Computer-on-Modules (COMs) show the way to faster Freescale QorIQ processor-based design without need for costly and time-consuming full-custom design, writes Gerhard Szczuka, product manager for Computer-on-Modules at Kontron Europe.
The performance of Freescale QorIQ processors, with more than ten years’ long-term availability, is clearly interesting for a whole number of communication and data-intensive applications.
But to date, a costly and time-consuming full-custom design has been needed to implement an application on a more individual scale.Embedded computer producers like Kontron are now also offering the processors platformed on Computer-on-Modules to reduce this design effort and expenditure.
Communication processors based on Power Architecture form the backbone of numerous wireless and wired network applications, including 3G, WiMAX and LTE base stations, RNCs, gateways, plus ATM, TDM and IP.
Setting up on efficient instruction sets, the processors offer high data-processing performance on a small power budget. The QorIQ P series from Freescale is the latest evolutionary step in this processor architecture for such applications, presenting itself in a number of performance classes.
The selection ranges from the P1010 800-MHz single-core processor through the P2020 1.2GHz dual-core to the P5040 2.4GHz quad-core. Common to all is the high energy efficiency created by 45-nm fabrication, which also enables a fanless system design.
Additional key functionality is provided by a hardware-based hypervisor for robust support of multiple operating systems on a single processor. That means just one hardware platform can implement a large number of security-relevant functional combinations that have had to be operated separately until now.
The new QorIQ processors are also generous when it comes to interfaces. For example, the SerDes lanes of the processors can be configured in a number of combinations as PCIe, sRIO (serial RapidIO), SATA or SGMII (serial Gigabit media independent interface) to suit individual applications.
As dedicated interfaces, all the processor variants offer Gigabit Ethernet and USB 2.0. Further peripherals can be addressed over I²C, UART, SPI, NAND controller, local bus and GPIO.
High-end models of the P5 family, such as the 64-bit P5020 dual-core processor, additionally support 10-Gigabit Ethernet.
The P5 family also integrates hardware DPAA (data path acceleration architecture), ensuring that even high rates of network traffic will not impair the computing performance of the processor cores. In this case, the DPAA architecture relieves the cores of the usual packet-handling tasks so that on full load the processor can grab more capacity for other computing tasks.
New scenarios for QorIQ
Performance and features like these show that QorIQ processors fit well into carrier-grade network and telecommunication applications. For such purposes, QorIQ processors like the P5020 are offered in established form factors for modular backplane systems, e.g., AdvancedMC boards for MicroTCA and AdvancedTCA systems as well as VPX blades.
But the processors are also of interest for a wide choice of compute-bound and communication-intensive applications, and for systems more deeply embedded that call for a more individual interface configuration.
The general-purpose P2020 processor, for instance, is an ideal solution for applications such as closed-loop motion control in industrial robots that have to execute compute-intensive algorithms in real-time conditions and interact with numerous sensors and actuators. Individual box systems are often needed in this case. The situation is similar in aviation and defense.
Here, too, there are extremely compute-intensive applications, plus a demand for high performance per watt, low heat dissipation and compact system design — to satisfy SWaP challenges (size, weight and power) in UAVs or AUVs, for example. The high-performing processors are also suitable for many other in-vehicle applications, such as event recorders for rail traffic.
This calls for robust, high-rel and regular communicating and computing “wizards” for real-time processing of a variety of sensor and communication data.
In a revolutionary Industry 4.0 environment with cross-factory networking, the communication processors can be dedicated to more individual routing, switching and safety appliances. Compact storage applications such as SAN (storage area network) for continuous high-speed transmission of big data and NAS (network-attached storage) for redundant saving of critical corporate machine and plant data are further innovative fields of application.
The available boards, often in form of simple motherboards, typically used in carrier-grade telecommunication and network infrastructures often lack the application-specific design for more deeply embedded implementation. So the commonest solution until now has mostly been a full-custom design. Developing them can be very heavy on time and resources, however. The better solution is an application-ready platform that can be configured to match the application specific requirement.
Core functions on a standardized footprint
Computer-on-Modules offer the developer an efficient means of implementing dedicated applications by a standardized pin-out in a compact form factor. Through the application-specific carrier board, they create the necessary flexibility for a diverse and scalable choice of interfaces, which the SerDes-based interfaces of QorIQ make even more versatile.
Adding to the scalability are exchangeable module families in various performance classes. In this way, COMs deliver a one-fits-all solution for attractive long-term availability, plus security in individual designs.
Long-term availability is enhanced further in that many customers can use the same module for very different designs. Even more important is the fact that customers obtain the module directly as a ready-applicable building block. The developer is no longer expected to develop everything from square one, thus saving the design-in effort.
The burden is less at operating system level, too, because COMs come with extensive operating system and driver support.
Evaluating form factor
As a rule, there are two ways of defining the best possible QorIQ computer-on-module form factor: Either you define something completely new or you leverage existing technologies. Every combination of module and carrier board needs its design guidelines, so it is obvious you will check existing module specifications to see if they are right for QorIQ designs too.
That way you benefit from design experience and can make efficient, continued use of design guides and other documents. An analysis of the entire market of different specifications for modules and mezzanines showed that COM Express offers ideal conditions for a robust QorIQ module family with long-term availability. The standard defines different module sizes, the connector is especially rugged and proven in harsh environments, likewise the mechanical components.
Plus, it was possible to adopt essential parts of the pin-out virtually unchanged; the only major changes were for PCI Express and PEG pinning, now serving as SerDes lanes, and the voltage supply. Further to that, the COM Express standard has the widest market, so efficient support infrastructures are already in place.
Continued use of proven design guidelines
COM Express consequently presents an ideal basis for implementing COMs with Power Architecture. The physical design guidelines are publicly available: The COM Express design guide supports the engineer in developing an appropriate cooling solution and routings on carrier boards, for example.
As for developers, there are substantial advantages in using one of the most comprehensive module specifications for other technologies: They can start out right away without lengthy evaluation, working exactly to what is detailed in these standard documents.
They are always on the safe side by choosing proven guidelines for dedicated designs. It assures maximum design quality and security of investment. The latter is enhanced by the fact that the new computer-on-module specification for QorIQ processors is supported not just by a single producer but by the two major players in this market. Other producers can also be expected to join the innovation trail.
Continued use secures high-Q design
Some producers have already implemented QorIQ on carrier-grade embedded form factors such as ATCA, MicroTCA or MAG-grade embedded form factors like VPX. They can now focus their expertise in these areas on the development of new COMs.
The advantage for the customer is that many of their requirements are ready-implemented and most of their questions answered. So users can expect to receive highly qualified first-level and second-level support because the critical mass for such services from the producer is leveled.
Kontron, for instance, is shipping QorIQ technology on AMCs for MicroTCA and ATCA, on VPX as well as in custom system configurations for the telecommunications industry. Adding to this, the company recently launched two new QorIQ-based Computer-on-Modules.
New COM Express-conforming QorIQ modules
The powerful COMe-cP2020 with a 32-bit Freescale QorIQ P2020 processor is for embedded, low-power data-processing systems that call for the especially high performance per watt of Power Architecture.
With a long-term availability of well over ten years, fanless operation and an extended temperature range of -40 through +70°C, the compact COM will be a preferred choice for especially long-lived applications in harsh environments.
The Kontron COMe-bP5020 with a 64-bit Freescale QorIQ P5020 in COM Express basic format supports SRIO, XAUI and SGMII, appealing to telecom and data-processing applications requiring a high bandwidth. Long-term availability is ensured, again for more than ten years, suiting network applications with long life cycles, such as in transportation or the MIL market.
Kontron COMe-cP2020 in a COM Express compact form factor (95 x 95 mm) is based on Freescale QorIQ P2020 1.2-GHz dual-core Power Architecture.
Designed for use in an extended temperature range of -40 through +70°C, there is also a version with a 1.0-GHz clock rate. Further processor variants are obtainable matching user projects.
