In 2007 Kontron (News - Alert) proposed an amazingly small form-factor, embedded computer-on-module (COM) standard called nanoETXexpress. With a footprint just 39 percent that of the PICMG (News - Alert) (PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group) COM Express standard, it’s a descendant of Kontron’s own ETXexpress design of 2003, which was adopted as the PICMG COM Express standard. In 2006, Kontron introduced a smaller version of COM Express known as microETXexpress. And now, Kontron shrinks the form factor again into the ‘nano’ range, creating a computer-on-module that manages to cram processing and high-end graphics capabilities as well as PCI Express and Serial ATA interfaces on a credit card footprint of just 55 mm x 84 mm.

 

The Kontron nanoETXexpress-VX8 is the first member of Kontron’s new family of nanoETXexpress COMs. Future members will be based on processors and chipsets from other manufacturers. This new form factor standard is seen as the logical addition to the existing PCI and/or ISA based computer-on-modules standards, X-board and DIMM-PC.

 

Kontron nanoETXexpress computer-on-modules will find a home in the emerging world of mobile embedded applications that demand low power consumption. This includes handheld units for the medical sector, mobile data solutions and other applications that have not yet appeared because of hardware size restrictions.

 

The Kontron COM is powered by the new low power VIA Eden ULV processor, at up to 1.5 GHz. A highly integrated VIA VX800 chipset runs a Front Side Bus (FSB) at up to 400 MHz and the board holds up to 1GB of DDR2 RAM. For applications demanding extra graphics performance, there is a Chrome 9 HC3 Integrated Graphics Processor for accelerated MPEG2 decoding and extremely clear images. Dual Channel 18/24 Bit LVDS provide LVDS resolutions.

 

Despite its diminutive size, the Kontron nanoETXexpress computer-on-module somehow manages to support a Gigabit Ethernet interface, a PCI Express x1 lane as well as two Serial ATA II ports compliant with the PICMG COM.0 specification to ensure that the COM's connectors remain COM Express compatible. Since the Kontron nanoETXexpress computer-on-module follows the PICMG COM Express standard, it is said to be 100 percent compatible with the COM.0 Type 1 connector. The locations of the identically mapped pin-outs are also 100 percent COM.0 compliant. Software support for Windows XP, XPe, CE, Linux and VxWorks rounds off the set of features.

 

For more information, visit www.kontron.com/nanoETXexpress-VX8.