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SMALL FORM FACTOR BOARDS
Pico-ITX with ARM KTA55/pITX pITX-SP
(planned for Q1/2012)
Processor platform NVIDIA Tegra 2 AMD Embedded Intel Atom Z5x0
1 GHz dual core G-Series, 1 GHz 1.1 / 1.6 GHz
dual core
single core
Ethernet 1x 10/100 Mbit 1x 10/100/1000 Mbit 1x 10/100/1000 Mbit
USB 3x USB 2.0 6x USB 2.0 6x USB 2.0
Graphics DVI-I, 24-bit single DVI-I, 24-bit dual DVI-D, 24-bit single
channel LVDS, channel LVDS channel LVDS
Display Serial Interface
Main memory 512 / 1024 MB DDR2 Max 4 GB DDR3 Max 2 GB DDR2
Storage MicroSD Card Slot, 2x SATA, 2x SATA, 1x PATA
Onboard NAND flash MicroSD Card Slot
Audio 2ch. In/out, Mic, HD audio HD audio analog /
SPDIF
SPDIF
I/O features 16x GPIO, 2x RS232, 8x GPIO 8-bit GPI/O, SDIO
CSI, I2C, SPI, JTAG
Table 1. Comparison of the three Pico-ITX feature sets reveals hardly any differences in terms
of the most relevant interfaces such as USB, Ethernet and graphics and memory for SFF devices.
In general, scalability with expansion into ARM technology is well underway.
requirements. Two dimensions are consequently
specified: a small 82mm x 50 mm module,
and a larger one at 82mm x 80mm primarily
intended for future high-performance multicore
processors.
Kontron has positioned the specification for
the low-power performance class, such as
ARM-tailored modules, as a platform alternative
to existing proprietary custom module
implementations that are often tailored to a
single ARM processor. The Kontron-driven
open COM specification really comes into its
own with the latest MXM 3.0 connector, which
enables very flat designs and is also available
in a shock- and vibration-proof construction
suitable for automotive applications. Even
more decisive is the fact that the pin allocation
and thus the feature set are specifically designed
for ARM and SOC processor technologies.
The new connector gives rise to new interfaces.
Video outputs include LVDS, and in future
embedded DisplayPort, 24-bit RGB and HDMI
are also possible. For the first time dedicated
camera interfaces are also included in the standard.
Consequently, users no longer need to
compromise or work with inefficient specifications
stretched between the x86 feature set
and lean ARM I/Os. To enable customers to
begin using ARM technology immediately,
Kontron will provide its ARM-based building
blocks in bundles with extensive custom design
services. This means OEM customers can have
already integrated application-ready platforms
at the board and system levels as standard
products, or customized and made to order.
In addition to this individual hardware development
service at the board and system level,
the company will provide extensive services
during software development, ranging from
driver development and OS code modifications
to extensive application porting and validation
services, as well as HW/SW bundles and volume
licensing. Application developers are able to
benefit from efficient migrations, quick time
to market, and significantly reduced development
costs, because they receive an „application
ready platform,“ which if required is already
certified. This enables customers to fully concentrate
on their core competence: application
development.
It goes without saying that all ARM-relevant
operating systems are supported. In addition
to Windows CE 6 and Windows Embedded
Compact 7 (WEC7), Linux-based operating
systems will be supported as well as Android
on ARM products. VxWorks support will be
conceived for TI processors. This is of particular
interest for applications requiring maximum
availability and real time behaviour. As is the
case with x86-based products, Kontron ARM
products will also support the ARM native
version of Windows 8 as per availability on
the part of Microsoft. Support for Android,
which is still a relatively young OS popular in
the smartphone and tablet market, allows it to
open up the door to the huge market of networked,
multimedia-oriented applications
based on ARM technology. BSPs will be validated
for the OS right up to the system level.
OEMs are therefore able to focus on the application
without having to traverse a learning
curve. This keeps the time to market and TCO
to a minimum.
The small form factor Pico-ITX format
(100mm x72mm) board, which is currently in
development and planned for Q1/2012, is
fitted with a 1 GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dualcore
processor. It offers a completely passive
cooling concept and a very low power consumption
of 3 watts in addition to an attractive
feature set. The ARM Cortex A9 architecture
based mini-board includes 10/100Mbit Ethernet,
three USB 2.0 ports, 16 freely configurable
GPIOs and a slot for Micro SD cards as well as
512MB or 1GB 32-bit DDR-2 RAM.
The audiovisual experience is not to be overlooked:
the integrated ultra-low power (ULP)
NVIDIA GeForce GPU delivers a graphic performance
for mobile devices in high play console
quality and provides up to two simultaneous
HD video streams (1080 p). Displays are
connected via DVI-I for analog and digital signal
transmission as well as via two DSI and a
24-bit LVDS converter. Backlight support is either
5V internal or 12V external. Audio is supported
with SPDIF as well as stereo line-in
and line-out and MIC. Extensive hardware accelerators
for flash, video and audio CODECs
provide flowing and brilliant playback of countless
multimedia and web contents.
The extremely compact (50 mm x 82 mm)
ARM computer-on-module, which is currently
in development and planned for Q1/2012, is
based on the Texas Instruments AM387x single
core processor with ARM Cortex A8 and up
to 1 GB DDR3 RAM. It integrates the high
performance SGX530 3D graphic engine for
resolutions up to 1080p at 60Hz and can thus
even drive large-sized panels in Full HD. Video
interfaces include LVDS, embedded DisplayPort
(eDP) as well as HDMI 1.3 via a MXM 3.0
connector. I2S provides a loss-free transmission
of digital multi-channel sound, which is important
for example in infotainment or multimedia
kiosk/POI applications.
Its further I/O features predestine the future
Kontron module for deployment in vehicles
or in the industrial sector: 2x CAN (CAN version
2 Part A, B) as well as Gigabit Ethernet
facilitate IT and field integration. Two MIPI-
CSI (mobile industry processor interface)
conformal camera inputs are also included,
which can for example be used in medical
applications as well as for optical quality
control, gesture-based control for HMIs and
for personal identification at kiosk systems.
For application-specific extensions, the ARM
module includes a PCI Express Gen 2.0 Lane
March 2012 22