Apalis - ICC Mediafiles.iccmedia.com/events/armcon/toradex.pdf · The Hardware Abstraction Pyramid...

ApalisA New Architecture for Embedded Computing

Agenda The Hardware Abstraction Pyramid The System-on-Module (SoM) Why Should You Use a SoM? Discovering Apalis Motivations Architectural Overview Standard & Type Specific Interfaces Direct Breakout MXM SnapLock & Cooling Alternative Architectures Products

|www.toradex.com Toradex® is a registered trademark of Montadex GmbH 7/3/14 3

The Hardware Abstraction Pyramid


The System-on-Module (SoM)

Layer of abstraction above the SoC (System-on-Chip) concept

Integrates additional devices and peripherals needed to realise fully functional computer, including RAM, non-volatile storage and power supplies

Hardware and Software componentsToradex modules include highly optimised and customisable

software stacks in the form of Embedded Linux and Windows Embedded Compact operating systems

Rich ecosystems surrounding both OS'

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Why Should You Use a SoM?

Don’t re-invent the wheelLeverage the economies of scaleOvercome barriers to technology accessMinimise riskSpeed up development cyclesLower total overall costIncreased product longevityMinimise product maintenance

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Discovering Apalis

Apalis is a new architecture for embedded Computer-on-Modules

Builds on success of Colibri family and is complementary product line

Brings range of new concepts to further reduce complexity to customers integrating latest technologies

Provisions for technologies not yet adopted or do not exist

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Motivations

Longevity: Very long-term life-cycle (10+ years), decoupled from individual SoC vendors

Extensibility: Easily configurable interface options, provision to support as yet unknown interfaces

Usability: Encapsulates complexity, going much further than any other COM standard, all high speed signals routed to real world connectors on single PCB layer

Compatibility: Full support for 3.3V voltage level on all GPIOs and industry standard interfaces

Simplicity: Minimal number of voltage rails and power management signals, reduced design complexity, risk, time and total cost

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Architectural Overview

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Standard & Type Specific Interfaces

Standard: Dedicated pins for specific functions, ensures electrical and functional compatibility between module family members

Future proof designs for advances in technology

Provides an upgrade path for products

Type Specific: Interfaces specific to particular device or interfaces which may not yet exist or are not widely adopted

Extend features present on standard interfaces (e.g. additional PCI Express lanes)

Reconfigure subset of pins for different uses between modules

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Direct Breakout

Direct Breakout™ technology allows routing signals directly from module connector to outside world I/O ports without crossing traces or traversing layers

Greatly reduces risk of signal integrity issues routing signals for high speed interfaces, such as USB, PCI Express, SATA and HDMI

Enables use of low-cost four layer PCBs, and significantly speeds up placement and routing of designs

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Direct Breakout


MXM SnapLock & Cooling

Easily fix to carrier board by either screws or unique MXM SnapLock™ mechanismEdge retention connector mounted on carrier board tightly fixes

module by means of two metal retaining clips

Increased power consumption in high performance ARM based SoCsPassive cooling still perfectly viable in most applicationsRobust, rigid mounting mechanism to support thermal solutionsSpecial pad on bottom of module doubles as thermal relief and load

absorbing mechanism

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Alternative Architectures

Main competitors to Apalis include SMARC and Qseven (standards managed by SGET)

Influenced by x86 architecture and legacy requirements sub-optimal for ARM architectures

Support fewer features, less flexible

More complex power management requirements

Less provision for future family compatibility and product longevity

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Apalis T30

NVIDIA Tegra 3Quad core Cortex A9

up to 1.4GHzXT (-25° to +70°)GeForce GPU 2D/3D2GB RAM8GB eMMCHDMI, LVDS, PCIe,

SATA, USB, Gigabit Ethernet

€129 (single piece) to €89 (@10K)

Products


Apalis iMX6

Freescale i.MX 6Dual/Quad core

Cortex A9 up to 1GHz

IT (-40° to +85°)Vivante GPU 2D/3D1GB RAM4GB eMMCHDMI, LVDS, PCIe,

SATA, USB, Gigabit Ethernet

€89 (single piece) to €68 (@10K)

Products


Apalis Evaluation Board Product development and prototyping

Wide range of interfaces

Jumper and breakout area

Various Accessories (TFT LCD, ACM, Capacitive Touch)

Schematic, layout, libraries, BOM in Altium Designer

€249 (single piece)

Products


Ixora Carrier BoardSmall series

productionCompact form

factorWide range of

interfacesVarious

Accessories (TFT LCD, Capacitive Touch)

Schematic, layout, libraries, BOM in Altium Designer

€89 (single piece) to €69 (@500)

Products

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