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COMPACTPCI A straightforward x86 embedded solution with Intel SoC By Masami Shoji, Eurotech Many customers in the embedded market wish to use standard x86 architecture and its associated software, but complicated signal connections and multiple chips are needed making the board expensive to design and manufacture in-house. This article describes a solution based on the Intel EP80579 integrated processor. n System-on-chip (SoC) is the key not only to the downsizing of computers but also to increasing system robustness. In the embedded market there are many customers who wish to use the well-proven standard x86 architecture and its associated software. However, the problem is that extremely complicated signal connections and multiple chips are needed on the embedded processor board. Customers understand this often makes the board complex and expensive to design and manufacture in-house, and they are also aware that complexity leads to the increased possibility of system failure if not fully understood at design time. SoC is one of the best ways to solve the problem. The Intel EP80579 integrated processor, formerly named Tolapai, is the first all-inone Intel x86 SoC processor. The device includes an Intel architecture complex based on the Intel Pentium M processor, integrated memory controller hub, integrated I/O controller hub, and integrated I/O peripheral functions such as Ethernet MAC, Controller Area Network (CAN) interfaces, and so on. The processor is software-compatible with the existing Intel x86 microprocessor family. The Intel EP80579 also has other special features that make it more appropriate for embedded applications. The first is that error correction code (ECC) RAM is supported. Moreover, it covers not only the DDR2 main memory but also the integrated Ethernet buffer memory and registers. This is where single bit error in the word is corrected automatically. The second is that an Enhanced DMA (EDMA) engine is integrated in the SoC. This is useful for achieving higher bandwidth and lower latency memory-to-PCI Express transfer. Finally, some members of the Intel EP80579 family are available to support industrial temperature ranges. These features make it ideal for communications and industrial automation solutions under unconstrained thermal environments. Eurotech offers two types of CompactPCI board and one COM Express module based on the Intel EP80579 processor, which form part of its standard product range. The A3pci8024 is a 4HP/3U single-size CompactPCI CPU board based on the Intel EP80579 and is designed especially for embedded systems requiring high reliability and reasonable balance between performance and power consumption. The Intel IA-32 core processor runs at up to 1.2 GHz and features a 256KB 2-way L2 cache. It includes one DDR2 small-outline registered DIMM (SORDIMM) socket to provide up to 2GB memory with ECC for rugged environments. The integrated memory controller operates at up to 533 MHz and supports PC2- 4200 SORDIMM. This board is also equipped with one Gigabit Ethernet port, one USB2.0 port and one analog VGA port on the front June 2011 18 Figure 1. A3pci8024 – 4HP/3U CompactPCI CPU board based on Intel EP80579 panel. In addition to this, the A3pci8024 supports a 32-bit 33 MHz CompactPCI hot swap interface. The CompactPCI bridge chip used on the board supports both transparent and non-transparent mode and is automatically configured according to the type of slot, whether system-slot or peripheral-slot. This enables customers to use more than one board in the same CompactPCI enclosure. The rear I/O includes two Serial-ATA ports and four USB2.0 ports. The A3pci8024-RTM is a rear transition module designed especially for the A3pci8024. The A3pci8024-RTM also supports one embedded USB flash disk using one of four USB ports. The A6pci8026 is a 4HP/6U CompactPCI CPU single-board computer based on the Intel EP80579 and designed for a wide range of industrial environment applications. SoC processor and memory specifications are the same as the A3pci8024. The board supports PC2-4200 SORDIMM with ECC and a maximum of 2GB of memory. It offers comprehensive I/O capabilities with one Gigabit Ethernet port, two USB2.0 ports, one asynchronous serial port, and one analog VGA port on the front panel, with one CompactFlash socket on the board. One PMC site is also available for I/O or system expansion. The board supports a 32-bit 33MHz CompactPCI hot swap interface and PICMG 2.16 packet switching backplane inter-
Figure Fi 2. 2 A6pci8026 A6p 6p 6 i802 02 0 6 – 4HP 4HP/6U HP H P/ /6 / 6U CCompactPCI p tP t CI C SBC bbased d on IIntel t l EP EEP80579 80579 79 7 face. The CompactPCI bridge chip is the same as used in the A3pci8024 and it is possible to use the board on both system and peripheral slots. Two extra Gigabit Ethernet ports are connected to a J3 connector enabling the dual link topology of PICMG2.16 using two switches in the system. The A6pci8026-RTM is a rear transition module designed especially for A6pci8026 and supports two Serial-ATA ports and one embedded USB flash disk. The Adbc8025 is a basic-size COM Express module based on the Intel EP80579 and designed especially for embedded systems which require high reliability and rich I/O connectivity. A computer-on-module (COM) is a module with all the components necessary for a host computer, packaged as a super component and providing a solution for a host of embedded applications. The size of the Adbc8025 is 125 mm x 95mm (basic module) and all the core components of an x86 computer are integrated in that space. SoC processor and memory specifications are the same as the www.embedded-control-europe.com/bas-magazine www .embedded-control-europe.com/bas-magazine COMPACTPCI A3pci8024. The board supports PC2-4200 SORDIMM with ECC and a maximum of 2GB of memory. Module pin-out of the Adbc8025 is type3 compatible. The board offers comprehensive I/O capability with three Gigabit Ethernet ports, five USB2.0 ports, two asynchronous serial ports, two Serial ATA ports, one X4 PCI Express port, one 32-bit 33 MHz PCI bus, two CAN ports, and one analog VGA port on COM Express connectors. Also available from Eurotech is a carrier board for the Adbc8025 COM Express module. The MicroATX carrier board Adbc8025-CAR is designed especially for the Adbc8025 and provides a quick and easy way to use it for proof of concept or development purposes. The company has many years experience designing computer boards using various types of Intel CPUs and peripherals. As mentioned at the beginning, SoC is the key to increasing system robustness and Eurotech can provide both standardized products such as those detailed above, and also customized ones based on the Intel EP80579 SoC. n FREE SUBSCRIPTION to boards & solutions the european embedded computing magazine 19 June 2011
Page 1: COVER STORY Multi-core processors a
Page 4: CONTENTS Viewpoint 3 ATCA, MTCA & A
Page 7 and 8: Fi Figure 11: Si Simplified plif if
Page 9 and 10: n ELMA: 12-slot xTCA system with re
Page 11 and 12: Figure 1. CPU-to-CPU connectivity u
Page 13 and 14: terconnected via a high-performance
Page 15 and 16: an integrated 1U fan drawer. Fitted
Page 20 and 21: PCI EXPRESS Using PCI Express as hi
Page 22 and 23: PCI EXPRESS Figure Fig ig igu gure
Page 24 and 25: EMBEDDED COMPUTING Figure Fig ig ig
Page 26 and 27: EMBEDDED COMPUTING A new processor
Page 28 and 29: EMBEDDED COMPUTING hundreds of othe
Page 30 and 31: PRODUCT NEWS n VIA: Mini-ITX board
Page 32 and 33: PRODUCT NEWS n NEXCOM: rugged trans
Page 34: PRODUCT NEWS n DDC: avionics 1553/4

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