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  • Author Author: lbittner
  • Date Created: Date Created
  • Views 9986 views
  • Likes 7 likes
  • Comments 25 comments
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Introducing the NEW Raspberry Pi Compute Module

lbittner

Designing in the Future: Raspberry Pi Compute Module Development Kit

 

Coming Summer 2014!

 

The new Raspberry Pi Compute Development Kit enables design engineers

to harness the power of the Raspberry Pi for embedded applications.

 



image

  • Small and Powerful. SODIMM sized (6.5cm by 3cm) Raspberry Pi board contains the BCM2835 chip with 512MB RAM with an on board 4GB eMMC Flash memory for booting the OS.
  • Flexible and Rapid Prototype Development. A fully functional IO board is part of the development kit which supports an extensive GPIO and multiple connectors to help foster rapid prototype development with access to all of the BCM2835 functionality.
  • Custom Hardware and Software Solutions. Benefit from fully functional Linux server running on your ‘design-in’ hardware solution. This unique combination of services will help define the next generation of the ‘Internet of Things’


Compute Module Development Kit Technical Specifications:


Compute Module:

  • SODIMM sized 6.5cm by 3cm board
  • BCM2835 chip with 512MB RAM
  • On board 4GB eMMC Flash memor
  • 200 pin edge connector


IO board:

  • Multiple GPIO interfaces
  • 1 x micro USB connector type B
  • 1 x USB connector type A
  • 2 x CSI ports for camera boards
  • 2 x DSI ports for display boards
  • Full size HDMI port


Harness the power of the Raspberry Pi for your embedded applications!

 

Request Consultation...

Complete this form and one of our Design Representatives will call you to discuss your embedded design.

 

 

See schematics for:

Compute Module

Io Board

  • in reply to e14 Contributor

    well keep us posted on your progress, I am very interested to see how it goes

     

    Thanks

     

    Peter

  • in reply to Robert Peter Oakes

    My thoughts exactly on the excessive current; this will have to be the way I go.

     

    The application is a load balancer and charge controller, near a bank of Lead Acid batteries; moderate spark risk.

     

    I could use solid-state relays as safety-interlocks. It only needs to keep devices like a router powered overnight, so I would like to distribute the load across 20-30 batteries, 3 at a time. I am now thinking, it is better not to share any power rail with a processor and a relay board, even if it is solid state.

     

    The aim is to execute, log and tune to obtain the most efficient charge / discharge patterns. Once I have those patterns, I will put a more appropriate Arduino cluster in its place.

     

     

    For those who believe solar power has a poor return on investment, you may be right. My aim is to prove the returns are worthwhile, if you focus on your stand-by appliances only. Forget the fridge, and set aside the big screen television. Focus on the $20 per year wall-warts that add up to over $100 per year.

  • in reply to e14 Contributor

    My Suggestion there would be to eliminate the USB connector completely (Un Solder it if necessary) and hard wire in a cable to the power adapter or if you placing the device into a case of some sort then put the barrel style connector onto the case.

     

    Even the 5V pin on the header is a potential spark risk or heat if excessive current is passed through, it would also be susceptible to vibration depending on the application.

     

    So if this is to be used in a hazardous environment or a safety issue then take the extra steps to remove the problem. Its not like data is passed through that connector anyway and I have shown it is not easy to get a decent cable either. BTW, if your adding USB devices to the PI as well then a HUB maybe a better solution for those if the draw is excessive. Of course a lot of the issues would be mitigated should you choose to hard wire to the PSU or a more rugged connector

  • in reply to Robert Peter Oakes

    Thanks for your article.

     

    The physical strength of the connector is an issue, especially while it protrudes from the board. If TP1 bypasses only one fuse, this should not be too difficult to work around.

     

    just one more thing,

     

    5.3.2            With Power Applied Contacts (1 and 5)

    1.8A for contacts 1 and 5 and at the same time 0.5A for contacts 2, 3 & 4, minimum when measured at an ambient temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. With power applied to the contacts, the delta temperature must not exceed +30degrees Celsius at any point in the USB connector under test.

    The standard for USB 3.0 does allow for 5A; but, I have yet to confirm for myself if this applies to the full size B connector only. A compliance test only calls for 1.8A load on the test connector. The model B Pi manual says, expect up to 1.5A bursts under CPU load without peripherals attached. Now I can see this new backplane + SODIMM Pi uses substantially less current. Yes, it is only supposed to be a prototyping board, and yes, attached peripherals are supposed to be powered separately; but, I've never seen a circuit allowing 5v @ 5A over cores as fine as the pins on the Micro USB connector. As you know, I am accountable if the connector were to arc, and liable if I create a fire hazard.


    Here, I am just trying not to make a habit of horrible assumptions, in future if I do design my own back plane; that is all  image

  • in reply to e14 Contributor

    This is not actually correct, there are many variances regarding the available power through the connector, part of this involves a negotiation phase to figure out the available power requirements

     

    Having said that, most of the available power modules have NO intelligence whatsoever and they will simply provide power up to their rates capacity, the data lines are not used. the rating of the micro USB connector is well documented

     

    see USB - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, as a power connector it allows up to 5A, as a Charger up to 1.5A

     

    the bigger issue always seems to be the quality of the cable (USB cables have all sizes of internal wires and are not always advertised ) or the actual power brick itself

    see this article for more info I have provided to the community Raspberry PI:- USB power cables, crashing and other problems, this covers off the cable potential issues