Kontron Ultra Low-Power ULP-COM Specification Selected for Electron d'or Award by ElectroniqueS Magazine


New specification for ARM/SoC-based Computer-on-Modules receives award as the most innovative product in the sub-systems category

Eching, Germany - Kontron today announced that its new ultra low-power ULP-COM specification for ARM- and SoC-based Computer-on-Modules has received the Electron d'Or 2012 Award presented by the French ElectroniqueS Magazine. The new module specification with the working title ULP-COM was voted the most important innovation of the last twelve months in the sub-system category.

Kontron's new module specification for ultra low-power embedded solutions extends the COM usage model to ARM and SoC architectures with scalable, modular and out-of-the-box solutions. The new ULP-COM specification allows for custom-specific designs based on a proven and scalable module platform and will save customers significant development time and costs. Furthermore, the ULP-COM specification will be hosted by the Standardization Group for Embedded Technologies (SGET) to guarantee the further development of this vendor-independent specification. Customers will benefit from the highest design security and longevity of their ARM- and SoC-based applications.

"Kontron is honored to have received this prestigious award. We see this as an appreciation of our commitment within our strategic diversification into the ultra-low power / ARM technology and our endeavour to establish common standards in the predominantly proprietary ARM market," said Norbert Hauser, Executive Vice President Marketing at Kontron. "We have been very successful in our collaboration with embedded form factor standardization and particularly with ETX and COM Express standards. Now we are mirroring this success story in the ultra-low power / ARM market segment, which complements that of the x86 technology. Compared to the current ARM and SoC approach, which is characterized by the sole availability of full custom designs, customers now benefit from the massively reduced R&D investment costs and reduced time-to-market, by utilizing application-ready platform solutions based on ULP-COM."

The specification at a glance
The new specification for ultra low-power COMs was developed specifically for new modules with ARM and SoC processors and is characterized by the extremely flat build of its form factor. It uses a 314-pin connector that has a construction height of just 4.3 millimeters (the MXM 3.0) with an optimized ARM/SoC pin-out definition. This connection method allows robust and cost-effective designs that have an extremely thin construction height. Furthermore, the specification integrates dedicated interfaces for the latest ARM and SOC processors. This means that not only LVDS, 24-bit RGB and HDMI are supported but embedded DisplayPort for future designs is supported as well. As another first for the industry, dedicated camera interfaces are being incorporated into the specification. OEMs benefit from minimized design effort and bill of material costs. Two different module sizes are specified, in order to offer a high level of flexibility regarding different mechanical requirements: a short module measuring 82 mm x 50 mm and a full-size module measuring 82 mm x 80 mm. Additionally, ULP-COM will cover all other known requirements analog to other module standards, so that the 1.0 release version is already completely mature for the market.

For further news on Kontron's strategic entry into ARM architecture, please visit: http://kontron.com/kontrons-strategic-entry-into-embedded-arm-architecture/

About Kontron
Kontron is a global leader in embedded computing technology. With more than 40% of its employees in research and development, Kontron creates many of the standards that drive the world's embedded computing platforms. Kontron's product longevity, local engineering and support, and value-added services, helps create a sustainable and viable embedded solution for OEMs and system integrators. Kontron works closely with its customers on their embedded application-ready platforms and custom solutions, enabling them to focus on their core competencies. The result is an accelerated time-to-market, reduced total-cost-of-ownership and an improved overall application with leading-edge, highly-reliable embedded technology.

Kontron is listed on the German TecDAX stock exchange under the symbol "KBC". For more information, please visit: http://www.kontron.com/

Media Contacts

Americas
Richard Pugnier
Kontron
Tel:+1 (858) 623-3006
richard.pugnier@us.kontron.com

Annette Keller
Keller Communications
Tel:+1 (949) 640-4811
annettekeller@sbcglobal.net

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