BOARDS AND SYSTEMS
Quite a few boards and systems will debut at ESC, including a
new platform from Diamond Systems. The Neptune and Chameleon
combine to form a modular system with PC/104 expansion
capabilities (Fig. 2).
The Chameleon-based board has an EPIC form factor. Its
connector interface plugs into the Chameleon, allowing for easy
customization without modifying the main board or module. The
Neptune ETX single-board computer attaches to the bottom of
the Chameleon.
The approach builds on standard interfaces while providing
access to a 250-kHz, 16-bit, autocalibrated analog-to-digital
converter (ADC) with 32 single-ended or 16 differential analog
inputs, as well as a 2048-entry FIFO, a four-channel 12-bit
digital-to-analog converter (DAC), the 8-bit I/O ports, and a pair
of timers. The Chameleon also provides access to the Neptune’s
gigabit Ethernet, IDE, floppy, parallel, LCD, and TV-out ports. It
offers VGA, audio, and 10/100 Ethernet, plus six serial, four USB,
and two PS/2 ports off the connector adapter as well.
Keep an ear out for announcements from the Small Form Factor
SIG (SFF-SIG). The group is addressing the small modular
and stackable board arena, where standards have been slow to
emerge lately. VIA Technologies will show off a form factor based
on its Pico-ITX line, which uses a new expansion system.
Known as Stackable Unified Module Interconnect Technology
(SUMIT), the system is based on a high-density, bladed
Samtec connector. The connection supports PCI Express and
USB ports, which allow support for ExpressCard, as well as SPI,
I2C, and the LPC bus.
For a more systems-oriented approach, check out Applied Data’s
fanless netCast Player HD. It brings IP set-top-box capabilities to
automotive entertainment systems and digital signage applications.
Moreover, it can handle video resolutions up to HD 1080p. The
Linux-based system supports wired or wireless networks in addition
to features like touchscreens and password protection.
Planar Systems’ 12-in. LX1201PTI Mariner Touch Monitor
presents a more basic system (Fig. 3). This monitor/touchscreen
targets marine environments. Planar also will present its 24-in.
LB2411W Widescreen Open-Frame Kiosk LCD system.
FPGAS AND MICROS
Expect to see a whole new crop of FPGAs and chips at ESC.
Altium will display its FPGA-based Innovation Station, a reconfigurable
NanoBoard hardware platform (Fig. 4). The development
platform is great for prototyping and clean enough to be deliverable.
The boards include a number of case options. In this setup,
developers start with Altium Designer and the Desktop Nano-Board. The design then can move to
a deployment NanoBoard platform
like the Innovation Station. This
looks to be a hot item.
In addition to FPGAs, the
show will host an array of new
microcontrollers. Silicon Labs will reveal
a 25-MHz, mixed-signal, 8051 powerhouse that
runs on as little as 0.9 V, enabling it to run off a single
AAA cell. The C8051F9xx line is designed for batteryoperated
applications.
Its low power requirements, on-chip dc-dc converter, and analog
peripheral set suit it for sensor applications, low-power portable
multimedia devices, and general control applications. Peripherals
include a 32-channel, 10-bit ADC; two comparators; a UART; a
pair of SPI ports; SMBus support; and 24 I/O ports.
Microchip will unveil its 40 MIPS dsPIC33F, which fits in a
6- by 6-mm package (Fig. 5). It packs up to 128 kbytes of flash
and 16 kbytes of RAM into a chip that starts at $3.67. The device
also includes a dual-channel, 16-bit DAC plus a 12- or 10-bit
ADC. On top of that, there’s eight-channel direct memory access
(DMA), a pair of UART/LIN/IrDA ports,
two
SPI ports, an I2C port, and a controller area
network (CAN) port. The motor control support
includes pulse-width modulators (PWMs) and
power-factor-correction (PFC) PWMs, plus a pair of
quadrature
encoder interfaces.
"MODULES, WIRELESS, ETC.
DLP Design will showcase a few new modules, including a
UHF RFID reader and a 900-MHz transceiver module that’s
designed to compete with 802.15.4 and ZigBee (Fig. 6). The
module incorporates its own protocol and targets low-power applications.
The company
will also have a temperature/humidity acquisition
system on hand that logs data to a server and can send e-mail
notifications.
Also in the wireless space, Digi International’s Drop-in Networking
line will be on display, including some new products. For
example, the ConnectPort X2 gateway supports ZigBee and Wi-
Fi. The company’s XBee adapters and Watchport wireless sensors
will be on display, too. For wider ZigBee network coverage, check
out Digi International’s XBee Wall Router unit.
As usual, ESC will have hordes of attendees and new products
for them to peruse. The announcements covered here represent
just the tip of the iceberg.