| PC/104-Plus SBC sports Atom |
Aug. 01, 2008
 Eurotech announced a PC/104-Plus single board computer (SBC) with Intel's Z500-series Atom processors, and an optional 20-channel GPS receiver. Compatible with embedded Linux, the "Isis" includes SDIO and PCI Express Mini Card sockets, PC/104 and PC/104-Plus expansion, and eight USB ports, says Eurotech.
(Click here for a larger view of Eurotech's Isis)
Eurotech's Catalyst
(Click image for further information) |
The Isis is an interesting two-piece design, combining Eurotech's previously released Catalyst COM (computer-on-module) with a newly designed carrier board. The Catalyst, seen at right, uses a proprietary 3.9 x 2.8 inch (100 x 67mm) form factor. It was originally released in April on an 11 x 18 inch carrier board, which also sported a folding 10.4-inch touchscreen display. For our earlier coverage, which includes a block diagram of both the carrier board and COM, see here.
On the Isis, the Catalyst module fits neatly in between PC/104 and PC/104-Plus expansion connectors. Thus, the resulting device offers both 32-bit PCI and 16-bit ISA connections to the outside world, while complying (well, almost!) with the 3.8 x 3.6 inch PC/104 form factor.
Eurotech's Isis SBC uses its previously released Catalyst module
(Click to enlarge)
In addition to the expansion connectors, the carrier also includes both PCI Express Mini Card and SDIO sockets. Further, it also accepts an optional iTrax300 20-channel GPS receiver, with full position/velocity/time functionality, says Eurotech.
PCI Express mini-card and connector
(Generic picture -- not the Catalyst module)
The Isis uses Intel's 45nm Atom Z510 or Z530 processors, running at 1.1GHz or 1.6GHz, respectively, along with the comparatively large SCH (system controller hub) US15W companion chip. Eurotech cites CPU power consumption of 2.3 Watts for the 1.6GHz part, 2 Watts for the 1.1GHz part, and SCH power consumption of 2.3 Watts -- bringing claimed total power draw to under five Watts for the CPU module's core logic.
The Isis is available with up to 1GB of DDR2 RAM, apparently soldered on, and with 2GB or 4GB of flash storage. If more storage is desired, it may be added via the SDIO slot mentioned earlier.
The SBC includes VGA and LVDS display interfaces, 10/100 Ethernet, IDE support, and eight USB ports. It also has three serial ports, two of them user-accessible, and one dedicated to the optional GPS receiver. Finally, the Isis also includes an Atmel TPM (trusted platform module) device, says Eurotech.
Features and specifications cited by the company for the Isis include:- Processor -- Intel Atom Z510 (1.1GHz) or Z530 (1.6GHz)
- Memory -- up to 1GB of DDR2 RAM, and 2GB or 4GB of flash storage
- Networking -- 10/100 Ethernet
- Other I/O:
- VGA
- LVDS
- HD audio I/O
- 8 x USB 2.0
- IDE (parallel ATA)
- 3 x 16C550-compatible serial (one dedicated to optional GPS)
- GPIO
- I2C/SMBus
- Expansion:
- PC/104-Plus
- PC/104
- PCI Express Mini Card
- SDIO
- Operating temperature -- 0 to 70 deg. C (commercial), -40 to +85 deg. C (industrial)
- Dimensions:
- Carrier board: 3.8 x 3.5 inches (96 x 90mm)
- CPU module: 3.9 x 2.8 inch (100 x 67mm)
According to Eurotech, the Isis runs Linux, Windows XP Embedded, Windows CE, and Windows Vista. Pricing and availability was not cited, but more information may be available from the company's website, here.
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