| Safety-critical Linux distro supports telematics processor modules |
Nov. 21, 2005
 Sysgo says its embedded Linux distribution now supports two Men Micro "system modules" targeting embedded mobile systems, including automotive, rail, and other transportation applications. ELinOS 4.0 supports Men's EM1 and EM1A, which are based on Freescale's MPC5200, along with an Altera Cyclone FPGA (field-programmable gate array).
(Click for larger view of Men EM1 and EM1A modules)
ELinOS 4.0
Sysgo launched ELinOS 4.0 in October, targeting safety-critical and mil/aero applications. The new version mainly adds support for PikeOS, a real-time microkernel that Sysgo says can run ELinOS 4.0 and other "OS personalities" in partitioned, virtualized environments.
ELinOS 4.0 mainly adds support for PikeOS
Men's EM1 and EM1A
Men's EM1 and EM1A are part of its "Embedded System Module" (ESM) product line. The ESM modules have PCI-104 and other expansion interfaces that can connect them to available carrier boards for CompactPCI, VMEbus, and other open bus standards. Alternatively, users can design application-specific carrier boards, Men says.
The EM1 has front-panel I/O, while the EM1A has a rear-mounted DIN connector for I/O. Both boards can operate between -40 and 85 degrees C (-40 to 185 degrees F), and have soldered-down DRAM, Flash, SRAM, and graphics memory.
The EM1 (left) and EM1A (right) block diagrams
(Click to enlarge)
Both boards are powered by Freescale's MPC5200 processor clocked at 384MHz. The MPC5200 features dual CAN controllers, and delivers 700 MIPS (millions of instructions per second) while consuming less than 1 Watt, Men says. Freescale (then Motorola) announced the MPC5200 in July of 2003, and Metrowerks (now part of Freescale) subsequently released an "automotive grade Linux" BSP for the chip.
Both the Men Micro boards have FPGAs that can be programmed for graphics, serial communications channels, and other functional logic. The FPGAs can be programmed while the boards are running, Men says.
Other claimed features and specifications include:- Memory
- Up to 256MB DDR SDRAM (64MHz memory bus speed)
- Up to 1GB on-chip NAND Flash (depending on chip availability), FPGA-controlled
- Up to 8MB boot Flash
- Up to 2MB battery-backed SRAM
- Serial EEPROM 8kbits for factory settings
- Up to 16MB additional SDRAM, connected to FPGA, e.g. for video data
- Storage
- IDE port on I/O connector, controlled by FPGA
- I/O
- 1 x USB 1.1 port (ohci)
- 2 x 10/100 Ethernet
- 1 x RS232 UART
- 2 x CAN 2.0 A/B bus channels
- FPGA
- Altera Cyclone EP1C12
- 12,060 logic elements
- 239,616 RAM bits
- PCI
- PCI-104 connector
- 32-bit, 33MHz PCI 2.2 interface supporting 4 masters
- Other
- Power
- 5V, 100mA typical
- 3.3V, 1A typical
Men President Ernest Godsey said, "With support in the OS for our ESMs, the design team doesn't have to worry about the details of hardware and software integration."
Sysgo marketing manager Susanne K�mpgen said, "With [version] 4.0 of ELinOS, we've optimized our software project management tools. We've redesigned the entire tool chain, and integrated all of the tools as one integrated development environment (IDE) under Codeo. In addition, ELinOS now is integrated with PikeOS for cross-platform value."
Availability
MEN's EM1 and EM1A with ELinOS are available now from MEN Micro, priced at $650 in single units.
Men also offers a PC/104 Plus SBC based on the MPC5200, the PP01. Another member of its ESM family, the EM01, is also based on the MPC5200.
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