Tegra 3 COM Weathers Harsh Industrial Applications

Oct. 12, 2012
SGET’s ULP-COM form factor is garnering support from the likes of Kontron with its NVidia Tegra 3-based ULP-COM-SAT30 module.

Nvidia’s Tegra 3 multicore system-on-chip (SoC) is well known for powering smart phones and tablets, but its powerful, compact architecture makes it inviting for industrial applications as well. Kontron’s ULP-COM-SAT30 is host to a 1.2-GHz Tegra 3 in a compact 82- by 50-mm, Ultra-Low-Power Computer-on-Module (ULP-COM) form factor (see the figure).

Kontron’s ULP-COM-SAT30 hosts a 1.2-GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 multicore SoC. It targets harsh industrial environments.

The Tegra 3 has four Arm Cortex-A9 cores plus a fifth low-power core and an integrated 12-core GeForce GPU. The module supports up to 64 Gbytes of eMMC NAND flash and up to 2 Gbytes of DDR3 memory.

The Standardization Group for Embedded Technologies (SGET) manages ULP-COM. Its members include Adlink, Advantech, GreenBase, and Kontron. ULP-COM defines a full-size 82- by 80-mm module. Both form factors (82 by 50 mm and 82 by 80 mm) use a 314-pin MXM 3.0 connector that’s 4.3 mm high, supporting a board spacing of only 1.5 mm.

The ULP-COM-SAT30 typically requires only 5 W, so it can run off a single lithium-ion battery or a fixed 3.3-V or 5-V power supply. It also runs on Android and Linux. Featuring an x1 PCI Express Gen 1 interface and a 1-Gbit Ethernet port, it additionally boasts SATA, SD Card, eMMC, two SPI, five I2C, and four serial port interfaces. There are 12 general-purpose IO connections. And, one of the three USB 2.0 ports supports OTG.

The GPU can drive a range of displays and an 18/24-bit LCD interface. The board supports dual-channel, 32-bit low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) as well as HDMI. The Tegra 3 also has hardware-based HD video decode and encode. The GPU provides 2D and 3D acceleration, and it supports MPEG2. There are two CSI-2, dual-lane camera ports as well.

Arm processors have been very successful in embedded applications where custom designs reign. SGET’s ULP-COM form factor joins form factors like the larger Qseven that have host Arm processors, giving developers a modular solution for embedded applications.

Modules are available from a number of sources. For example, the GreenBase GK-335x is based on the Texas Instruments Sitara AM335x with a 720-MHz, 32-bit Arm Cortex-A8 core, integrated POWERVR 3D graphics engine. The module features 512 Mbytes of DDR3 RAM and 4 Gbytes of eMMC NAND flash memory.

Kontron

GreenBase

Nvidia

Standardization Group for Embedded Technologies

Texas Instruments

Sponsored Recommendations

Highly Integrated 20A Digital Power Module for High Current Applications

March 20, 2024
Renesas latest power module delivers the highest efficiency (up to 94% peak) and fast time-to-market solution in an extremely small footprint. The RRM12120 is ideal for space...

Empowering Innovation: Your Power Partner for Tomorrow's Challenges

March 20, 2024
Discover how innovation, quality, and reliability are embedded into every aspect of Renesas' power products.

Article: Meeting the challenges of power conversion in e-bikes

March 18, 2024
Managing electrical noise in a compact and lightweight vehicle is a perpetual obstacle

Power modules provide high-efficiency conversion between 400V and 800V systems for electric vehicles

March 18, 2024
Porsche, Hyundai and GMC all are converting 400 – 800V today in very different ways. Learn more about how power modules stack up to these discrete designs.

Comments

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Electronic Design, create an account today!