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        SODIMM-sized module runs Windows CE

        Staff | Date: Sep 23, 2008 | Comments: 1


        Cogent Computer Systems is now shipping a SODIMM-sized computer module based on Freescale's i.MX 31 Soc. The CSB733 is available with preinstalled Windows CE, and can also be purchased with a development board that integrates a 4.3-inch 480 x 272 LCD display, the company says.



        Cogent's new CSB733 module is based on Freescale's i.MX31 SoC, a high-integration, high-performance SoC that weds an ARM1136 processor core with a 2D/3D MBX graphics engine, Java accelerator, a vector floating point math coprocessor, a video processing engine said to support full-motion (30 frames/sec) 720 x 480 video encoding with MPEG-4 or H.264 formats, and numerous other functions and interfaces (see block diagram).


        Cogent CSB733 module, top and bottom
        (Click either view to enlarge)

        The CSB733 clocks the i.MX31 processor at 532Mhz, and joins it to 128MB of SDRAM and 16MB of SRAM via a 132MHz bus. On-board storage includes 64MB of NOR flash, along with 512MB of NAND. Storage can be expanded via an SD/MMC interface.

        The CSB733's I/O includes:
        • 1 x USB 2.0 "full-speed" (12Mbps) host port
        • 1 x USB 2.0 "high-speed" (480Mbps) host port
        • 1 x USB 2.0 "high-speed" (480Mbps) client port
        • 10/100 Ethernet
        • RS232 Debug UART at 230Kbps
        • 3 x TTL UARTS at 1.875Mbps
        • SIR and FIR IrDA (via UARTs)
        • SPI
        • I2C
        • PWM timer output
        • Audio I/O via I2S, SSI5
        • 8/10-bit YUV/RGB video camera input
        • 10+ GPIO lines
        • Hardware RNG (random number generator)
        The CSB733 is built in a 200-pin SODIMM-sized format measuring 2.6 x 2 x 0.3 inches (66.8 x 50.8 x 8mm). The module ships standard from Cogent with the Micromonitor bootloader, and either Linux or Windows CE pre-installed on flash.

        CSB703 dev board

        Like other Cogent CSB7xx series modules, the CSB733 module is supported by Cogent's CSB703 development board, which integrates a 4.3-inch 480 x 272 LCD display. For applications requiring larger displays -- up to SVGA (800 x 600) is supported by the CSB733 -- the baseboard also offers a 41-pin interface to Cogent's CSB909xx display boards, available with 6.5-inch or 7-inch LCDs, as well as LVDS inverters and DVI-D interfaces. Various expansion boards are also available for the baseboard.


        CSB703 baseboard, top and bottom
        (Click either view to enlarge)

        The CSB703 (shown above with the SODIMM module in place) has a standard 10/100 Ethernet port, dual USB host ports, SD card slot, and Compact Flash slot. It also includes an AC '97 audio codec with mic in, line in, and headphone out.


        CSB733(left) and CSB703 (right) block diagrams
        (Click either to enlarge)

        Windows CE support

        As mentioned earlier, Cogent says the CSB733 will be available with Windows CE preinstalled into its flash memory. A Windows CE BSP (board support package) has not yet been announced, but appears likely to appear soon. Other modules in the CSB7xx family, such as the CSB737 and the CSB726, already feature BSPs created by Adeneo.

        Availability

        Cogent did not provide pricing and availability information for the CSB733, but the device is apparently on sale now. More information is available from the company's website, here.


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