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that can be tailored to the application. The
out-of-the-box solution is something that
you drop in and it works, like a motherboard
or video card. If you have some additional
requirements, a full custom design is some-
thing that you choose when you have very
high volumes. A computer and module solu-
tion is something that you choose when you
have some mid-sized volume, and is a very
good compromise between the out-of-the-
box solution and the full custom solution.
When it comes to a modular solution you
have again two choices. There are propri-
etary single-vendor computers and modules,
or there are standardized computers and
modules available from multiple sources.
A standard solution offers you a second
source so you don’t rely on one vendor, let-
ting you scale your devices in performance,
power, and price.
Kontron offers the SMARC low-power
embedded architecture platform for Comput-
er-on-Modules, based on ARM and X86 tech-
nology, to address this issue. SMARC offers a
wide range of common computer interfaces,
and allows a wide functionality to be imple-
mented. On the graphics side, there is LVDS,
HDMI and DisplayPort++, and a camera
interface with MIPI-CSI, as well as the typical
high-speed interfaces like PCI Express, USB,
SATA, and GB LAN, and then all the slower
interconnectivity interfaces like audio, I2C,
Serial, and such. Compared to other form fac-
tors like COM Express and Qseven, SMARC
has a few advantages compared to them
regarding interfaces. SMARC offers 2 times
1GB LAN interfaces, making it suitable for
small gateways that need to address different
networks. SMARC also offers four serial COM
and two CAN ports, an interface still used in
industrial automation.
The SMARC MXM 3.0 connector is currently
used in the commercial computer market,
so there are many vendors available, and it
is proven to be rugged and very resistant to
shock and vibration. With 314 pins, it offers
more than COM Express Mini, which has 220,
and Qseven, which has 230 pins, and the com-
bination of carrier and modules allow a very
flat and slim designs.
When it comes to integration, Kontron offers
a network card based on PCI Express to bring
any computer system directly into a TSN
network. SMARC-sXAL is an ATOM® based
module for more performance driven applica-
tions. There are currently five different CPUs
available, the industrial-grade 3E series Atom
X5 and X7 boards, and commercial-grade
Celeron and Pentium products.
They can connect 1GB to 8GB DDR3L, with
ECC support, which is available on the E series.
Flash is from 2GB to 64GB in eMMC 5.0, and
the graphic connection is fully supported for
LVDS, HDMI, and DP++, with triple display
support so you can connect three monitors.
Then, almost all SMARC 2.0 interfaces here
are supported on that module. Operating sys-
tems supported include Windows 10, Yocto
Linux, and VxWorks.
A good example is the SMARC-sAMX7, the
latest available Cortex A7 based ARM SMARC
module from Kontron. It is equipped with
either a solo or a dual i.MX7 processor from
NXP, with an additional Cortex M4 core inte-
grated for small controller applications, where
usually an additional microcontroller is used
on the carrier.
Another example showing that SMARC is a good
choice for industrial IoT is Kontron’s KBOX
family. There are a variety of PCs intended for
IoT, and several are equipped with SMARC
modules. The KBOX C series is more for high
performance and offers COM Express, and the
two KBOX A series incorporate SMARC func-
tionality. If you needARM-based solutions, then
SMARC is the better choice. Also, the height is
better on SMARC, so you can have low-pro-
file platforms, and it is better when you need a
camera, or when you need a second Ethernet, or
when you need CAN.
Looking forward
To summarize, with SMARC you can have the
best performance for your IoT applications
within the range between ARM and Atom
class. It is scalable, enables high connectivity
with a wide variety of interfaces, and with
Kontron App Protect, you have a security layer
to ensure your designs are as safe as they are
functional. Properly deployed, this scalable,
modular set of solutions can greatly advance
your automation system design.
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KBOX A-200 SERIES"
Industrial IoT Gateway"
KBOX A-100 SERIES"
Cost Optimized"
KBOX C-100 SERIES"
Flexibility & Performance"
Figure 4. Kontron’s KBOX family is a true industrial computer platform, designed to enable
predictable productivity in any connected environment
Secure/Trusted Boot
Application Level Security - APPROTECT
§
IP protection, copy/reverse engineering protection
§
Licensing
Secure Operating System
Firmware – BIOS/UEFI
Operating System
Application
Level
SECURITY LAYERS
LEVELS OF SECURITY ENSURE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SECURITY FOR EMBEDDED
SYSTEMS
§
Built into the BIOS
§
BIOS Flash is protected
§
OS loader is verified
§
Software based
§
Make sure the correct BIOS is
executed
§
Windows 10 IoT featuring with TPM 2.0:
§
Trusted Boot Loader
§
Verification of executables
§
Alternatively Linux
Figure 3. When it comes to security, Kontron offers designers secure, trusted boot software to
enable a chain of trust
