Ampro Corporation 700 manual Product Overview, Epic Architecture

Chapter 2 Product Overview

This introduction presents general information about the EPIC Architecture and the ReadyBoard 700 single board computer (SBC). After reading this chapter you should understand:

•EPIC Architecture

•ReadyBoard 700 architecture

•ReadyBoard 700 features

•Major components

•Connectors

•Specifications

EPIC Architecture

In 2004, five companies collaborated to publish a standard that fills the void between the EBX and the PC/104 size boards with a new industry standard form factor called “Embedded Platform for Industrial Computing (EPIC).” At 115mm x 165mm (4.5” x 6.5”), the EPIC standard principally defines physical size, mounting hole pattern, and CPU and I/O zone locations. It does not specify processor type or electrical characteristics. The standard recommends connector placement for serial/parallel, Ethernet, graphics, and memory expansion. This embedded SBC standard ensures that embedded system OEMs can standardize their designs and that full featured embedded computing solutions can be designed into even more space constrained environments than ever before.

The EPIC standard boasts the same highly flexible and adaptable system expansion as EBX and PC/104, allowing easy and modular addition of functions such as USB 2.0, Firewire or wireless networking not usually contained in standard product offerings. EPIC system expansion is based on the existing and popular PC/104 and PC/104-Plus standards. PC/104 places the ISA bus on compact 3.6” x 3.8” modules with self-stacking capability. PC/104-Plus adds the power of a PCI bus to PC/104 while retaining the basic form-factor. Using PC/104 expansion cards, an EPIC board can be easily adapted to meet a variety of embedded applications.

The EPIC standard also brings stability to the mid-sized embedded board market and offers OEMs assurance that a wide range of products will be available from multiple sources – now and in the future. The EPIC specification is freely available to all interested companies, and may be used without licenses or royalties. For further technical information on the EPIC standard, visit the web site at http://www.epic-sbc.org.See Figure 2-1.

screws (4)

0.6 inch spacers (4)

PC/104 Module

PC/104-Plus Module

RB700stackthruB

ISABus

Stackthrough

Headers

PCI Stackthrough
Headers	ReadyBoard 700 (EPIC-Compatible)
0.8 inch spacers (4)
nuts (4)

I/O Connectors

Figure 2-1. Stacking PC/104 Modules with the ReadyBoard 700

ReadyBoard 700 Reference Manual 5