Nuts and Volts - May/June 2018

automation, smart energy, and many more applications.

Specifications for the TS-

4100 Computer-on-Module include: • Processor — NXP i.MX

6UL (ARM Cortex-A7 at

695 MHz)

• Memory — 4 GB MLC eMMC which can be configured to a more robust 2 GB SLC eMMC • RAM — Up to 1 GB • Storage — microSD slot supporting ultra high-speed bus interface • Wireless — 802.11 b/g/n; Bluetooth BLE • Networking — 2x 10/100 Ethernet ports available on CoM interface • HMI I/O available on CoM interface:

○ Parallel LCD ○ I2S Audio • Other I/O available on CoM interface:

○ 2x USB OTG ports

○ SPI Bus

○ I2C Bus

○ RS-232 for Linux console ○ 2x RS-232

○ Accelerometer/Gyroscope • Expansion:

○ 16x Header Pins (5X DIO, 1x SPI, 1X I2C)

○ 46x Digital I/O

○ 8x PWM Channel

○ FPGA includes integrated ZPU, a 32-bit CPU architecture for offloading real time tasks

○ CPU can access ZPU memory allowing for reprogramming of the firmware on-the-fly as well as bi-directional communication.

• Watchdog timer • 5V Input Power via USB or Baseboard • Typical Power Consumption — 0.30W • Fanless Temperature Range — 40°C • Dimensions — 75 mm x 55 mm • Operating Systems — Linux and Debian(Jessie)

The TS-4100 is Technologic Systems’ first CoM module that can also be a stand-alone micro single-board computer. When powered from the onboard micro USB connector, the TS-4100 does not require a baseboard to operate. The system could be a processing node on a The TS-4100 FPGA includes a ZPU core implementation. The ZPU allows for offloading CPU tasks as well as harder real time on I/O interactions. The ZPU is an open source, 32-bit, stack-based CPU architecture that offers a full GCC tool suite.

Inside the TS-4100 FPGA, it’s given eight kbytes of BlockRAM and has full access to all FPGA I/O. Additionally, the CPU has shared access to the ZPU BlockRAM. This allows for a larger bi-directional communication channel between the ZPU and main CPU TS-4100, and can be used to reprogram the ZPU on-the-fly for dynamic applications.

The TS-4100 can be paired with the TS-8551 development baseboard. The TS-8551 brings out all of the TS- 4100 connectivity options for engineers to use in developing their custom applications.

Additionally, the TS-8551 includes the example circuit for the TS-SILO technology, an optional feature which will provide up to 30 seconds of reserve power in the event of a power failure.