Apalis A New Architecture for Embedded Computing

Apalis A 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

The Hardware Abstraction Pyramid 7/3/14 3

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 components Toradex 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' 7/3/14 4

Why Should You Use a SoM? Don t re-invent the wheel Leverage the economies of scale Overcome barriers to technology access Minimise risk Speed up development cycles Lower total overall cost Increased product longevity Minimise product maintenance 7/3/14 5

Discovering Apalis Apalis is a new architecture for embedded Computer-onModules 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 7/3/14 6

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 7/3/14 7

Architectural Overview 7/3/14 8

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 7/3/14 9

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 7/3/14 10

Direct Breakout 7/3/14 11

MXM SnapLock & Cooling Easily fix to carrier board by either screws or unique MXM SnapLock mechanism Edge retention connector mounted on carrier board tightly fixes module by means of two metal retaining clips Increased power consumption in high performance ARM based SoCs Passive cooling still perfectly viable in most applications Robust, rigid mounting mechanism to support thermal solutions Special pad on bottom of module doubles as thermal relief and load absorbing mechanism 7/3/14 12

Alternative Architectures Main competitors to Apalis include SMARC and Qseven (standards managed by SGET) Influenced by x86 architecture and legacy requirements suboptimal for ARM architectures Support fewer features, less flexible More complex power management requirements Less provision for future family compatibility and product longevity 7/3/14 13

Products Apalis T30 NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad core Cortex A9 up to 1.4GHz XT (-25 to +70 ) GeForce GPU 2D/3D 2GB RAM 8GB emmc HDMI, LVDS, PCIe, SATA, USB, Gigabit Ethernet 129 (single piece) to 89 (@10K) 7/3/14 14

7/3/14 15

7/3/14 16

Products Apalis imx6 89 (single piece) to 68 (@10K) Freescale i.mx 6 Dual/Quad core Cortex A9 up to 1GHz IT (-40 to +85 ) Vivante GPU 2D/3D 1GB RAM 4GB emmc HDMI, LVDS, PCIe, SATA, USB, Gigabit Ethernet 7/3/14 17

7/3/14 18

7/3/14 19

Products Apalis Evaluation Board 249 (single piece) 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 7/3/14 20

Products Ixora Carrier Board 89 (single piece) to 69 (@500) Small series production Compact form factor Wide range of interfaces Various Accessories (TFT LCD, Capacitive Touch) Schematic, layout, libraries, BOM in Altium Designer 7/3/14 21