General

PC2-LIMBO: 3U CompactPCI ® PlusIO • Atom™ E6xx CPU Card

Posted: November 28, 2011

The PC2-LIMBO is a low power 4HP/3UCompactPCI® CPU board, equipped with an Intel® AtomTM E6xx series processor, which is scalable from 0.6GHz up to 1.6GHz clock, and available for the industrial operating temperature range (-40°C to +85°C). The PC2-LIMBO front panel is provided with two Gigabit Ethernet jacks, two USB receptacles, and either the DVI connector for attachment of a high resolution digital display, or alternatively the classic style VGA connector.
The PC2-LIMBO is equipped with up to 2GB soldered RAM for rugged applications. An onboard CFastTM host connector is provided for attachment of a SATA SSD module. In addition, a microSD card holder can accommodate a low cost industrial microSDHC Flash card (speed class 6, up to 32GB). While maintaining the 4HP profile of the PC2-LIMBO, the optionally available C42-SATA expansion module is equipped with a 1.8-inch microSATA solid state drive.
The Intel® AtomTM E6xx low power Processor (Tunnel Creek) comprises the CPU, a GPU, and a memory controller on a single chip. Four PCI Express® Lanes allow for attachment of peripheral components, such as the Intel® PCH (Platform Controller Hub) EG20T. The EG20T is already provided with a variety of I/O ports, e.g. USB and SATA. In addition, the PC2-LIMBO is equipped with further PCI Express® based controllers for Gigabit Ethernet and SATA channels. A PCIe packet switch is used for rear I/O across J2 (PlusIO).

CompactPCI® PlusIO (PICMG 2.30) is a new standard for rear I/O across J2, specified by the PICMG®. High speed signal lines (PCI Express®, SATA, Gigabit Ethernet and USB) are passed from the PC2-LIMBO through the special UHM connector to the backplane, for usage either on a PlusIO rear I/O transition module, or CompactPCI® Serial card slots. CompactPCI® Serial (PICMG CPCIS.0) defines a completely new card slot, based on PCI Express®, SATA, Gigabit Ethernet and USB serial data lines. On a hybrid backplane, both card styles can reside, CompactPCI® and CompactPCI® Serial, with the PC2-LIMBO in the middle as system slot controller for both backplane segments.

The PC2-LIMBO is equipped wit a set of local expansion interface connectors, which can be optionally used to attach a mezzanine side board. A variety of expansion cards is available, e.g. providing legacy I/O and additional PCI Express® based I/O circuitry. Typically, the PC2-LIMBO and the related side card would come as a readily assembled 8HP or 12HP unit with a common front panel. As an alternate, Flash based mezzanine storage modules are available that fit on the PC2-LIMBO while maintaining the 4HP profile.

Click here for more information about the PC2-LIMBO.

Click here for more infoirmation about CompactPCI® PlusIO (PICMG 2.30).

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