SwiftModule-DM: Tiny Production Ready Module based on TI AM/DM37x

SwiftModule-DM is a low-power, high performance production-ready system-on-module (SOM) based on TI's new 45nm 1GHz Da Vinci DM37x and Sitara AM37x – specifically DM3730 and AM3703 - supplied with comprehensive production-quality Board Support Packages (BSP) for Windows CE 6.0, Windows Embedded Compact 7, Linux 2.6 and Android 2.2, and ready to be designed into your product, minimising development cost time-to-market.

The module is a 200-pin SODIMM board, measuring just 35mm x 68mm. For development purposes, SwiftModule-DM plugs into the SwiftLite-DM breakout board (dimensions 90mm x 90mm) providing a complete development system which runs Windows CE 6.0, Compact 7, Android or Linux out of the box.

In production, the SwiftLite baseboard can be replaced with a simple baseboard carrying exactly the connectors required for your product

This means that when you base your product on SwiftModule-DM the most time-consuming and expensive part of the hardware design is already done for you, as is the equally costly porting of the operating system to the hardware, enabling you to get to market in a matter of weeks.

We now have modules based on Sitara AM3505 and AM3517

Powered by a TI Da Vinci DM3730 with ARM Cortex-A8 processor running at 800MHz or 1GHz, with optional C64x+ DSP / video accelerator and Open GL ES 2.0 graphics core, SwiftModule-DM is one of the most powerful ARM-based devices available today, yet it permits power consumption as low as 1W in most applications.

Because at Direct Insight we understand all about platform-based design - having brought dozens of products to market via this route - we can provide the support you need to complete the process without too many hold-ups. And as a Microsoft Windows Embedded Gold Partner and Authorised Training Provider you can be sure that if this is your first Windows Embedded project, we have the skills you need to help you along. As well as Windows Embedded CE 6.0 and Compact 7, we provide Linux (Angstrom Distribution) and Android 2.2 support for SwiftModule-DM.

Special Features

SwiftModule incorporates a number of special features to answer the needs of the system-on-module user, including rapid boot capability thanks to a BinFS file system implementation. A user-defined splash-screen makes it easy to brand your product without delving into the platform configuration.

On-module Ethernet, wi-fi, audio and touch reduce the baseboard requirement in most cases to little more than connectors, while a Flash File System makes the unused area of the large standard NAND device available for data storage, in addition to supported removable storage, including USB stick, SD and CF cards.

A large (800x480) touch screen, directly connected to the DM37x/AM37x's on-chip display controller means that the development setup closely emulates the final product, and LVDS and HDMI support allows a remotely display to be easily connected

Technical Details:

In addition to the AM3703/DM3730 microcontroller, the SwiftModule-DM includes the latest TPS65930 companion device with power management and audio support, up to 256MB of 400MHz mDDR, 256MB or up to 512MB of 333MHz mDDR NAND Flash, touch interface, and SMSC LAN9220 Ethernet controller. Supported interfaces include USB Host and OTG, Ethernet, RS-232, camera, audio, TDM, SPI, I2C, 1-Wire, SD Card, PWM, touch screen, keypad and JTAG. The table below provides full details.

Application Support

Additional interfaces such as GPS modules, GPRS/3G modems, analog to digital converter are frequently required to complete your product. To facilitate this we have created a library of reference extensions to the baseboard design, complete with integrated Windows CE and Linux drivers, so that customers can easily integrate these extra capabilities in their final system.

Handheld Devices

The SwiftLite-DM baseboard and supplied schematics is the starting point for design of your product-specific baseboard. If your product is a handheld device, we can also provide additional reference designs and design review services to facilitate implementation of appropriate power management including battery charging, management and fuel gauge functionality.

Suspend/Resume from Sleep

For applications requiring fast switch-on, the ability to resume from a deep-sleep state provides an instant switch-on experience for the user, under Windows CE. Resume time is about 0.1 sec, and current consumption less than 10mA. Please inform our engineers if you intend to use this feature, as appropriate design guidelines must be followed.

SwiftLite Baseboard

For development purposes, the SwiftModule-DM plugs into the SwiftLite-DM baseboard, to complete a tiny (9cm/3.5" square) DM3730 development system, which runs Windows CE 6.0 or Linux 2.6 out of the box.

SwiftLite-DM DM3730/AM3703 Development System

The main purpose of the baseboard is to provide connectors as shown above. Additional signals including display controller output, synchronous serial, SPI, PWM, local bus are accessible via the extension headers. A CB105 optional extension board connects to these headers to provide additional connectivity including CAN (AM only) and RS-485 interface, as well as providing access to all the SODIMM signals via 0.1” headers. The SwiftLite development system ships with an 800x480 touch screen display as standard. Other displays may be connected via LVDS or HDMI/DVI.

SwiftLite Off-the-shelf Production Baseboards

The SwiftLite board used for the development system also provides the basis for a production baseboard, which is suitable for projects where the interface/connector requirements are a subset of those on the standard baseboard. See our SwiftLite Baseboard page for further details

Further Information and Pricing

Contact our experienced team with your detailed questions - we'll be happy to help. Module pricing is from about 60 Euros / $80 at 1ku (or less for AM35x based modules) please contact us with a feature list and volume for a quotation. Just click on "Price Request" below.

Ordering Information

You can order SwiftLite-DM based on DM3730 online, or contact us by calling Direct Insight on +44 1295 768800 9am to 5.30pm UK time, emailing info at directinsight.co.uk, or by using the "Ask a Question" form below. We look forward to supporting you in creating another addition to the dozens of successful commercial products based on SwiftModule.

Useful Links:

SwiftModule-4460 Dual ARM Cortex-A9 with OMAP4460 system on module
SwiftModule-AM Sitara AM3505/AM3517 system-on-module
SwiftLite off-the-shelf production baseboards
SwiftModule-OM OMAP35x system-on module
SwiftModule-PX PXA320 system-on module
Module Selector Table