Carrierboard offers pin-out type 6 for small form factor apps

Kontron AG has rolled out the Kontron COM Express Reference Carrier Type 6 reference carrierboard for COM Express basic and compact computer-on-modules with pin-out type 6. The carrierboard supports all future-oriented interfaces required in small and portable applications, making it suited for the development of small form factor (SFF) applications.

OEMs can speed application development with the reference carrierboard in the Mini-ITX form factor. They can also pair it with the broad ecosystem of Mini-ITX accessories to improve time-to-market and reduce development cost.

The Kontron COM Express Reference Carrier Type 6 carries out all the interfaces of the company's COM Express Computer-on-Modules with pin-out type 6, such as the Kontron COMe-bSC6, the COMe-cOH6 and the Kontron COMe-bIP# with the 3rd generation of Intel Core processors, make available. The Kontron COM Express Reference Carrier Type 6 serves as a reference design for developing applications with enhanced user experience, increased graphics capabilities, faster drives and peripherals. The broad range of graphic interfaces including LVDS, DDI (DisplayPort/HDMI/DVI) and VGA (via DVI-I) enables developers to connect any embedded display type without the need for additional components, cutting both time-to-market and total cost of ownership. High speed serial interfaces including USB 3.0 allow connection of the most modern peripheral components to facilitate building small and portable systems with commercially available standard components. Furthermore, with SIM card support and Smart Battery Support, OEMs can use the new reference carrierboard to simply develop a broad range of always-connected mobile devices found in markets such as digital signage, POS/POI, medical, transportation and industrial automation.

The company says the Kontron COM Express Reference Carrier Type 6 in the compact Mini-ITX form factor can host all COM Express pin-out type 6 modules in the 95 x 95mm compact or 125 x 95mm basic form factor. Along with the common embedded LVDS interface for internal displays, the new reference carrierboard supports three DDI interfaces.

With one interface each for DisplayPort, HDMI, and DVI-I that also transmits analog VGA signals. For the development of multimedia applications it also integrates a Realtek HD audio codec with digital and optical SPDIF in/out and 5.1 audio jacks. Internal hard drives and SSDs can be hooked up via three SATA connectors and for external drives, there is an eSATA port.

Application-specific expansion can be achieved via one PCI Express x4 slot, one Express Card connector with USB and one Mini PCI Express slot with USB and SIM card support. This makes developing connected applications with GSM, UMTS or future LTE support a simple task.

In addition to two USB 2.0 ports there are also two USB 3.0 ports that support super fast peripherals such as 3rd party HD cameras or storage media. LAN connection is supported through a RJ45 plug for 10/100/1000 Mbit networks. Further interfaces include two COM interfaces, GPIO and fan control. The power supply is available either via the standard ATX power connector or Smart Battery connectors for the development of battery-powered mobile applications.

The Kontron COM Express Reference Carrier Type 6 is available now.