Stutensee, Germany – The powerful COM Express™ platform MSC CXC-US15WP from MSC Vertriebs GmbH is designed for an extended temperature range of -40°C to +85°C. The board uses only components, which are qualified for the low and high temperatures. Furthermore, the design of the platform was adapted to the extended conditions.

Based on the Menlow XL platform, the standardized Computer-on-Modules MSC CXC-US15WP are available in two extended temperature versions; with the power-saving Intel® Atom™processor Z510PT or Z520PT, clocked at a maximum of 1.33 GHz. In addition to the Intel® System Controller Hub US15WPT containing the Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 500, the board comes with up to 2 GB of DDR2 SDRAM. Since the packages of the Intel® components that are designed for the extended temperature range are considerably larger than the commercial temperature component packages, the innovative CPU modules are implemented in the Compact COM Express™ form factor with dimensions of 95 mm x 95 mm. MSC supplies a passive heat sink and a heat spreader for the embedded modules.

The COM Express™ platform MSC CXC-US15WP is particularly suitable for use in visualization and HMI applications in the extended temperature range where not computing power, but rather low power dissipation and ruggedness are the main priorities. Target markets are the areas of transportation and automotive, industrial automation and medical technology.

In addition to compact MSC CXC-US15WP modules for the extended temperature range, MSC also has two modules with Intel® Atom™ Z530P and Z510P for the standard temperature range in its product portfolio. MSC positions these modules as cost-effective x86 COM Express^TM entry-level products and thus ideally complements its more powerful platforms like the MSC CXB-A945M.

Besides 18/24-bit LVDS with up to 1366 x 768 pixel and SDVO with maximum 1920 x 1080 pixel, the comprehensive range of interfaces of the MSC CXC-US15WP platform includes two PCI Express™ x1, a PCI and a LPC interface. In addition, High Definition Audio, 8 x USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet and an Enhanced IDE port are provided.

Die MSC CXC-US15WP platform offers flexible boot possibilities, for example, by an optional integrated flash disk or by a Micro SD card connected via an on-board Micro SDIO slot.

For evaluation and design-in of its COM Express™ platform MSC offers evaluation baseboards with PC-type connectors. The CPU modules run under the operating systems Windows® XP (embedded) and Linux. Special starter kits for Linux are available on request.

MSC Vertriebs GmbH

MSC Vertriebs GmbH is a European-wide service company in the field of electronic components, board-level products, and customer specific development of industrial hardware. Founded in 1982, the MSC Vertriebs GmbH operates today as a pan-European distributor and manufacturer in a consolidated company with over 1600 employees.

Products requiring intensive technical support, such as COM Express^TM, ETX® components, EXM 32, Qseven^TM and microcontrollers & tools, programmable logic & tools, ASICs, industrial motherboards, power and linear products, displays, optoelectronics, as well as memory modules are our specialty and make MSC one of the leading companies for high-tech solutions.

MSC distinguishes itself distinctly from its competitors with its competent applications and development engineers, as well as its design capacity for hardware, ASICs, and BIOS. The regional location to its suppliers and the consistent approach toward new technologies guarantee a high level of competency for its customers.

Intel and Intel Atom are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the US and other countries.

MILPITAS, CA – January 21, 2010 – Linear Technology Corporation announces the LT3640, a dual channel, current mode step-down switching regulator with a power-on reset and watchdog timer. Its 4V to 35V input voltage range with 55V transient ride through makes it ideal for load dump and cold crank conditions commonly found in automotive applications. The LT3640 uses a unique dual channel design with a high input voltage (4VIN to 35VIN, 55VIN transient) nonsynchronous channel that delivers 1.1A of output current, combined with a lower input voltage (2.5VIN to 5.5VIN) synchronous channel that provides up to 0.9A of continuous output current. Although the part allows separate inputs for each channel, most applications will use the output of the high voltage channel to power the lower voltage channel, offering dual outputs while optimizing efficiency and switching frequency. For example, using a nominal 12V input and a 2MHz switching frequency, the LT3640 can deliver a 3.3V output at 600mA with 85% efficiency via its high voltage channel and a 1.8V output at 800mA with 87% secondary conversion efficiency via its lower voltage channel.

The integrated microprocessor supervisor functions support high reliability applications such as automotive electronic control units. The LT3640 includes one power-on reset timer for each channel and one common watchdog timer. The reset and watchdog timeout periods are independently adjustable using external capacitors. Tight accuracy specifications and glitch immunity ensure reliable reset operation of a system without false triggering. The LT3640 implements a windowed watchdog timer monitoring falling edges at its watchdog input pin that are grouped too close together or too far apart.

The LT3640’s switching frequency is user programmable from 350kHz to 2.5MHz, enabling the designer to optimize efficiency while avoiding critical noise-sensitive frequency bands. Similarly, its low minimum on-time enables it to offer high switching frequencies even with high step-down ratios. For example, with an input as high as 16V, the LT3640 can deliver a 3.3V output using a 2MHz switching frequency, allowing it to avoid critical frequency bands, such as AM radio while minimizing the size of external components. The LT3640 can deliver output voltages as low as 1.26V on its high voltage channel and down to 0.6V on its low voltage channel, enabling it to power the latest generation of microprocessors. Its low ripple Burst Mode® operation reduces quiescent current to only 350µA with less than 15mVPK-PK of output ripple, making it well suited for applications such as automotive or telecom systems that demand always-on operation and optimum battery life. The LT3640’s 4mm x 5mm QFN-28 (or TSSOP-28) package and high switching frequency ensure small external inductors and capacitors, providing a compact, thermally efficient footprint.

The LT3640EUFD and LT3640EFE pricing starts at $3.50 and $3.65 each, respectively in 1,000 piece quantities. The LT3640IUFD and LT3640IFE is tested and guaranteed to operate from a -40ºC to 125ºC operating junction temperature and is priced at $3.89 and $4.06 each, respectively in 1,000 piece quantities. All versions are available from stock. For more information, visit www.linear.com.

Summary of Features: LT3640

• High Voltage Buck Regulator:
  • 4V to 35V Operating, OVLO Protects Input to 55V
  • 1.1A Output Current
• Low Voltage Synchronous Buck Regulator:
  • 2.5V to 5.5V Input Voltage Range
  • 0.9A Output Current
• 16VIN to 3.3VOUT Conversion at 2MHz
• Synchronizable, Adjustable 350kHz to 2.5MHz
• Switching Frequency
• Programmable Power-On Reset Timer
• Programmable Window Mode Watchdog Timer
• Low Ripple (15mVPK-PK) Burst Mode Operation, Quiescent Current= 350µA
• Short-Circuit Robust
• Programmable Soft-Start
• Low Shutdown Current: IQ < 1µA
• Available in Thermally Enhanced 28-Lead (4mm × 5mm) QFN & 28-Lead TSSOP Packages

About Linear Technology

Linear Technology Corporation, a manufacturer of high performance linear integrated circuits, was founded in 1981, became a public company in 1986 and joined the S&P 500 index of major public companies in 2000. Linear Technology products include high performance amplifiers, comparators, voltage references, monolithic filters, linear regulators, DC-DC converters, battery chargers, data converters, communications interface circuits, RF signal conditioning circuits, µModule® products, and many other analog functions. Applications for Linear Technology’s high performance circuits include telecommunications, cellular telephones, networking products such as optical switches, notebook and desktop computers, computer peripherals, video/multimedia, industrial instrumentation, security monitoring devices, high-end consumer products such as digital cameras and MP3 players, complex medical devices, automotive electronics, factory automation, process control, and military and space systems.