| PDA dev kit runs Windows CE |
Nov. 20, 2008
 Toradex is now sampling a design kit that targets creation of customer-specific PDAs based on Windows CE. The "Limestone" kit features an 806MHz Marvell PXA320 processor, a "rich" board-to-board extension interface, plus an optional battery, case, and cover, the company says.
(Click here for a larger view of Toradex's Limestone)
According to Toradex, its new Limestone PDA development kit is an outgrowth of the company's SODIMM-sized, Marvell-based "Colibri" computer modules, such as the Colibri PXA320, Colibri PXA290, and Colibri PXA270. Therefore, any updates of the Windows CE 5.0 and 6.0 operating system images for the Colibri modules will automatically apply to the Limestone platform as well, says Toradex.
That said, the Limestone doesn't employ the actual SODIMM modules. Instead, its 806MHz PXA320 processor and other features are integrated onto the main board pictured below.
Toradex's Limestone PCB (top)
(Click to enlarge)
The Limestone board is said to offer all the features necessary to develop a customized handheld computer. These include the CPU, 128MB of RAM, 1GB of flash storage, a touchscreen connector, audio, USB host/client, battery charging/monitoring, and a vibration motor, says Toradex.
Limestone PCB (bottom)
(Click to enlarge)
The underside of the board, above, includes an on/off switch, a 5VDC power input, a USB host/client connector, and, as an available build option, an SD card slot. There's also a connector for an optional Hitachi TX09D display, a 3.5-inch panel offering 320 x 240 resolution, with optional touchscreen capability.
A block diagram of the Limestone
(Click to enlarge)
Additionally, the Limestone features two board-to-board connectors intended to connect it to a customer-designed board, as envisioned in the stack pictured at the top of our story. Signals relayed via these connectors include the following, according to Toradex:- Keypad
- Audio I/O (both digital and analog)
- Camera interface
- SD/MMC card
- USB host
- USB host/client (shared)
- 3 x UART
- SPI
- 12C
- Up to 58 GPIOs
- Reset in/out
- Power supply
Features and specifications listed by Toradex for the Limestone include:- Processor -- Marvell PXA320 clocked at 806MHz
- Memory -- 128MB of RAM and 1GB of flash
- Display (optional) -- 3.5-inch display (touchscreen or non-touchscreen) with 320 x 240 resolution
- I/O:
- USB host/client connector
- Power input
- Display connector
- Dual connectors for customer-designed boards, relaying the signals detailed earlier
- Expansion -- SD slot (optional)
- Battery type -- Can handle "almost any" single-cell lithium-ion or lithium-polymer battery
- Operating range -- 0 to 70 deg. C
- Dimensions (optional housing) -- 5.35 x 3 x 0.98 inches (136 x 76 x 25mm)
Further information
According to Toradex, the Limestone ships with Windows CE 5.0, but is also licensed for an available Windows CE 6.0 image. Via "third-party support," it is also compatible with Linux, the company says.
The Limestone is sampling now, priced at 159 Euros (approximately $200) for the baseboard, 100 Euros (approximately $125) for a touchscreen, 60 Euros (about $74) for a battery, and 120 Euros ($150) for the cover/display holder pictured earlier in this story. More information may be available at the company's website, here.
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