Stay focused on your product’s innovation, not on reducing power, with the Nitrogen8M_Mini Single Board Computer and SOM from Boundary Devices.
Learn more about how the Nitrogen8M_Mini Single Board Computer and SOM from Boundary Devices can help designers stay focused on performance and product innovation, and not on power consumption. As the only commercially available system based on the i.MX8M Mini SOC, the Nitrogen8M_Mini provides 2GB of LPDDR4 RAM with upgrades available from 4GB, 8GB and 128GB of eMMC. This System on Module (SOM), or single board computer, offers an entire computer system mounted on a module that can plug into a larger PCB for custom connectors, power supply circuitry and mechanical fittings. Get the details on the IoT capability, remote hardware and applications — including industrial applications — for the Nitrogen8M_Mini in this article from Boundary Devices. And as a special offer, don’t miss out on the chance to get 20% off on your next order from Arrow
The Nitrogen8M_Mini SBC and SOM: A modern solution for programming, prototyping and getting to market
One of the biggest problems facing designers is the increased demand for technology, with IoT reaching every part of the globe and AI beginning to find its way onto more devices in the form of edge-computing. This problem is compounded with the need for remote and portable devices that are required to provide ample amounts of computing power while minimizing power consumption so they can be powered by batteries and renewable sources.
Current single board computers in the market aren’t designed to meet these requirements, but Boundary Devices has the solution: the Nitrogen8M_Mini Single Board Computer and System On Module!
Introducing the Nitrogen8M_Mini
The Nitrogen8M_Mini is the only commercially available system based on the i.MX8M Mini SoC. At the heart of the i.MX8M Mini SoC is an ARM A53 64-bit quad core processor, with each core containing a 32KB L1 I cache and a 32KB L1 D cache and floating point unit. The i.MX8MMini also includes a secondary Cortex-M4 designed for real-time applications that can operate independently from the main processor, even when the main processor is in low-power mode.
The Nitrogen8M_Mini includes 2GB of LPDDR4 RAM that can be upgraded to 4GB and 8GB of eMMC for storage that can also be upgraded to 128GB. 3D graphics on the system are handled by the GCNanoUltra and the GC320 for 2D graphics.
Getting the Nitrogen8M_Mini connected to networks is no problem thanks to the gigabit Ethernet port and an optional Wi-Fi addon, the BD-SDMAC, which is a fully certified Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1 module based on the QCA9377.
SBC and SOM
One of the unique features of the Nitrogen8M_Mini is that it can be ordered as a single board computer or a “System On Module”. No other manufacturer is offering both form factors at launch. A “System-On-Module”, otherwise known as “SOM”, is an entire computer system mounted to a module that can be easily plugged into a larger PCB that is used to house custom connectors, power supply circuitry, and mechanical fittings that make integrating the SOM considerably easier.
Connectivity
When it comes to I/O connectivity, the Nitrogen8M_Mini excels above other single board computers with its wide range of busses. Included on the Nitrogen8M_Mini is USB 2.0, I2C, SPI, UHS SD Card Support, RTC, and PCIe. There is an optional PoE module. If the system needs to be connected to an Ethernet network, draw power from the Ethernet cable, communicate to multiple USB devices while controlling an SPI display or read from a high speed SD card, then the Nitrogen8M_Mini is the solution. The Nitrogen8M_Mini also has a dedicated video output via a MIPI DSI and an input via a 4-lane MIPI-CSI. A pre-configured 5MP MIPI Camera module is also available from Boundary Devices that natively connects with the Nitrogen8M_Mini.
Low Power Consumption
One of the major advantages of the Nitrogen8M_Mini is the multiple low-power technologies used. Thanks to the i.MX8M Mini SoC, the Cortex-M4 can operate independently from the main processor and can continue to operate even when the main processor is in a low-power state. This means that the system can continue to monitor GPIO and run code in real-time, which can be used to wake the main processor up whenever a user specified event occurs. Power is also kept to a minimum with the use of 14LPC FinFET technology, high speed LPDDR, and the incorporation of NXP’s PF8121 Power Management Integrated Circuit.
Reduced Development Time
They say a carpenter is only as good as his tools, and this holds true in the electronics world. An embedded computer that is powerful and feature-rich may be applicable in many projects, but only if engineers can program and prototype with them quickly and effectively. Once again, the Nitrogen8M_Mini has this covered with a range of prototyping hardware available including touchscreen displays, camera modules, PoE Modules, and fully populated daughterboards for the SOM. One major hurdle to development is the OS. Boundary Devices employees an in-house staff of i.MX-focused software designers. This allows them to offer the latest versions of popular embedded operating systems for all of their boards. The Nitrogen8M_Mini is no exception with support for Android, Linux (Yocto, Debian, Ubuntu, Buildroot), and FreeRTOS (for the M4 core). All of their OS images as well as tutorials are available for free on their software Wiki.
Applications
With a powerful processor, ample amounts of high speed RAM, and superior connectivity the Nitrogen8M_Mini finds itself applicable to a wide range of embedded applications:
IoT
Not long ago IoT devices consisted of a simple microcontroller communicating with a Wi-Fi module,sending only basic sensor readings such as temperate and switch statuses. Now, with the rise of home automation, AI and personal assistants, these devices are beginning to take on a more complex role with the need for visual processing, audio processing, display output capabilities, and even the ability to run neural nets. Thanks to the ARM quad-core processor, powerful GPU, and multiple connection options these tasks can easily run on the Nitrogen8M_Mini.
Remote Hardware
While the ideal location for any device is to be next to a power socket and Wi-Fi router this is not always possible. Remote locations (such as monitoring stations) need to be able to power devices from limited energy sources, which is where the Nitrogen8M_Mini comes in. Remote locations using the system can be made to enter low power mode and have the Cortex-M4 monitor the environment until heavy processing is required. Secondarily, the high-quality components and manufacturing mean the Nitrogen8M_Mini is a durable and reliable solution. This will help to minimize the need to service remote hardware applications.
Industrial Applications
The Nitrogen8M_Mini is available in an industrial temperature range which, coupled with the high-quality design, make it ideal in industrial design. The touchscreen and display capabilities make the Nitrogen8M_Mini particularly useful in terminals and interface displays, but its visual capability could also see it implemented with AI in the form of Automatic Optical Inspection.
Digital Signage
Bewteen advterisements on buildings to digital billboards along the interstatem digital signage is everywhere and advertisers will always pay a premium for their content to look smooth and crisp. With the Nitrogen8M_Mini being capable of full 1080p HD video output there is no doubt that the Nitrogen8M_Mini can be essential for the newest advertisers wanting to display HD footage on large billboards. Network connectivity allows for remote access of the system, removing the need for operators to gain physical access when the system is installed on a tall building or hard-to-get-to location.
Why the Nitrogen8M_Mini paves the way for the i.MX8M Mini
With the multitude of available hardware and software for development and the availability of the SOM and SBC, the Nitrogen8M_Mini brings the i.MX8M Mini applications processor into the practical world of electronics. Designers can prototype designs faster, reducing their time to market with the pre-certified modules and fully-functioning OS, all while having access to an incredibly powerful core that can tackle any IoT problem.
The low power consumption of the Nitrogen8M_Mini means engineers can spend more time on designing what their product does as opposed to trying to find methods for reducing power. What’s more, the use of the next-gen i.MX8M Mini processor and consistently updated library of OS images makes the Nitrogen8M_Mini future proof.
Learn more about the Nitrogen8M_Mini SBC and SOM offerings and sign up to receive a discount on this next-generation SoC.