MSC customises module based on Intel Atom Z500

The powerful board is used in an industrial handheld PC with touch screen.

The new processor platform allows the battery life of the MSC system to be extended by a factor of three compared with previous implementation with the Intel 945 chipset-based platform under identical conditions.

This was the determining factor for this design improvement.

In addition to the Intel Atom processor Z530, MSC's customer-specific design uses the integrated Intel system controller hub US15W chipset, which combines the traditional north bridge and the south bridge in a single package.

The processor is manufactured using a 45nm process and both processor and chipset are housed in small form factor packages.

The thermal design power (TDP) of the Intel Atom processor Z530 is 2.3W.

The custom module provides a range of handheld PC-specific interfaces for connection of external devices.

Two displays, used for operation in a docking station, can be connected independently of each other via the CRT and TFT interfaces.

Touch-screen or mouse and keyboard are connected to the system via USB 2.0 ports.

The compact assembly also supports Bluetooth and wireless LAN for networking in mobile operation.

The custom module offers support for new storage technologies.

A solid-state disk with a capacity of 2Gbyte or 4GByte from Intel can be integrated directly on the customer-specific module via the Parallel ATA (PATA) interface.

In most mobile applications, the rotating mass storage can be completely omitted.

For optimal use of the built-in smart battery system in mobile operation and in the docking station of a handheld PC, MSC integrated a hardware monitor and intelligent battery logic.

This customer specific-module also features advanced security functions, which protect the customer's intellectual property (IP) and prevent unauthorised access.

To achieve this, a trusted platform module (TPM) was integrated on the assembly and, for the first time, the innovative 'SecureBIOS' from Phoenix Technologies was implemented.

In the fourth quarter of 2008, MSC Vertriebs will present a COM platform, based on the Intel Atom processor.

The energy saving modules are particularly suitable for mobile applications with battery operation as well as for use in POS and POI systems, medical equipment and in automotive applications and many applications in which operation without active fan-cooling is required.