E²Brain EB425: Embedded Module with 533 MHz Intel XScale® IXP425 Processor

First COM for XScale IXP42x Processors

KAUFBEUREN, Germany, November 13, 2003 - Kontron Modular Computers (formerly PEP Modular Computers) is proud to announce the EB425 E²Brain module, the first Computer-on-Module (COM) to host an Intel XScale IXP42x processor. COMs are commercially developed embedded computer cores that are bought off-the-shelf and plugged-in to an application-specific baseboard to form a working system. They are selected according to the desired performance of the application. Thus, the modular COM concept is similar to that of adding RAM to a PC. The E²Brain module has dimensions of only 75 mm x 115 mm and its use of XScale technology make it ideal for true low-power real-time applications.

The standard version hosts a 533 MHz Intel XScale IXP425 and a 266MHz cost-optimized variant also is available. The interfaces include 6x serial, 2x Fast Ethernet, UTOPIA and CAN and a watchdog timer and RTC also are provided. Therefore, the EB425 is a universal computer core for communication-intensive embedded applications with Internet connectivity. The six serial interfaces consist of two terminal interfaces (Rx/Tx), two asynchronous 16550 compatible interfaces as well as two synchronous high-speed interfaces that can be used in HDLC (High Level Data Link Control) applications. A 32-bit/66MHz PCI bus interface and LPC I/O extension bus enable flexible and customized expansion. Memory options include up to 256 MByte of soldered down SDRAM, up to 32 MByte of soldered down Flash, 1 MByte of battery backed-up SRAM, E²PROM for user and configuration data and an interface for CompactFlash memory cards (the socket must be implemented on the carrier board). The operating temperature range is from 0°C to 70°C and can optionally be extended to -40°C to +85°C.

The E²Brain EB425 currently supports VxWorks and Linux. Kontron will provide a board support package for Windows CE NET as soon as Intel and Microsoft have completed porting the operating system to the IXP425 network processor.

Compared to traditional x86 processors, XScale technology based systems provide impressive high performance in an extremely low power design. The E²Brain EB425 consumes only 3.3 V /3 W with a 533 MHz CPU clock frequency and it achieves an overall performance of 1.066 MIPS (CPU core + 3 network processor engines). Due to its very low heat emission, the board is ideal for use in embedded systems that are required to forfeit active cooling and to make do with very low power consumption. The high integration density also enables a significant amount of space to be saved. XScale processors are appearing on the consumer market in products such as PDAs. Embedded applications for this module are to be found wherever high processing and communication performance is required with the lowest power consumption. The IXP425 network processor supports pure communications applications with a wide range of speech, video, and data options using UTOPIA, DSL, HDLC (High Level Data Link Control), and the IEEE 802.11x standard for wireless networks. Integrated voice compression as well as InfoLAN, InfoWAN, and InfoUSB interfaces also is provided.

The EB855 E²Brain module will be available beginning in December 2003.

Contact details for this Press Release:

Kontron Modular Computers GmbH
Sudetenstr. 7
87600 Kaufbeuren, Germany
[email protected]

[email protected]
Tel: +49(8341)803-0
Fax: +49(8341)803-499


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