For the development of innovative, next-generation artificial intelligence (AI)-based vision systems, Avnet Integrated has introduced a family of powerful SMARC dos.1™ modules that integrate an NXP™ i.MX 8M Plus application processor . And for rapid development of high-performance end products, the SimpleFlex HMI Kit is available, which includes a configurable SimpleFlex carrier card and a SimplePlus display.
EBV Elektronik engineers have in-depth knowledge of its peculiarities and functionalities to provide the best support to service customers in cooperation with Avnet Integrated specialists.
Innovative embedded vision solutions combine modern edge or cloud-based computing technologies with the advantages of artificial intelligence (AI). By using deep and machine learning (ML) technologies, analytics can be continuously prospered with a sufficiently large amount of data and with the help of neural networks. In many edge computing applications, AI-based functions are already running directly on-premises rather than in the cloud.
SMARC dos.1™ modules based on NXP i.MX 8M Plus
The fields of application for intelligent machine vision solutions are vastly different, encompassing intelligent HMI terminals, industrial IoT applications, motion control and recognition systems for access management. Other examples include professional multimedia systems, POS/PIOI, home or building automation projects, security systems, and medical monitoring solutions.
Modern embedded vision systems can be developed quickly and cheaply by being based on standard solutions using high-performance processor modules. A previous requirement is in the combination of computing, graphics and video performance with the low thermal design power (TDP), which only the latest processor or module technologies can provide.
EBV Elektronik offers Avnet Integrated's extensive portfolio of SMARC 1 modules in various performance classes for the development of high-end vision systems. Also available is the configurable SimpleFlex HMI kit, which consists of a SimpleFlex carrier card and a SimplePlus display. The ready-to-use HMI solution supports a fast close-to-production proof of concept to the user application, since the prototype already largely corresponds to the target hardware. With this, the system design can be tested and tailored depending on the application in each and every early phase of system development. Thanks to its slim and streamlined 3.5” form factor (XNUMX x XNUMXmm), the SimpleFlex platform can often be installed and tested directly on the end device.
Avnet Integrated's SM2S-IMX8PLUS SMARC dos.1™ family of MSC modules is characterized by its high computing power with a low power consumption of seven W. The cards integrate the new i.MX 8M Plus application processor from NXP™ Semiconductors. Engineering samples of the SM2S-IMX8PLUS modules are now available via EBV Elektronik, with the first NXP™ pre-production SoCs. These engineering samples help customers of the service initiate development of future products based on this module and quickly bring them to market. In addition to this, the general arrival of samples of the i.MX 8M Plus application processor is already underway.
“We have cooperated with NXP as a fast access partner for the new i.MX 8M Plus application processor,” says Jens Plachetka, Manager Board Platforms at Avnet Integrated. “Benefiting from many decades of leadership in the design and production of high-end industrial computing solutions, we have been able to design the first prototype modules in a very short period of time and can already provide samples to our service customers to support the development of the next generation of innovative products based on AI”.
The scalable SM2S-IMX8PLUS SMARC dos.1™ family of MSC modules can be equipped with different i.MX 8M Plus 2 or 4 core NXP™ application processors. These processors are based on the 53 nm FinFET LPC process technology and have a power consumption of 7 to 2 W, depending on the version. The modules integrate dual-core or quad-core ARM® Cortex-A3 processors running at a maximum of 7000 GHz, the 4 MHz Arm® Cortex-MXNUMX real-time processor and graphics processing unit (GPU) Efficient XNUMXD/XNUMXD multimedia GCXNUMXUL with OpenCl™ and Vulkan® support. Variations are available with and without video processing unit (VPU), machine learning accelerator (NPU) or image signal processor (ISP). In addition to this, it is possible to have up to XNUMX GB of fast LPDDRXNUMX SDRAM with ECC support and up to XNUMX GB of eMMC Flash memory (optional) for programming and data storage.
The extensive number of embedded interfaces includes USB 0, USB 2, 2 CAN-FD ports, and XNUMX Gigabit Ethernet connections, supporting IEEE XNUMX. One of these Ethernet connections is also compatible with Time Sensitive Networks (TSN). The TSN specification improves data transmission over standard Ethernet networks by adding new functionality that supports secure, real-time transfer with low latency and high availability. This enables deterministic communication to reliably monitor different machines and network large systems.
Embedded cards are available with single or dual channel LVDS, MIPI DSI, and HDMI 2 interfaces. High-resolution camera modules can be connected via 0 MIPI CSI-dos interfaces. Optionally, the MSC SM2S-IMX2PLUS cards can be provided with a wireless module (WLAN/BT).
The MIPI Display Serial Interface (MIPI DSI) is the most widely used display interface in the mobile phone and tablet industry and is increasingly used in embedded systems. Therefore, this interface is already supported in multiple Avnet Integrated SMARC modules. The MIPI DSI specification was defined globally by the Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI®) Alliance. The MIPI Alliance Member Directory includes almost all manufacturers and distributors of consumer electronics and mobile communication system solutions.
Using fewer wire counts than Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) and being more efficient, the MIPI DSI interface is capable of handling very high-speed signals to support ultra-high resolution and premium performance displays, from full HD up to 4K and beyond. In addition to this, by employing the principle of serial communications and operating with a simplified pin count, MIPI DSI benefits from a significant reduction in electrical noise generated on the bus. However, integrating the new MIPI DSI displays into industrial applications always requires the presence of uniquely fitted adapter cards and initialization of the displays. So, for a quick start, AVNET Integrated has added new high-resolution MIPI DSI displays from manufacturer BOE to its SimplePlus product offering. This means that the displays can be directly connected to the new SMARC module with i.MX 8M Plus on the SimpleFlex motherboard without requiring any extra development effort.
The MSC SM2S-IMX8PLUS SMARC dos.1™ family of robust modules, with dimensions of eighty-two x fifty mm (short-size form factor), is specified to perform in the industrial temperature range of -85 to +XNUMX ° c.
With the MSC SM2S-IMX8PLUS modules, EBV Elektronik and AVNET Integrated are expanding their portfolio of small footprint SMARC dos.1™ standard modules based on the powerful i.MX 2 d NXP™ application processors. In addition to the MSC SM8S-IMX2PLUS units, the high-end MSC SM8S-IMX2 family, the MSC SM8S-IMX2M models, and the more affordable MSC SM8S-IMX2MINI and MSC SM8S-IMXXNUMXNANO versions are also available.
EBV Elektronik, as well as Avnet Integrated specialists, offers support in the development of powerful vision systems and provides the ready-to-use SimpleFlex HMI kit. A basic component is Avnet Integrated's SM2S-MB-EP5 SimpleFlex MSC carrier card that can be outfitted with either an x1- or ARM-based SMARC dos.86™ module. According to the application requirements, the embedded platform interfaces can be easily configured without development effort. For this purpose, you can select from more than thirty pre-tested interface combinations. In addition to the 2 fully equipped versions, there are platforms available with optimized minimum configurations.
The MSC SM2S-MB-EP5 configurable SimpleFlex carrier card is identified by numerous standard interfaces such as 2 Gigabit Ethernet, USB 0, USB 4, 2 UART, audio, MIPI-CSI, GPIO, SPI, I²C and 2 CAN ports. The displays can be optionally managed via LVDS, eDP or MIPI-DSI. Sockets for Mini PCI Express™, M.XNUMX Key M and Micro-SD can be used when expanding the wide variety of interfaces and memory diversity with fast storage media. An optional WLAN/Bluetooth/NFC module with antenna also ensures connectivity of the embedded platform.
The HMI SimpleFlex HMI Kit can be combined with AVNET Embedded's SimplePlus Display Kit with or without touch technology. Whereas, the extensive offering of SimplePlus display kits today includes 12.1, 5, 10.1, and XNUMX” TFT WVGA displays, each with PCAP touch technology and associated supervisor with USB connection, XNUMX” displays. and XNUMX” from BOE with full HD resolution and new MIPI-DSI interfaces. Standardized cooling solutions such as heat spreaders and passive heat sinks, as well as the availability of convenient cable connections, make it easy to integrate new systems.
Jens Plachetka, Manager Board Platforms at Avnet Integrated, remarks that “we develop each and every one of the families of embedded modules with different formats in our Technology Campuses. The products are manufactured in large quantities in fully automated production centers in Germany. And because we also fit configurable SimpleFlex carrier cards and SimplePlus display kits at our facility, the desired SimpleFlex HMI kit is available within a very short period of time after starting the project.”
If you want more information, please contact your local EBV Elektronik specialist who will provide you with each and every one of the details and support you need in your project.
