ADLINK helps PCI Manufacturers Group release COM Express version 3.0 with Type 7 pinout

July 28, 2016 – ADLINK Technology, Inc., a provider of embedded building blocks and Application-ready Intelligent Platforms (ARIPs) for the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) and an Executive Member of PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG®), announced release of the new Type 7 pinout that is included in PICMG’s COM Express standard update to version 3.0. The new Type 7 pinout was defined to leverage contemporary low power, server-grade silicon and introduce 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) capabilities to the computer-on-module (COM) form factor. Customer applications benefitting from the Type 7 pinout include space-constrained systems in industrial automation and data communication, such as virtualization and edge computing, that require high density CPU cores balanced by reasonable power consumption.

ADLINK has played a role in the PICMG subcommittee that is currently defining the new COM Express 3.0 specification. The committee, which started its work in late 2015, is chaired by ADLINK’s Jeff Munch, CTO of Americas, and has benefitted from the considerable efforts of ADLINK’s team of technical contributors. The preview of the Type 7 pinout definition allows module manufacturers and customers to start designs before the full COM Express 3.0 specification is published, which is expected to be the end of Q3 2016.

The COM Express standard’s new Type 7 pinout, as compared to the Type 6 pinout, does away with all graphics support and replaces it with up to four 10GbE ports and an additional eight PCI Express (PCIe) ports, bringing the total PCIe support to up to 32 PCIe lanes. The Type 7 pinout has been specifically tailored to leverage all the functions of low power, headless server-grade System-on-Chips (SoCs) with a TDP below 65 Watts. In addition, the Type 7 pinout brings out 10GBase-KR signals, meaning the carrier board designer can choose between KR-to-KR, KR-to-optical fiber or KR-to-copper. A Network Controller Sideband Interface (NC-SI) bus is also supported, allowing for Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) Board Management Controller (BMC) support on the carrier board.

About ADLINK Technology

ADLINK Technology is enabling the Internet of Things (IoT) with innovative embedded computing solutions for edge devices, intelligent gateways and cloud services. ADLINK’s products are application-ready for industrial automation, communications, medical, defense, transportation, and infotainment industries.