| Production Baseboard employs interchangeable ARM modules TRITON-TXFB works with pin-compatible TRITON-TX module range The TRITON-TXFB ARM Family board is a production-quality SBC capable of carrying a wide range of processor modules from ARM9 to quad core ARM Cortex-A9, thus offering the first completely configurable and flexible production solution for Linux, Windows CE and Android projects. System-on-modules are growing dramatically in uptake, as a shortcut to integrating high-end ARM-based processors, but suffer from the requirement for a custom baseboard to break out the required interfaces. Since introducing the first SOM in 2000, Direct Insight has an accumulated experience of over 300 SOM based projects, which has been used to develop a standard baseboard to address the connectivity requirements of the majority of embedded end-products, while offering upgradeability by integrating a broad family of ARM-based processor modules. The new TRITON-TXFB turns the TRITON-TX series of pin-compatible SOMs into complete production board solutions, offering a range of processors - from a low-end ARM9, up to a quad core ARM Cortex-A9. Projects which can use an off-the-shelf board gain an advantage in cost and time-to-market compared with the creation of a custom baseboard. TRITON-TXFB can be used with any of the current generation of pin-compatible 3.3v I/O TRITON-TX modules, from an ultra-low-cost TRITON-TX28S based on a Freescale i.MX283, to a low-cost yet powerful TRITON-TX48 based on the TI AM335x processor as used in the popular Beaglebone community board, to the TRITON-TX6Q with quad ARM Cortex-A9 based i.MX6 from Freescale. In each case, the combination of baseboard and module forms a complete production-ready solution. The range of available interfaces offered by TRITON-TXFB includes Ethernet, USB Host and OTG, SD Card and 2x RS-232. In addition, connectors for an EDT unified interface resistive or capacitive touch screen, from 4.3" to 7" are provided as well as a 40-pin header for other displays. Other I/O includes I2C, digital audio, 12 GPIOs, analogue inputs and PWM outputs. A single 5-20v DC power supply is required. "This new board is not another development kit, it's a production-ready solution that offers customers with relatively standard I/O requirements the opportunity to have cost-effective off-the-shelf solution, " commented Direct Insight's Engineering Manager, Nigel Goodyear. "Interchangeable processor modules mean that this is an upgradeable solution which can grow with the customer's requirements, " he continued. TRITON-TXFB can be used for systems developed with the TRITON-TX SOM series development system, StarterKit-5, or with the new TXEK series of low-cost evaluation kits which so far support Freescale i.MX6 and TI AM3354 processors. In production, complete solutions including baseboard and module are priced according to the specification of processor module and the volume. The price range is from £90 for anARM9-based system to approximately £150 for top-of-the-range i.MX6Q. The baseboards, modules, and Linux, Windows CE and Android software packages are available from Direct Insight. | |||
