MEN Micro announced a ruggedized, EMC- computer-on-module (COM) that uses the rugged ESMini form-factor and supports Intel Atom E600 processors at up to 1.6GHz. The MM2 offers up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, provides expansion options including PCI Express, CAN, and I2C, and supplies I/O including gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0, and SATA.

The MM2 upgrades MEN Micro's circa-2009 MM1 module, which supported the original Intel Atom Z5xx processors and debuted MEN Micro's 3.75 x 2.16-inch (95 x 55mm) ESMini format. Featuring railway-standard compliant connectors with differential signals, ESMini (below) is a rugged spin-off of the company's earlier  4.9 x 3.75-inch ESMExpress format.

ESMini and ESMexpress (pictured) modules are screwed tightly into a frame
(Click to enlarge)
ESMini requires that soldered components are used to withstand shock and vibration, and the design is optimized for conformal coating. ESMini modules are designed to be firmly screwed to a carrier board connected via two, snap-on, 60-pin connectors (J1 and J2).

Since the MM1, the company has produced just one ESMini module with its MM50. Released in 2010, the Linux-ready module was equipped with a Freescale PowerPC MPC5121e or dual-core MPC5123 processor.

MM2
(Click to enlarge)

But now, the new MM2 (above) upgrades the original MM1 design by swapping the Z5xx Atoms for their designated heirs, the Atom E600. The module comes standard with the 1.6GHz Atom E680T (4.5-Watt TDP), but offers eight more E600 options, down to a 0.6GHz E620 with a 3.3-Watt TDP. As a result, the module is said to consume between five and seven Watts.

MM2 block diagram
(Click to enlarge)

The MM2 may be equipped with up to 2GB of soldered DDR2 SDRAM, and sit upports SDVO and LVDS displays, says MEN Micro. Dual PCI Express x1 interfaces are provided, along with CAN and I2C expansion buses, says the company.

I/O includes dual gigabit Ethernet ports, dual SATA ports, six USB 2.0 host ports, and one USB 2.0 client port, among other interfaces (see spec list below).

The MM2 ships with an EMC-proof enclosure (see image below), helping to make the rugged device suitable for industrial, harsh, mobile and mission-critical environments with high graphics requirements in small spaces, says MEN Micro. The module also supports temperatures of -40 to 185 deg. F (-40 to 85 deg. C) and provides shock and vibration resistance, says the company.

EMC-proof enclosure

If additional cooling is required, the housing can be connected to an external heat dissipation system (conduction) or combined with a heat sink on the top cover for heat dissipation (convection), says MEN Micro. The low-power version — presumably referring to the model with the 0.6GHz Atom E620 — may also be operated without the frame and cover in moderate application temperatures, says the company. Conformal coating is said to be available upon request.

A microATX format carrier board is said to be available for the MM2, although MEN Micro offered no further details. The MM1 was paired with an optional MEN Micro XC4 evaluation carrier board.

Features and specifications listed by MEN Micro for the MM2 include the following:

• Processor — Intel Atom E600 processors up to 1.6GHz
• Chipset — Intel EG20T
• Memory — Up to 2GB of soldered-on DDR2 RAM
• Display — supports SDVO and LVDS displays
• Expansion (all via connectors to carrier board):
• CAN bus
• 2 x I2C
• 2 x PCI Express x1 links
• Networking — 2 x gigabit Ethernet interfaces
• Other I/O (all via connectors to carrier board):
  • 2 x SATA
  • 6 x USB 2.0 hosts; 1 x USB 2.0 client
  • 4 x UARTs (COM ports)
  • GPIO
  • 2 x SDIO/MMC
  • HD audio
• Operating temperature — -40 to 185 deg. F (-40 to 85 deg. C)
• Power — +5V input; consumption 5 to 7 W
• Dimensions — 3.75 x 2.16 inches (95 x 55mm)

Availability

The MM2 ESMini module is available for purchase now for $805, with delivery from six to eight weeks after an order. Operating system support was not listed.

 More information may be found at MEN Micro's MM2 product page.

Eric Brown can be reached at [email protected].

---

This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.