Logic PD announced what it claims are the industry's smallest embedded modules at less than one square inch, available with Android, Linux, and Windows CE BSPs. The DM3730 and AM3703 Torpedo SOMs are based on the Texas Instruments DM3730 DaVinci and AM3703 Sitara processors, respectively, and the larger DM3730 SOM-LV and AM3703 SOM-LV modules add features including Ethernet, CompactFlash, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

The tiny Torpedo System on Modules (SOMs) are well suited for space-constrained applications such as medical devices, handheld radios, and mobile Internet devices, says Logic PC. Meanwhile, the larger SOM-LV modules are designed for applications in the medical, point-of-sale, industrial, and security markets, including patient monitoring, bar code reader, and CCTV camera devices,  the company adds.

Logic PD DM3730/AM3703 Torpedo SOM

Known for its Zoom development kits, Logic PD is a long-time hardware partner of semiconductor vendors including Texas Instruments (TI) and Freescale. Zoom kits are also available for the new Torpedo SOM and SOM-LV modules (see farther below).
Torpedo SOM Zoom kit

All four modules feature either the 3D- and 720p video-enabled TI DM3730 system-on-chip (SoC), or thr similar TI AM3703 SoC that lacks either enhancement. Both the AM3703 and DM3730 are next-generation replacements to TI's OMAP35x processors, cranking up their ARM Cortex-A8 cores to as much as 1GHz.

TI announced the Sitara AM3703 and similar, Open GL graphics-accelerated AM3715 in June of last year, then followed up with its DM3730 DaVinci SoC in August. The DM3730 integrates a 800MHz TI C64x+ digital signal processor (DSP) core, and an Imagination Technologies Power SGX 3D graphics accelerator. A DaVinci DM3725 model that lacks the 3D support was also announced at the time.

All four modules are said to offer footprint compatibility with Logic PD's existing OMAP35x SOM modules.

Torpedo SOM modules

The DM3730 and AM3703 Torpedo SOMs measure less than one square inch, at 1.06 x 0.59 x 0.15 inches (27 x 15 x 3.8mm), says Logic PD. Both modules are clocked at up to 1GHz, yet feature low power consumption of less than 5mW in suspend state, claims Logic PD. The modules are said to be available in both commercial and extended-temperature industrial ranges (see spec list below).

DM3730/AM3703 Torpedo SOM front view

Additional Torpedo features include 256MB DDR SDRAM, 512MB NAND flash, and support for an MMC/SD slot, says Logic PD. The device can boot from either onboard NAND or a memory card. An LCD controller and audio codec are provided, along with TV-out/S-Video, says the company.
Torpedo SOM rear view

I/O is expressed via dual 100-pin BTB connectors on the back of the device. The interfaces include USB 2.0 OTG, UARTs, McBSP, SPI, I2C, GPIO, and a parallel camera interface. JTAG and ETM are supported for debugging, which is handled via a separate 40-pin debug interface on the front of the module, says the company.

Torpedo SOM block diagram

Specifications listed for the Torpedo SOMs include:

• Processor — TI Sitara AM3703 and DM3730 DaVinci (with video and 3D acceleration), each clocked at 1GHz
• Memory — 256MB DDR SDRAM 166MHz; 512MB NAND flash (PoP)
• Memory expansion — MMC/SD card support
• Display:
  • LCD controller for up to 24bpp TFT interface
  • supports XGA 1024 x 768 (24-bit)
  • TV-out/S-Video
• I/O:
  • USB high-speed OTG interface
  • 3 x UARTs
  • 2 x McBSPs
  • 3 x SPI
  • 2 x I2C
  • parallel camera interface
  • GPIO with GPMC interface
  • JTAG/ETM
• Connectors — 2 x 100-pin BTB; 40-pin debug
• Audio — I2S compliant codec (TI TPS65950) with 16-bit stereo DAC, 13-bit ADC
• Other features — optional 4×4 keypad interface (requires feature tradeoffs)
• Dimensions — 1.06 x 0.59 x 0.15 inches (27 x 15 x 3.8mm)
• Operating temperature — 32 to 158 deg. F (0 to 70 deg. C); industrial temp. version -40 to 185 deg. F (-40 to 85 deg. C)

SOM-LV modules

With a footprint of 3.0 x 1.22 inches, Logic PD's DM3730 SOM-LV and AM3703 SOM-LV modules are essentially expanded versions of the Torpedo modules. Yet, they lose a few features in addition to adding to them. For example, there's no mention of a camera interface or TV-out.

DM3730 SOM-LV/AM3703 SOM-LV front view

Both SOM-LV modules add 8MB of NOR flash, a 10/100 Ethernet controller, CompactFlash support, and a touchscreen controller, says Logic PD. I/O is provided via dual 240-pin BTB connectors, and features three USB 2.0 host interfaces, in addition to the OTG connection.
SOM-LV rear view

The LV modules externalize the three UARTs, offer GPIO, and support debugging, says the company. SPI and McBSP interfaces are shown in the block diagram below, but are not listed in the data sheet. The DM3730 SOM-LV adds on-board Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR wireless radios, features that are missing in the lower-cost AM3703 SOM-LV.

SOM-LV block diagram

Specifications listed for the DM3730 SOM-LV and AM3703 SOM-LV include:

• Processor — TI Sitara AM3703 and DM3730 DaVinci (with video and 3D acceleration), each clocked at 1GHz
• Memory — 256MB DDR SDRAM 166MHz; 512MB NAND flash (PoP); 8MB NOR flash
• Memory expansion — MMC/SD card support; CompactFlash Type 1
• Display — LCD controller for up to 24bpp TFT interface; supports XGA 1024 x 768 (24-bit); 4-wire touchscreen controller
• Wireless (DM3730 SOM-LV only) — 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Networking — 10/100 Base-T Ethernet controller (application/debug)
• Other I/O:
  • USB high-speed OTG interface
  • 3 x USB 2.0 high-speed host interface
  • 3 x external UARTs
  • GPIO with GPMC interface
  • JTAG/ETM
• Connectors — 2 x 240-pin BTB
• Audio — — I2S compliant codec (TI TWL4030 in place of TI TPS65950), with 16-bit stereo DAC, 13-bit ADC
• Other features — 8×8 keypad interface
• Dimensions — 3.0 x 1.22 x 0.3 inches (76.2 x 31 x 7.4mm)
• Operating temperature:
  • commercial temp. 32 to 158 deg. F (0 to 70 deg. C)
  • extended temp. -4 to 158 deg. F (-20 to 70 deg. C)
  • industrial temp. -40 to 185 deg. F (-40 to 85 deg. C)

BSPs, Zoom kits, and a "Wattson" power tool

Logic PD provides Android, Linux, and Windows CE board support packages (BSPs) for use with both the Torpedo SOM and SOM-LV DM3730 and AM3703 modules, says the company. The BSPs are said to comply with an ISO 13485 certified process. In addition, Logic PD sells Zoom development kits for all the modules. Each kit includes a carrier board with an integrated 4.3-inch WQVGA LCD touchscreen.

SOM-LV Zoom kit

The Zoom kits supply memory-card slots, and real-world Ethernet, USB, and audio ports, says Logic PD. The kits add HDMI and serial ports, as well as other I/O, depending on the differing capabilities of the modules themselves. Links farther below point to detailed spec lists for both kits.

Logic PD also announced that its "Wattson" power measurement and performance monitoring application is now standard on all Logic PD Zoom Development Kits. Wattson offers real-time graphical feedback and data logging without requiring external oscilloscopes and meters, says the company. Wattson enables customers to view power consumption and performance in real-time for the modules, as well as the full system.

Stated Juan Gonzales, TI's DM3730 DaVinci marketing manager, "The new AM3703 and DM3730 SOMs ease product development and reduce overall design complexity by removing the 0.4 mm package and memory routing issues many customers face."

Availability

Logic PD's Zoom DM3730 Torpedo Development Kit and Zoom DM3730 SOM-LV Development Kit, will be available in June and July, respectively, through Logic PD distributors. The suggested retail price is $997.

More information on the Torpedo SOMs may be found here, where a link is available to a PDF data sheet for the Torpedo SOM Zoom development kit.

More information on the larger SOM-LV modules should be here, and more on the SOM-LV Zoom kits should be here.

Logic PD is showcasing its newest SOM products through May 5 at ESC Silicon Valley in booth #1944 and at Texas Instruments' Technology Day, both in San Jose, Calif. The company will also be exhibiting at the Del Mar Electronics & Design Show, also through May 5, in Del Mar, Calif., in booth #118.

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