By John McHale
SAN DIEGO, 19 March 2010.Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) modules from Kontron in San Diego -- microETXexpress and ETXexpress-AI -- are used in electronic flight bag applications.
EFBs are small computing platforms that require a unique modular form factor that can be easily upgraded, says David French, director of military and aerospace sales west at Kontron. French says he expects the product lines to flourish in this market as the economy turns around and aircraft operators star installing more EFBs.
For more on electronic flight bags (EFBs), see feature entitled Future is looking brighter for electronic flight bags (EFBs).
Kontron's modules are compatible with Class 1, 2, and 3 EFBs, he says. Class 2 EFBs are going into many retrofit applications, French adds.
The modules are designed to the Computer-on-Module form factor open standard --- COM.0 specification –maintained by PICMG, and follow the Type 2 pin-out, according to a Kontron data sheet. The plug design and pin-out are identical, only the module's size has been reduced to a compact 95 x 95 mm footprint. The available PCI Express lanes depend on the board design. The microETXexpress design also offers PCI Express or PCI support.
The ETXexpress-AI module uses 32 nm Intel Core i7 / Core i5 processor technology and has wide graphics support, customizable PCI Express configuration, and ECC dual channel RAM to ensure data accuracy, according to a Kontron data sheet.
For more information contact Kontron online at www.kontron.com.
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