Embedded Open Modular Architecture - Revision history

Lkcl: /* Q-Seven */

2013-04-07T00:15:09Z

‎Q-Seven

Lkcl: /* Q7 */

2013-04-07T00:12:53Z

‎Q7

Lkcl: /* Custom 200-pin B2B Module */

2013-04-07T00:12:21Z

‎Custom 200-pin B2B Module

Lkcl at 00:09, 7 April 2013

2013-04-07T00:09:16Z

Lkcl: /* Custom 200-pin B2B Module = */

2013-04-07T00:07:58Z

‎Custom 200-pin B2B Module =

Lkcl: add EOMA-200

2013-04-07T00:07:43Z

add EOMA-200

Lkcl: /* Q7 */

2012-11-03T17:16:26Z

‎Q7

Lkcl: /* Q7 */

2012-11-03T17:09:22Z

‎Q7

Lkcl: /* Introduction */

2012-10-09T21:03:35Z

‎Introduction

Lkcl: ULP-COM

2012-10-09T21:01:22Z

ULP-COM

@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 == Q-Seven ==
-Q7 http://www.qseven-standard.org/index.php?id=43 is an embedded 70mm x 70mm standard which is large enough and powerful enough to house x86 CPUs as well as embedded ARM SoCs.  However, like the other edge-connector-based standards, it is not suitable for mass-volume user-installable usage, being only suitable for factory-installation.  Also, as it is a larger form-factor, it rules out usage for smaller devices (it is almost 400% bigger than Compact Flash, for example).  Also, the Q7 standard sets quite a high bar for the required interfaces, including PCI-e, MIPI and others, all of which must be placed on the edge-connector, thus requiring some 200+ pins.
+Q7 http://www.qseven-standard.org/index.php?id=43 is an embedded 70mm x 70mm standard (also expanded to uQseven which is a 40mm x 70mm size with the same connector format).  The Qseven standard is large enough and powerful enough to house x86 CPUs as well as embedded ARM SoCs.  However, like the other edge-connector-based standards, it is not suitable for mass-volume user-installable usage, being only suitable for factory-installation due to the risk of ESD damage.  Also, as it is a larger form-factor, it rules out usage for smaller devices (it is almost 400% bigger than Compact Flash, for example).  Also, the Q7 standard sets quite a high bar for the required interfaces, including PCI-e, MIPI and others, all of which must be placed on the edge-connector, thus requiring some 200+ pins.
 Also, due to interfaces being optional (see "Feature Overview" of specification PDF document), fragmentation will occur on both sides of the standard.  Special care and attention will be needed by ODMs to ensure that they pick the right module before proceeding to the design stage.

@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 This section covers alternative standards for modular computing.
-== Q7 ==
+== Q-Seven ==
 Q7 http://www.qseven-standard.org/index.php?id=43 is an embedded 70mm x 70mm standard which is large enough and powerful enough to house x86 CPUs as well as embedded ARM SoCs.  However, like the other edge-connector-based standards, it is not suitable for mass-volume user-installable usage, being only suitable for factory-installation.  Also, as it is a larger form-factor, it rules out usage for smaller devices (it is almost 400% bigger than Compact Flash, for example).  Also, the Q7 standard sets quite a high bar for the required interfaces, including PCI-e, MIPI and others, all of which must be placed on the edge-connector, thus requiring some 200+ pins.

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 This standard is being targetted at end-users for Desktop, SoHo and other mass-volume retail purposes, with the ultimate goal being to reduce the hardware cost for the mid-end Server markets as well as for Industrial, Embedded, Research and Educational purposes by providing these market sectors with access to low-cost off-the-shelf mass-volume high-end PCs as an Open Standardised Modular component with plenty of expansion capability both on and off the module.
-The advantages of EOMA-200 over alternatives such as Q-Seven and COM-Express is that there are ''no optional sizes'' and ''no optional interfaces''.  End-users and Industrial customers can purchase EOMA-200 modules knowing that whatever the price, the only real considerations are whether it has enough on-board interfaces, whether the CPU speed is fast enough and how much memory it can take.  Both Q-Seven and COM-Express are fraught with additional considerations such as whether the module is the right size and whether the module has the right interface compatibility with the base-board (many of Q-Seven's interfaces are entirely optional and can be entirely missing).
+The advantages of EOMA-200 over alternatives such as Q-Seven and COM-Express is that there are ''no optional sizes'' and ''no optional interfaces''.  End-users and Industrial customers can purchase EOMA-200 modules knowing that whatever the price, the only real considerations are whether it has enough on-board interfaces, whether the CPU speed is fast enough and how much memory it can take.  Both Q-Seven and COM-Express are fraught with additional technical considerations such as whether the module is the right size and whether the module has the right interface compatibility with the base-board (many of Q-Seven's interfaces are entirely optional and can be entirely missing).  As such, Q-Seven and COM-Express are effectively limited to costly Industrial, Embedded and Military purposes; by contrast, EOMA-200 is targetted primarily at the mass-volume sector, to the ultimate financial benefit of other markets as well.
 ''Like all EOMA Standards there are '''no optional interfaces''' on EOMA-200.''

@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 The advantages of EOMA-200 over alternatives such as Q-Seven and COM-Express is that there are ''no optional sizes'' and ''no optional interfaces''.  End-users and Industrial customers can purchase EOMA-200 modules knowing that whatever the price, the only real considerations are whether it has enough on-board interfaces, whether the CPU speed is fast enough and how much memory it can take.  Both Q-Seven and COM-Express are fraught with additional considerations such as whether the module is the right size and whether the module has the right interface compatibility with the base-board (many of Q-Seven's interfaces are entirely optional and can be entirely missing).
-'''Like all EOMA Standards there are no optional interfaces on EOMA-200.'''
+''Like all EOMA Standards there are '''no optional interfaces''' on EOMA-200.''
 The specification is being developed at [[Embedded_Open_Modular_Architecture/EOMA-200]].

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 The specification is being developed at [[Embedded_Open_Modular_Architecture/CompactFlash]].
-== Custom 200-pin B2B Module ===
+== Custom 200-pin B2B Module ==
 A custom module form-factor is being designed with a housing of 103mm x 68mm x 15mm in size.  At each of the 4 corners is a 0.4mm pitch 50-pin B2B connector.  On the front fascia plate is the option to put any number of connectors that will fit along the long side.  Power is provided in the form of multiple 5V and 3.3V pins, providing a total of up to 32.4 Watts.

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:07, 7 April 2013
Line 32:		Line 32:

	The specification is being developed at [[Embedded_Open_Modular_Architecture/CompactFlash]].		The specification is being developed at [[Embedded_Open_Modular_Architecture/CompactFlash]].
		+
		+	== Custom 200-pin B2B Module ===
		+
		+	A custom module form-factor is being designed with a housing of 103mm x 68mm x 15mm in size. At each of the 4 corners is a 0.4mm pitch 50-pin B2B connector. On the front fascia plate is the option to put any number of connectors that will fit along the long side. Power is provided in the form of multiple 5V and 3.3V pins, providing a total of up to 32.4 Watts.
		+
		+	This standard is being targetted at end-users for Desktop, SoHo and other mass-volume retail purposes, with the ultimate goal being to reduce the hardware cost for the mid-end Server markets as well as for Industrial, Embedded, Research and Educational purposes by providing these market sectors with access to low-cost off-the-shelf mass-volume high-end PCs as an Open Standardised Modular component with plenty of expansion capability both on and off the module.
		+
		+	The advantages of EOMA-200 over alternatives such as Q-Seven and COM-Express is that there are ''no optional sizes'' and ''no optional interfaces''. End-users and Industrial customers can purchase EOMA-200 modules knowing that whatever the price, the only real considerations are whether it has enough on-board interfaces, whether the CPU speed is fast enough and how much memory it can take. Both Q-Seven and COM-Express are fraught with additional considerations such as whether the module is the right size and whether the module has the right interface compatibility with the base-board (many of Q-Seven's interfaces are entirely optional and can be entirely missing).
		+
		+	'''Like all EOMA Standards there are no optional interfaces on EOMA-200.'''
		+
		+	The specification is being developed at [[Embedded_Open_Modular_Architecture/EOMA-200]].

	= Alternative Standards =		= Alternative Standards =

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 == Q7 ==
-Q7 http://www.qseven-standard.org/index.php?id=43 is an embedded 70mm x 70mm standard which is large enough and powerful enough to house x86 CPUs as well as embedded ARM SoCs.  However, like the other edge-connector-based standards, it is not suitable for mass-volume user-installable usage, being only suitable for factory-installation.  Also, as it is a larger form-factor, it rules out usage for smaller devices (it is almost 400% bigger than Compact Flash, for example).  Also, the Q7 standard sets quite a high bar for the required interfaces, including PCI-e, MIPI and others, all of which must be placed on the edge-connector, thus requiring some 200+ pins.  It is mentioned here for completeness.
+Q7 http://www.qseven-standard.org/index.php?id=43 is an embedded 70mm x 70mm standard which is large enough and powerful enough to house x86 CPUs as well as embedded ARM SoCs.  However, like the other edge-connector-based standards, it is not suitable for mass-volume user-installable usage, being only suitable for factory-installation.  Also, as it is a larger form-factor, it rules out usage for smaller devices (it is almost 400% bigger than Compact Flash, for example).  Also, the Q7 standard sets quite a high bar for the required interfaces, including PCI-e, MIPI and others, all of which must be placed on the edge-connector, thus requiring some 200+ pins.  It is mentioned here for completeness.  Standard is here: http://www.qseven-standard.org/index.php?id=43
 == PC-104 ==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 = Introduction =
-With recent embedded processors becoming mainstream and powerful enough for general-purpose computing, the Embedded Open Modular Architecture is an initiative to create robust, reliable and interoperable hardware standards for mass-volume systems based around embedded processors.  The first initiative is to re-use the PCMCIA form-factor, in a similar way to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conditional_Access_Module Conditional Access Modules].  Below, various alternative interfaces are analysed, and thus explain, given the requirements, why PCMCIA was chosen as the preferred modular format, despite the greatly-reduced pin-count (only 68 pins).
+With recent embedded processors becoming mainstream and powerful enough for general-purpose computing, the Embedded Open Modular Architecture is an initiative to create robust, reliable and interoperable hardware standards for mass-volume systems based around embedded processors, where average users can interchange modules, even several times a day, without risk of damage or requiring a technician to assist them.
 = Interface Types =

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:01, 9 October 2012
Line 48:		Line 48:

	EDM is very similar to the Q-Seven Standard, and as such has the same limitations, including being restricted to factory-installation only (unsuitable for installation by the average non-technical end-user). Additionally, the fact that many of its interfaces are optional means that the marketplace will automatically become fragmented on both sides of the standard.		EDM is very similar to the Q-Seven Standard, and as such has the same limitations, including being restricted to factory-installation only (unsuitable for installation by the average non-technical end-user). Additionally, the fact that many of its interfaces are optional means that the marketplace will automatically become fragmented on both sides of the standard.
		+
		+	== ULP-COM ==
		+
		+	[http://blogs.arm.com/embedded/702-i-like-pc-like-arm-reaches-into-computer-on-module/ ULP-COM] is a new small-form-factor embedded board standard, with sizes of 82 x 80mm and 82 x 50mm, and a maximum height limit of 4mm. It re-uses the x86-based MXM form-factor and sockets, just as EDM does.
		+
		+	ULP-COM includes many industrial interfaces (SPI, 4x CAN, 12x Serial) as well as requiring 3 PCIe x1 ports, and offering Single-channel LVDS, 24-pin RGB/TTL, and HDMI (with an option for DisplayPort), 2 CSI Camera Interfaces (one 2-lane, one 4-lane). This basically raises the bar to an extremely high level, eliminating many low-cost ARM SoCs from participating with the standard, whilst still leaving it highly suitable for many Industrial and other Factory-install purposes. It should become more suitable as a general-purpose computing standard once more SoCs have PCIe, CSI and so on.
		+
		+	However, like EDM, the inclusion of optional (multiplexed) functionality leaves some concern over the viability of the standard: should motherboards support both alternative options? What if one module does not support the alternative function that is required by a motherboard? In the cases where the Module is to be effectively permanently installed in its motherboard, this question is not of such concern, but then why use that standard at all; why not just make a Single Board computer (for large volumes, at least). This issue applies equally across all of the edge-connector-style Modules.

	= Contact and Discussion =		= Contact and Discussion =