Columbia, MD — (press release excerpt) — Applied Data Systems (ADS) has unveiled the ADS Graphics Client, an intelligent graphical user interface (GUI) and control subsystem meant for use in a wide range of OEM application environments. The Graphics Client is a highly compact (4 x 6 in.) single-board computer (SBC) with an onboard Intel StrongARM SA-1110 CPU and a hearty compliment of I/O interfaces.

The ADS Graphics Client SBC provides users with the advantages of open source software, cost-effective hardware, and low-power operation — all important core components for the enormous and rapidly growing markets for portable, wireless, and consumer display applications incuding fleet management, process control, and kiosk / retail uses. “Engineers in the wireless embedded world have been asking us for the type of portability that the Linux / StrongARM SA-1110 combination will provide,” said Robert Olsen, president of Applied Data Systems.

Linux support

Linux support for the ADS Graphics Client includes the ability to load the OS and application software from PCMCIA ATA cards, plus driver support for on-board flash memory, flash file system, serial ports, display output on a variety of LCD displays, and drivers for most other onboard functions.

The ARM Linux port was developed by members of the SA-1100 workgroup of the Open Source Developers Community, and the derived kernel runs on a number of different ARM-based hardware platforms. The ADS Virtual Linux Development Team (VLDT) was responsible for the modifications and for the integration of Linux device drivers with ADS boards, and for continued initiatives for integration, administration and the testing of the platforms. The VLDT is also supplying the ARM port to MontaVista Software, who will productize it as Hard Hat Linux for ARM.

ADS developed a partnership with MontaVista Software to qualify and package the ADS ARM port of Linux into a Cross Development Kit (CDK) for the ADS Graphics Client and other ARM-based embedded systems. The CDK will be hosted on x86-based Linux workstations and will support cross compilation and debugging, and configuration of applications, device drivers, and the Linux kernel itself.

Jim Ready, embedded industry pioneer and MontaVista CEO, comments “The ADS platform targets the applications that define the 'post-PC' device. MontaVista's Hard Hat Linux and ADS' work with Intel's StrongARM hardware lay the foundation for the next generation of embedded and mobile applications.”

What's on the SBC?

The Graphics Client SBC includes the following onboard functions:

• 32-bit Digital StrongARM SA-1100 RISC processor
  
• 250 (Dhrystone 2.1) MIPS @ 220 MHz
  
• < 450 mW @ 2.0V/220 MHz power
  
• Power and memory management functionality
  
• Up to 32 MBytes DRAM
  
• Up to 32 MBytes Flash memory
  
• 128 Kbytes of EPROM as a boot device,
  
• One PCMCIA slot
  
• 3 serial ports supporting RS232/485/422/IRDA/TTL
  
• On-board Codec with speaker output & mic input
  
• Ethernet interface (10Base-T)
  
• Video interface (up to 1024×1024)
  
• Real Time Clock
  
• General purpose I/O (Digital, Analog)
  
• Keypad and touch screen interface
  
• PS2 keyboard and mouse interface

 
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