Kontron COM Express® and SMARC module with next generation low-power Intel Atom processors


Kontron, a leading global provider of IoT/Embedded Computing Technology (ECT), is introducing three product lines with the next generation of Intel Atom processors, becoming available in Q1/2021: COM Express® Compact Type 6 with COMe-cEL6, COM Express® Mini Type 10 with COMe-mEL10 and SMARC module with SMARC-sXEL. All three platforms support the broad scalability of the new Intel processors of the Atom x6000 Series and the Intel Pentium and Celeron N and J Series, which were designed specifically for IoT applications. The range extends from the cost-optimized 2-core to the high-performance 4-core solution with up to 3.0 GHz burst frequency.

The new generation comes with unrivaled performance and high energy efficiency resulting in an impressive performance-per-watt ratio. The modules are suitable for use in rugged, industrial and real-time environments. They combine the latest 10nm compute and Intel UHD graphics technologies with many integrated functions and I/O within a platform solution for IoT applications. A 14nm platform control hub (PCH) is used, which significantly increases computing density and system performance. With up to four CPU and 32 GPU cores, up to 1.7x improvement in single-thread performance and up to 2x performance improvement in graphics compared to the previous generation can be achieved still within the same maximum power envelope of up to 12W TDP (Thermal Design Power) .

Intel Time Coordinated Computing (Intel TCC) and Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) ensure worst-case-execution-time operation at the device level and in device networks in real-time applications. The Intel Atom x6000E Series, Intel Pentium and Celeron N and J Series processors enable higher data security without losing performance. Hardware-based security functionality helps to prevent attacks on firmware and hardware. Dedicated Cryptography Accelerators increase speed by accelerating data encryption without compromising overall system performance.

The energy-saving compact modules can also be used in fanless applications. Typical fields of application are IoT gateways, control computers and input devices in industrial environments, rugged mobile applications as well as Point-of-Sale (POS), Point-of-Interest (POI), kiosk systems and digital signage solutions.

All three module solutions provide industrial-grade-by-design versions, specified for industrial temperature operation from -40 to +85 degrees Celsius, with in-band ECC memory as well as long term availability of ten years and beyond to meet the special requirements of applications for the defense and transportation market. The modules come with BSP support for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, Linux and VxWorks 7.0.

COMe-cEL6 provides up to 32 Gigabyte DDR4-3200 memory via two SODIMM memory sockets, supports three displays, six PCIe 3.0 lanes, 1GBASE-T (alternatively 2.5 GBASE-T) Ethernet (+ 2 optional SGMII ports), up to four USB 3.1/2.0, four USB 2.0 interfaces, two SATA ports and optional eMMC Flash.

COMe-mEL10 for space-saving system solutions supports up to 16 Gigabyte LPDDR4 memory-down, two USB 3.1 and six USB 2.0 interfaces, two SATA ports, eMMC on-board, one 1GBASE-T (alternatively 2.5GBASE-T) Ethernet port and two optional SGMII ports.

SMARC sXEL is particularly suitable for applications requiring low height. It offers up to 16 Gigabyte LPDDR4 memory down, two USB 3.1 and four USB 2.0 interfaces, one SATA port, eMMC on-board, two 1GBASE-T (alternatively 2.5GBASE-T) Ethernet ports and one optional SGMII port.


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