Single Board Computers

Single Board Computers (SBCs) are standard, off-the-shelf computer boards that come in various industry conforming form factors. They can deliver customized features for the total solution when integrated with expansion boards ranging in type from PC/104, PC/104-plus and PCI-104 just to name a few.

Advantages of SBCs

SBCs are designed to work right out-of-the-box, thus optimizing development time so the final application can achieve an extremely quick time to market. Kontron SBCs are highly integrated with all key system interfaces and functionalities already designed in to the board. This means that only application-specific I/O needs to be integrated for the complete solution. This is made easy with standard accessories and contributes to the ultimate in fast system set-up – no specialized R&D knowledge and development time required. Just plug and go!

Kontron's SBC Computer Families

Kontron offers four main families of small form factor single board computers. These include the MOPS family of PC/104 processor boards, the JRex/JRexplus family of 3.5-inch SBCs, e-Panel-PM family SBC and the brand new Pico-ITX family of 2.5” SBC based on Intel Atom CPU. The members of the MOPS family are PC/104-plus processor boards, and are fully compliant with the standard defined by the PC/104 Consortium. JRex and JRexplus 3.5-inch SBCs support extension interfaces including JFLEX cost-effective I/O expansions or PCI-104 compliant expansion boards. Last but not least Kontron's ePanel family represents the full-featured low profile SBCs.

Embedded SBC	PC/104 SBC	PISA® SBC
pITX 2.5" SBC	PC/104 CPU Module	coolMONSTER/PM
JRex 3.5" SBC	PC/104 I/O Modules	PISA®-2

3.5" SBCs: JRex / JRexplus

From AMD-LX800 up to Intel® Atom™
Chassis re-use
Full featured
Expansion via JFLEX or PCI-104 I/O

The Kontron JRex/JRexplus family of 3.5-inch SBCs delivers computing performance suited to fit a wide range of embedded single board computer applications from diagnostics tools to box PC control systems. These highly integrated SBCs make designing simple with family consistent features including expandable system memory SDRAM sockets, onboard connectors for up to 6 USB 2.0 devices, single and dual Gigabit Ethernet offerings, integrated graphics and audio capabilities, system monitoring, and much more. And with all standard accessories available right away there's no need to worry about moving from in-lab platform evaluation to full design production. Try a JRex or a JRexplus 3.5-inch SBC today and kick start your embedded design.

2.5” SBCs according to PICO-ITX-Standard

Smallest available SBC Form Factor 10 x 7.2 cm
With Intel® Atom™ Z5xx processor with up to 1.6 GHz
Intel System Controller Hub US15W
Low power consumption with latest energy saving 45nm technology

With the Pico-ITX form factor, Kontron now supports a new definition of small (100 x 72 mm), powerful and very cost effective SBCs. The pITX-SP, Kontron’s first SBC based on this specification, features the Intel® ATOM™ Z510 / Z530 processor and US15W System Controller Hub, together with multiple I/O options.

ePanel SBCs

Low profile
Pentium M performance
Flexible housing by adapter solution for front I/Os
Touch controller , CF-CARD & PCMCIA socket onboard
Wide range power supply (8-28V)
Smart battery support

If you need a real low profile single board computer to be mounted directly behind the Flatpanel, the Kontron ePanel SBC is the fit for you. The ePanel is a complete, ultra-low-profile assembled SBC with a very low height and a very low power consumption. A wide range of software is available for this proven slim-line x86 platform and it also offers a wide variety of interfaces.

MOPS PC/104 SBCs

From AMD SC520 up to Intel® Pentium® M

Full featured
Mainly Passive cooling
Low power
All boards are fully compliant to the standards of the PC/104 Consortium

When the embedded solution calls for a proven and reliable PC/104 SBC solution, the Kontron family of MOPS PC/104 CPU boards is the answer. These small form factor single board computers have been delivering the low-cost, highly-integrated, trusted design solution for over a decade and they continue to do just that. MOPS SBCs not only deliver performance ranging from the low-power AMD Elan SC520 up to the Intel® Pentium® M processor, they also consistently serve solutions with the family- features needed from generation to ces that makes it an ideal base to develop a mobile PC for industrial applications. generation. These include connectors in the same locations from board to board and core integrated features such as graphics and I/O support always on board. For those who are just getting started developing with the Kontron MOPS family of boards, several starter kits are available complete with all needed cables, power supply and drives to get you running right out of the box.

Product/Solution Catalogs

Kontron Portfolio Overview 2009
Quick snap-shot of Kontron's product portfolio.

SBC Overview 2008

Unmanned Avionic Surveillance

SBCS Unmanned Avionic Surveillance Kontron and Florida-based Imperx, a market leader in mobile imaging, have come out with a new proven platform for the imaging industries, also used in Unmanned Avionic Vehicles. Based on Kontron’s 3.5" CPU board JRex-PM with an Intel® Pentium® M processor and the Imperx FrameLink- JFLEX™ card, this ready-to-use bundle can be installed by providers of image analysis solutions as well as OEMs and systems integrators in machines and systems. The extremely robust and reliable bundle is currently being used in US Navy Unmanned Avionic Vehicles (UAV) purposes and other governmental entities for surveillance and homeland security purposes.

Additional Information:
JRex Products

Expandable and Flexible Train Management System with Remote I/O

Single Board Computer Train System Application For their new generation of rail cars, CFD has decided to equip their new trains with a fully electronic command control instead relays or industrial PLC. Electronic equipment include the TMS (Train Management System), the Human-Machine Interface and Remote I/O. The proposed solution is an open and flexible platform allowing for example the realisation of passenger information system tightly coupled with a local system according the geographical specialties of this specific region. Based on open standards like VME for the hardware and ISaGRAF (IEC61131-3 open to C language) for the software tools, the system offers to the OEM all the resources needed for the development of sequential (hvacs, lights…) or communication (intercabs, traction…) algorithms.

Additional Information:
VME Products
HMI/PanelPC/Micro Products

Mobile Monitoring

Single Board Computer Mobile Monitoring Kit Take a look at this fun design with JRex. Our application is an important part in the "preventive management". We provide with our MOMOKI (Mobile Monitoring Kit) a solution to survey all the conditions you are interessted in like Temperature, Current, Voltage, movement alarm unit and access control. We are sure you will have some more creative designs for us as well.

Additonal Information:
JRex Products

Retina-Scanning for Animals

SBCS Livestock Identification Systems With the JRex-CPU and JFLEX extension cards, Kontron AG has begun a standardization initiative for 3.5inch Single Board Computers (SBCs). The American company Optibrand uses the JRex boards in their livestock identification systems, whose core is a rugged handheld-computer running on a JRex-Board with one JFLEX communications extension card and a camera for retina-scanning. Several thousand of these rugged, fanless IPCs are already in use.

Additional Information:
English Articles
German Articles
JRex Products

Motion Controllers for NC Machines and Robots

SBCS Motion Controllers ACD Antriebs- technik, part of the ACD Group based in Achstetten, Germany, which employs 300 people, uses JRex single-board computers from Kontron AG in their motion controllers. The company relies on the open 3.5 inch board standard to offer an integrated, finely-tuned range of products. With a large choice of processors on otherwise physically identical mini-SBCs, the JRex family is ideal for their design.

Additional Information:
German Article
J-Rex Products

Single Board Computers