Addressing the needs of small form factor (SFF) embedded systems, the Edge-Connect architecture allows designers to deploy intelligent controllers directly onto equipment and machinery in benign or rugged environments to enable small, mobile or distributed computing applications.
A microcontroller and EEPROM located on the connected expansion board(s) manages the I/O configuration plug and play functionality. All configuration data are stored in this ADL EEProm. The Peripheral or Backplane board communicates its configuration data to the CPU-Board via SMB. This enables an uncomplicated and self-configuring IO extension.
| Feature | Edge-Connect Architecture |
| Connector | BAseCon 140 Pin High-Speed |
| High-Speed Interface | Up to 8x PCIe 2.0 x1 lanes (multiplexed with USB 3.0 and SATA) |
| USB Interface | Up to 4x USB 2.0/3.0 |
| Storage Interface | Up to 4x SATA |
| Other I/O | SMBus; 1-Wire Interface for Configuration Management; 8bit GPIO/LED/Activity |
Edge-Connect Evolution
The Edge-Connect architecture allows for easy customer-specific expansion of the Edge-Connect SBC for added functionality and features (as shown with L-peripheral below).
For a variety of applications, the complete solution brings a number of benefits including:
- Ability to use a single SBC across products and applications to provide stability of CPU, software, firmware and hardware revisions
- Allows for easy future CPU upgrades…simply unplug the SBC and plug in the new
- Custom expansion boards allow for a perfect fit of the overall solution. The flat configuration shown below, could easily be built to different shapes, attached vertically or even stacked above the CPU
ADLE3900 / 3800SEC Edge-Connect SBCs
ADLSEC-1710 Edge-Connect L-Peripheral
ADLSEC-1710 L-Peripheral with ADLE3800SEC CPU
Edge-Connect Configuration Examples
The flexibility and expandability allow for BIG expansion possibilities in a SMALL size, from low-profile horizontal to small-footprint vertical configurations.
Low Profile Horizontal Expansion
ADLSEC-1710 L-Peripheral with ADLE3800SEC CPU and UPS Option
Small Footprint Vertical Expansion
Edge-Connect Applications
Designed as compact, full-featured, standalone boards for a wide range of industrial embedded applications, Edge-Connect architecture allows for added I/O expansion and connectors in a variety of baseboard / breakout board configurations (flat, vertical, odd-shapes, etc.) for applications including:
- UAV and UUV Unmanned Systems
- Industrial Control Systems
- Government & Defense
- Video Surveillance
- Small Scale Robotics
- Remote Datalogging
- Man-Wearable Computing
- Factory 4.0, IIoT or Cloud Applications
