Extreme Engineering Solutions, Inc., a company that designs and distributes embedded computing solutions, has just come up with a new way to enhance the COM Express and its XPand6000 series ATR systems. The platform mimics the XPand6000 series perfectly and comes with the capability to include a COM Express module, either a PCI (News - Alert) (PMC) or switched (XMC) mezzaine card and a solid state drive (SSD). The chassis also mimics the standard desktop computer with input/output capabilities that everyone's familiar with. This effectively makes the CX-DP unit an easy way to power a COM Express environment or an XPand6000 ATR system.

The internal I/O scheme within the board supports up to three SATA devices and two USB 2.0 peripherals. It also supports Type 5FS and Type 10 Freescale (News - Alert) QorIQ-based or Type 6 and Type 10 Intel Core i7-based COM Express modules. The bus will have 32/64-bit PCI/PCI-X support with a 133 MHz clock and x8 PCIe for more bit width. The PMC Rear I/O panel will have a single PIM/XIM site.

You also get an RJ-45 1000 Mbps Ethernet connector, two included USB 2.0 connectors, two serial connectors, an eSATA port, a PCIe Edge card, and a mini DisplayPort connection within the rear I/O panel.

Unlike a desktop computer, the CX-DP only asks for +12 V from a simple ATX power supply, distributing the power to all of the components within. The cooling fan included in the platform is more than enough to cool all the components you want to work with. Its location is right below the PMC/XMC site, providing airflow to the components that need them the most.

With this technology in place, you’ll be able to make use of a familiar environment to develop COM Express solutions that integrate in any enclosure. Embedded computer programming was never easier.