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Chapter 2
2.2
MOPS Family
MOPS (Minimized Open PC System) PC/104 products represent the "Proven PC Platform for Instant Solu-
tions." Each MOPS module is characterized by the same pinout for the keyboard, COM1 and COM2, 44-pin
st
IDE, LPT, and 1
LAN. These homogeneous features facilitate easy upgrades within the Kontron Embedded
Modules GmbH MOPS PC/104 product family.
Whenever a LCD panel is required, MOPS products with onboard graphics controllers serve as the right
choice. Display connections are simplified when using these units, which come with a JUMPtec Intelligent
LVDS Interface (JILI) interface. The interface can recognize which display is connected and then inde-
pendently set all video parameters. This interface is not available on all MOPS products. All MOPS PC/104
are plug-and-work enabled to further reduce time-to-market.
As part of the standard features package, all MOPS PC/104 modules come with a JUMPtec Intelligent Device
Architecture (JIDA) interface, which is integrated into the BIOS of the PC/104 modules. This interface
enables hardware independent access to the MOPS PC/104 features that cannot be accessed via standard
APIs. Functions such as watchdog timer, brightness of LCD backlight and user bytes in the EEPROM can be
configured with ease by taking advantage of this standard MOPS PC/104 module feature.
All MOPS PC/104 products can be controlled remotely by using JRC software through a serial port. The
software allows you to change, update and maintain the MOPS products from a host computer via a serial
connection.
2.3
PC/104 an Embedded PC Standard
By standardizing hardware and software around the broadly supported PC architecture, embedded system
designers can substantially reduce development costs, risks and time-to-market.
For these reasons, companies that embed microcomputers as controllers within their products seek ways to
reap the benefits of using the PC architecture. However, the standard form factor of a PC bus (12.4" x 4.8")
and its associated card cages and backplanes are too bulky and expensive for most embedded control appli-
cations.
The only practical way to embed the PC architecture in space and power sensitive applications has been to
design a PC chip by chip directly into the product. But this runs counter to growing trend away from
"reinventing the wheel." Whenever possible, management encourages outsourcing of components and
technologies to reduce development costs and accelerate product design cycles.
A need has arisen for a more compact implementation of the PC bus, satisfying the reduced space and power
constraints of embedded control applications. PC/104 was developed in response to this need. It offers full
architecture, hardware and software compatibility with the PC bus but in ultra-compact (3.6" x 3.8")
stackable modules. PC/104 is ideally suited to the unique requirements of embedded control applications.
Although configuration and application possibilities with PC/104 modules are practically limitless, there are
two ways to use them in embedded system designs:
Standalone module stacks
®
PC/104 modules are self-stacking. The modules are used like ultra-compact bus boards
but do not need backplanes or card cages.
Component line applications
®
In this configuration, the modules function as highly integrated components, plugged
into custom carrier boards that contain application specific interfaces and logic.
Kontron User's Guide MOPSlcdLX
4
Introduction
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