Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve already heard about the launch of the 3rd-generation Intel® Core™ processors (formerly codenamed “Ivy Bridge”). But do you know what these new chips can do for you? Before we answer that question, let’s review the basics: The new processors are the first to use Intel’s 22nm fabrication process, which provides up to 20% better performance in the same thermal envelope as the previous generation. The ...Read More

As the new 3rd-Generation Intel® Core™ (Ivy Bridge) architecture emerges, off-the-shelf module makers have announced a variety of new products to take advantage of the improved performance, I/O, and power efficiency for embedded systems. These new COTS products come at a time when industrial manufacturers are looking for faster and more efficient factory automation tools to increase production, lower costs, and beat the competition. Based on an innovative tri-gate transistor design a...Read More

With the arrival of the Intel® Atom™ processor N2000 and D2000 series (formerly codenamed “Cedar Trail”), developers have an intriguing new option for high-performance, low-power designs. The new parts are the first Intel® Atom™ processors to be fabricated in a 32 nm process, enabling significant improvements in power consumption along with the addition of major new features. Most notably, the graphics engine has been heavily upgraded, giving the new processo...Read More

Energy efficiency has become a key design requirement across a broad range of embedded markets – whether to stretch battery life in portable devices, to enable fanless designs in harsh environments, or to lower costs in communications infrastructure, to name just a few examples. At the same time, these markets are looking for ever-greater performance and features. To meet these conflicting requirements, OEMs need a hardware platform that combines low power with high performance.
...Read More

As competition grows, embedded designers must pack increased performance, real-time connectivity, and interactive graphics features into each new design while reducing power requirements to eliminate fans or extend battery life. Some of the latest specifications in critical applications such as healthcare also call for always-on, always-connected embedded devices to eliminate delays due to startup and data updates. The current generation of consumers that grew up with computers and smart phones...Read More

Retail, industrial, transportation, medical, and gaming are just a few of the industry segments that now deploy remote terminals, systems, and signage to speed information delivery, enhance user interaction, automate data exchange, and simplify purchases. For example, as travelers enter a typical airport environment they may find a touch-screen information display with on screen maps, transportation schedules, nationwide weather conditions, and local tourist information. Next, the traveler proc...Read More

As competition heats up among embedded system manufacturers, designers are adopting off-the-shelf Computer On Module(COM) technology to reduce risk, lower development cost, and shorten the time to market. These pre-engineered plug-in computer modules allow development teams to focus their design efforts on a carrier board to deliver the unique functions of the embedded product. Although these modules offer substantial advantages, there is a significant hardware and software learning curve requi...Read More