The Intel® Atom™ Processor E6xx Series is one of the fastest growing families of low-power, high-performance embedded processors. This processor series is ideal for next-generation embedded applications like programmable logic controllers (PLCs), human-machine interfaces (HMIs), and intelligent drives. It's supported by a strong ecosystem of operating systems, soft intellectual property (IP) functions, and development tools. The Intel Atom Processor E6xx Series, coupled with Altera® transceiver FPGAs, delivers a powerful and flexible platform for custom applications requiring high performance, low power, and a compact footprint.
Kontron, a premier member of the Intel Embedded Alliance, has developed a hardware platform showcasing the benefits of Altera FPGAs as an I/O companion (or coprocessor) solution to the Intel Atom Processor E6xx Series, as shown in Figure 1. An FPGA I/O companion solution reference design supports Linux (with support for other operating systems to follow) on Kontron’s modular COM Express® FPGA Starterkit. The kit features an integrated Cyclone® IV GX device on the base board and includes two HSMC daughter boards for communications and video functions. The peripheral drivers can be easily ported to production boards.
Ordering Information
| Table 1. Kontron COM Express FPGA Starterkit Ordering Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ordering Code | Price | Ordering Information |
| COM Express FPGA Starterkit : 38111-0000-00-S | Contact Kontron | In North America, call 1-888-294-4558 or email sales@us.kontron.com In EMEA, call +49 8165 77 0 or email sales@kontron.com For other international sales, contact your local Kontron sales office. |
Development Kit Contents
The Kontron COM Express FPGA Starterkit features the following:
- Chipset
- Altera Cyclone IV GX FPGA
- 1 x PCIe lane by 1; strap option lane 1,2,3 on FPGA, optional LVDS channel A to FPGA only; integrated USB-BlasterTM for programming by USB Interface; DDR2 SODIMM slot
- IP binary for Altera HSMC cards on separate USB stick; USB-Blaster™ cable, DSUB3 cable
- Evaluation board
- COM Express FPGA base board 38110-0000-00-0
- ATX base board; size: 305 mm x 243 mm
- Expansion
- HSMC communication board: 2 x CAN; 2 x RS 485 on 2x5 2.54mm (0.1”) headers or on DSB9; 2 x RS232 on 2x5 2.54mm (0.1”) headers, one on DSUB9; DVI; SD card socket; mini USB 2.0 host port (OTG port); GPIO x4
- HSMC mass storage and video board Part 1: 2x SATA; ATA HD power; GPIO x 4; general-purpose transceiver; display output for integrated National FPD2 Link (LVDS)
- HSMC mass storage and video board Part 2: general display output (LVDS); camera link input; camera link output; MOST network interface for SMSC OS881110 evaluation board
- Mounting
- ETXexpress® Mounting Kit; height adapter for pin-out type 1/10 COM
- Power supply
- ATX power supply 24 + 4 pin
- Supported modules
- COM Express pin-out Type 1/2 or Type 10 computer-on-modules for Kontron's ETXexpress, microETXexpress®, and nanoETXexpress® COMs
Figure 1. Kontron COM Express FPGA Starter Kit Hardware
Related Links
- Kontron COM Express FPGA Starter Kit
- Intel Atom Processor E6xx Series
- Solution Sheet: FPGA I/O Companion Chip Solutions (PDF)
- White Paper: 5 Ways to Build Flexibility into Your Industrial Applications with FPGAs (PDF)
- White Paper: Lowering the Total Cost of Ownership in Industrial Applications (PDF)
- Webcast: 3 Reasons to Use FPGAs in Industrial Applications
