TAIPAI and IRVINE, Calif. – April 2, 2008 – ADLINK announced Express-MLC Computer on Module (COM). The Express-MLC, measuring 95x95 millimeters, is a COM Express type 2 compatible design based on the Intel Atom processor Z500 series with the new Intel System Controller Hub (SCH) US15W. ADLINK’s COM Express modules are highly integrated off-the-shelf building blocks based on PCI Express bus architecture that plugs into custom-made, application-specific carrier boards.
Express-MLC allows for innovative designs in the area of mobile and light computing needs, including: portable and mobile equipment for the automotive and test and measurement industries; visual communication in the medical field, such as home care and video conferencing; entry level public gaming devices; and public points of communications. Using the Intel Atom processor and Intel SCH US15W chipset, developers can rely on a wide variety of mainstream software applications and middleware that will run unmodified and full function on this platform and that end users are familiar with already.
“The addition of Express-MLC to our COM Express product range will allow our OEM customers to leverage the Ultra Mobile product offerings from Intel,” said Henk van Bremen, Product Director for ADLINK Embedded Division. “We have seen a growing amount of requests over the last two years for task-specific light computing equipment for both mobile and stationary use, and the Intel Atom processor is the right answer to that.” Although much smaller, Intel Atom processor shares the same architecture as the new Intel Core 2 Duo processors and additionally supports Hyper-Threading Technology, a feature earlier introduced with the Intel Pentium 4 processor, allowing more than one code thread to be executed simultaneously on a single core processor.
The Intel SCH US15W, the single chip chipset accompanying the Intel Atom processor, offers an integrated 3D graphics core with dual independent display support on either the integrated 24-bit LVDS or through dual SDVO extension. The true power of the US15W’s graphic core, however, resides in the built-in video hardware decoding that offers acceleration for MPEG2, MPEG4, H.264, WMV9 and VC1. The integrated hardware decoding enables the system to achieve high transfer rates under very modest CPU loading.
“By offering seven year extended life cycle support for the Intel Atom processor, Intel is extending our product roadmap and offering all of the benefits of Intel architecture to the ultra low power embedded market,” said Jonathan Luse, director of marketing, Low Power Embedded Products Division, Intel. “ADLINK’s Express-MLC platform will allow for innovative designs for embedded applications that require robust performance while keeping power levels low.”
About Express-MLC
The Express-MLC will be available in a “basic” version that simply supports the feature set Intel Atom processor with the new Intel System Controller Hub US15W. The “basic” version supports Two PCI Express x1, LVDS, SDVO, 8x USB2.0, SDIO, Audio and LPC-bus. The same module is also available with as an “Extended” feature set and offers in addition to the “basic” features: PCI-bus, PCIe based Gbe LAN and PCIe based SATA.
Sample and Production Availability
Customer samples are expected to be available in May 2008, while production is planned for July 2008.
ADLINK’s Full Computer on Module Product Line
ADLINK's complete Computer on Module product family includes ETX modules for PCI/ISA oriented designs and COM Express modules for PCI Express / PCI designs with optional legacy support through LPC. To evaluate or test our modules, prototype boards with ATX form factor are available.
Carrier Board Design and Manufacturing Support
ADLINK provides Schematics, mechanical files, design guides, R&D support, product review service and BIOS customization for companies that are doing their own carrier board design. ADLINK also offers full development and production services for those who wish to outsource their carrier board’s design and/or manufacturing.
PICMG COM Express Plug-and-Play Subcommittee
ADLINK currently chairs the PICMG COM Express Design Guide subcommittee. The to-be-released COM Express Plug and Play Design Guide aims to increase the use of COM Express modules by defining a set of carrier design guidelines that enable plug-and-play support and increase compatibility between COM Express modules from various vendors. Jeff Munch, CTO of ADLINK Technology and Interim Chairman of the new subcommittee, expects this new PICMG carrier board design specification to release in Q2 2008.
About ADLINK
ADLINK Technology provides a wide range of embedded computing products and services to the test & measurement, automation & process control, gaming, communications, medical, network security, and transportation industries. ADLINK products include ETX and COM Express modules for industrial computing, AdvancedTCA, CompactPCI, PCI Express-based data acquisition and I/O and vision and motion control. ADLINK strives to minimize the total cost of ownership (TCO) of its customers by providing customization and system integration services, maintaining low manufacturing costs, and extending the lifecycle of its products.
ADLINK is a global company with headquarters and manufacturing in Taiwan; R&D and integration in Taiwan, China, and the US; and an extensive network of worldwide sales and support offices.ADLINK is ISO-9001, ISO-14001, and TL9000 certified, is an Associate Member of the Intel Embedded and Communications Alliance, an Executive Member of PICMG, a Sponsor Member of the PXI Systems Alliance, and an Associate Member of the LXI Consortium. ADLINK is a publicly traded company listed on the TAIEX Taiwan Stock Exchange (stock code: 6166).
