Page 2
This reference manual is for the person who designs computer related equipment, including but not limited to hardware and software design and implementation of the same. Ampro Computers, Inc. assumes you are qualified in designing and implementing your hardware designs and its related software into your prototype computer equipment. Reference Manual CoreModule 420...
For latest revision of the PC/104 specifications, contact the PC/104 Consortium, at: Web site: http://www.pc104.org Chip Specifications The following chip specifications are used in the CoreModule 420 processor module: ® STMicroelectronics and the chip, STPC Atlas, used for the embedded CPU Web site: http://us.st.com/stonline/books/pdf/docs/7341.pdf...
420 QuickStart Kit simultaneously with the design of your product. CoreModule 420 Support Products CoreModule 420 QuickStart Kit (QSK) The CoreModule 420 QuickStart Kit includes the CoreModule 420 CPU, a complete cable kit, documentation, and drivers for any Ampro supported operating systems with unique devices used on the board.
Page 9
PCI bus, serial, parallel, PS/2 keyboard and mouse interfaces, 10/100BaseT Ethernet, and USB ports. Some EnCore modules also provide video and AC97 sound. Depending on the model, EnCore modules can hold between 16MB and 512MB of SODIMM SDRAM memory. CoreModule 420 Reference Manual...
Page 10
Chapter 1 About this Manual Reference Manual CoreModule 420...
The PC/104 architecture affords a great deal of flexibility in system design. You can build a simple system using only a CoreModule 420, with input/output devices connected to its serial or parallel ports, and a solid state disk drive or CompactFlash card in the respective bytewide socket, or CompactFlash socket.
The CoreModule 420 requires a single +5V power source. The CoreModule 420 SBC is particularly well suited to either embedded or portable applications. Its flexibility makes system design quick and easy. It can be stacked with Ampro MiniModules or other PC/104-compliant expansion, or it can be used as the computing engine in a fully customized application.
Page 13
Keyboard and PS/2 Mouse Interface Supports external battery for Real Time Clock operation Supports standard 8 speaker interface Supports a Reset switch USB Ports Supports one root USB hub Supports one USB port Supports USB v1.1 and Universal OHCI v1.1 CoreModule 420 Reference Manual...
Page 14
Supports 3.3V or 5V LCD panels; jumper selectable Video BIOS customization tools provided Miscellaneous Battery-backed real-time clock and CMOS RAM, with support for battery-free operation General Purpose I/O (GPIO) Oops! Jumper (BIOS Recovery) Serial Console (or Console Redirection) Watchdog Timer Reference Manual CoreModule 420...
Major Integrated Circuits (ICs) Table 2-1 lists the major integrated circuits, including a brief description of each, on the CoreModule 420 and Figure 2-3 shows the location of the major chips. Table 2-1. Major Integrated Circuit Descriptions and Function Chip Type Mfg.
Speed LED – This green LED is the LAN Speed indictor and indicates the Ethernet port (J2). transmit or receive speed of Green On – This indicates the operating speed is 100Mbps Green Off – This indicates the operating speed is 10Mbps. Reference Manual CoreModule 420...
0.000 0.000 -0.010 -0.200 Figure 2-7. Mechanical Dimensions (Top View) NOTE All dimensions are given in inches. Pin 1 is shown as a black square or black round pin in connectors and jumpers in all illustrations. Reference Manual CoreModule 420...
Product Overview NOTE The CoreModule 420 is in violation of the PC/104 height limitations in two places on the bottom of the board. The voltage regulator (U19) exceeds the allowed height limitation by 0.085 inches and the CompactFlash socket (J12) exceeds the height limitation by 0.2 inches.
The main integrated circuits (chips) used in the CoreModule 420 may provide more features or options than are listed for the CoreModule 420, but some of these features/options are not supported on the module and will not function as specified in the chip documentation.
Bytewide Socket (U5) The CoreModule 420 has a 32-pin DIP socket on the module used as a bytewide memory socket. This socket supports DiskOnChip devices. A memory device installed in the bytewide socket can be used for:...
Page 25
DiskOnChip, if CC000-CDFFF window selected. Unused if no DOC present. 000C C000 48kB Unused 000C 0000 128kB Unused, reserved for Video RAM, or in SMI mode, mapped to RAM 000A 0000 - 640kB Base memory 0000 0000 CoreModule 420 Reference Manual...
Page 27
Secondary IDE Command (PCI mode) F400-F40F Primary IDE Control (PCI mode) F800-F80F Primary IDE Command (PCI mode) Note: Configurable indicates the device’s base address can be configured and/or the device can be disabled, either through BIOS Setup or hardware jumpers. CoreModule 420 Reference Manual...
System Address 7 – Refer to SA19, pin A12, for more information. 25 (A25) System Address 6 – Refer to SA19, pin A12, for more information. 26 (A26) System Address 5 – Refer to SA19, pin A12, for more information. Reference Manual CoreModule 420...
Can also be used by the ISA bus master to gain control of the bus from the DMA controller. 48 (B16) DRQ3 DMA Request 3 – Used by I/O resources to request DMA service. Must be held high until associated DACK3 line is active. CoreModule 420 Reference Manual...
Can also be used by the ISA bus master to gain control of the bus from the DMA controller. 30 (D9) DRQ0 DMA Request 0 – Used by I/O resources to request DMA service. Must be held high until associated DACK0 line is active. CoreModule 420 Reference Manual...
Page 32
CLK period before driving the address and data lines, and two clock periods before issuing a read or write command. 39 (D18) GND Ground 40 (D19) GND Ground Notes: The shaded area denotes power or ground. The signals marked with * indicate active low. Reference Manual CoreModule 420...
Drive I/O Write – Strobe signal for write functions. Negative edge enables data from a register or data port of the drive onto the host data bus. Positive edge latches data at the host. Digital Ground CoreModule 420 Reference Manual...
Page 34
Reserved – Not used Digital Ground +5 volts ±5% power supply +5 volts ±5% power supply Digital Ground Not connected Notes: The shaded area denotes power or ground. The signals marked with * indicate active low. Reference Manual CoreModule 420...
Disk Data 0 – Refer to D3 on pin-2 for more information. Disk Data 1 – Refer to D3 on pin-2 for more information. Disk Data 2 – Refer to D3 on pin-2 for more information. CoreModule 420 Reference Manual...
Page 36
Disk Data 10 – Refer to pin 2, D3, for more information. Not Connected (CD2) Notes: The shaded area denotes power or ground. The signals marked with * = Negative true logic. NC = Not connected, NU = Not used. Reference Manual CoreModule 420...
Direction – This signal determines direction of head movement (0 = inward motion, 1 = outward motion). Parallel Port Data 2 – This pin (0 to 7) provides parallel port data signals. Write Protect – Senses the diskette is write protected. WRPRT CoreModule 420 Reference Manual...
Page 38
WGATE Write Gate – Signal to the drive to enable current flow in the write head. Key/NC Key Pin/Not Connected Notes: The shaded area denotes power or ground. The signals marked with * indicate active low. Reference Manual CoreModule 420...
Table 3-12 provides the signals for the corresponding pins of the two independent serial interface ports (Serial 1 & 2) and Table 3-13 provides the signals for the corresponding pins of two independent serial interface headers (Serial 3 & 4). CoreModule 420 Reference Manual...
Receive Data – Serial port receive data input is typically held at a logic 1 (mark) when no data is being transmitted, and is held “Off” for a brief interval after an “On” to “Off” transition on the RTS line to allow the transmission to complete. Reference Manual CoreModule 420...
Notes: The shaded area denotes power or ground. The signals marked with * indicate active low. USB Port (J10) The CoreModule 420 contains one root USB (Universal Serial Bus) hub and one functional USB port. The USB function is provided by the STPC ATLAS CPU (U14). Features implemented in the USB port...
KMPWR Keyboard /Mouse power (+5V) output BATV+ Real time battery voltage (3.6V Type/ 4.0V Max) input MCLK Mouse Clock input Notes: The shaded area denotes power or ground. The signals marked with * indicate active low. Reference Manual CoreModule 420...
Analog Twisted Pair Ethernet Receive Differential Pair – These pins receive the serial bit stream through the isolation transformer. Not Used (RJ45 termination) Not Used (RJ45 termination) Not Used (RJ45 termination) Not Used (RJ45 termination) Note: NU = Not Used. CoreModule 420 Reference Manual...
Two fully programmable PWM (Pulse Width Modulator) signals to adjust the flat panel brightness and contrast. Supports PanelLink high speed serial transmitter externally for high resolution panel interface. The video interface (LCD/CRT) uses a 44-pin 2mm header with pin outs shown in Table 3-17. Reference Manual CoreModule 420...
Digital Ground HSYNC Horizontal Sync – This signal is used for the digital horizontal sync output to the CRT. Also used (with VSYNC) to signal power management state information to the CRT per the VESA DPMS standard. CoreModule 420 Reference Manual...
Miscellaneous Real Time Clock (RTC) The CoreModule 420 contains a Real Time (time of day) Clock (RTC), which can be backed up with a Lithium Battery. The CoreModule 420 will function without a battery in those environments, which prohibit inclusion of batteries. The CoreModule 420 will also continue to operate after the battery life has been exceeded.
NOTE The CoreModule 420 Serial Port 1 (J3) is a 10-pin header and uses pin 7 = DTR and pin 8 = RI. At Serial Port 1, short pin 7 to 8, as shown in Figure 3-2. Alternatively, you may short the equivalent pins on the DB9 connector attached to Serial Port 1 as shown in Figure 3-2.
Console field of the BIOS and Hardware Settings screen in BIOS Setup. A standard null modem serial cable is used to connect the chosen serial port on the CoreModule 420 (J3 or J9) to a serial terminal or PC. The serial terminal, or PC with communications software, must be set to the following values:...
CD-ROM. Power Interface (J7) The CoreModule 420 requires one +5 volt power source and uses a 10-pin header with 0.1” spacing. When the +5 power drops below ~4.0V, a low voltage reset triggers activating a system interrupt. The power input connector (J7) supplies the following voltage directly to the module: 5.0VDC +/- 5% @ 1.35 Amps...
ROM-BIOS. If Ampro has added to or modified the standard functions, these functions will be described. The options provided for the CoreModule 420 are controlled by the BIOS Setup Utility. BIOS Setup is used to configure the CoreModule 420 features, modify the fields in the Setup screens, and save the results in the onboard configuration memory.
1. Connect the serial console, or the PC with serial terminal emulation, to Serial Port 1 (J3) or Serial Port 2 (J9) of the CoreModule 420. If the BIOS option, Serial Console is set to [Enable], use a standard null-modem serial cable.
Chapter 4 BIOS Setup Main BIOS Setup Menu Ampro Setup Utility for CoreModule 420, SWxxxxxx Help for BIOS and Hardware Settings > BIOS and Hardware Settings < Reload Initial Settings Load Factory Default Settings Exit, Saving Changes Exit, Discarding Changes Use Arrow keys to change menu item, use Enter to select menu item (C) Copyright 2004, Ampro Computers, Inc.
Chapter 4 BIOS Setup BIOS Configuration Screen Ampro Setup Utility for CoreModule 420, SWxxxxxx [Date & Time] Help for Date > Date 16 Feb 2004< Time 10:24:34 [Drive Assignment] The Date & Time fields are updated Drive A 1.44 MB, 3.5”...
Page 55
This feature allows you to use any one of the three common formats available for CompactFlash cards without having to re-format the CompactFlash card before you can use it on the CoreModule 420. The LBA (Logical Block Address) is set as the default format because it can handle larger drives and is the newest format available, but may not be the one used to format your CompactFlash card.
Page 56
Shadow DC00-DFFF – [Disabled] or [Enabled] Power Management APM – [Disabled] or [Enabled] Advanced features Post Memory Manager – [Disabled] or [Enabled] Watchdog Timeout (sec) – [select whole number between 1 and 255 seconds, in 1 second increments] or [Disabled] Reference Manual CoreModule 420...
Page 57
VGA Palette Snoop – [Disabled] or [Enabled] On-Board Controllers Primary IDE – [Disabled] or [Enabled] Secondary IDE – [Disabled] or [Enabled] PS/2 Mouse IRQ – [none], [1], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], or [12] CoreModule 420 Reference Manual...
Page 58
Assign DMA 1 – [Disabled] or [Enabled] Assign DMA 2 – [Disabled] or [Enabled] Assign DMA 3 – [Disabled] or [Enabled] Assign DMA 5 – [Disabled] or [Enabled] Assign DMA 6 – [Disabled] or [Enabled] Assign DMA 7 – [Disabled] or [Enabled] Reference Manual CoreModule 420...
BIOS Setup Splash Screen Customization The CoreModule 420 BIOS supports a graphical splash screen, which can be customized by the user and displayed on screen when enabled through the BIOS Setup Utility. The graphical image can be a company logo or any custom image the user wants to display during the boot process. The custom image can be displayed as the first image displayed on screen during the boot process and remain there, depending on the options selected in BIOS Setup, while the OS boots.
Page 60
3. Copy the CoreModule 420 BIOS binary file (cm420.bin) to the new conversion directory on your PC where the other files and utilities are located. If this file is not on the CoreModule 420 Doc & SW CD-ROM, you will have to obtain it from Ampro.
Visual C++ compiler respectively. This example application will be described in more detail in the following procedures. Building the Example Ampro provides an example for flash programming found on the CoreModule 420 Doc & SW CD-ROM under Miscellaneous Source Code Examples in the Support Software directory. The example actually consists of two parts: Example application –...
BIOS to copy memory anywhere in the 32-bit address range. All addresses are treated as linear, physical addresses. Refer to the Flash directory under Miscellaneous Source Code Examples on the CoreModule 420 Doc & SW CD-ROM (cm420\software\examples\flash) for the examples and more information.
This page contains links to White Papers, Specifications, and additional technical information. Table A-1. USA Technical Support Contact Information Method Contact Information Virtual Technician http://ampro.custhelp.com Web Site http://www.ampro.com Standard Mail Ampro Computers, Incorporated 5215 Hellyer Avenue San Jose, CA 95138-1007, USA CoreModule 420 Reference Manual...
Page 64
Appendix A Technical Support Reference Manual CoreModule 420...
Appendix B Connector Part Numbers These connectors are used on the CoreModule 420 and can be used to determine the mating connectors, if you want to make your own cables. Table B-1. Connector and Manufacture’s Part Numbers Connector Pin Number/Pin Spacing/ Manufacturer Manufacturer’s PN...
Page 66
Appendix B Connector Part Numbers Reference Manual CoreModule 420...
51 serial port setup ..........46 CPU settings ............ 52 See also serial console Enable BIOS prompt........50 CoreModule 420 Enable Config Box........... 50 64MB SDRAM memory ......... 18 Enable Splash screen........50 BIOS Setup............45 enter BIOS prompt not seen......45 block diagram ............
Page 68
Power requirements ..........15 flash programming ...........55 QuickStart Kit programming tools ...........55 contents.............. 2 Floppy disk port CoreModule 420 ..........2 settings ............48, 49 Real Time Clock (RTC) ........40 supported drive sizes........31, 48 Reset switch Hot cable connector pin outs..........36 console redirection ...........42...
Need help?
Do you have a question about the CoreModule 420 and is the answer not in the manual?
Questions and answers