Kontron certified design partners, Diamond Point, b-plus, ACCES I/O and Microteam announce support and planned development based on nanoETXexpress Computer-on-Module specification

nanoETXexpress adopted to develop several industry first innovations: nanoETXexpress COM Express™ compatible, custom designed carrier boards and customized platforms

Eching, Germany, July 16, 2008 - Kontron’s certified design partners Diamond Point International, b-plus, ACCES I/O and Microteam today shared the multiple industry breakthroughs enabled by the extremely small nanoETXexpress Computer-on-Module form factor. For OEM customers, the COM Express™ COM.0 Type 1 pin-out compatible Kontron nanoETXexpress-SP Computer-on-Module provides investment security as one of the most innovative and future-oriented Computer-on-Modules with extremely compact dimensions based on Intel® Atom™ processors. Since a lot of customers request custom carrier board designs for nanoETXexpress, Kontron has created the Certified Design Partner (CDP) network to give them a head start for fastest time to market.

With the Kontron nanoETXexpress-SP, based on Intel® Atom™ processors, Kontron is expanding the range of Computer-on-Module types for embedded applications in mobile systems. A key construction element of the Kontron nanoETXexpress-SP is the 220-pin connector that follows the COM Express™ COM.0 Type 1 standard of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group. Dirk Finstel, VP of Global Research and Engineering at Kontron said, “nanoETXexpress with its extremely small footprint of 55 x 84 mm and its larger equivalent, the microETXexpress Computer-on-Module form factor, are ideal extensions to the well established COM Express™ standard since they are 100 percent COM Express™ compatible. This allows our clients and partners to start their designs straightaway and bring their product to market without delay.”

Mark Jeffrey, Technical Director of DPIE, confirms: “The Kontron nanoETXexpress-SP Computer-on-Module is 100-percent compatible with the COM Express™ Type 1 pin-out with respect to the positioning and assignment of the contacts. This was important for our decision to adopt the new form factor, as we can build on existing designer knowledge. Compared to other connector systems this specification offers significant advantages and better investment protection.”

Diamond Point International (DPIE) has several “nanoETXexpress-ready” products in the pipeline including a nanoETXexpress-variant of the popular RD-103 series of industrial computers, while b-plus and ACCES I/O have integrated the nanoETXexpress Computer-on-Modules into their baseboards. b-plus developed a small-sized but full-featured carrier board for the nanoETXexpress form factor, designed for evaluation purposes, small quantity applications and as a reference design for custom carrier boards. ACCES I/O will be using it to provide custom carrier boards and further plans to add to its COTS line of small embedded carrier boards utilizing the nanoETXexpress Computer-on-Module specification.

The extremely small size of the nanoETXexpress Computer-on-Module gives it several advantages. Michael Sieg, Managing Director of b-plus, says, “b-plus has chosen the nanoETXexpress Computer-on-Module form factor in order to enhance solutions for its typical markets of mobile and other low power applications on small footprints which today typically use traditional RISC CPU technology. The new nanoETXexpress Computer-on-Module with it’s intrinsic x86 technology meets or even surpasses the required HW functionalities of this market. At the same time it allows classical SW such as Windows XP and XP embedded to be used for these applications along with WinCE and Linux. ”

The Computer-on-Module, specifically designed for mobile applications, provides features tailored to the requirements of OEM customers. These are solutions based on recognized standard platforms that would be available in the long-term on a non-proprietary basis.

Sieg added, “b-plus believes that the extremely small nanoETXexpress Computer-on-Module is exceptional in that it features state of the art I/O connectivity which is most important in today’s embedded market. Further, it runs without external memory or periphery which permits better integration and thus allows great mechanical advantages for small housings. Moreover, it offers the best performance to power consumption ratio -- key criteria in the battery-driven handheld markets. b-plus is currently integrating the nanoETXexpress Computer-on-Modules into its own ePDA portfolio to launch two new products this year”.

Mark Jeffrey, Technical Director of DPIE further complimenting the several advantages of the nanoETXexpress said, “DPIE is committed to supporting the nano Computer-on-Module form factor. With this in mind DPIE has begun development of ‘nanoETXexpress-ready’ products.”

Stephen Newbegin, Director of Sales & Business Development for ACCES I/O said, "ACCES I/O considers saving space the final frontier in embedded computing and embedded I/O. Small computing solutions such as nanoETXexpress Computer-on-Module are a natural compliment to ACCES I/O products with planned designs of smaller, denser I/O boards.”

Microteam has started to develop the first customer specific nano size Computer-on-Module carrier board platform. Karl Viitala, Project Manager at Microteam said, “The nano form factor, being an innovative small scaled embedded computer system, is suitable for many industrial applications which are important to Microteam and its customers.”

The Kontron nanoETXexpress-SP with its extremely small footprint of 55 x 84 mm, offers just about all the functions that could be expected from a modern Computer-on-Module. The format is roughly that of a credit card. Additionally, it has the advantages of using energy-efficient technology that operates on less than 7 watts. The module’s operating voltage ranges from 4.75 to 14 volts, which means it can be directly integrated into existing 5-volt systems or a vehicle’s on-board system with generous storage capacity up to 1GByte DDR2 400/533 RAM on board. It is compatible with all standard industry operating systems such as Linux, VxWorks, Windows XP, XPe and CE that are suitable for standard application software used in, e.g., industrial control technology, communication technology, office automation and gaming. It also offers high-end graphics and HDTV support not previously standard in modules of this size.

For more information about nanoETXexpress, please visit: http://www.kontron.com/nanoETXexpress

For further details about our CDP program please visit: http://www.com-cdp.com