Ampro Corporation 420 - Manual (Page 11)

CoreModule 420 Reference Manual 5
Chapter 2 Product Overview
This introduction presents general information about the PC/104 architecture and the CoreModule 420
single board computer (SBC). After reading this chapter you should understand:
• PC/104 Concept
• CoreModule 420 architecture
• CoreModule 420 features
• Major components
• Connectors
• Specifications
PC/104 Architecture
The PC/104 architecture affords a great deal of flexibility in system design. You can build a simple
system using only a CoreModule single board computer (SBC), with input/output devices connected to
its serial or parallel ports, and a solid state disk on chip in the bytewide socket or a compact flash card in
the compact flash socket. To expand a simple CoreModule system, simply add self-stacking Ampro
MiniModules or 3
rd
party PC/104 expansion boards to provide additional capabilities, such as:
• Additional I/O ports (such as IEEE 1394 (FireWire)
• Analog or digital I/O interfaces
PC/104 expansion modules can be stacked with the CoreModule 420 avoiding the need for card cages
and backplanes. The PC/104 expansion modules can be mounted directly to the PC/104 bus connector
of the CoreModule 420. PC/104-compliant modules can be stacked with an inter-board spacing of
~0.66" (16.7 mm) so that a 3-module system fits in a 3.6" x 3.8" x 2.4" space. See Figure 2-1.
One or more MiniModule products or other PC/104 modules can be installed on the CoreModule
expansion connectors. When installed on the PC/104 headers, the expansion modules fit within the
CoreModule outline dimensions. Most MiniModule products have stack through connectors compatible
with the PC/104 Version 2.5 specification. Several modules can be stacked on the CoreModule headers.
Each additional module increases the thickness of the package by 0.60" (15 mm). See Figure 2-1.
PC/104 Module
CoreModule 420
PC/104 Module
Stackthrough
Expansion
Bus Headers
4-40 nut (4)
0.6 inch spacer (4)
0.6 inch spacer (4)
4-40 screw (4)
PC/104 Module
C
M
420st
ack
Figure 2-1. Stacking PC/104 Modules with the CoreModule 420