Product category:
Embedded Computing and Control
News Release from: Kontron UK | Subject: X-board
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 07 July 2004
Kit puts XScale-based modules to the
embedded test
Kontron has put together a new evaluation kit for developers of fanless miniature computers, which is based on the business card-sized computer-on-module X-board.
Kontron has put together a new evaluation kit for developers of fanless miniature computers, which is based on the business card-sized computer-on-module X-board
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 30 Jun 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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The starter kit contains everything needed to begin an evaluation: an ATX-compatible power supply for 115 or 230V, a 5.7in colour TFT display with background lighting and a JILI display adapter.
In addition, the evaluation baseboard for X-board
64Mbyte of DRAM and 32Mbyte of Flash memory are already integrated into X-board
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In addition to the kit a null-modem cable (crossed cable to link two computers via RS232 interface) is delivered to connect the developer's computer with the starter kit.
Windows CE is pre-installed, and the Linux board support package is included on CD-ROM.
Systems based on X-board
Its extremely long battery life makes it ideal for use in mobile applications, and its advantageous combination of high performance and energy-saving design leaves conventional x86 processors way behind.
A special feature of X-board
Thus, this solution is suitable for conventional connection of USB peripherals, for plug and play recognition for remote maintenance or for embedding of X-board
The big advantage of COMs (computers-on-modules) is that they can be implemented in embedded systems as addon components in order to lower development costs and to shorten time-to-market.
The only thing left to develop is the application-specific peripherals - the computer's brain is already there.
Apart from providing this computer-on-module solution for the XScale PXA255 processor, Kontron also offers a finished 3.5in board with the same processor.
This solution is ideal for all standard cases in which application-specific peripherals can be connected without the need for developing additional hardware components.
X-board modules resemble business cards in size (67 x 49mm) and are fully PCI- and LPC-compatible.
They provide all of today's necessary interfaces, including USB, LAN and serial interfaces as well as sound and LCD.
As the "legacy" interfaces (PS/2, floppy and parallel interfaces and ISAbus) are being phased out, they are no longer planned for use in X-board modules.
This enables not only x86 processors but also ARM or MIPS processor architectures to be used for the first time ever and results in a multitude of new application options for this computer-on-module standard.
The X-board design closes the gap between DIMM-PC and ETX.
OEMs, requiring more power than that supplied by a DIMM-PC and fewer features than those offered by an ETX, are hence perfectly served by the new X-board. Request a free brochure from Kontron UK ...
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