RS Components launches Embedded Development Platform

The electronics design engineer is continuously upgrading equipment to keep up with the latest developments, a complex and expensive business. With investments made in the latest microcontrollers and their supporting devices, the old development boards are laid to rest. The whole process costs the engineer time, interfacing the new software and hardware products to existing application circuits, time that could be spent inventing. The EDP removes the need to invest in individual development boards.

The baseboard is an extended euro card size measuring 220mm x 100mm. Fitted with rubber feet for laying flat on the bench it can also be used in a standard rack system. By adding a 64-way DIN connector, such as the RS 381-8696 (not part of the EDP package), you can plug the EDP into a backplane. The EDP is also fitted with +3.3V and +5V regulators, a back-up battery, RJ45 Ethernet and mini-USB connectors, +12VDC power-supply jack, I/O breakout header and eight DIP switches ported onto the system I²C bus.

The minimum configuration of the baseboard consists of four stations with a single plug-in processor module, as standard. The baseboard currently supports the Infineon XC167 and ST Microeletronics STR912 processors, with others to be added on a regular basis. All four stations are identical, with various CPU and application module permutations possible. Even the minimum configuration allows the engineer to easily operate a web-server via a standard onboard Ethernet connection.

Various application modules are available including an initial starter kit range consisting of basic digital and analogue I/O, a motor control module and a communications module. RS has plans to launch many more modules as the EDP becomes a standard tool among engineers. The more advanced user will also discover the baseboard has the ability to run more than one processor module in a master and slave configuration.

A CD is supplied with the baseboard, and each module contains full schematics, Gerber files and a Bill-of-Materials. RS supplies these on an ‘Open-Source’ basis so that engineers can develop their own boards for their own use and not for resale. The CD also contains all the necessary software drivers, and in the case of processor modules, appropriate Windows-based development tools.

The DIP switches allow the user software, running on a processor module, to read a configuration setting enabling I/O ports to be setup correctly. Depending on the capability of the particular processor module, up to three I²C buses and two CAN networks are available. Many of the application modules use an I²C bus for primary communication with the processor providing maximum flexibility. Some processor chips will require +5VDC, others +3.3VDC. A factory link on the module selects the correct supply from the connector. This supply is linked to a further connector pin on all the other module stations providing a correct voltage reference or bus pull-up for the application modules. There is also duplication of an analogue input unit, for larger inputs.

The EDP is designed for use with new CPU and application modules which will be introduced on a regular basis. Its robust design has been rigorously tested, and every effort has been made at the design stage to protect the EDP from the most common human errors. The baseboard has been produced to have a significantly longer life than the average development board.

The EDP is an attractive option for design engineers looking for a cost effective solution, reducing time to market and it is hoped the benefits and potential of the EDP will be recognised quickly. “The RS Embedded Development Platform further increases our commitment to support Electronic design engineers by significantly reducing the technical barrier for engineers looking to integrate new technology into applications” said Richard Eden, Market Development manager for Electronics at RS.