Embedded systems solutions are DAVE core business. To perform one or a few dedicated functions, DAVE designs and produces complete devices including software and hardware. The result is a complete line of CPU modules, covering x86, ARM and PowerPC architectures, with high-end and entry level models. The aim is to help customers saving a great deal of development times and engineering costs. This is why each CPU comes with its evaluation board and development kit, to easily test all features concerning modules.

Customers can quickly start-up their projects and focus on adding peripherals needed, writing applications or specific interfaces to the design. If they don't need to develop a completely new solution, DAVE supplies customers with turnkey systems, that accelerate the time to market and let them concentrate exclusively on the final product. Beside that, DAVE technical team also provides consulting services for new platforms, providing also customization and new drivers. Furthermore, DAVE Support Service meets 80% of consumers' requirements the same day, and 99% in 24 hours: the best evidence of quality and reliability.

For more information, please visit www.dave.eu

CPU modules line-up

Lizard

Lizard is a ready-to-use CPU module based on the Texas Instruments AM3505/3517 high performance application processor based on the ARM Cortex-A8 architecture. Lizard is the cutting edge solution for a high range of applications where extended connectivity, sophisticated displays, rich user-interfaces are required, including industrial electronics, smart home controllers, security systems, automation and point of service.

Ethernet 10/100, 3x UARTs, 3x USB ports, 1x CAN port, SD/MMC and many GPIOs are some of the peripherals available: a perfect mix for any applications. Lizard is designed to be easily included in customer's embedded systems, due to the small form factor (70 mm x 50 mm), the inexpensive stacking connectors and the back-compatibility with Dave's Zefeer CPU module.

Aria

Aria is DAVE's top PowerPC-class CPU module, powered by the Freescale MPC512x CPU. Built upon an efficient 32 bit e300 Power Architecture core, the MPC512x processor, it provides performance, reliability and flexibility to develop complex applications in the industrial, automotive and consumer domains. Aria offers high flexibility, integrating a powerful FPGA on board to allow customers to extend the range of applications, adding IP cores and other customized interfaces. Aria is one of the first available embedded solution in the market which complies to the open COM Express standard. Therefore, Aria is provided in a Pluggable version that can be hosted by every COM Express compliant carrier board. Other version are Plus, which offers more interfaces than the standard COM Express, and Enhanced, which adds a third connector for specific signal routing

i.MX31 family: Qong, oQtopus and sQuirrel

Dave offers three CPU modules, Qong, oQtopus and sQuirrel, based on the Freescale ARM1136 i.MX31C microprocessor. The high performances and the great versatility of the i.MX31C, allowed Dave to build three different solutions to target different application areas: QONG is conceived for the industrial world, since it embeds the "C" version of the i.MX31 CPU, which is specifically designed to work in the extended temperature range (-45°C/+85°C). Moreover, the on-board FPGA allows customers to add support for specific peripherals and hard real time requirements. oQtopus is the perfect solution for embedded systems where connectivity and communication are the primary requirements, thanks to the wide interfaces set and the on-board FPGA for specific applications.

sQuirrel, with its compact form factor, reliability and very low power consumption make it suitable for palm-based solutions both in Linux and Windows CE, and is the right choice for battery-powered applications, thanks to the MC13783 "Atlas" on-board chip. Concerning the native interfaces of the i.MX31, a special mention goes to the hardware video and graphic acceleration and the large set of available interfaces: USB (Host and OTG), UART, SPI, I2C, Ethernet (10/100 Mbps). The on board LCD controller drives displays with resolution up to 800x600 and more; IDE, PCMCIA and SD/MMC are supported too.

Neptune

It's a general purpose microprocessor board powered by the AMD Geode LX CPU. But Neptune is a step beyond the typical x86 architecture, offering something more attractive for the embedded world: Open Firmware, more powerful and flexible than a traditional BIOS, is DAVE's choice as boot firmware for Neptune,.

Neptune, due to its low power consumption (LX800 CPU is 0.9W) is suitable for single board computing or mobile computing applications, based on Linux but also on Windows operating systems. Leveraging on the x86 compatibility, Neptune allows quick deployment of solutions based on software developed for the well-known x86 architecture.

The powerful FPGA improves Neptune flexibility and allows customers to add specific interfaces to the design.

PPChameleon

PPChameleon is the synthesis of power, low cost, flexibility e compactness. It's built upon the PowerPC 405EP which – equipped with 256Mbit SDRAM and 64Mbit Flash at 333MHz – allows to drive a bunch of digital I/Os, an external 8-16bit data and 29bit address bus, two Ethernet 10/100T interfaces (with 1 PHY on board), and a PCI bus in host mode.

The compactness of the module (provided with DDR SO-DIMM “double height” 67,60 x 63,50mm form factor), the PowerPC processor reliability, the hardware “on-board” features, the quantity and quality of the available interfaces, make this board the state of the art in its domain and a reference point for Linux developers.

Zefeer

The modules of the Zefeer family interpret the ideal concept of scalability and compactness. Zefeer is based on the Cirrus Logic ARM920T EP93xx CPU @ 166/200 MHz and it equips a Flash NOR and DRAM memories. The MMU unit included in the processor core make this modules ideal to run complex and protected operating systems like Linux 2.6.x and Windows CE.

The rich set of peripherals natively implemented by the microprocessor allows the module to drive all kind of buses commonly used in the industrial and PC worlds: UART, IrDA, SPI, Ethernet, USB Host, IDE, PCMCIA. The high-end modules (DZQ family) also provide the LCD interface to build low-cost operator panels. Therefore typical applications of this module are interactive terminals, kiosks, advanced instruments, info-points electronics, and in general everything that must look like a PC without being a PC and without the cost of a PC.

Turnkey systems

Amethyst

Turnkey system dedicated to industrial applications based on Linux operating system. Amethyst, powered by the Cirrus Logic EP9302 ARM9 cpu, provides several interfaces (Ethernet, RS232 and RS485, USB, analog and digital input) so the system can connect to and control a lot of external devices.
Amethyst features a powerful and flexible FPGA on board, which dramatically increases the versatility of the system.

Beryl

Beryl is a turnkey system dedicated to high-performance industrial control applications based on Linux. Beryl is powered by Zefeer CPU module, the typical DAVE's ARM9 proposal for this kind of platforms.
Equipping eleven serial ports (RS232, RS485 and opto-insulated RS485), six relays and a PCMCIA slot, Beryl is the ideal solution for a system which needs to control several devices simultaneously.