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Advantages of the COM design In addition to ECC support, integrated computers for safety- critical industrial applications should also include other features such as TPM support.
Thanks to multicore-based virtualization technology, system- critical functions can also be assigned to secondary work processes on separate operating systems – all on one computer with only one processor. Standard PCs cannot provide all requirements, so developers use integrated computer modules based on standard form factors such as COM Express or XTX are used. These modules are mounted on application-specific or custom-designed carrier boards. The advantages of this modular concept (see Figure 3) include long-term availability of the solution, scalability, and the ability to easily upgrade to the very latest and very fastest computer modules on the market.
[Figure 3 | A COM Express baseboard and module.]
Intel Core i7 processors serve the upper end of performance requirements. The high-end COM Express module conga-BE57 (Figure 4), for instance, uses the Intel Core i7 Processor LE-620 with 2 cores, 4 threads and up to 8 GB fast (1066 MT/s) Dual Channel DDR3 memory for ECC support.
[Figure 4 | The congatec conga-BE57 COM Express module.]
Despite 4 MB cache and clock speeds of 2.66 GHz, which in turbo mode can be increased up to 3.33 GHz, the module
Figure 4 | The congatec conga-BE57 COM Express module.
rarely reaches the 30 W mark in practical use, allowing the heat generation to be managed in closed systems. The com- pact design of only 95 mm² by 125 mm² in combination with low power consumption and high processing power enables easy integration of the conga-BE57 in customer applications and systems.
Franz Fischer is an applications engineer manager at congatec, Inc. He has earned a
Dipl.Ing (FH) degree obtained from the University of Applied Sciences in Munich. Possessing over 13 years’ experience in hardware design, EMC, avionics engineering, and graphics, Franz has previously held
positions with ATI Professional Graphics in Germany, as well as IndustrieHanda Consulting and Engineering.
congatec, Inc.
www.congatec.com
ARBOR Solution Inc. 2032 Bering Drive, San Jose, CA 95131
TEL: (408) 452 8900 FAX: (408) 452 8909
www.arborsolution.com info@arborsolution.com
ECD in 2D: See instructions on an easy way to ensure a solid installation of a COM Express module on a carrier board. Use your smartphone, scan this code, watch a video:
http://bit.ly/ele2mz
26 | April 2011 Embedded Computing Design
www.embedded-computing.com
Figure 3 | A COM Express baseboard and module.
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