work in series offers additional Composite connecting industrial display also ideal for applications such as the area of embedded CPU boards, and S-Video inputs for PAL/NTSC technology. Besides the JILI interface connecting a second display or im- because with the graphics controller signals and comprehensive video (direct connection of panel to the plementing long-distance solutions used, there is usually no or very source support (Component YPbPr), in which the simultaneous display baseboard), the use of a CRT-to-LCD with staggered LCDs. In addition, limited software support from the of two signals in PiP mode (Picture- fl at panel controller is probably the other interfaces and converters for manufacturer in implementation. in-Picture) is possible. Therefore, it most common requirement. The DVI, PAL/NTSC/ SECAM video, and CPU boards that support real plug is well equipped for video sources huge demand for solutions of this YUV are on board, providing great & play connectivity for fl at displays such as cameras and DVD players. type often results from very specifi c fl exibility in selection of the image with EDID 1.3 are particularly con- Joining this is also an integrated screensaver function, which visualization requirements in the source signal. venient here. In this way, the display prevents burn-in effects and so- industrial area. One of the latest data can be managed independently called image sticking in TFTs. These products from this portfolio is the Plug&Play connectivity of the board. can occur when the same screen CRTtoLCD-7 fl at panel controller A programmable OSD can be During connection to the as- contents are displayed for long periods of time. A very powerful used to control image parame- sembly, the activation of the panel script language enables individual ters such as image position and is completely automatic via the I2C customer requirements to be im- brightness. at the push of a button. protocol. Kontron COMs with EDID plemented in a comparatively short A large number of display cables 1.3 implementation lead the LVDS period of time without the need for modifying the board fi rmware and drivers are available for fast signal required for direct TFT activa- or hardware. Additional benefi ts to Daniel Piper implementation of special displays. tion, which is specifi cally confi gured Kontron customers include intense is Manager Besides these fl at panel control- depending on the type of panel, via consultation prior to investment, Distribution & lers, Kontron also offers standard- the JILI interface, for example. The long-term availability, and life cycle Marketing for Flat ized graphics interfaces on its JILI interface allows the activation management that provides real- Panel Solutions time information on current product at Kontron customized baseboards, or supports of single and double port LVDS TFTs updates and changes. www.kontron.com them directly on COMs and SBCs, up to a 24 bit data width. Of course,
26 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 Basics Service for COMs Customer-specifi c solutions increasingly important
COMs which are Starter kits alone are no longer for COMs and the development can be avoided in advance, and enough. Therefore, providers of of customized Single-Board customized designs can be readied targeted to the custo- COMs must increasingly also make Com puters. Dozens of layouts are for production signifi cantly faster. mer-specifi c solutions the complete customer-specifi c successfully implemented every market are no longer design ready for production. year, and then manu factured in This also gives providers the profi le series. purchased exclusi- of a design house and contractor By intensive consulting and More information: vely as components. for customized solutions in the optimized design, design risks www.kontron.com/pp12 Customers are increa- fi eld of computer-on-modules. They – and this is an added value singly requesting total compared to pure development Fast, faster, COMs solutions, so that they service providers – are implemen- can focus on their own ted to the largest possible extent based on recognized standards core competences. like ETX (3.0), ETXexpress (COM Express), microETXexpress, or X-board and DIMM-PC. Helmut Weber Building blocks for customer-specifi c solutions The entire process, from design to serial production, also comes The customized from a single source, and primarily baseboard for the prefabricated serial products are purpose of network ana- lysis and optimization was used in a virtual building block developed within only six weeks principle: Computer-On-Modules, and is equipped with 4 x GBit LAN, cooling and memory solutions among other things. are already available as fi nished components, common interfaces Customized COM baseboards paths takes place. The last two and functions exist as prefabricated can be fi nished in just 35 to weeks are for assembly. “building blocks”. 40 workdays from the awarding of the contract. That is extremely Interesting feature set Quick implementation fast: many providers advertise The customized baseboard that of customer requests 30 days from fi nal determination Kontron developed for the purpose Thus, customized designs can be of the specifi cations. However, of network analysis and optimiza- implemented extremely quickly for the fi nal specifi cation is often tion for a leading test and measure- 80 per cent of customer requests, changed during the development ment provider in just 6 weeks is phase to retroactively optimize equipped with 4 x Gb LAN, among reducing the time to prototype to a functions, drop them, or add other things. In operating mode, minimum of a few days or weeks. them. This can also happen during the board provides network data Helmut Weber All around the Computer- is project mana- the circuit diagram development for analysis and optimization to ger with Kontron On-Module portfolio, Kontron or the layout phase. With the the ETXexpress Computer-On-Mo- for customer-spe- boards & MORE! offers a clever competition, the 30 day clock dule. Without voltage the two Gb cifi c baseboard team that focuses exclusively on then resets. At Kontron, only the Ethernet signals are merely passed projects, based on COMs the implementation of the latest fi ne-tuning of the fi nal circuit through (2x in/2x out). www.kontron.com interface technology on baseboards
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 27 Basics
Power supply „copy & via paste“ MARS: Modular energy management develop- ment platform for mobile COM applications
Kontron facilitates the development and implementation of effi cient power supplies for mobile applications with the new MARS (Mobile Application platform for Rechargeable Systems) modular de- velopment platform.
Christoph Stark The evaluation board for MARS integrates the four reference designs SMART Battery System, Input Buck Boost Converter, Dual Buck Converter and Buck Boost Converter. Their layout fi les can be can integrated into the custom baseboard layout simply by “copy & paste”
MARS is an optimized reference reference design is supplied as an charge and temperature for the design for ETX, ETXexpress (COM evaluation board including IP (Intel- smart batteries, current MARS states, Express-compliant), and microETXex- lectual Property) that is ready to use and much more information can be press solutions and is easily out of the box. Kontron makes the analyzed for energy management. trans ferable into customer-specifi c MARS design layout and switching An evaluation board for the connec- designs. Apart from management data available in ORCAD format. tion of 2 smart batteries, a manual interfaces for smart batteries, helpful Simply copy and paste into the including functional descriptions, and power features such as extended custom baseboard layout. Customers 1 SM bus and 2 ATX power cables input voltage ranges (i.e. industrial thereby profi t from an extremely are included are included in every voltage ranges or voltage for in- short time to prototype. Kontron MARS package. vehi cle PCs), connection possibilities for all ATX voltages, and backup Management of two Kontron MARS battery support for battery replace- smart batteries Reference Designs: ment during operation are offered by MARS manages up to 2 smart The smart battery system the modular reference design. batteries. Depending on the ap- man ages the charging and In a fi rst step, MARS will be available plication, the smart batteries can dis charging processes of up to 2 as a complete evaluation board be operated with or without the smart batteries in parallel (ca. 10 for Kontron’s ETX-PM with an Intel support of the operating system. per cent more yield) or serial Dr.-Ing. Pentium M processor in connection Extended energy management can operation. Christoph Stark with the ETX-eval starter kit in Janu- be programmed via the standard SM works as a Hard- ary 2007. Additional board support bus accesses. Transfer of the SBS state ware developer at Kontron packages for COMs from Kontron will Via the Kontron MARS platform, data, e.g., state of charge and www.kontron.com follow in February 2007. The MARS important data such as state of tem perature, is done via an
28 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 Basics
SMbus on ETX, ETXexpress and voltage if a backup battery with does reduce the power input of In mobile applications or those microETXexpress baseboards. Vmin < 12 V is used. the entire system, but can impair not connected to the power the charging and, in the long run, grid, the use of two batteries is The input buck-boost converter Battery effi ciency with with NiCd batteries can lead to often desirable. Thus, in ongoing extends the input voltage range mobile systems shortening of battery life, since operation one or two batteries to 5-28 V and enables power With mobile applications with high CPU load not enough can be replaced one after the supply with an ATX power supply the battery management has a charging current is available. other. Beyond that, the parallel unit or DC voltage. great infl uence on battery life and discharging mode is recommen- effi ciency. Along with the careful Charging should be exactly attu- ded, since in the case of parallel An ATX-compliant power supply selection of the optimal battery type ned to the battery type used, to use of the batteries the life is is available, through a dual buck further aspects of battery manage- ensure that the batteries are trea- extended by up to 10 per cent, as converter, for ETX, ETXexpress ment should be considered: ted in such a manner that service compared to sequential use (due and microETXexpress COMs. life is as long as possible. For this, to optimal chemical discharging It supplies voltages of 5 V, 5 Power supply and charging it should be possible to correspon- processes in the battery). From an V_STB, and 12 V as well as connection should ideally be laid dingly determine the charging ecological and economic perspec- connection options for - 5 V and out so that even with the CPU and discharging conditions via tive this is clearly the better - 12 V or + 3.3 V via a DC/DC working at full capacity, there the application/program and, if choice, even if the procurement switching controller. is enough power for charging. applicable, with Smart Battery costs are initially higher. A power input limiter (e.g., on Systems to carry out a calibration The buck-boost converter maximum power requirement of the battery electronics along More information: in creases the battery output CPU module + 25 per cent) with a corresponding discharge. www.kontron.com/pp14
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 29 Basics
The borrowed eye
Wearable PC with Kontron ETX COM used around the world in mobile service
The size of a fi rst generation Walkman, the i-boro PC, which can be worn on a belt, is integrated into a novel communications system for service and maintenance work on devices, machines, and facilities. The sy- stem is based on ETX The i-boro (pronounced “eye bor- order to reduce costs for the end user port – battery-saving wearable PC Computer-On-Modules row”) PC can be worn on a belt, but and time for the central OEM service represents a crucial milestone for this it can also be described as a “bor- employee to a minimum. Mainte- technology, which will lead to market (COM) from Kontron rowed eye on site”: with a unique nance and repair tasks are delegated penetration. Up to now, problems and was developed VCD headset (Voice Camera Display) as far “down” as possible. such as manual focusing of the lens, by ies Industrie-Elek- for bi-directional IP communication, The vision even goes beyond relatively limited resolution rates in distance is no longer a factor. Time today’s technology: in the long term, image transmission, and a lack of tronik Schmitz in and costs in on-site after-sales service virtual reality image recognition- zoom function were as much of a cooperation with SN and maintenance are signifi cantly based UIs will perfect solutions like stumbling block to extensive market Technics. reduced. OEMs provide these WLAN, the i-boro. The appropriate software penetration as processor perform- UMTS, and satellite-capable systems is being developed by many suppliers. ance with appropriately low energy with the documentation for the de- RFID tags will support this path with use at attractive prices. With the new Gerhard Steger & vice, machine, or facility. Employees decentralized intelligence. But right i-boro system from SN Technics, this Zeljko Loncaric of the end user or local machine now, the extremely small autofocus obstacle has now been overcome. service staff can carry out the fi rst zoom camera and the powerful and The camera focuses automatically diagnostic steps in repair work and – thanks to smart battery sup- and provides brilliant image data, regular maintenance. zoomed as needed, in VGA or SVGA With support from an resolutions. Camera zoom functions Dr.-Ing. OEM central service are controlled via a keypad integrated Gerhard Steger is CEO of Indu- center employee, even into the i-boro. Interfaces for WLAN, strie-Elektronik diffi cult tasks can be UMTS, or satellite are available as Schmitz GmbH & solved with remote communication interfaces for the Co. KG, Kierspe support. Depending IP-based communication of images, www.ies-gmbh.de on the OEM’s service video, and audio data. concept, maintenance The fi rst users and interested documents, animated parties in the fi elds of Zeljko Loncaric quick reference guides Machine and is Product Marke- for standard mainte- facilities construction ting Manager Em- nance, or even avatars Auto manufacture and supply bedded Modules, With after-sales service and maintenance time Kontron can be used off-line and costs for on-site service can remarkably be Pharmaceutical and chemical www.kontron.com on the wearable PC in reduced. manu facture
30 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 Basics
The industrial-grade i-boro is based on an ETX-PM Printing industry and publishing Intel Pentium M processor. While in module with 1.1 GHz Intel Energy principle, cooling a 1.1 GHz Pentium Pentium M processor and Shipbuilding and ship owners M is no problem, at the system features all the standard Household appliance manu- dimensions of a mere 230x140x44 interfaces necessary in facture mm, this is usually done through industry (USB2.0, Firewire, Aircraft maintenance passive thermal coupling to the PCMCIA). The cooling is based Defense, etc. housing. However, this method is on an integrated passive heat- pipe that is insulated from the can expect savings of several million undesirable in a wearable system, housing; at the internal end, dollars thanks to the i-boro, because because the housing would reach the turbulence of the waste current practice requires service 50 degrees Celsius, which would be heat is ensured via a microfan. technicians to be called to the site uncomfortably warm on the body. to determine in the shortest possible For this reason, a solution had to time what replacement parts are be developed that did not couple needed. Depending on the location, the thermal design to the housing, functions were developed together it may be necessary to wait one or yet is robust enough to withstand by SN Technics, ies, and Kontron and two days for the replacement before long-term mobile use. The solution will soon be available through the it can be installed to bring the is based on an integrated passive three companies, so that develop- machine back into operation. This heatpipe that is insulated from the ers of these functions will hardly quickly leads to avoidable costs of housing; at the internal end, the have to put in any effort on them, a few thousand dollars per service turbulence of the waste heat is because they will be part of the easily to technician-year. However, these ensured via a microfan, meeting the board support package. any new require- costs alone are not crucial: much highest MTBF requirements. More ments without having more important for end-users is details are proprietary, because the COMs reduce the to commission a completely new reducing downtime to a minimum, unique design promises SN Technics pressure for electronics board design. Thus, necessary new since production grinds to a halt a competitive advantage and ies developers developments can be adapted to the when the machines are not working. even more design wins in the fi eld The PC system design with latest requirements with the least Depending on the product, immense of mobile computing. Intel Pentium M 1.1 GHz processor expense. margins can be lost. Furthermore, smart battery sup- (optionally 1.8 GHz) and up to 1024 “Thanks to ETX, smart battery port is an important criterion for MB RAM is based on Computer-On- support, and the powerful, energy- Technical highlight: mobile applications, because ideally Modules (COM). The form factor of saving Intel Pentium M processor, thermal design, the the operating period of the battery a COM determines the format for it was possible to adapt the PC smallest box and smart should cover a full working day. This the fully-fl edged PC. In practice, the technologies of the new i-boro to battery support is possible, but is currently impracti- dimensions are 95 mm x 114 mm. all important market requirements“, The developers have come up cal because the batteries needed to The use of COMs allows users to says development manager Jörg with something special in the hous- run the application continuously for employ proven systems with higher Seitz from the manufacturer SN ing design for cooling the powerful eight hours are still too heavy. For functionality as building blocks, Technics. The fi rst pilot projects with this reason, the system and concentrate fully on their core Bosch, Daimler-Chrysler, DMG, and has a buffer battery so competence. COMs simplify product Miele confi rm this prognosis. the batteries can be maintenance by reducing the parts exchanged while in op- list from several hundred individual i-boro from SN Technics eration. The system runs components to just one element. at a glance for 10 minutes without Cancellations of nonessential com- The industrial-grade i-boro is ba- a battery and then shuts ponents do not require additional sed on an ETX-PM module with down automatically and redesigns on the computer module, 1.1 GHz Intel Pentium M proces- error-free if there is no because Kontron guarantees a sor and features all the standard power supply. Depending minimum fi ve years form-fi t function interfaces necessary in industry on the operating mode, on its COMs. With a shorter time-to- (USB2.0, Firewire, PCMCIA). the system automatically market, a lower design risk, always The headset for sound, zoom switches its resources the most up-to-date computer tech- camera, and eye-monitor weighs on and off in order to nology and no additional expenses a mere 770 grams. save energy, which is for hardware and software mainte- The controls for the screen menu always in short supply nance, more and more manufactur- and camera are integrated into in mobile applications. ers of devices and systems are using the i-boro via a 2-button mouse In day-to-day operation, these advantages for a wide variety and 4 button keypad. one battery is currently of applications and industries, WLAN, UMTS, and satellite are suffi cient for 4 hours. The because the outsourcing advantage supported as interfaces to the second battery can be is unmistakable with COMs. central technician. carried in a belt pouch Another advantage of using with a Velcro fastener. COMs for SN Technics is the ability More information: The second battery is carried in a belt pouch The energy management to adapt the base circuit board www.kontron.com/pp17
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 31 Basics
Flash as Hard Drive Robust but only long-lived when the right technology is used
Embedded applica- tions increasingly call for the implemen- tation of systems without moving parts. However, with hard drives there is a limit, since no solid-state memory medium yet exists that can rival the capacities availa- ble with a moving magnetic drive.
Claus Giebert Floating Gates: Practically all of today’s non-volatile memory technologies are based on so-called “Floating Gates”
Currently, this means that one ided. After a certain amount of time is simply so “full of holes” that the is almost always limited to Flash me- (data retention time of more than charge drains off too quickly. Since mory. Certain rules apply to its use. 10 years) these leakage currents all non-volatile, semi-conductor cause the memory to fail. memories (except FRAM) work the Physical background However, there is the question of same way or very similarly, it is im- Practically all non-volatile memo- how to store data since the FG is to- possible to produce a memory which ry technologies today are based on tally isolated from the environment can be write-accessed an infi nite so-called “fl oating gates” (FG). and of how much this procedure number of times. This must always Although the setup varies, in affects the memory locations. be considered when Flash is used principle it is implemented as shown Regardless of any evaluation of as a substitute for HDD. This means in fi g. 1 (Abb1.) The reactions of the which model (Channel hot electrons, that all maintenance concepts must actual transistor (consisting of drain/ CHISEL, etc.) can be used for the ex- also always include purchasing source/fl oating gate) are determined planation, the procedure is based on substitutes. by the voltage between FG and the application of a voltage which source. This voltage depends on the is clearly above the read-access Read or Read & Write charge of the “disk” capacitor (con- voltage. The fi eld strengths created When Flash is used in read-only sisting of control gate (CG) and FG by this are above those which occur mode, damaging effects are not to as well as the potential of the CG. when lightning directly strikes the be expected since read-accessing This can be used to read the state of insulation of low-voltage cables, for the memory produces no stress the memory location by selecting a instance. It is clear that this proce- to speak of. Since no read heads suitable voltage on the CG. dure represents a great strain on the have to be positioned, the system Claus Giebert This procedure does not damage insulation layer. This is also one of is sometimes even accelerated de- is Product Manager at the memory location and aging the reasons why data retention is pending on the type of access being Kontron only occurs due to leakage currents no longer guaranteed after a certain used. However, when Flash is used www.kontron.de which cannot be completely avo- number of write cycles. The isolator in read and write mode, each write
32 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 Basics
access can cause the same sectors Compact Flash) and if Flash opera- correctly. To be (for instance the fi le access table, ting software makes it appear as if able to use these FAT) to be deleted or overwritten the data are always contained in the blocks anyway, more frequently than others. This same sector, such a life-extending manufacturers of causes the memory to age. Take solution can be used by any system memory drives the logging of CAN telegrams as which can access mass storage have borrowed an example in practice: If data are at all. The second life-extending from solutions for backed up on mass storage once per measure can be implemented via hard drive tech- second, that adds up to 2,592,000 the related fi le system. In addition to nology. This tech- Flash drives can almost compete with hard drives times per month. If the Flash ma- the particularly unsuitable FAT, fi le nology has always nufacturer specifi es a million write systems also exist such as NTFS or marked defective blocks as such By combining all your options it accesses, this means that memory also extensions which are designed and then replaced them with is possible to create a Flash drive failure can be expected in less than especially for MOD or Flash use. correctly functioning blocks from that can almost compete with hard a month. Another example is the The disadvantage of this solution is the periphery. Tracks are even drives. Despite all this, however, you recording of system status with Log the dependency on the operating reserved especially for defect still have to continuously keep the Files once per minute. If the same system. In addition, it must be handling. Transferring this concept type of accesses in mind since no Flash memory is used, expected life remembered that only free sectors to Flash technology, a capacity is solution exists that permits write time is approximately two years. can be used. This means that the specifi ed which is theoretically less accesses in the millisecond range, for fuller the memory, the fewer the sec- than the blocks can actually deliver. instance. It is also a good idea to use Load distribution tors over which the write accesses On the one hand, this reserve is an OS which permits the prediction of One way to handle this problem can be distributed. used to mask sectors which will which accesses will use mass storage. is to distribute the accesses to all never function correctly at all. On Windows XP embedded, Windows CE unused sectors. This can be accom- Masking the other hand, it can also be used or LINUX are good choices. plished in two ways. If, on the one Today’s Flash memories offer for later masking and replacement hand, the next free sector is always great capacity, but frequently have of areas which were destroyed by More Information: written in the Flash memory (e.g. blocks which do not function frequent deletions. www.kontron.com/pp15
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 33 ProductApplication News News COMs @ work The third generation is now in use
Performance-Upgrades for Clinical Infotainment with Robust IPC Core Workstations Where Infotainment perfection Ffor easy connection of I/O devices on the POS/POI is concerned, PC such as camera, microphone, exter- technology is the only platform nal keyboard, WLAN, card reader, which can unite all potential media. proximity sensors or even door Display-based solutions with sepa- openers had to be implemented in rate PC hardware are not fl exible a minimum of space simultaneously enough and require additional with low heat generation. cabling and lots of space. Solutions based on ETX modules That is why friendlyway has are now being used. They permit equipped their d-sign infotain- low-profi le designs and reliable ment monitors with the latest PC cooling as well as the latest in pro- functionality including touchscreens. cessor performance that is needed Thanks to COMs, scaling the sys- for POS/POI-systems. tems – which feature up to 40-inch www.kontron.com/app02 screen diagonals – to customer re- quirements is easy and inexpensive. The very fl at Clinical workstation: an excellent example of the (depths of 5 cm to scalability that can be achieved by designing with COMs 10 cm) models of the PC systems that In 2001, Fresenius MC Medi- 1-1, EN60601-1-2, EN60601-1-4) are designed for zintechnik began development of for certifi cation as a medical device long-term availability a clinical workstation that is used as per MPG (medical product law). place high demands today as the anesthesia documen- A third performance upgrade of on the hardware: tation system in the operating the design has now been executed high CPU and gra- room and as PDMS (Patient Data without the need to change the phics performance, Management System) by inten- baseboard. The original models numerous interfaces Flexible POS/POI systems with ETX sive care units. Using appropriate are still using an Intel Pentium III interfaces, the workstation monitors processor running at 500 MHz. Later and controls medical devices such models followed with a Pentium as cardiovascular system monitors, III processor running at 700 MHz respirators, infusion technology, and a 933 MHz Pentium III Mobile Prepaid Cards and Tickets from the and so on. Patient data is collected, processor; the latest is an ETX Electronic Store displayed, archived and placed on module with a 1.1 GHz Pentium M the hospital’s IT network. processor. Additional performance With its new vending machine transportation fares will be output Important features that were upgrades up to and including the concept - the e-Loading machine on an integrated printer on security implemented for the extremely fl at Intel Core Duo are available as - tobaccoland has opened the paper. Each system is wirelessly (85 mm) 19” Touchscreen PC with required. This application is an excel- market for the automated sale of connected with a central computer optional PCI expansion interface lent example of the scalability that digitized goods and “virtual rights.” via a radio modem. include fanless (noiseless) operation, can be achieved by designing with In addition to applications such as This connection is used by optional Flashdisk operation for COMs. This in turn also can reduce re-charging prepaid cards, products tobaccoland to replenish electronic non-stationary locations, IP65 development costs over the long run will be added that can provide cell goods, make software updates, protection rating as well as com- and thus the customer’s total cost of phone ringtones, tickets for soccer monitor system status and perform pliance with all medical safety and ownership (TCO). games, or local transportation maintenance on the vending performance standards (EN60601- www.kontron.com/app01 services. Tickets for admission or for machines. The demands on the
34 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 ApplicationProduct News
computer hardware are immense: it The machines may also be repro- must be robust enough for outdoor grammed quickly for a new products use, including extreme temperatures; mix. For the span of its intended 10- round-the-clock reliability is vital; year lifetime, the system also must and performance must be suffi cient to be adaptable to technological (despite a fanless design) to make developments (for instance advances the graphic user interface user- in processor technology). friendly and fl exible. The hardware An ETX-based design meets these must also permit advertising fi lms to requirements and offers uniform be shown as needed. service and easy upgrades by Additionally, the machines, which replacing the CPU modules without feature a vandal-proof, 10.4-inch any modifi cations to the vending screen, can offer several products at machines at all. the same time. www.kontron.com/app03 For the fi rst time the ARGUS PRO mobile patient monitoring system offers UMTS support for the transmission of patient data
gram) is already available today. ces, is possible with UMTS with the Remote monitoring of all vital signs, full confi guration (2 Mbit/sec). including live-video-stream sequen- www.kontron.com/app04
Keep on the Track with RISC
An individually developed CPU 128 MB of SDRAM. A real-time clock module with 80 MHz Freescale and a Flash bootloader are also MPC855T controls the analog and integrated. In addition to the com- Demands on the computer hardware are immense: vending machines digital ORTHOPHOS X-ray systems puter core, a dedicated communica- with an ETX-based design meets these requirements from Sirona Dental Systems GmbH. tions processor ensures swift data The module is the intelligence throughput. center of the high-end systems This inexpensive, specialized pro- developed by the dental technology cessor, which is actually designed for The Specialists on Board company. diverse data communication tasks, It controls the circular path of can easily handle the enormous fl ood ETX standard COMs are and ambulances moving patients to the camera ring, ensures precise of data (several hundred Megabytes) also used in highly-specialized special clinics; the specialist at the exposure times, regulates the X-ray produced by a jaw scan within a half embedded applications such as receiving clinic can observe events strength and processes the image a second. medical devices. Medical technology with a “watchful remote eye.” data for the digital systems. The The baseboard with its X-ray de- provider SCHILLER offers a mobile The current solution prepares COM at the core of this system is vice-specifi c elements was developed patient monitoring system based a diagnostic-quality, resting equipped with 32 MB of Flash and by Sirona itself. on ETX modules that can be used electrocardiogram with automatic for the transmission of patient data interpretation and faxes this resting via UMTS. electrocardiogram from the monito- For the fi rst time, UMTS ring application to a defi ned target technology offers rescue squads hospital for diagnosis (second digital data communication opinion) or to a web server which options with the performance that authorized persons can access with they require. The “ARGUS PRO” two-factor authentication from intensive care monitoring system a web browser anywhere in the for emergency patients combines world. all of the data from the patient Since only the raw electrocardio- monitoring system and can display gram data and the vital signs data it both on the monitor screen on are sent, the web server offers the site and, via UMTS, in real-time user special software that enables anywhere in the world. The system unrestricted evaluation. This means is particularly useful in providing that a remote application with the wide-band, mobile telemetry data individual vital signs (for instance transmission from rescue helicopters the 12-channel electrocardio- COM with RISC processors controls dental X-ray machines from Sirona
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 35 ProductApplication News News
The E2Brain series which stands for RISC-based COMs is a concrete result of this project and It pays to participate similar developments. The very fi rst COM Standard for RISC systems was created with the disc- Win a mobile smart battery manage- losure in May 2005 of the design The 80 MHz guidelines of the E2Brain modules. ment development system Freescale MPC855T www.kontron.com/app05
Survival of 30 Years under Extreme Conditions
years (about 250,000 hours), must be designed for the most rugged climatic conditions, must be able to handle great temperature fl uctua- tions (-40°C to +85°C), moisture, vibration and voltage fl uctuations and must be passively cooled. The GUI is integrated via Ethernet The AGC (Autorail Grande Capa- in the train network. In addition cité) from Bombardier is part of the to the Fast Ethernet connection, latest generation of regional trains the Bombardier E²Brain module, for local and long-distance travel. EB8245, also offers all the features Win one of 20 Kontron MARS starter kits The graphical user interface (GUI) and interfaces needed for real-time for the train management system applications such as those on trains to control the core functions of the as well as in industrial applications: Kontron is giving away 20 during operation are offered by train and monitor and manage the four serial interfaces, one CAN MARS starter kits worth a total the modular reference design. passenger-oriented comfort area interface, 32-bit 33/66 MHz PCI bus; of 4,000 euros (approx. $5,275). The MARS reference design is based on an E2Brain module and LPC bus. is supplied as an evaluation with 330 MHz Freescale Power PC All interfaces are designed for The modular development board including IP (Intellectual MPC8245. the four standardized SMD plug platform MARS (Mobile Applica- Property) that is ready to use E2Brain COMs with RISC proces- connectors on the baseboard. Up to tion platform for Rechargeable out of the box. Kontron makes sors are ideally suited to meet the 512 MB of SDRAM, up to 32 MB of Systems) facilitates the develop- the MARS design layout and extreme demands of the EN50155 soldered Flash (133 MHz, 64 bits), 1 ment and implementation of switching data available in standard for electronic train applica- MByte of buffered SRAM and 64 kbit tions. This standard states that the of EEPROM are available for hand- effi cient power supplies for ORCAD format. Simply copy and components must function fail-safe ling of user and confi guration data. mobile applications. MARS is an paste into the custom baseboard 24 hours a day, over a period of 30 www.kontron.com/app06 optimized reference design for layout. Customers thereby profi t ETX, ETXexpress (COM Express- from an extremely short time to compliant), and microETXexpress prototype. solutions and is easily transfer- able into customer-specifi c The entry deadline for the designs. MARS lottery is March 15, Apart from management 2007. The winner will be notifi ed interfaces for smart batteries, by us in writing. The judges’ helpful power features such as decision is fi nal. extended input voltage ranges To download the entry form, (i.e. industrial voltage ranges or go to voltage for in-vehicle PCs), con- http://www.elektronipraxis. nection possibilities for all ATX de/aktionen voltages, and backup battery support for battery replacement Good luck!
E2Brain-COM for train management system at Bombardier
36 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 Product News Latest COMs New products shown at Embedded World 2007
X-board
The X-board
The RoHS-compliant X-board general purpose PCI processor with Extremely compact baseboard
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 37 Product News
Certifi cated quality for COMs extended temperature range of 0°C up to 256MB directly soldered fast to 70°C (optionally -40°C to +85°) DDR-SDRAM. Additional features – and anticipated availability of include up to 64MB Flash, E²Prom seven years or more. Potential appli- for user and confi guration data, 4 cations for the new E2Brain module serial ports (2 terminal ports Rx/Tx, can be found in the automation, 4x 16550-compatible), an AC97 medical technology, energy, defense, audio interface, and an interface for or transportation and automotive CompactFlash storage cards (slot on industries, to name but a few. Exa- the carrier board). mples in the transportation industry Furthermore, RTC, Watchdog, and include cockpit computers in cars temperature sensors are on board. and trains, construction machinery, Customer-specifi c expansions are and even onboard yachts. connected via LPC and/or 32 bit, Thanks to the maturity of the 33/66 MHz PCI bus interfaces. The module technology, OEMs that use board requires only a single 3.3 volt the EB8347 can concentrate on their power supply. core competences and signifi cantly An operating system-independent UL certifi cation eases export of COM based applications reduce their time to market. Along boot loader with network support with the attractive MPC8347 and a Linux and VxWorks board The implementation of UL UL-certify its COMs. All products processor with integrated user in- support package are available as certifi cation for Computer-On- with UL certifi cates for “Information terfaces, the E2Brain EB8347 boasts software support. Modules (COMs) provides OEMs Technology Equipment Including two Gigabit Ethernet interfaces and www.kontron.com/app11 with signifi cantly more security in Electrical Business Equipment” can the selection of appropriate COMs be researched centrally at www. and considerably simplifying the ul.com (fi le name: NWGQ2.E304278 procedure for its own UL certifi ca- for the US and NWGQ8.E304278 for 64 Bit Intel Core 2 Duo for ETX and tion. Canada). The UL certifi cate UL certifi cation of COM products ETXexpress (UL 60950-1:2003 First Edition and is especially attractive for OEMs CSA C22.2 No. 60950-1-03 First offering solutions in Canada and Edition from April 1, 2003) was the US because, apart from the obtained in a large-scale validation EN60950 certifi cate that Kontron process for all COMs with the ETX has long held, the UL certifi cate and ETX 3.0, ETXexpress/COM is the absolute seal of quality for Express, microETXexpress, DIMM-PC, these countries and is mandatory and X-board standards. According to for systems that are intended to be At Embedded World research carried out by the company, shipped and sold overseas. 2007 Kontron introduced Kontron is the fi rst provider to www.kontron.com/app10 two brand-new Computer-On- Modules: the COM Express based COM ETX-CD ETXexpress-CD with Intel Core 2 Duo and ETXexpress CD with T7400 processor (2 x 2.16 GHz / 667 Intel Core 2 Duo RISC-COM with integrated graphics MHz FSB / 34 W) and the ETX 3.0- compliant ETX-CD with low-voltage The E²Brain Computer-On-Mo- features include an integrated DVI Intel Core 2 Duo L7400 processor (2 (COM) designed in accordance with dule, that complies with the E²Brain graphics port, TTL fl at panel inter- x 1.5 GHz / 667 MHz FSB / 17 W). the PICMG COM.0 standard that was standard for RISC-based COMs, face, two USB 2.0 ports (480 Mbit/ Equipped with the Intel mobile created by Kontron for particularly is based on Freescale’s MPC8347 s), and 1008 MIPS @ 533 MHz. For 945GM Express chipset and the performance-hungry new applica- processor (or optionally the MP- the fi rst time, two functions can be ICH7-R Southbridge device, both tions without legacy interfaces. C8347E) with integrated Security integrated into an E²Brain-based COMs achieve unequalled perfor- Built around the Intel Core 2 Duo Engine; its dazzling RISC system: sophisticated HMI, and mance-per-watt ratios. The Intel Core processor, the RoHS-compliant Kon- real-time controls. With this level 2 Duo technology delivers increased tron ETX-CD is the high-end COM of functionality, the EB8347 performance at comparable proces- for embedded designs requiring PCI, is in harsh environments an sor-frequency and without increased ISA, SATA and USB 2.0 as well as all excellent alternative for x86- power consumption, in comparison standard ETX interfaces. The launch based COMs. to the previous generation Intel Core of the Kontron ETX-CD underscores The virtues of RISC shine Duo. This is achieved by doubled L2 the long-term availability of the through: excellent computing Cache (4MByte), an improved inter- world’s top-selling Computer-On- E2Brain power with minimal power nal architecture and 64-bit support. Module (COM) standard, ETX. EB8347 with consumption, an extremely robust The Kontron ETXexpress-CD is Freescale MPC8347 processor mechanical design – with an a high-end Computer-On-Module www.kontron.com/app12
38 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007
Company Profi le: datakamp
Flexible and high quality Main expertise: electronic development, syst em integration and manufacturing of complex electronic products
datakamp GmbH offers its Know- customers expertise and specialist how and knowledge in the areas of electronic expertise development, system integration Hardware and the manufacture of complex development datakamp System electronic products. Baseboard develop- GmbH develops, Competent project planning and ment for the Kontron years of experience in electronic COM module manufactures and hardware and software development X-board™, ETX sells electronic system form an important basis for the JFLEX I/O module for components for indus- success enjoyed by our customers. Kontron 3.5 embedded The customer can draw upon our SBC JREX boards trial applications. services in the development and Advanced system elec- At the forefront are engineering of hardware and soft- tronics X-board GP8 modern embedded ware components either individually Field bus electronics or as a project, depending on his Power supply systems computer systems, requirements. on the basis of ARM, We ensure our customers’ success Software development Logistics Xscale and X86 archi- in series manufacture by collabo- System software adaptations SMD component warehouse rating with the customer to carry Windows driver development Complete material logistics tectures. out complex test procedures on the Board support packages (BSP) series products under operational X86 BIOS development Main focus of the segment conditions. Rail / traffi c technology Certifi cation processes, such as System development Medical engineering CE certifi cation for example, are just Design of housings, frames and Plant and mechanical as much part of our project work as screen fronts for the system engineering are the maintenance and continued layout. Automation technology development of the product, which Creation of system documents we work on independently upon and manufacturing manuals. Reference project demand. Windows® CE BSP GP8 Sales Concept support In a high-calibre project for the Logistic counselling company Kontron AG, we were able Support in production and to demonstrate our speciality, the datakamp System GmbH sequence planning embedded Windows CE integration. Brillenburgsweg 29 D-21614 Buxtehude Manufacture For the X-board GP8 with Intel Deutschland/Germany Conventional and SMD mounting XSCALE IOP80219 processor, Tel. ++49 (0) 4161-5007-0 Pre-assembly and fi nal assembly datakamp was able to successfully Fax ++49 (0) 4161-5007-10 End test of the devices and integrate the Windows CE embed- [email protected] Windows® CE 5.0 on the X-board systems ded system software in the form of www.datakamp.de GP8 Specifi c climate test procedures a board support package.
40 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 Company Profi le: Fortec Technologies
All the know-how of a reliable partner
Automotive, Unaxis AG, AEG MIS
Industry Coverage Railway, Transportation Fortec Technologies Automation combines the techni- Medical cal know-how and the Point of Information project-management References skills of the Fortec „TOP142“, a 42“ Point of Information Terminal for the Group. We specialize National Railway Systems. in development of A 42“ HDTV-display (1920 x embedded systems 1080 resolution) is controlled by an embedded PC via the LVDS- for industrial appli- Interface and a custom JILI-fi le. cations. Team up The display and the embedded with our engineers Demanding customers require FPGA-Design, VHDL PC are mounted in a vandal-proof the usage of leading edge techno- Designtools: PADS, AutoCAD IP64 housing. The embedded PC for a perfect solution logies in their products. So latest is based on an ETX-PM Modul for your embedded technologies in both, hard and Softwaredevelopment with Intel Celeron 600 MHz software development as well as Embedded Applicationssoftware Processor on a custom baseboard. project. high quality implementations are RTOS The baseboard combines the the basics of our solutions. MMI standard PC- interfaces with a Paramount for sucessfull com- Data-collecting and analysis display- management-system that pletion of an embedded systems Processprogramming in IEC 1131 controlls the display’s brightness as custom project is a professional Designtools: Delphi, Kylinx, MS a function of ambient temperature project management. We work Visual Studio, Tornado and brightness. closely and openly with our OS-Focus: embedded XP, embed- Passenger-information is display- customers to create an atmosphere ded Linux, VxWorks ed via XML-telegrams. The Linux- of trust. based software is also a custom There are six Fortec Sales Offi ces System-Consulting design by Fortec Technologies. across Germany, dedicated design Review of concepts specialists are deputized to your project. We strive for fi nishing our Production common projects in the right time Throughhole and and at the right budget. SMD Feel our experience, trust on the Purchasing, fi nancial stability of the public listed stocking of EOL- Fortec AG. components System assembly FORTEC Elektronik AG Hardwaredevelopment Full testing of Lechwiesenstr. 9 Baseboarddesign for ETX, ETX- all Systems and 86899 Landsberg am Lech Express, X-Board boards Telefon: +49 (0) 8191 - 911 72-0 Custom CPU-Design Telefax: +49 (0) 8191 - 2 17 70 Custom I/O-Boards (VME, CPCI, Certifi cation [email protected] PCI, PCI-Express) DIN ISO 9001:2000 www.fortecag.de Custom Displays Audited supplier for: Siemens VDO
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 41 Company Profi le: HY-LINE Computer Components
SupportSolutions, from Service one Source and Main expertise: Specialized Distributor for Embedded Computing and Display Technology
Embedded Modules Keyboard Complete MMI (Man-Machine- Mouse Interface) Incremental encoder Industry proof Special keys Non-rotating mass storage HY-LINE Computer Construction Single Board Computer Transparent operation Components GmbH Confi gurator No special drivers necessary is specialized in sales Interactive tool on the web site Seamless integration into opera- and support of embed- Solutions instead of components Selection of optimum confi gu- ting system ration ded computing and Know-how and Overview on alternatives Integrated solution display technology expertise Pre-selection for consultation Inova GigaSTaR Flat Display Solutions of sales engineer or marketing Electrical isolation TFT controller boards by Kontron specialist Isolation (medical equipment) Rudolf Sosnowsky CRTtoLCD-5 – effi cient solution Long distance without loss CRTtoLCD-6 – compact size Long Distance Solution HY-LINE Computer Components CRTtoLCD-7 – the multimedia Video data Construction is as a member of the HY-LINE group machine Remote terminal DVI + USB + Audio + RS-232 – fi ve entities acting under a holding Server remains in server room One CAT5 cable (Ethernet) only company, each of them being a TFT displays from 2 up to Ideal for rough environment Full bandwidth specialist in a different product range 55 Inches diagonal size and More than 1000m distance over – active in embedded computing and display accessories Construction fi bre display technology. This conception Measurement instruments Transmission via fi bre optics has been proven since more than 15 Industrial terminals Full bandwidth Chips for Signal Processing years. The headquarters are located Video players Transparent operation Integrated Circuits in Unterhaching close to Munich, Multimedia terminals Hotplug and DDC Silicon Image and sales engineers in local offi ces Public Information DVI transmitters and receivers all over Germany and Switzerland Entry with USB HDMI transmitters and receivers look after customers in industry, Touch screens by ELO Touch screen Serialised data transmission information technology and medical AccuTouch: resistive fi ve-wire SATA, hardware RAID equipment. A technical support team screen with a lab of their own and a direct IntelliTouch: acoustical surface Silicon Motion Graphics link to vendors in Far East and USA wave Controllers offers profi cient knowledge in all SecureTouch: hardened glass Low power consumption details of products and applications. Surface Capacitive: robust glass Compact package surface Additional features (USB, camera Projected Capacitive: operation port) Rudolf behind glass front Sosnowsky is Vice President Flash Controllers with ver- Marketing of HY- Services satile interface LINE Computer Confi guration of display kits Compact Flash (CF) Components GmbH in Unterha- Parameterisation USB ching/Munich Implementation of specifi c SD Card www.hy-line.de/computer timings Optical DVI cable Multi Media Card (MMC)
42 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 Company Profi le: IES
Speed & versatility
Core expertise: the development and production of OEM baseboard products
formance with short development German-speaking region cycles and affordable development English-speaking, costs. The company leverages its European region expertise to offer a broad range of products and services. Industry focus ies Industrie-Elektro- automotive industry & automotive nik Schmitz GmbH & Know-how suppliers and expertise rail/transportation Co. KG – synonym for Hardware development vending machines intelligent embedded CAD system: Protel medical equipment expertise: Customized ETX-Design automation equipment systems – develops, baseboard designs for Kontron home automation pro duces and markets COM modules (ETX, ETXexpress, design support mobile & portable/battery-operated electronic system X board, DIMM PC) logistics advice applications system electronics for fi eldbus production planning support components which are applications Production Reference project designed for industrial system electronics for production conventional and SMD Clinical workstation applications. optimization applications (for technology The CWS-3 Clinical Workstation is a example to minimize cabling cutting and non-cutting metal top-quality panel PC for medical Gerhard Steger requirements) and plastic production applications based on the ETX-PM Software development operations (milling, drilling, module with an Intel Pentium M Development systems: KDevelop turning, riveting gluing, etc.) 1.1 GHz processor and a customer- The company has a team of 32 Kylix, Delphi, Microsoft SDKs cable fabrication spe cifi c baseboard. experienced professionals working expertise: fi nal assembly The high-resolution19-inch in hardware and software develop- operating system modifi cations Testing touchscreen display acts as a multi- ment, production and device testing, driver development, modifi ca- complete systemtest and test purpose user-interface for all making it the ideal partner for de- tion and support especially for protocol standard medical applications. A velopment, series production and embedded Linux, Windows XPe temperature test (-50 to non-contact iden tifi cation interface support of customer and application and CE +100 °C) is provided to facili tate user specifi c electronic products. application development EMV- and vibration test autho rization. The device is IP65 The company’s core expertise process programming Logistics dust and hose proof per IP65 includes the development and pro- (PLC & SoftSPS) core expertise: requirements. duction of OEM baseboard products development of test software SMD component stock which use x86 and similar processor System development project-specifi c buffer architectures. The ies product range CAD system: TreeCAD stock combines great fl exibility and per- expertise: stock of discontinued generation of system modules Dr.-Ing. documentation Certifi cates Gerhard Steger generation of production DIN ISO 9001:2000 is the CEO of ies Industrie- documentation certifi ed/audited Fresenius Elektronik rapid prototyping Hemo Care supplier Schmitz GmbH & system design for extended certifi ed VW suppliers Co. KG in Kierspe, Westfalen/Ger- product life cycles many Sales Our strengths [email protected] expertise: geographic focus Reference project: www.ies-gmbh.de system and form factor advice Germany CWS-3 Clinical Workstation
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 43 Company Portrait: Ineltro AG
Comprehensiverange Core expertise: technical advice, design support and logistics services
Ineltro AG is an in- valuable logistics dependent, local services from our industrial electronics local warehouse to and computing solu- a broad customer tions distributor which base in the industrial, has its headquarters medical equipment, computers and modules from well- in Regensdorf near telecommunications, to the Swiss industrial market. known manufacturers in a variety The following areas are particular of form factors as well as a range of Zurich. In addition to IT, safety equipment, strengths of our product portfolio: other products including solutions providing technical automotive, con- industrial computing, system for medical applications and rugged sumer and other solutions, keyboards, displays laptop computers for fi eld use. The advice and design batteries, power supply modules, experts at Ineltro can supply com- support, we offer market segments. power components, protection plete systems including memories, circuits displays, cables and keyboards or electro-mechanical components/ trackballs. connectors The strengths of microcontrollers, timing products, Business partners: Ineltro AG: wireless solutions Aaeon, Assmann WSW, Axon, Ineltro works with a balanced C&D Technologies, Cherry, Clover international vendor base to supply Ineltro AG offers a broad range of Displays, EIB/KNX, Enfora (GSM), the best possible mix of products solutions for a variety of applications, Epcos, Epson-Toyocom, Fastrax, for example protection componen- Hotec, JAE, Kontron, Kundo XT, ts (overcurrent and overvoltage Lear/Grote&Hartmann, Litemax, protection circuits from various Littelfuse/Teccor, Man and Machine, manufacturers), pow- Micro Cystal, Microchip, New Japan Ineltro AG er supplies, Radio, Nippon Chemi-Con, Noritake, Riedthofstrasse 100 batteries and NSI, ODU, Pulse, Raychem Circuit 8105 Regensdorf products for Protection, Sandisk (msystems), Switzerland the expanding Sanyo, Sauro, Shindengen, Simtek, Tel. +41 (0)43 industrial computing Sunny, Tadiran Batteries, Tectus, 3437300 sector. Vitrohm, Winstar, Zilog Fax +41 (0)43 3437309 [email protected] Industrialcomputing: No. of employees: 25 www.ineltro.ch We source single board Quality managment: ISO9001
44 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 Company Portrait: ULTRATRONIK GmbH
Successful more than for 30 years Ultratronik: From distributor to industrial system solutions provider
Manufacturing – logical Individualized solu- x86 technology. By means of the step to fully customized tions and development new E²Brain standard, also RISC-ba- support products sed applications profi t from these ad- 13 years ago, with their own In general, clients from numerous vantages. Generally speaking, E²Brain UMC- solutions, Ultratronik changed branches of industry have the same modules offer high data processing their focus to development and goal: They want to cut costs and power, high communication levels manufacturing. „Today, we are time necessary to develop their own and at the same time low power very successful in MMI solutions processing control systems. consumption, as they are operable in and profi t from our comprehensive Apart from that, they need an extended tempera-ture range. know-how we could get from development support, especially in For Alexander Sorg, the most manufacturing. Our combined integrating new products in their evident advantage in widely competences in hard- and software already existing soft- and hard- promoting the new standard is that today give us a decisive competitive ware infrastructures. For most of this new approach perfectly matches advantage“, Alexander Sorg, CEO Ultratronik’s custo mers, switching Ultratronik’s customer-oriented pro- of Ultratronik, explains. It comes to Linux based embedded systems duct philosophy: “E²Brain as a new, as no surprise that Ultratronik’s for the fi rst time, is a milestone in open Computer-on-Module standard, Products of Ultratronik portfolio centres around customized entering a so far unknown operating is a cost-effi cient approach, especially MMI solutions, based on a complete system world. They appreciate for very price-sensitive embedded are essential in auto- set of displays compatible size and Ultratronik’s extensive support in the applications, which until now were mation and process resolution.” Since more than 20 areas of software, hardware, Linux dominated by x86 designs”. controlling. The cur- years, we are very successful in this and Web based technologies. “Like Ultratronik, Kontron has the segment, profi ting from long co dedicated target to promote modules rent product portfolio operations with leading manufactu- First embedded system for the market ranges from electronic rers”, Sorg emphasizes. „Thus, we based on E²brain of Embedded components to ser- are enabled to offer our Customers Stunning user benefi ts through RISC designs a guaranteed, long-term availability new Computer-On modules for and make those vers, from industrial for our OFSPs (Open Frame Smart RISC-based systems Shortly after UL- become State- displays to so called Panels) and industrial displays. This TRATRONIK had founded the E²Brain of-the-Art”, adds Open Frame Smart is very crucial to our customers Interest Group for development and Ralf Neuner, when it comes to investments”, marketing of standardised, RISC-ba- Ralf Neuner Head of Sales Panels with included Sorg adds. sed Computer-On modules together and Marketing at Ultratronik. “We operating system. Since the company’s foundation, with KONTRON and other partners will change the market of customer- its claim has ever the stayed the in January 2006, the company specifi c RISC solution developments same: „Solutions for your success!” introduced its fi rst embedded system decisively”, Neuner adds. based on the new COM-standard during Embedded World 2006. New Ultratronik solution UMC-AU1550 Short development In the framework of the coo- cycles – cost-effi cient peration with Kontron and others, solutions Ultratronik is now offering an E²Brain ULTRATRONIK GmbH The usage of interchangeable, solution named UMC-AU1550, com- Gewerbestr. 52 scalable standard modules based on prising AMD Au1550 and integrated D-82211 Herrsching E²Brain offers decisive advantages to Security Engine from SafeNet. Fon: +49 8152 3709-0 system integrators concerning Time- This system convinces by its highly Fax: +49 8152 5183 to-Market as competitive factor. performing 500MHz-network pro- [email protected] So far, these advantages were cessor, which includes an integrated www.ultratronik.de/mmi limited to developments based on hardware encryption.
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 45 Company Profi le: b-plus Profound Know how Main expertise: Development and production of embedded solutions for industry and automotive
In 1996 Prof. Dr. Jörg Böttcher from the automotive fi eld is applied founded and gave the name to and expressed in terms of quality in the company which, from the very specifi cation, design and production beginning was oriented to Enginee- at the highest degree of reliance. The The company b-plus ring Services whereby a profound customer does GmbH is based In experience in diverse Market not only bene- Segments was accomplished within fi t from the Deggendorf, Germany the fi rst years. From 2001 onwards a competency and specialised in clear orientation to automotive ap- in technology development and plications made b-plus a partner for but also from developments of complex software the intrinsic cross production of embed- topologies for control units in Driver over know how of the com- ded solutions in the Assistance Systems (i.e. Adaptive plete development team at b-pus. industrial and auto- Cruise Control, Lane Departure War- As for today this team counts 12 ning). Concurrently a further team developers (all with an academic de- motive market. of the company was dedicated to gree of electronics engineering) and hardware developments, emphasi- forms the backbone and strength sing customer specifi c projects in the of the company, which wants to be Fieldbus- industrial environment. Additionally understood as the absolute professi- coupler: Circuit Board and an own product portfolio was onal partner for system solutions in enclosure launched and marketed which in the the area of embedded applications. year 2003 was awarded by the City of Deggendorf with the Innovation- Core Competencies: Target markets and Price for outstanding develop- Requirement defi nition and typical applications: ments in the fi eld of gateway specifi cation up to total system Mobile / space limited applica- products. integration tions with extended require- In 2004 b-plus became one Schematics and logic design for ments of the fi rst ETX Certifi ed Partner embedded HW & baseboard Automation- and control techno- Companies of Kontron and since development (RISC / x86) logy with/without visualisation 2005 additionally reached the status Interface implementation for HMI solutions as well as digital of a Kontron VAR (value added CAN/CANopen, LIN, Modbus, customer information systems reseller), thus became qualifi ed Profi bus DP buses Network applications with bus as a development partner and Building of ESD conform layout interface in Industry/Automotive as a preferred Kontron sales- (ESD Testlab available in the partner. Utilizing the Kontron CPU Group Holding) Reference application Embed- Modules (DIMM-PC, X-board, ETX, Firmware- and software- develop- examples: ded PDA with ETXexpress) b-plus successfully ment, drivers development and Embedded PDA with PXA255 3,5“ Touch Display turned around several projects adaptation (i.e. WinCE) X-Scale and WinCE 5.0 operating within this technical environment. In Documentation of development, system cooperation with the OEM customer generation of testing instructions Building automation utilizing b-plus GmbH baseboard designs, adapted for / -software PXA255 and diverse bus inter- Ulrichsberger Str. 17 diverse CPU architectures were de- Manufacturing of prototypes and faces D-94469 Deggendorf fi ned, developed and manufactured series production, assembly and Navigation Platform with dual Tel. +49 (0) 991 270 302 0 while the customer was assisted housing display 16:9 on GP8 Module Fax +49 (0) 991 270 302 99 and supported by a comprehensive Outgoing testing and performing Mobile POS system on ETX www.b-plus.com project management along the value of or assistance in external accre- platform [email protected] chain. Hereby the long experience ditations (i.e. Intel Pentium M)
46 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007
Company Profi le: VENCO ELECTRONICA S.A.
Excellence Independence & Main expertise: Complete solutions from customized to COTS systems
VENCO ELECTRONICA
offers the possibility Ultrafl at SBC by to provide complete Venco embedded solutions where each system has been tested and qualifi ed.
We easily identify the right solution for each application, thanks for the variety of demo kits already developed at Venco Lab. There is a confi dent solution for your system, trust in our engineers and let us offer our consultancy service. Dual view system: Electromedical Welcome to Venco For customer interest to manage Instrumentation VENCO ELECTRONICA S.A. graphic solutions, we are the POS and ticketing Head Quarter - Barcelona Know-how and right local contact. Professional Audio Equipments Carretera del Mig 75 expertise Security E - 08907 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat Venco has a long experience in Deep knowledge in embedded Elevators and escalators Tel. (34) 93 263 33 54 COM developments, in contact with linux development for embedded Lighting & Home Automation Fax. (34) 93 263 33 23 local engineering for custom base systems HVAC (Heat-Ventilation-Air- www.vencoel.com boards. Conditioning) Portfolio Wind power generators Central Offi ce – Madrid Main developments Semiconductors Auxiliary power for railways C/Castrobarto 10 Panel PC based on ETX: Power and discrete devices Design houses and engineering´s E- 28042 Madrid Solutions from 5” to 17” Systems and Displays Tel. (34) 91 329 55 00 Developed and tested monitor Power supply Our strengths Fax. (34) 91 329 59 25 solutions from our LCD fran- Communications 25 Years of experience in the chises Spanish Market and our brand Northern Offi ce Major markets name as local Distributor. Sasikoa 26 3º CD Custom shoe box PC: Gaming Deep introduction on the R&D+i E - 48200 Durango Based on customer request we Vending machines centers of the industrial market Tel. (34) 94 623 26 48 provide the right performance in Industrial automation in Spain. Fax. (34) 94 620 21 85 a fanless solution Weight Scales Financial strength
48 PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 COM Partner-List
COM Design Partner and Reseller
1. Austria b-plus GmbH 9. Portugal 15. Finland next system Vertriebsges.m.b.H. Ulrichsberger Str. 17 Comdist, Lda Arrow Finland Dresdnerstraße 68/1/3 94469 Deggendorf Praceta do Comércio, nr 5A, Loja 1D Kalkkipellontie 4 A-1200 Wien Phone: +49 991 270 302 0 Quinta Grande FIN-02650 Espoo Phone: +43 1 33 166 0 www.b-plus.com PP-2610-042 Alfragide Finland www.nextsystem.at Phone: +351 214 72 51 90 Phone: +358 9 47 66 60 FORTEC Elektronik AG www.comdist.pt Website: www.arrowfi .com 2.Belgium Lechwiesenstraße 9 86899 Landsberg / Lech Koning & Hartman B. V. 10. Russian Federation 16. Sweden ( formerly Getronics) Phone: +49 8191 9 11 72 0 RTSoft Trident Displays Woluwelaan 31 www.fortec-ag.de P.O. Box 158 Box 7119 B-1800 Vilvoorde Nikitinskaya, 3 HY-LINE Computer Components SE - 174 07 Sundbyberg Phone: +32 2 2570250 RU-105077 Moscow Vertriebs GmbH Phone: +46 8 564 725 50 www.koningenhartman.com Phone: +7 095 7426828 Inselkammerstr. 10 www.tridentdisplays.co.uk www.rtsoft.ru 82008 Unterhaching Texim Europe (Electronics N.V / S.A) Phone: +49 89 614 503 40 17. Switzerland Gentsesteenweg 1154-C22 11. Slovakia www.hy-line.de Ineltro AG MITE Kosice Ltd. Brussel Riedthofstraße 100 Nerudova 14 BE -1082 ies Industrie Elektronik Schmitz CH-8105 Regensdorf SK-04001 Kosice Phone: +32 2 4620 100 GmbH & Co.KG Phone: +41 43 343 73 00 Phone: +421 55 6250 677 www.texim-europe.com Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 294-296 www.ineltro.ch 58566 Kierspe www.mite.sk Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg Phone: +49 2359 9151 51 12. Spain Kontron AG Kontron AG Benelux www.ies-gmbh.de Novatronic Sistemas S.L. Bahnstraße 58/60 Koning Albert I Laan 46 C/ Lezeaga, 7 CH-8105 Regensdorf BE-1780 Wemmel EMEA Sales Offi ce ES-48002 BILBAO (Vizcaya) Phone: +41 43 305 88 75 Phone: +32 2 4560642 Kontron Embedded Modules GmbH Phone: +34 902 198 725 www.kontron.com www.kontron.com Brunnwiesenstr. 16 94469 Deggendorf, www.novatronicsistemas.com 18. Poland 3. Czech Republic Phone: +49(991)37024-0 www.kontron.com Venco Electronica, S.A. Kontron East Europe sp. z o.o. MITE Hradec Kralove Ltd. Carretera del Mig 75 ul. Zupnicza 17 Veverkova 1343 6. Hungary ES-08907 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat PL-03-821 Warszawa Poland 500 02 Hradec Kralove Cason Engineering PLC (Barcelona) Phone: +48-22-389-8450 Phone: +420 498 500 252 Velencei út 37. Phone: +34 93 263 33 54 www.kontron.pl www.mite.cz H-2030 Érd www.vencoel.com Phone: +36 23 522-100 4. France www.casonipc.com Axess Technology Kontron Elektronik S.A. C/ Gobelas, 21 3,5 Rue du Jura, Batiment Tokyo VARINEX Informatics Inc. ES-28023 Madrid Silic 586 Köszeg u. 4 Phone: +34 917 10 20 20 F-94663 Rungis, Cedex 1141 Budapest www.kontron.com Phone: +33 1 49 78 88 88 Phone: +36 1 273 3400 www.axess-technology.com www.varinex.hu 13. Ukraine 7. Italy IVL Equipment & Engineering Ltd. IRTS Vasilenko 7, Off. 305 RA.FI. SpA 639, Boulevard des Armaris UA-03124 Kiev-179 Via Savona, 134 F-83100 Toulon Phone: +380 44 451 8733 I-20144 Milano (MI) Phone: +33 5 56 61 74 69 ivl.kiev.ua www.irts.fr Phone: +39 024 77 918 38 www.rafi .it 14. United Kingdom Kontron France Kontron Italia s.r.l. Diamond Point Tour de l’Horloge Via Kennedy, 34 Unit 9, North Point Business Estate 4, Place Louis Armand I-21040 Venegono Inferiore ME24LY Rochester, Kent F-75012 Paris Phone: +39 0331 827 895 Phone: +44 16 34 300 900 Phone: +33 (0)1 30 17 89 51 www.kontron.it www.dpie.com www.kontron.com/fr 8. Netherland Kontron UK Ltd. 5. Germany Koning & Hartman B. V. Ben Turner Industrial Estate Aaronn Vertriebs- GmbH Energieweg 1 Oving Road Zeppelinstrasse 4 P.O. Box 5080 - Chichester, West Sussex 82178 Puchheim / München NL-2627 AP Delft PO19 7ET Kontron Partner/Distributor Phone: +49 89 89 45 77 0 Phone: +31 15 260 9906 Phone: +44 1243 523500 Offi ces: http://emea.kontron. www.aaronn.de www.koningenhartman.com www.kontron.com com/index.php?id=1706
PRAXIS PROFILINE – Computer on Modules – February 2007 49