Developing Mission Critical Products with
Digi i.MX53 Module
September 2013 – Rev B
Paolo Chiarlone Senior Sales Engineer
Webinar
Hello… I am….
Pleased to meet you
Digi International
• M2M Solutions Expert
• Profitable, Financially Stable, Global, Public Company
• Device Cloud Innovator and Leader
• Leader in Wireless
Page 3
http://www.forbes.com/200best/
More About Digi International
• Founded in 1984 – Public Company for 25 years • NASDAQ since 1989: DGII • HQ in Minnetonka, MN • Offices Worldwide (US, Europe, Asia) • Growth by acquisition: 8 companies in 8 years • 670 employees • $200M+ of revenues in FY2012, $100M in cash • Named best of SmartGrid companies for 2011 • Products Families:
– Digi Terminal servers and Gateways; Embedded Systems – NetSilicon 32-bit Processors and Modules – FsForth Linux and Windows CE OS – Rabbit 8/16-bit Processors and Modules – Inside Out Networks USB products – MaxStream Radio, RF and ZigBee products – Sarian Systems IP Routers for critical applications – Spectrum Design HW/SW custom designs – MobiApps M2M Communications (Satellite, Cellular) – Etherios Device Cloud Connectivity
Agenda
Welcome
Digi Embedded Solutions
Markets and Focus
ConnectCore i.MX53
Digi DevKits
Operating Systems Available
Examples of Applications
Q&A
Digi Embedded Solutions
What is an Embedded System?
• Small device that can be “embedded” into another device or enclosure
• Often does not have a direct user interaction • Low power consumption • Usually has a low cost • Combine common HW components such as:
– Microprocessor – Memory (SDRAM and Flash) – I/O peripherals (UART, USB, GPIO, etc.)
• Pre-integrated software support • Development Kit with Software Tools • Add-on Application Kits
Page 7
Why it is different from a “Box”?
• It needs more things than a “box” does: – design a carrier/support board
– stabilized power supply
– connectors, level shifters, etc.
– might need an enclosure
• But it is better because: – has a much lower cost
– more suitable for very high volume (1K-30K)
– easier to customize/expand
Page 8
Value Proposition
• Fast design integration ready-made solution for rapid deployment
• Ease-of-use standard environment, tools and OS
• Future-safe design & Investment protection future growth with continuous enhancements
• Industrial and Medical solution long term availability (5-10+ years)
• Complete Solution including Hardware, Software, tools, support, design reviews, custom services (SW and HW)
• Partners and Distributors Local partners help speeding up development and support
Page 9
Security / Surveillance Example Application
Key Applications and Market Focus
Medical / Healthcare Fitness / Wellness
Renewable Energy Utilities
Security Surveillance
Transportation Agriculture / Irrigation
Page 10
Page 11
• The Digi Connect family includes several high performance embedded modules such as: Connect ME-9210 Connect WiME-9210 ConnectCard Wi-i.MX28 ConnectCore Wi-i.MX51 ConnectCore Wi-i.MX53 ConnectCore Wi-i.MX6 (new, not released yet)
• The Digi modules share HW peripherals, SW libraries and support common Operating Systems for easier development and future compatibility
A Full Family
Digi ConnectCore for i.MX53
Overview ConnectCore for i.MX53 • High performance System-on-Module solution
- Freescale i.MX53 @ up to 1 GHz - Up to 2 GB on-module DDR2 @ 400 MHz
• ConnectCore for i.MX51 form factor compatible
- Pinout similar, allowing common carrier board designs
• Improved video performance
• Up to 1080p video decode, up to 720p video encode
• On-chip LVDS interface
• On-chip dual-CAN bus controller
• Dual Ethernet MAC option
• 802.11abgn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 option
- Up to 150 Mbps data rate (MCS 7) with Bluetooth 4.0 - Initial release with 802.11abgn, 65 MBps only
• Release history - Pre-release demos (Android) at Embedded World 2011 - Windows Embedded Compact 7: February 2012 - Digi Embedded Linux (2.6.35): March 2012 - Beta version of Android Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0): October 2013
ConnectCore for i.MX53 Module Block Diagram
Population
Option
IPU – Display Support
IPU Dual Display
i.MX53
IPU – Video Support
Temperature Monitor
ConnectCore for i.MX53 DevBoard
Digi Development Kits (JSK)
Development Kits Content
• Everything needed to develop a SW application and to connect external HW peripherals:
One Embedded Module (ready for production) Hardware Development Platform Schematics for Development Board Full Software toolset Eclipse Development environment BSP and drivers in source code Examples in source code
Page 21
Digi SW Development
Hardware Development
Create low-level drivers
Application Development
Integration and debugging
Classic Embedded Development Process
SW Application Development
Develop and test the application in the Digi JSK
Hardware Development
Create custom baseboard
starting with Digi JSK
***
Digi Development Process
Deployment on the
market!
Reduce the Time To Market!!
Page 22 *** = Integration
Embedded Operating Systems
• Medium to large memory footprint
• C/C++ application development
• Multitude of application programming language options
• Based on current standard kernel development/ improvements
• Wide range of GUI support packages/options available
• Broad community support
• Comprehensive and up-to-date Linux open source library
• Source code available
• Royalty-free but with potential GPL related licensing and other
IP licensing implications
• Platform release cadence relatively fast but overall stable
• Medium to large memory footprint
• Java (1.2) application development
• Native C/C++ coding supported when additional perf required
• Built on top of underlying Linux foundation
• Full GUI and multimedia framework is integral part of platform
• Broad community support
• Comprehensive Java based software library
• Source code available
• Royalty-free, with non-”copyleft” based Apache Software License
• Platform release cadence relatively fast but overall stable
• Medium to large memory footprint
• Fully componentized and complete offering of high-level Windows
components w/GUI and multimedia
• Visual Studio development tools for C/C++ and managed code
• Real-time kernel support
• Source code available through Microsoft Shared Source program
• Microsoft provides complete IP indemnification for platform
• Per-unit product royalties (“shared success”) depending on volume
and software components required
• Slow release cadence and long-term product support commitment by Microsoft
Software Platforms
LINUX
Page 25
Digi Embedded Linux
• Open Source OS, GPL or LGPL licenses
• Royalty-free
• Digi Embedded Linux distribution (DEL)
• Based on 2.6 kernel (Kubuntu)
• Digi adds BSP and low-level drivers
• Full Source Code included – ANSI C
• Digi Live DVD allows evaluation without installation
• Standard “de facto”: known by many SW developers
• Development environment based on Eclipse
• Almost any feature or protocol can be ported in
• Large developer community
• Graphical libraries included: QT
• Examples applications included in the kit
Page 26
Digi Android
• Mobile OS, effort led by Google
• Developed by the Open Handset Alliance
• Initial release on Android v2.3 (GingerBread)
• Now Beta available for ICS v4.0!!!
• Royalty-free
• Application Development Kit, not full kernel/OS
• Allows creating embedded applications with Java
• Digi adds Embedded APIs extensions to Android!
• High-end graphics/sounds and user friendly look and feel
• Any standard Android package can be installed
• Digi adds BSP and low-level drivers
• Development environment based on Eclipse
• Graphical libraries included
• Examples applications included in the kit
Page 27
Digi Windows Embedded
• Microsoft OS, 32-bit
• Digi adds BSP and low-level drivers
• Royalties to be paid to Microsoft (nothing to Digi!)
• Allows creating applications with standard drivers
• Modular, component-based OS
• Development on Microsoft tools using Platform Builder / Visual Studio
• Support of native and managed code (C and .NET)
• Regional and Localization functions for 14 languages
• Very familiar look and feel!!!
• Graphical libraries included
• Examples applications included in the kit
Examples of Applications
Security / Surveillance Example Application
Key Applications Transportation
Target Applications - Parking Systems - Asset Management - Railway Connectivity - Precision Ag
Digi Focus Products - ConnectCore for i.MX51/i.MX53 - ConnectCard for i.MX28
Digi Key Success Factors - Wireless (802.11a/b/g/n) connectivity options - Extended operating temperature - Reliability testing and warranty - Customization services (conformal coating) - iDigi Device Cloud
Page 29
Medical / Healthcare Critical Care Beds
Customer
USA
Vertical
Medical/Healthcare
Application
Critical Care Beds
Product
ConnectCore Wi-i.MX51
Why Digi?
Long-term product availability
Process and quality controls
Module product roadmap (i.MX53, i.MX6x)
Microsoft Windows Embedded CE
Spectrum Design Services support
Volume
25k units
i.MX53
Precision Ag Equipment Guidance System
Customer
USA, Germany
Vertical
Precision Ag
Application
Farm Equipment Guidance System
Product
ConnectCore Wi-i.MX51
ConnectCore Wi-i.MX53
Why Digi?
Quick time-to-market
Integrated Wi-Fi connectivity
Processing power
Display capabilities, camera interface
IEC reliability testing
Digi Embedded Linux / Windows Embedded CE
Volume
5k/year each
i.MX51
LINUX
i.MX53 iDigi
Customer
USA
Vertical
Fitness/Wellness
Application
Fitness Equipment
Product
ConnectCore Wi-i.MX53
Why Digi?
Long-term product availability
802.11abgn Wi-Fi integration
Android platform support
Dual-display and video/audio support
Spectrum Design Services
Volume
10k+/year
Fitness / Wellness Fitness Equipment
i.MX53 iDigi
Transportation / Warehousing Mobile Terminal
Customer
Germany
Vertical
Transportation / Warehousing
Application
Mobile Terminal
Product
ConnectCore Wi-i.MX53
Why Digi?
Long-term product availability
Low power, high performance
On-module PMIC integration
Android 2.3 platform support
802.11abgn Wi-Fi integration
Volume
4-5k/year
i.MX53