Embedded Open Modular Architecture/EOMA-68/EngineeringBoard

= All-in-one Engineering Board =

The purpose of an All-In-One Engineering Board is to create a Reference Platform that can either be used as-is (by end-users with no access to PCB facilities), sold as-is, or cut-down to size by ODMs for a specific OEM's less-demanding purpose. Despite having similar features and purpose, the example Engineering Board is approximately the same size as a Pandaboard. However: unlike the Beagleboard and the Pandaboard, any EOMA/PCMCIA-compliant CPU card can be deployed, providing both a factory-upgrade as well as user-upgrade path that is independent of SoC Vendors (even from upgraded versions of an SoC from the same Fabless Semiconductor Company).

Designs based around this all-in-one Example Engineering Board can therefore be made with the confidence that even if the CPU chosen at the beginning of a product's lifecycle turns out not to be sufficiently powerful, an alternative EOMA/PCMCIA-compliant CPU card can be chosen off-the-shelf without jeapordising the viability of the whole product.

= Connectors and Components =

The list of connectors and components is much larger than those of the Mini Engineering Board, as this board is more of a "Kitchen Sink" by design. Excluding those already on the EOMA/PCMCIA CPU Card, the connectors include:
 * 3x USB2
 * eSATA-II
 * DVI and/or VGA
 * 10/100 Ethernet
 * PCMCIA Connector (signals conforming to EOMA/PCMCIA Standard)
 * Full-sized SD/MMC Slot
 * 5V Power

On the EOMA/PCMCIA CPU Card itself, it is not possible to dictate what connectors will be on the CPU Card (except an EOMA-compliant PCMCIA interface), but a typical example card might have:
 * 1x USB-OTG
 * Micro-HDMI
 * Micro-SD/MMC
 * 3.5mm 3-pin or 5-pin Audio Jack
 * 3.5mm Camera In/Out Jack (S-Video or other)
 * Optional "Expansion Headers" (not end-user accessible)

Components on the Engineering Board might include:
 * TI SN75LVDS83b RGB/TTL-to-LVDS converter
 * Chrontel CH7036 LVDS-to-DVI/VGA converter (http://www.chrontel.com/index.php/products/display-interface/ch7036-vga-hdmi-lvds-encoder)
 * 2x GL850G 4-port USB Hubs
 * RT3070 USB-based 802.11bgn WIFI "SIP" Module
 * GPS "SIP" Module
 * Bluetooth "SIP" Module
 * GL832 USB-to-SD/MMC Module
 * GL632 USB AC97 Audio IC
 * I2C EEPROM
 * Optional STM32F (see Mini Board)

So overall, the combination of interfaces and capabilities offered by this example EOMA/PCMCIA-compliant "Kitchen Sink" board rivals and in some cases exceeds those of the Pandaboard, the Origen Exynos 4210 and others, yet it is similar in size and form-factor, as well as user-upgradeable and factory-upgradeable.

Pricing for a BOM is however quite hard to judge, although a reasonable guess can be made. The SN75LVDS83b is approx $1.50. GL850Gs are around $1 to $1.20. Using taobao.com to estimate pricing, the RT3070 IC is likely to be around $3.50 in medium volume (and under $2 in large). The Chrontel CH7036 would be around $2 to $3. A decent GPS Module with a built-in Antenna can however be as much as $15 (!), whilst a Bluetooth SIP Module can be even higher (especially one with a CSR Chipset). GL832 and GL632 are both around $1.20. Connectors, discrete components, PCB etc. would be approximately an additional $5 to $6.

Excluding the EOMA/PCMCIA-compliant CPU Card itself, worst-case pricing estimates therefore place this "Kitchen Sink" PCB, which can always be cut-down-to-size, at around $USD 48. However: some efforts can be made to reduce this price, considerably. For example, this Azurewave AW-NH610 product looks ideal, having on-board 802.11abgn WIFI, built-in Bluetooth as well as FM Radio capability. This IC could well be around $5 in mass-volume - the emphasis being on mass-volume (order quantities greater than 50,000 units). Its use would cut that $48 price down to around $35 (an STM32F would be required to interface with it: the STM32F106 has on-board SDIO / SDMMC capabilities).