Kontron announced its strategic entry into ARM architecture, enabling a new breed of embedded scalable building blocks for application-ready platforms with low-power consumption. The first products planned for 2011 will be in the module and board form factors. Under development at Kontron is a new module format, optimized for usage with ARM System-On-Chip (SOC) processor types. The modules will enable ARM processors, single, dual and quad core, to be used in most vertical market applications. Following the initial release, Kontron then plans to expand its SBC family, as well as tablet and box PCs and HMIs. All Kontron ARM-based products will be available as standard solutions or as customer-specific designs as required.
A new line of Computer-on-Modules is being defined to allow the usage of ARM from single core to future quad core processors. This highly integrated ARM SOC silicon leaves a gap between the interfaces provided and what can be routed through a standard module connector. A classic PC chipset has a large number of PCI-Express lanes and USB ports. In contrast to this, the ARM SOC provides multiple UART, I2C, SDIO ports and less PCIe and USB interfaces. To allow optimum interface usage a new definition deems necessary. Kontron has selected a rugged card edge / gold finger connector solution to enable access to an industry proven connector model allowing low profile options.
Kontron AG
www.kontron.com