Customized Single Board Computer
There has been dramatic growth in
products using ARM™ processors, driven most recently by the expanding
smartphone and tablet markets. ARM based solutions are appearing in areas
previously reserved for high power x86 based solutions. At the same time, the
likes of Intel® and AMD are trying to increase power efficiency in their x86
products in order to compete in areas previously dominated by ARM.
The gradual integration of
interfaces such as PCI-Express, Gigabit Ethernet, SATA and HDMI into the latest
SoCs and APs have driven the need for a new computer on module standard. These
interfaces are enabling ARM devices to enter application areas such as digital
signage and high-end multimedia, previously reserved for higher power, x86
based platforms.
Leveraging the decades of man years
of expertise of Toradex in the embedded ARM market, Toradex has created the new
System on module standard, called Apalis™.
The future
proof Apalis computer
on module family architecture has been developed based on research into
different technologies and in close collaboration with our customers.
The main
objectives for the Apalis architecture are as follows:
• Longevity:
Apalis is architected with a very long-term lifecycle in mind, not being design
around a specific SoC or AP. This decouples Apalis from individual SoC vendors
and therefore provides extended lifecycle (10+ years) required for embedded
products.
•
Extensibility: A wide range of easily configurable interface options supports
an almost unlimited variety of product applications. Provision to support as
yet unknown interfaces ensures Apalis is ready for next generation connectivity
and interface technologies.
• Usability:
Complexity is encapsulated on the Apalis Computer module,
greatly reducing design complexity for customers. Apalis goes much further than
any other COM standard, allowing all high speed signals to be routed to real
world connector on a single PCB layer.
•
Compatibility: Apalis provides full support for 3.3V voltage level on all GPIOs
and industrial standard interfaces, a requirement for many embedded
applications.
•
Simplicity: Specific focus was put on simplifying power management. Reducing
the number of voltage rails and power management signals required greatly helps
to reduce design complexity, development time and total cost of the entire
system.
In early 2005, Toradex released their first Colibri Computer on Module. It is based on the Marvell™ PXA270, formerly Intel XScale™,
and continues to be available until at least 2017.
Toradex continues to expand
the Colibri family of Computer modules which have been swiftly adopted by a diverse
range of industries around the globe. Today the Colibri family contains ten pin
and functional compatible module variants utilising Marvell PXA and NVIDIA®
Tegra™ System-on-Chips (SoC) and ships to thousands of customers.
Toradex continues to innovate,
develop and support our Colibri System on Module family. Features and improvements to the
Windows™ CE OS for the Colibri PXA270 continue eight years after the initial product
launch. Additional products will be added to the Colibri product family in
2013, demonstrating the commitment of Toradex to the longevity of the Colibri
product family.
