Windows Embedded Compact 7 / CE 7 for i.MX51 ARM Cortex-A8 module

We are pleased to announce our new Board Support Package (BSP) for Windows Embedded Compact 7 for the TRITON-TX51 module which uses Freescale’s i.MX51 applications processor.

The new BSP extensively supports the TX51 module’s wide-ranging connectivity – which includes USB, Ethernet, touch, display, UARTs, SPI, I2C, SD Card and audio amongst an array of interfaces. The i.MX51’s video processing unit which provides 720p HD decode, and OpenGL ES / OpenVG graphics accelerator are also supported as is the vector point capability of the ARM Cortex-A8 NEON SIMD coprocessor.

Windows Embedded Compact 7 is Microsoft’s latest small-footprint OS for connected embedded and handheld devices, allowing the creation of differentiated user interfaces with such attributes as multitouch and gesture, via Silverlight for Embedded, and affording access to the features of the latest ARM devices, including powerful ARM Cortex-A series based applications processors such as Freescale’s iMX51 and i.MX53.

The TRITON-TX51 production ready module measures just 68mm x 26mm, and equipped with RAM, NAND flash, power management, and other low-level support devices and provides the possibility of bringing projects to market in weeks by providing a ready-made hardware implementation alongside a production-ready software platform. Users purchase a complete development system – the StarterKit-5 – which is supplied containing the module attached to a general-purpose baseboard, with a touch-screen, and running the chosen OS – in this case Windows Embedded Compact 7. Other available operating systems include Windows CE 6.0, Linux and Android 2.2. The production system is realised by replacing the module with a simple custom, or off-the-shelf baseboard, without need for modification of the BSP.

The company also expects to make pin-compatible solutions based on the new Freescale iMX53 device family available during the summer months. TRITON modules offer pin-compatibility and long product lifetime, as required by embedded projects.