Components that can be easily added and removed provide much-needed adaptability in small form factor boards and systems. WinSystems’ PXM-MiniPCIe packs plenty of flexible expansion options in the SUMIT-ISM board format defined by the SFF-SIG.

The module features a PCI Express (PCIe) MiniCard socket, which supports PCIe x1 and USB 2.0, as well as connections to an SMBus, LEDs for wireless network visual status, a SIM card for GSM and WCDMA application data storage, and a +1.5 and +3.3 V power source for the MiniCard. With its ability to support different applications in the same socket, the removable MiniCard enables the addition of wireless functions such as WLAN, 802.11 a/g, cellular data, and Bluetooth.

In addition to the high-performance communication functions, the PXM-MiniPCIe offers two right-angle RF Connectors to simplify system integration for antenna placement in wireless applications. The module’s two USB 2.0 ports support tethered applications such as storage, imaging, and video.

A PC/104-Plus board with a non-Intel x86 processor stands out from the crowd, especially when it features 800 MHz performance and 3 W typical power draw. VersaLogic’s Tomcat SBC integrates the DMP Vortex86DX chip, a fully static System-on-Chip (SoC) offering compatibility with Windows, Linux, and other popular 32-bit Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOSs).

Supporting both PC/104 and PC/104-Plus expansion, the fanless Tomcat includes 128-512 MB soldered-on RAM and a variety of interfaces, including two USB 2.0, two RS-232/422/485, 10/100 Ethernet, LPT, IDE, a CompactFlash socket, and a legacy PS/2 interface for keyboard and mouse. Available in commercial and industrial temperature versions, the ruggedized SBC is qualified to MIL-STD-202G shock and vibration standards, enabling deployment in harsh environment applications.

With options including conformal coating, connector changes, revision locks, testing and screening, and redesign services, the board is customizable even in low OEM quantities and includes a 5-plus year production life guarantee.

No matter what their capacity is, memory cards won’t do you much good if they detach from their headers and cause data loss, read failures, or system malfunctions. A nifty new device from 3M Electronic Solutions helps avert this detrimental disconnection using active mechanical retention to fasten the card to the header, providing a second layer of protection in addition to the passive friction that typically holds memory cards in place.

The 3M Retainer Clip for CompactFlash secures CompactFlash Type I and Type II removable memory cards mated with 3M CompactFlash II card headers, preventing the cards from falling out, even in high-vibration environments. Designers can easily incorporate the metal latch into existing CompactFlash II systems that use 3M card headers.

To improve reliability and guard against memory card loss, WinSystems has integrated the 3M Retainer Clip into CompactFlash headers installed on its new and existing SBCs designed for medical, transportation, industrial, communications, military/aerospace, and security and surveillance applications.

Multimedia capabilities are in high demand these days, as the consumer electronics fetish for connectivity and user-interactive functionality has seeped into the embedded realm. Recognizing this trend, Eurotech has quickly joined the Windows Embedded Standard 7 bandwagon, presenting a demo at ESC showing how the latest Microsoft OS works on its Catalyst FX development system.

Offering extensive I/O and audio/video ports for HDMI/DVI, XVGA, and LVDS, Catalyst FX leverages Eurotech’s Catalyst Module and Catalyst Module XL, based on the Intel Atom processor, on a highly configurable carrier board. The system allows for several wireless options and an onboard GPS receiver for fleet management and tracking applications.

Running Windows Embedded Standard 7 enables Catalyst FX to support rich, immersive applications and seamless connectivity through the Windows Media Center feature. Supports is also available for Java Virtual Machine and Eurotech’s Everware Software Framework, a middleware platform highlighted in our Executive Forum on page.

Connectivity is Mobile Internet Devices’ (MIDs’) middle name, hence the need for wireless capabilities provided in a small platform. W2CBW009Di, a WLAN Bluetooth module developed by Wi2Wi, fits the bill for these MID requirements, offering IEEE Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity in a compact (16 mm x 16 mm x 2.1 mm) design.

Based on the Marvell 88W8688 WLAN chipset and operating over an industrial temperature range of -40 °C to +85 °C, this module simplifies the process of integrating Wi-Fi and Bluetooth into products targeted for industrial, defense, test equipment, medical, home infrastructure, and consumer applications. The FCC-certified W2CBW009Di operates in the 2.4 GHz ISM band, and its two radios are fully tested for coexistence internally and with other external radio technologies.

Optimized for throughput and receive sensitivity, the module supports all main processors including Intel, Marvell, TI, Freescale, RMI, and Samsung. Software development resources are available to build drivers for unique processors and operating systems.

Touted as the “next big thing in modular embedded computing,” the new FeaturePak specification promises to fulfill the industry’s need for an innovative way to add off-the-shelf I/O expansion options to COMs, SBCs, and proprietary embedded designs. Further enhancing this mezzanine-style expansion format, Diamond Systems, the company that established FeaturePak and the FeaturePak Initiative (www.featurepak.org), has introduced an adapter board that enables systems with SUMIT-ISM expansion stack locations to use FeaturePak I/O expansion modules.

Using a single PCI Express x1 lane from the SUMIT-A connector on the SUMIT-ISM, the SUMIT/FP Adapter provides a pair of 50-pin I/O header Connectors for access to FeaturePak I/O as well as pass-through connectors for the SUMIT-B bus and PC/104 bus. The adapter supports an extended temperature range of -40 °C to +85 °C.

Besides the SUMIT/FP Adapter, Diamond Systems has also developed the FeaturePak-DAQ1616 I/O card (pictured on page). Modules that conform to the FeaturePak specification easily snap into a variety of SFFs including Qseven, COM Express, Mobile-ITX, and PCI/104-Express.

Electronic equipment in potentially volatile applications such as military and security systems, factory automation, and energy management must be protected from transient voltage spikes and electrically noisy surroundings. Designed for use in these types of applications, the new PICO-II8IDO4A Pico-I/O module from ACCES I/O Products includes eight individually optically isolated inputs, four solid-state FET outputs capable of switching up to 3 A, and two 16-bit analog inputs that enable monitoring and control of temperature, voltage, humidity, and other system parameters.

Through channel-to-channel isolation, this module allows each channel to be physically and electrically separated from the others, shielding systems from accidental contact with high external voltages and eliminating pesky ground loops. As an SFF-SIG-defined Pico-I/O module, the PICO-II8IDO4A easily plugs into Pico-ITXe SBCs and includes bus and power connections built on the SUMIT connector.

Using a high-speed custom function driver, the module achieves a maximum data throughput that ACCES I/O claims is 50-100 times faster than other USB human interface device drivers.

Sixty-four appears to be one of the winning numbers for 2010 in the embedded computing industry. Doubling the amount of data that can be processed per cycle compared to 32-bit CPUs, 64-bit processors increase performance and simplify applications that use large data sets.

Banking on the success of the 64-bit architecture, VIA Technologies is launching a new family of processors, the Nano E-Series, that brings native 64-bit software support and virtualization capabilities to small form factors like its new VIA EPIA-M830 Mini-ITX board. Boosted by a 1 GHz or 1.3 GHz Nano E-Series CPU plus a VIA VX800 media system processor, this power-efficient board provides an assortment of multimedia features: DirectX9 integrated graphics, HD audio, Gigabit networking, a VMR-capable HD video processor, and advanced video acceleration for MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV9, and VC-1 video formats.

Available in active and passive cooling configurations, the VIA EPIA-M830 aims to take kiosk and point-of-sale systems to the next level with more secure, dynamic human-machine interactions.

Two is not necessarily better than one in small form factor applications. When space is tight, it’s best to combine various processes in a single, compact platform.

LynxSecure from LynuxWorks can reduce a system’s physical footprint as well as design complexity, as it enables multiple applications and different guest OSs to run on one platform by isolating them in separate partitions. The latest version, LynxSecure 4.0, adds support for Intel Core i7 and i5 processors and allows for new configurations of guest OSs.

LynuxWorks recently teamed with Portwell to develop a proof-of-concept wireless sensor platform for hospitals. Based on the Portwell WADE-8067 Mini-ITX board (pictured on page), the platform uses LynxSecure to run both Linux and Windows OSs in parallel, allowing two separate patient monitoring systems to be consolidated into one unit. For the scoop on this platform plus other medical devices that use SFFs, check out the Roving Reporter Medical Design series at the Intel Embedded Community, http://community.edc.intel.com/.

The more I/O options an SFF board has, the more functions it can provide, especially when those options enable connections to standard stacking modules. The EC5-1813L2NA EBX board from EVOC supplies this type of powerful expandability by supporting four SATA, six COM, and eight USB 2.0 ports; 8-bit GPIO; a Mini PCI Express slot; and PCI Express x1, x4, and x16 slots compliant with the PCI/104-Express and PCIe/104 specifications.

Available with the Intel Core i7 processor i7-620M or Intel Core i5 processor i5-520M, the EC5-1813L2NA also supports two high-speed Ethernet ports and several video inputs, including HDMI, dual-channel 18/24-bit LVDS, VGA, and dual-independent display devices. Two 204-pin DDR3 (non-ECC) slots on the module provide up to 8 GB memory.

With dual-core performance and compatibility with a variety of OSs including Windows 7, the EC5-1813L2NA can efficiently meet the requirements of typical SFF applications such as POS/kiosk, digital signage, and medical systems.

Custom designs that call for high computing performance packaged in a small, modular platform can benefit from the flexibility of integrating COM Express with a carrier board. Hectronic’s new H6052 module has a COM Express Type 2-compliant pinout and a feature set comprising all of the common interfaces used in the COM Express standard, including one PCI Express x16 and four PCI Express x1, four SATA, eight USB 2.0, 8-bit DIO, SDVO, and an LPC bus for legacy interfaces.

In addition to providing an onboard Intel 82577 GbE controller and Mobile Intel QM57/HM55 Express chipset, the module offers a range of CPU options from the Intel Core i3, i5, and i7 families. Increased 3D and video acceleration performance are enabled through the Intel Graphic Media Accelerator.

The H6052 includes one DDR3 SODIMM up to 4 GB of memory, one CRT interface, and 18/24-bit single/dual-channel LVDS support. Hectronic plans to release an extended temperature version of the module later this year.

Sleek, thin smartphone packages are great news for everyone except the team designing the camera inside. Until now, camera lenses have required mechanical focus mechanisms, requiring more space and power than designers might like.

LensVector has created a breakthrough solid-state autofocus lens, dramatically reducing the size and power of the lens package. The technology is based on a liquid crystal cell which, when applied with a small control voltage, changes in refractive index. Offering more ruggedness and reliability than mechanical systems as well as lower power, LVAF (Figure 1) provides focus from 10 cm to infinity.

Sleek, thin smartphone packages are great news for everyone except the team designing the camera inside. Until now, camera lenses have required mechanical focus mechanisms, requiring more space and power than designers might like.

LensVector has created a breakthrough solid-state autofocus lens, dramatically reducing the size and power of the lens package. The technology is based on a liquid crystal cell which, when applied with a small control voltage, changes in refractive index. Offering more ruggedness and reliability than mechanical systems as well as lower power, LVAF (Figure 1) provides focus from 10 cm to infinity.

Powering the LVAF solution is the SMB274 driver from Summit Microelectronics. While the driver uses an on-chip charge pump, integrated feedback signal processing optimizes performance and minimizes external components. An I2C/SMBus serial interface and nonvolatile configuration options provide simple host control and flexibility to address various applications.

Mobile devices are now faced with operating seamlessly on multiple bands of 3G and 4G wireless networks. Dealing with this requirement can easily eat all of the power savings achieved with other design steps if designers aren’t careful. RF Micro Devices has introduced a line of PowerSmart platforms (Figure 3) to provide a multiband front end for mobile devices.

The PowerSmart platforms provide a wide range of mode coverage (GSM/GPRS, EDGE, EDGE Evolution, CDMA, TD-SCDMA, WCDMA/HSPA+, and LTE/4G) and industry-leading band coverage (bands 1-6 and 8-10). The device uses a standardized digital interface to connect to most transceivers, and is designed to extend battery life and lower thermal dissipation, helping smartphones be greener.

Infotainment kiosk systems not only must be instantly accessible at the point of sale, they also must be easily upgradeable on the spot. Recognizing this need, American Portwell Technology introduced the PEB-9738VGA, the next-generation processor board that succeeds the PEB-9737VGA, which powers the proof-of-concept POS system Intel debuted at the National Retail Federation Convention last year.

Equipped with the Intel Core i7 processor and Mobile Intel QM57 Express chipset, this microATX motherboard incorporates Intel Intelligent Power-Sharing Technology, providing better performance and power consumption than Core 2 Duo processors as well as improved graphics capabilities compared to GM45 chipsets. While technical specs are not yet available for the PEB-9738VGA, Portwell has stated that it will include several nifty features enabled by the i7 platform, such as Intel vPro technology for increased security and energy efficiency and Intel Active Management Technology 6.0 for remote systems management.

Retailers will be able to use the microATX board in Intel’s proof-of-concept POS system to remain up-to-date with the latest processor technology advancements.

Besides making football games and action movies look more vivid and dramatic, HD can enhance the visual clarity of video systems used in surveillance equipment. One of the latest Mini-ITX boards from IEI Technology, the KINO-QM57, can provide the processing oomph necessary for high-resolution imaging applications with its integrated graphics engine that supports up to 1080p HD video playback.

The KINO-QM57 incorporates the Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, as well as the Mobile Intel QM57 Express chipset with Intel Active Management Technology 6.0 and the Intel 82577LM GbE LAN controller, which offers high-speed network transmission rates. Supporting two DDR III SODIMM memory modules up to 4 GB, the board provides one PCI Express x16, four RS-232, eight USB 2.0, and six SATA II ports plus VGA, 18/24-bit dual-channel LVDS, and two HDMI interfaces.

Onboard graphics can be configured to support two grouped video signals on two sets of displays or the same signal broadcast over all four outputs.

No matter whose idea Windows 7 was, the latest and greatest OS from Microsoft is making its foray into the embedded small form factor space. Taking advantage of this momentum, Avalue Technology has released the EPI-QM57 EPIC board with support for Windows 7 and other Windows flavors as well as Linux OSs.

Two CPU options are available for the EPI-QM57: Intel Core i7-620LE or the ultra-low-voltage Core i7-620UE, featuring Intel Turbo Boost and Hyper-Threading technologies. The board’s rich I/O set includes one EIDE, two COM, four SATA, and eight USB 2.0 ports plus 16-bit GPIO and an external CompactFlash socket. One PCI Express x1 interface and an optional 34 mm ExpressCard slot enable expansion for wireless connectivity, video, or extra storage in addition to the 4 GB of SDRAM available.

Besides supporting DVI, dual-channel 18/24-bit LVDS, VGA, and dual-display configurations, the board integrates a touch-screen interface allowing Panel PC setup and two GbE interfaces for rapid connection.

Running multicore functions on an SFF module requires a Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) that’s up to snuff on the latest processor technologies. To keep pace with the rapid introduction of faster, smarter CPUs, TenAsys has updated the INtime RTOS and the rest of its portfolio of embedded virtualization and software products to provide full support for the new Intel Core processors.

Working in conjunction with Windows, the INtime RTOS offers fully deterministic processing of real-time tasks independent of Windows task scheduling. When running on multicore processors like those available in the Intel Core family, INtime can boost performance by running on its own core(s). The chips’ built-in Intel Virtualization Technology support pairs well with INtime’s hard real-time capabilities.

INtime can reduce real-time event latencies in a dedicated multicore configuration to 1-3 microseconds, according to TenAsys. The RTOS includes ANSI C and C++ libraries; fully featured TCIP pack, services, and drivers; and support for Windows 7, Server 2008, Vista, and XP.

Expectations for video now require HD, which is not easy to do on a small platform. To create 1080p digital signage and other interactive display apps, the EPIA-P720 combines the 1 GHz VIA Eden ULV processor with the VX855 Media System Processor. Integrated on a 10 cm x 7.2 cm Pico-ITX board, the solution delivers hardware acceleration for H.264, VC1, WMV9, and MPEG-2/4 as well as connectivity for HDMI, VGA, and LVDS. Not only is the solution small, but it’s also fanless, taking HD digital signage to the next level.

As we’ve heard in this issue, SUMIT Connectors can land on a variety of small form factors, and the latest PC/104 board from VersaLogic is a good example of this. The Ocelot includes an Intel Atom Z5xx processor running at up to 1.6 GHz, coupled with the US15WP(T) chipset for a total board solution featuring reduced power draw at 7 W. With both PC/104 and SUMIT expansion connectors, the board offers legacy interfaces as well as modern PCI Express and USB ports for I/O. The board is available in a 0 °C to +60 °C commercial temp range, and by cutting the processor to 1.3 GHz, in an extended temp -40 °C to +85 °C version.

Intel’s latest GM45 chipset has found a home on a new COM Express module, the COM-45SP from AAEON Technology. The GM45 features fifth-generation integrated graphics with hardware MPEG-2/AVC/VC1 decode, integrated HDMI, and DisplayPort. Coupled with a Core 2 Duo processor, the GM45 on this module offers a robust multimedia experience for embedded designs. In keeping with this issue’s theme of standard versus custom, COM Express standard modules go nicely with custom carrier cards. AAEON claims its Design-to-Delivery service can produce COM Express carrier board designs in as little as 30 working days.

As one of our Executive Forum participants pointed out, more pure bandwidth for data transfers isn’t always a problem. Sometimes the available bandwidth goes into ensuring transfers can get rolling with low latency, and that’s the motivation behind the Connect Tech Xtreme/104-Express. With eight serial ports presented on headers, this board fulfills the need for more serial ports with no waiting in PCI/104-Express systems through a x1 PCI Express port. All serial ports are selectable as RS-232/422/485, and the board operates from -40 °C to +85 °C. Connect Tech will soon release a similar version featuring 3 kV optical isolation on all ports.

When we see circular Connectors, it usually means rugged, and this product is no exception. ADLINK Technology has taken their system design to the next level for the most extreme environmental conditions with the new MilSystem 800. Using a proven board design from their industrial-strength RuffSystem, they’ve tuned the enclosure to the point that it now passes MIL-STD-810 tests for shock and vibration and operates within a wide temperature range of -40 °C to +75 °C. In a small 8" x 10" x 3" conduction-cooled enclosure, this system can go where many cube-shaped and rack-mount systems can’t. Previous Editor’s Choice description from the Military Embedded Systems March/April edition: “Really rugged Pentium M 'shoebox' for kicks “With DoD budgets sure to be adjusted as President Obama changes U.S. foreign policy, the demand for low-cost yet rugged electronics is bound to accelerate. ADLINK is betting heavily on this trend, using their Ampro group to design mil-style industrial PCs that can go the distance. The company's 8" x 10" x 3" MilSystem 800 uses the shipboard-deployed RuffSystem 800 with uprating, derating, and ruggedizing tricks pulled right from the conduction-cooled board market. This 1.4 GHz Pentium M system boasts 1 GB of DDR memory, optional 32 GB of SSD, and up to 16 GB of rugged CF, or an HDD. “I/O comes out the front in the form of 38999-style military connectors, fed by 10/100/1000 Ethernet, four USB 2.0 ports, four serial ports, audio/video, PS/2, IDE, SATA, and an additional 55 user-defined I/O signals. But the core of this system is its rugged cost effectiveness. Designed to operate over -40 °C to +75 °C, the system uses a derated and guard-banded PSU, soldered CPU and Northbridge, thicker 0.093" PWB, and is backed by 901, 810, and HALT testing to prove survivability on the battlefield. This is one shoebox that can get kicked around.”

Most PC-style motherboards like Mini-ITX use an ATX-style power input with a variety of voltages. To help reduce system configuration and operating costs, ITOX Applied Computing took a look at that opportunity and decided to make a Mini-ITX variant featuring a single 12 VDC power input. The NP101-D16C is equipped with a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, a 945GSE Express chipset, and a wide range of features including up to 2 GB DDR2 memory, graphics, dual GbE, eight USB ports, two SATA ports, and more. The entire board runs with a Thermal Design Power (TDP) of less than 15 W.

We tend to get caught up in top-performance, high-bandwidth stuff. But the cool part about small form factors is that sometimes, all you need is something little and relatively low-performance that can get the job done efficiently. The DTXM RadioModem from Ritron does that. As the name implies, it’s a low-bandwidth radio modem – 19,200 bps in a 25 KHz channel, 9,600 bps in a 12.5 KHz channel, and 4,800 bps in an ultra-narrowband 6.25 KHz channel. These channels are all on licensed land mobile frequency bands in VHF, UHF, and 220 MHz spectrums. The unit measures 3.6" x 2.3" x 1.0" and offers data communications via a serial RS-232 interface.

Small is good, but bigger capacity is definitely better when it comes to Solid-State Drives (SSDs). While the 2.5" SSD form factor is a staple in many systems, the XPG SSD Enclosure from A-DATA Technology is the first one I’ve seen with 512 GB capacity. This drop-in SATA replacement for a rotating drive features wear leveling for better lifetime. It’s a good sign that designers are continuing to push the envelope for what’s possible with flash storage technology in small form factors.

Fanless systems come in a lot of shapes and sizes, and the latest from WIN Enterprises shows off what can be done with these systems today. The PL-60590 offers a very capable appliance in a footprint of 8.7" x 8.5" x 3.5". The enclosure is designed to dampen vibration and offers a decent level of ruggedness for the price of a comparable nonrugged system. With an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 945GME chipset, the unit has dual GbE, six USB, dual graphics ports, and an MIO expansion module. The enclosure also supports an internal 2.5" drive.

Small processor boards are always fascinating to me because I’ll hear someone talk about how putting that much functionality on a board isn’t possible and then turn around and see someone do it. The Cool XpressRunner-GS45 from LiPPERT Embedded Computers is a good example of that in a PCI/104-Express format. With a 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and a GS45 chipset, the processing power is there. Other features include 1 GB DDR3 RAM, SXGA graphics, GbE, eight USB ports, two SATA ports, and HD audio. Rated from -20 °C to +60 °C, the full-speed board offers an option for a slower processor with an extended temperature rating.

Here’s something that could provide hours of entertainment to the nearest 2.5 m. The TrackStick II is pretty self-explanatory – it’s a USB stick that records its position, date, time, speed, heading, altitude, and temperature based on GPS coordinates.

Powered on two AAA batteries, the TrackStick II can run at full power for up to 36 hours depending on GPS signal strength and stay in power save mode for as long as a week. 1 MB of flash records months of travel history, even when traveling at 300 km/hr. In addition to helping geotag photos, the USB stick can plug right into Google Earth or Google Maps to show you exactly where it’s been.

If you can have a Linux community, why not a hardware community? BeagleBoard.org is all about designing a neat little device around a System-on-Chip (SoC) and exchanging ideas on support and applications.

Featuring a Texas Instruments OMAP3530 applications processor and its ARM Cortex-A8 core, the Beagle Board packs quite a bite. The OMAP3530 also has an on-chip OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics accelerator and a C64x+ DSP and video accelerator. Board features include 128 MB RAM, 256 MB flash, USB On-The-Go, DVI-D, MMC+/SD/SDIO, S-Video, stereo audio, and more. The kit is available for $149 from Digi-Key.

Take a graphics module from the notebook PC world and a PCI/104-Express carrier module, put them together, and you get the DIGITAL-LOGIC MSMMX104EX.

MXM is short for Mobile PCI Express Module, an open standard backed by NVIDIA and several laptop manufacturers. As its name suggests, the standard defines a small graphics card with a x16 PCI Express interface. ATI has adopted the standard in its Radeon E2400 MXM-II module, shown plugged into the carrier.

Along with an MXM port that enables graphics module updates, the MSMMX104EX has interfaces for DVI-I, LVDS, and TV-out. A flexible heat pipe is available for cooling.

I’ve seen several programmable sprinkler control systems, but this one has a couple of interesting ideas, including a 802.15.4 wireless connection from a PC to the controller and the ability to download an online weather forecast to help project water needs – less on cool or rainy days, more on hot days.

The Cyber-Rain XCI system presents an easy-to-use PC interface to set zones, keep track of water usage, and produce reports on water savings, which the company claims can be 30-70 percent. Modes such as “fertilizing” also can help manage a temporary increase in water supply for a short period, then return to normal.

I’m always on the lookout for systems that have undergone a significant reduction in size. Those who used an ASIC verification system in the last couple of decades know that the boxes were huge – we’re talking washing machine-sized huge.

GiDEL has shrunk that huge box into something more toaster-sized in the PROC_SoC, powered by Altera Stratix III L340 FPGAs. The system holds three small form factor boards, each capable of 6M gates, for a total capacity of 18M gates running at 300 MHz system clock speed. A larger version with 10 boards handles up to 60M gates.

Code Red’s latest Eclipse-based C development tools now offer more advanced runtime tracing using serial wire-viewing capability in the Luminary Micro Stellaris microcontroller family, a nonstopping technology that gathers information nonintrusively as the target code executes.

Red Suite 1.5 adds support for project wizards, USB registers, and DMA controllers in the Stellaris family, giving better views into microcontroller and peripheral activities as well as enabling faster code writing and debugging. The tool also includes a FreeRTOS.org project wizard, which the company claims can generate a project skeleton in just four mouse clicks.

Linear Tech’s latest 16-bit delta-sigma ADC family features a pair of converters with a 0.5 microamp shutdown current in a tiny 3 mm x 2 mm, 8-pin package. The LTC2451 has an I2C interface and measures voltages from 0 to Vcc, while the LTC2452 has an SPI interface and measures a differential input up to ±Vcc. These units support up to 60 conversions per second but can be throttled back to save power at lower sample rates – typically 40 microwatt at one sample per second.

In our never-ending search for small form factor modules, we turned up iVeia’s Titan-V5e processing module. Based on a Xilinx Virtex-5, this platform combines general-purpose signal and video processing in a tiny 2.125" (W) x 3.375" (L) x 0.25" (H) package. It runs Linux 2.6 to manage the Virtex-5’s PowerPC 440 CPU and the DSP48E slice along with additional programmable logic in the FPGA.

The Titan-V5e development kit includes the hardware, a Velocity-SoC IP core and SDK, and an optimized framework and abstraction layer that decouples the FPGA and software design to aid in development. Additional GigaFlex I/O modules complete the package.

GRIP in this case means General-purpose Rugged Image Processing, the basis for a new line of platforms launched recently by Vision4ce. Combining an Intel Core 2 Duo processor with a suite of GPUs in a rugged package, these units can process images in harsh environments.

Besides the GRIP-Alpha rugged platform pictured here, larger versions are available with increasing numbers of GPUs. This Alpha unit includes 1 GPU, 4 GB of memory, two GbE ports, four USB ports, one PCI Express slot, and room for an SSD or SATA drive.

PC/104 continues to see improvements in processing power and I/O capability. Vendors keep pushing the envelope in new I/O modules with more channels, improved accuracy, and smarter calibration features.

The VCM-DAS-3a from VersaLogic is a good example of this. With 16 channels of 12-bit Digital-to-Analog (D/A) outputs and 24 digital I/O lines, it puts designers in control of numerous devices. The D/A features independently programmable-out ranges, software calibration, zero reset on power up, and read back of DAC and SPAN codes for simpler programming.

The space between a commercial PC and a fully rugged device covers a lot of territory. Motion Computing is using the term semi-rugged to describe its new F5 tablet, asserting that many applications don’t need the costly features of a fully rugged device.

The F5 contains an Intel Core Solo processor, outdoor viewable LCD display, shock-mounted hard drive or optional SanDisk solid-state disk, integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth with optional mobile broadband, RFID reader and optional barcode scanner, 2 megapixel camera, fingerprint reader, and both handwriting recognition and audio technology for input. This all comes in a 3 lb. package with an IP54 rating.

want the two round pics at the bottom with the corresponding labels Fiber-optic connections may look easy, but the internals are nontrivial. Fiber-optic receivers are typically made from several discrete components, presenting manufacturing and test issues that get even tougher at 10 Gb speeds. Gennum has stepped in with a single chip Receive Optical SubAssembly (ROSA) line enabling 10 Gbps operation, integrating the photo diode, trans-impedance amplifier, and passive components on a single stacked die called the Rchip. Several members of the Rchip ROSA family are offered in SC or LC barrel packages with various wavelengths, modes, and ranges, all targeted at enabling 10 Gbps networks.

Lots of us (myself included) tend to get caught up in the rush to put the latest and greatest processor on a small form factor module, pushing for higher performance. But lower price points are also important to many OEMs.

RadiSys recently introduced a new COM Express module targeting more value-priced needs in the Procelerant CE945GM2A. It’s based on the trailing-edge Intel Celeron M 440, but it fits. The goal is to bring ETX designs forward with a better processor and new I/O like PCI Express, GbE, USB, and SATA while maintaining the legacy ETX price point.

As Wi-Fi has proliferated in business locations, the market for Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) has grown as well. An RTLS tag can be placed on an item or person, providing instant location information wherever there is Wi-Fi coverage.

Ekahau recently improved its Positioning Engine software. The EPE 4.2 release adds an event management API and rules engine, increasing the number of items that can be tracked concurrently to 40,000. Ekahau is making inroads into health care with the EPE and T301-B Wi-Fi tag, helping improve patient security and service.

I’ve said this before: Unless you’re an expert, designing with LCD modules can be a pain. Every LCD module seems to be different, with different interfaces and different software. It can be hard for an instrument vendor wanting to add a display to do so when project schedules are tight. Three companies are trying to make that job easier for OEMs with modules and software. Photo: Luminary Micro (awaiting) A 2.8" LCD with a resistive touch screen is powered by an ARM Cortex-M3 in the Luminary Micro Ethernet-enabled Intelligent Display Module. This unit has a couple of twists – it supports Power-over-Ethernet or 24 V DC input, an SD card to expand storage, and four analog inputs. Connectivity via serial or Ethernet and a set of graphics and peripheral driver libraries for the Stellaris LM3S6918 microcontroller make it easy to get started quickly.

Microcontrollers don’t generally bring large memory solutions with them, but the one on this new small board from Rabbit is an exception to that rule. Pin-compatible with the complete family of Rabbit 4000-based core modules, the RCM4300 targets complex embedded applications such as data encryption and security-enabled Web servers. With Dynamic C tools – incorporating an editor, compiler, and in-circuit debugger – and the new Megabyte Code Support (MCS), designers can use more than 1 MB of SRAM for shared code and data and can implement up to 1 GB of storage using an industry-standard miniSD memory card.

Fanless systems based on low Thermal Design Power (TDP) processors are a big topic around here, and a recent entry from Advansus caught our attention. Based on the Nano-ITX form factor, the ALX800-LCN board with its AMD Geode LX 800@0.9W squeezes into the NTC100-LX800 chassis for a system measuring 170 mm x 155 mm x 42 mm.

The NTC100 series provides fanless operation with one 12 V DC power connector, one optional antenna via Mini PCI slot, and other VGA, audio, and LAN Connectors. Target applications include Internet Protocol Set-Top Box (IP-STB), thin client, LCD wall displays, and ultra-mobile applications.

While the title above is intended to be whimsical, the Avnet Electronics Digital Video Surveillance Kit is serious business. Created in conjunction with Analog Devices and Micron Technology, the second-generation stand-alone kit features Ethernet networking, streaming video, and onboard DSP. The kit is but one of Avnet’s growing cadre of value-add designs. (At April’s Embedded Systems Conference in San Jose, Avnet introduced three more FPGA-based development kits intended to ease designers’ headaches and shorten time-to-market.) The surveillance kit is a simplified prototype development platform that uses ADI’s Blackfin DSP for video processing, CMOS image sensors from Micron Technology, and Ethernet for connectivity. Software provides motion detection, threat analysis, and alert notification based upon preset events; images can also be sent over IP. Streaming video is supported, or images and alarms can be sent over the network. The kit is designed for multiple image sensors, from VGA to a 5 Megapixel digital still camera with a dynamic sensor range that exceeds 100 dB – great resolution with minimal noise. The kit also includes an evaluation copy of Analog Devices’ VisualDSP++ IDE for the Blackfin processor. Designers can program to their hearts’ content, and even deploy the design in an end system.

PC/104 boards remain popular choices for data acquisition systems, and Diamond Systems has updated one of their popular product lines for the next generation. The Athena II brings a VIA Mark CPU at 500 or 800 MHz, operating without a fan from -40 °C to +85 °C, supported by 256 MB SDRAM and video and Ethernet ports. An improved data acquisition subsystem features a 16-bit, 100 KHz A/D converter fronted with a 16-channel mux and programmable gain amp, along with four 12-bit D/A and 24 digital I/O lines.

EPIC provides a bit more board space to work with but uses PCI-104 modules for expansion, allowing PCI-104 designers to move forward. The new AR-B5230 SBC from ACROSSER pairs an Intel Pentium M with the Intel 915 GME chipset to bring mid-range performance to applications including transportation, panel PCs, digital signage, and other embedded systems. Onboard I/O includes graphics, SATA, USB, and Ethernet.

If you caught the DARWiN article on page XYZ, you noticed that the research team is making one improvement by adding an ARM microcontroller to the robot platform. National Instruments recently announced the LabVIEW Embedded Module for ARM microcontrollers. Targets include ARM 7, ARM 9, and Cortex-M3 microcontroller families.

Drivers are available for peripherals, along with a desktop simulator and links into NI Multisim. In addition to a project wizard for fast configuration, the module includes an interrupt manager that sets up LabVIEW code to run when a specific hardware interrupt occurs.

ETX, which was highlighted in our Focus on Form Factors section in the Spring 2007 issue, is now available from ADLINK with a low-power AMD Geode LX800 processor at work onboard.

The ETX-GLX isn’t a lightweight. It supports up to 1 GB DDR400 memory in a single SODIMM socket or optional 128 MB or 256 MB DDR400 memory soldered on. It also supports LVDS display panels at up to 1600 x 1200 resolution and an optional Focus Enhancement TV encoder chip for HDTV output. Also onboard are a 10/100BASE-T Ethernet port, a dual port SATA controller, four USB 2.0 ports, and other features.

The pain is obvious: Either designers need a whole set of voltage supervisors with different thresholds for different voltages or they need a lot of external resistors to divide the voltage to the right value. Linear Technology is going right after this problem with its new voltage supervisor device.

The LTC2915 is a single voltage supervisor with 27 unique pin-selectable thresholds specified with an overall accuracy of ±1.5 percent without the need for costly 0.1 percent external resistors. It includes two three-state input pins that select one of nine internally programmed thresholds: 12 V, 5 V, 3.3 V, 2.5 V, 1.8 V, 1.5 V, 1.2 V, 1.0 V, or an adjustable 0.5 V. A third three-state input sets the input threshold at -5, -10, or -15 percent.

Getting a stackable plastic package for your embedded system usually means a big investment – until now. Bud’s new offering targets an off-the-shelf space-saving plastic case for small form factor designs.

The Plasticase Style H enclosures have an interlocking design, allowing several enclosures to be stacked high without slipping. The front and rear panels slide out for easy modification such as adding a keypad or read-out display. They come in either 1.68" or 2.36" heights; length and width are 9.18" and 5.25", respectively. Pricing starts as low as $8.35 for single units, and Bud can customize to specific needs.

Intel’s Santa Rosa processor brings Core 2 Duo performance to embedded applications, and Ampro shows the way to Santa Rosa with two new modules.

The COM 840 (pictured) is a COM Express board with a Core 2 Duo L7500 CPU at up to 1.6 GHz, along with two SODIMM sockets for up to 4 GB of RAM and a PCI Express x16 interface. The XTX 840 offers the same processor on an ETX/XTX compatible module.

The COM 840 includes SATA, USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, audio, and more. The AMI BIOS includes ACPI 2.0 support, including S3 suspend-to-RAM for fastest resume time with long battery life.

Magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM) uses magnetic materials combined with conventional silicon circuitry to deliver the speed of SRAM with the nonvolatility of flash in a single, unlimited endurance device. Freescale continues to introduce new MRAM devices, enabling instant-on capability and power loss protection.

The MR1A16A series of 2 Mb MRAM devices replaces two 1 Mb nonvolatile RAM parts with a single device designed to help reduce system cost and board area. The devices are provided in a choice of commercial, industrial, and extended temperature ranges (operating from -40 °C to +105 °C). The MR1A16A is in volume production and available at a suggested resale price of $12.50 in 10,000-unit quantities.

Designing networking with encryption and security into devices doesn’t have to be a hassle. Connect One has engineered the II-EVB-600 evaluation board for the iChip CO2064, simplifying the development of secure Wi-Fi, LAN, cellular, or dial-up networking devices. The CO2064 features 10/100 Ethernet, USB 2.0, SPI, and USART interfaces, along with a true random number generator, SHA-1/256 secure hash accelerator, AES-128/ 192/256 encryption accelerator, 3DES, SSL3/TLS1, and WEP/WPA2 encryption for Wi-Fi. The II-EVB-600 includes two CO2064s, two USB host and device Connectors, two male-female RS-232 DB-9 connectors, RJ-45 connector, RJ-11 connector, SocketModem, Wi-Fi daughterboard with antenna, 4-pin TWI connector, two 6-pin SPI connectors, and SIM holder with either 110 V or 220 V power supply.

Automotive applications are among the world’s most demanding physical environments for electronics., A new PC/104 data logger designed for this environment is going to work, capturing data from CAN interfaces in real time.

Along with a CAN interface, the ePC-QUAD-LOG has a fast 16-bit A/D for capturing signals, as well as digital input channels. Data is recorded to a CompactFlash device in a DIADEM format, and USB and Ethernet interfaces are available to share data. The unit powers from 9-36 Vdc.

Sometimes USB memory sticks get crushed like twigs when subjected to a bit of rough usage. I’ve snapped off plastic covers, bent Connectors, and similarly mutilated more than one of mine.

Corsair has a solution - the new Flash Survivor line of USB 2.0 flash drives. Designed and engineered to be the industry’s toughest USB drive, Flash Survivor is water resistant, computer numeric control milled aluminum encased, and shock proof to safely store users’ information and files in the most demanding environments.

Blurry images are of little use, especially in machine vision applications. This small system combines a gyrosensor, lens assembly with a charge coupled device, DSP, and software to provide image stability with zero loss in resolution or field of view.

Capable of handling vibrations up to 100 Hz, the Energen Image Stabilization system can achieve image stability to 35 urad, depending on the application. Applications include anything with a camera - telescopes, reconnaissance aircraft, UAVs, and machine vision systems.

SATA ports are everywhere now, but finding native SATA devices other than rotating hard disk drives is tough, using adapters is a pain, and finding a fast device can be even more difficult.

The XceedUltra U100 is more than just a solid-state drive with a native SATA interface. It delivers the kind of performance needed for embedded systems with 100 MBps sustained reads and 60 MBps sustained writes. The SATA interface, combined with onboard error detection and advanced management technologies, specifically supports data-intensive solid-state disk applications. It comes in 20 GB capacity now and 40 GB shortly.

After looking for UMPCs gaining traction in embedded applications, we’ve found a unique one – a handheld spectrum analyzer.

The BumbleBee-TABLET grabs and measures signals in a variety of wireless bands including Wi-Fi, WiMAX, RFID, ISM, Public Safety, and Bluetooth. It runs Windows XP UMPC and supports viewing, recording, and analysis with its 7" touch screen and a 60 GB hard drive. An RF interference mapping software package is available as an add-on. Optional Honeycomb Interference Mapping Windows XP software can be run in the field or as a desktop application.

Mobile PC/104 systems can now communicate over GSM/GPRS networks and determine their position accurately via GPS using a new PC/104 module. The COM-1289 integrates two chipsets: the Fastrax iTrax03 12-channel GPS receiver with urban canyon and dense foliage capability, and the Siemens MC55 tri-band GSM/GPRS wireless terminal supporting SMS, high-speed GPRS data, fax, and voice communication. Features include an onboard locking SIM card slot, an audio I/O port for a voice headset, two 16C550-compatible UART ports, and jumperless configuration via EEPROM

Got a serial port? Your wish just came true – you can now add Bluetooth capability easily with this tiny module measuring just 1.25" x 1.1".

PearlBlue is a Class 1 (up to 100 m range) intelligent Bluetooth module, connecting the radio serial port to a physical UART for easy interface to an embedded microcontroller or SBC. The module can act as master or slave and is OS and hardware independent. It uses 3.3 V at 110 mA maximum and operates from -40 °C to +70 °C. PearlBlue’s glueless point-to-point wireless communication allows RS-232 links to be implemented between computers, smart phones, and other PearlBlue modules.

I/O expansion can be tricky, especially if it must adapt to particular form factors. Using a bus-independent interface such as 802.11, wired Ethernet, USB, or serial ports can help expand in tight spots.

Seal/O-OEM boards come in 15 I/O configurations: Reed and Form C relays, optically isolated inputs, TTL interface to industry-standard solid-state relay racks, A/D and D/A functionality, and RS-232/452 serial connectivity. Multiple units of any I/O type can be daisy-chained together easily using convenient pass-through Connectors.

Lower-power Intel and VIA C-7 processors have enabled fanless designs of powerful, small boards in form factors such as Mini-ITX as well as corresponding fanless system enclosures.

The SolidLogic GS-LO5 fanless Mini-ITX computer system measures only 3” (H) x 7.2” (W) x 7.4” (L). It utilizes heat-pipe/heat-sink technology for passive cooling, which eliminates the reliability concerns fanned cases can present when used in harsh, demanding, or remote environments.

Shock, dust, vibration, humidity, extreme cold and heat, and electromagnetic interference eat normal boxes for breakfast. The Tangent Rugged Mini UX is designed to take all that and stay up for the rest of the workday.

The rugged design includes a hard drive mounted on four gel-mount 15 g shock absorbers. An oversized heat pipe and heat sink assembly provide fanless convection-based cooling. The system uses just 44 W at 100 percent utilization compared to a typical PC using 75-125 W. It measures 9" x 7" x 2" and weighs less than 4 pounds.

Storing full-motion video in limited memory requires better compression techniques such as MPEG-4 and MJPEG. Compressed frames also enable better transmitted frame rates.

The 314 frame grabber from Sensoray is a low-cost MPEG 1/2/4 and MJPEG frame grabber that captures full-frame (720 x 480) video at 30 frames per second. An advanced 9-bit digitizer and adaptive multiline comb filter dramatically improve image quality. Linux, QNX, and Windows drivers are supplied, and a Fast Windows stream player is available.