Kontron welcomes computer-on-module guide

As a next step, a PICMG specification for smaller computer-on-modules is essential, as demands for these are increasing.

Norbert Hauser, vice-president of marketing at Kontron, said: 'For COM Express, it is an important milestone that the COM Express carrier design-guide has been published by PICMG.

'It guarantees that modules from different manufacturers that conform with the COM Express specification are interchangeable on the carrierboards based on the design guide 1.0.

'We will not, however, be resting on any laurels, as the market demands an official standard for smaller modules.' The introduction by Kontron (and already supported by several other embedded vendors) of the compact Microetxexpress (95 x 95mm) and ultra small Nanoetxexpress (55 x 84mm) modules offers up two COM Express-compatible (following pin-outs Type 2 and 1 respectively) footprints that represent a logical advancement of the existing COM Express specification to basic and extended footprints already noted under the standard.

An official PICMG specification for these smaller computer-on-modules would make COM Express a universal specification for all module-sizes and guarantee compatibility of carrierboards.

This will lead to a faster and more widespread usage of COM Express modules in a wide range of applications, in addition to the ousting of other alternatives that are less vendor-independent.

The PICMG Carrier Board Design Guide is a 160-page publication that provides complete vendor-independent standardisation, which is required for scalable computer-on-module designs.

It offers comprehensive information for developers of custom-designed carrier boards for COM Express modules.

In combination with the latest COM Express specification and the module vendors' product manuals, the design guide will simplify design efforts and guarantee optimal changeover of computer-on-modules from different manufacturers.

For reference, it includes numerous connection diagrams and external switching circuits plus descriptions of ideal implementation solutions for all COM Express interfaces.

The guide was produced in close co-operation with 14 different manufacturers to ensure that carrierboards are developed according to best-practice principles.

As this is also dependent on the carrierboard design, it has been essential that a carrierboard design guide be officially published in addition to the computer-on-module specifications.