Embedded Webblog

As embedded designers confront the latest transportation, avionics, industrial automation, and medical instrumentation applications, the main challenges are to deliver a system that meets the high performance and low power requirements while surviving a hostile environment. MEN Micro simplifies this task with their latest generation of ESMexpress system-on-module (SOM) products based on the Intel Core 2 Duo SP9300 processor with a clock frequency of up to 2.26 GHz. The new XM2 is equipped with the Intel GS45 graphics controller that provides a x16 PCI Express graphics link or up to two SDVO (Serial Digital Video Out) interfaces, a DisplayPort, or two HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) ports. The new Core 2 Duo-based module also features a host of I/O functions, including four x1 or one x4 PCI Express links as well as two Gigabit Ethernet ports, eight USB ports, three serial ATA ports, and one high definition audio port. The XM2 dissipates up to 40 Watts via the fanless cooling system and provides 100 percent EMI protection when mounted to a frame and enclosed in an aluminum housing as specified by the ESMexpress standard. A fixed pin assignment guarantees that ESMexpress modules remain interchangeable. Operating temperature for the XM2 is 0°C to +60°C (+32°F to +140°F) for both convection and conduction cooling. Pricing for the XM2 ESMexpress module starts at $ 1,911.

ESMexpress, currently in development by the VITA Standards Organization as ANSI-VITA 59, RSE (Rugged System-On-Module Express), combines advanced cooling techniques, the latest serial buses, and rugged components with the SOM model.