Packaging & Materials: Carrier Board/Wireless Tablet Card Improve Time-To-Market

July 5, 2004

"System-on-a-module" is the novel approach taken by the Plug-N-Run G3 carrier board and TabletCARD. The combo makes a suitable platform for tablet-computing products based on Intel's Pentium M processors for 802.11, Bluetooth, and GPS applications. The board measures 160 by 100 by 13.5 mm, and the TabletCARD measures 203.2 by 182.8 by 25.4 mm. The latter is compatible with 10.4-in. LCDs. Integrated on the board are the processor, Intel's 855GME chip set and 1CH4 I/O controller, expansion SDRAM up to 1 Gbyte, 3D graphics, Bios, and dual independent display pipes. OEM prices start at $574 in moderate quantities.

PFU Systems www.pfusystemscom (408) 236-3034

About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.