Kontron launches two new SMARC modules in 2016

Highlights of the new SMARC specification include:

• A new version V2.0 meant to repurpose selected V1.1 pins that are underused for new interfaces in order to keep the compatibility with the V1.1 pins. The team ensured that no damage will be caused to modules that were placed in a V2.0-compliant carrier or inverse with a V2.0-compliant Module in a V1.1-compliant Carrier
• New interfaces including 2nd channel LVDS, a 2nd Ethernet port, IEEE1588 Trigger Signals, a 4th PCI Express Lane, extra USB ports (now up to 6× USB 2.0 + 2× USB 3.0) , X86 power management signals, eSPI and DP++
• Three digital displays: as primary display 2× 24 bit LVDS or eDP (4 channels) or MIPI DSI (4 channels) can be used; the secondary display can either be HDMI or DP++ and the third display can be DP++

Some interfaces which were rarely used, or considered as almost outdated, were removed from the specification: Parallel Camera Interface, Parallel Display Interface, PCI Express Presence and Clock Request signals, Alternate Function Block, SPDIF, one I2S (out of three) and eMMC. Kontron plans to release two SMARC modules based on the 2.0 specification this year.

Martin Unverdorben, SGET SDT 0.1 Chairman and Kontron Product Manager for SMARC says: "The SMARC 2.0 specifications will provide an enhanced pinout to fit better to customer needs and processor interfaces. SMARC 2.0 will be the perfect match for a module standard, which was started for ARM processors and is now fully open to address X86 processors as well. It will be the base for many highly sophisticated and outstanding customer applications."

SDT.01 plans to release and publish the specification in spring 2016. It will be freely available for download on the SGET website according to the SGET terms of membership - both for SMARC developers as well as for users and carrier providers. Go to www.kontron.com for further details.