SFF-SIG to Drive New Small System Standards Beyond Board Form Factors and Expansion Bus Definitions

1 year 4 months ago

Boston, MA, October 28, 2008 - The Small Form Factor Special Interest Group (SFFSIG),

a collaboration of 18 leading suppliers of embedded components, boards and system technologies, today announced its intention to adopt and enhance SiliconSystems’ SiliconDrive II Blade Specification for small, rugged subsystems such as mass storage and other I/O technologies under the trade name MiniBlade™. SFF-SIG is expanding its portfolio of next-generation industry standards that speed and simplify the development of small embedded systems.

The design of a small embedded system requires many special technologies beyond small CPU and chipset combinations, small Single Board Computers, small I/O expansion modules and/or small Computer-on-Module products. These designs must also be able to shrink and ruggedize mass storage, power supplies, cooling solutions and other key system component elements. The new MiniBlade Specification, created by various suppliers for embedded applications, takes the first step toward standardizing an ultra–small, mass storage solution for the small form factor embedded system market. A plug-in peripheral card that is retained with latches in its socket withstands embedded environments better than consumer-grade dongles and thumb drives.

The SiliconDrive II Blade Specification was jointly developed by SiliconSystems and

Samtec, Inc. The Specification now forms the cornerstone of a new SFF-SIG Working

Group to define the interfaces to allow a wide array of storage, communications, GPS

and other I/O products to be compatible with the MiniBlade socket. The MiniBlade

Specification, to be published within the next few months, will define the mechanical

form factor and interface pin definitions for MiniBlade devices.

Companies interested in participating in the MiniBlade Specification definition should

contact the SFF-SIG at info@sff-sig.org.

About the Small Form Factor SIG

identifying, creating, and promoting standards that help electronics system and device

manufacturers and integrators move to small form factor technologies and building blocks in their products, and protect their investments. Benefits of small form factor products include smaller size, reduced power consumption (eco-friendly, “green” products), and greater reliability compared to larger legacy products.

The SIG’s philosophy is to embrace the latest technologies, as well as maintain legacy