Ampro Product Lines
Ampro products fit into three overall product categories. Ampro's Single Board Computers (SBC) consist of a complete stand-alone computer featuring a CPU, memory and I/O expansion. Peripheral devices can be connected directly to an SBC. Ampro offers three SBC product families each in a unique form-factor, all of which accept PC/104-compatible system expansion interfaces. The three SBC product families include LittleBoard products in the EBX form factor, CoreModule products in the PC/104 and PC/104-Plus form factor, and ReadyBoard products in the EPIC form factor.

Ampro's COM offerings consist of CPU modules designed to plug into an application-specific baseboard. Each COM module features a CPU, memory and I/O expansion. Unlike an SBC, peripheral devices cannot be connected directly to a COM module, but must be connected to a baseboard. Ampro offers two COM product families, each in a unique form-factor. The two COM product families include EnCore, which supports both x86 and RISC CPUs, and ETX which supports x86 CPUs only.

Ampro's third product category is PC/104 I/O expansion. Ampro PC/104 I/O expansion boards, known as MiniModules, contain a mix of I/O normally not found on an SBC. PC/104 I/O expansion board stack on an Ampro SBC by interfacing to the PC/104 (ISA) or PC/104-Plus (PCI) bus on the SBC. Developers build a system consisting of an Ampro SBC and, optionally, one or more MiniModule PC/104 I/O expansion boards.

Ampro's product families are described below:

 

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Ampro Product Lines
Ampro products fit into three overall product categories. Ampro's Single Board Computers (SBC) consist of a complete stand-alone computer featuring a CPU, memory and I/O expansion. Peripheral devices can be connected directly to an SBC. Ampro offers three SBC product families each in a unique form-factor, all of which accept PC/104-compatible system expansion interfaces. The three SBC product families include LittleBoard products in the EBX form factor, CoreModule products in the PC/104 and PC/104-Plus form factor, and ReadyBoard products in the EPIC form factor.

Ampro's COM offerings consist of CPU modules designed to plug into an application-specific baseboard. Each COM module features a CPU, memory and I/O expansion. Unlike an SBC, peripheral devices cannot be connected directly to a COM module, but must be connected to a baseboard. Ampro offers two COM product families, each in a unique form-factor. The two COM product families include EnCore, which supports both x86 and RISC CPUs, and ETX which supports x86 CPUs only.

Ampro's third product category is PC/104 I/O expansion. Ampro PC/104 I/O expansion boards, known as MiniModules, contain a mix of I/O normally not found on an SBC. PC/104 I/O expansion board stack on an Ampro SBC by interfacing to the PC/104 (ISA) or PC/104-Plus (PCI) bus on the SBC. Developers build a system consisting of an Ampro SBC and, optionally, one or more MiniModule PC/104 I/O expansion boards.

Ampro's product families are described below:

LittleBoard™ Single Board Computers. These 5.75 x 8-inch, EBX compliant single-board computers are available with Pentium III / Celeron, Via Eden and Pentium M / Celeron M microprocessors. In addition to standard motherboard functions (including four serial ports with RS-232/422 /485 capability, floppy and hard disk controllers), they include a CRT and flat panel display controller, one or more Ethernet interfaces, solid-state disk expansion, and an onboard location for PC/104 or PC/104-Plus expansion.

CoreModule™ Single Board Computers. These 3.6 x 3.8-inch, PC/104 form-factor single-board computers are available with 386, 486, Pentium and Celeron microprocessors. Each CoreModule CPU offers the equivalent of a PC motherboard, including serial and parallel ports, floppy and hard disk controllers, and onboard solid-state disk expansion. Many include a 10/100BaseT Ethernet controller and CRT and flat panel video interface. Used with PC/104-compatible expansion modules, such as Ampro MiniModules, they can be easily configured as complete embedded microcomputer systems.

ReadyBoard™ Single Board Computers. Based on the new 4.5" x 6.5" EPIC (Embedded Platform for Industrial Computing) standard, Ampro ReadyBoard products are available with Pentium III / Celeron, Via Eden and Pentium M / Celeron M processors. Each ReadyBoard is a highly cost efficient single board computer solution, offering processor, memory, four serial ports, floppy and IDE controllers, single or dual 10/100BaseT Ethernet, audio, digital I/O and solid state disk expansion, as well as a high performance AGP 4X CRT and flat panel video interface. ReadyBoards are extended via PC/104 or PC/104-Plus expansion I/O boards.

MiniModule™ products. Ampro offers an extensive line of PC/104 and PC/104-Plus form-factor peripheral interface modules that may be used along with Ampro CoreModule or LittleBoard CPUs, to configure OEM embedded systems.

EnCore™ Modules. This family of 3.9" x 5.7" modules provides a robust platform for the development of custom embedded computer subsystems with varying processor architectures. Five different EnCore modules are now available in x86 architectures including Pentium III as well as MIPS 32 and PowerPC. Each module includes CPU, memory, two serial ports, parallel port, floppy and IDE controllers, one or two 10/100BaseT Ethernet controllers. Modules with x86 CPUs include a high performance CRT and flat panel video controller. EnCore modules are designed to plug into a custom baseboard which provides an opportunity to incorporate additional custom I/O logic as well as connectors to access to the outside world.

ETX Modules. Ampro ETX modules, based on the ETX 2.6 Specification, provide the industry's first rugged ETX solution. As with many Ampro single board computers, Ampro ETX modules are available for extended temperature operation from -40°C to +85°C and are highly resistant to shock and vibration. Ampro ETX modules are available with Pentium III / Celeron, Via Eden and Pentium M / Celeron M processors. Each ETX module offers processor, memory, four serial ports, floppy and IDE controllers, single or dual 10/100BaseT Ethernet, audio, digital I/O and solid state disk expansion, as well as a high performance AGP 4X CRT and flat panel video interface. Like EnCore modules, ETX modules are designed to plug into a custom baseboard with I/O connectors and custom I/O logic.

Software
Ampro believes that software support is the key to time to market with today's high performance single board computer and COM module offerings. Ampro supports each SBC and COM product with a full complement of software, focusing on Board Support Packages for popular operating systems used in embedded applications. Each Ampro x86 board supports the Windows XP, as well as earlier Windows 98 and ME versions. But within the embedded community, specialized operating systems designed for embedded use are increasingly pervasive. As such, Ampro provides support for Microsoft's Windows CE and Windows XP Embedded, as well as Wind River's VxWorks, and QNX Software Systems QNX Neutrino. In addition, Ampro provides a complete Linux distribution with each QuickStart Kit or Development System.

 

Customer Partnerships
Increasingly, a major challenge facing companies that choose to design specialized embedded computers in-house is the risk of premature product obsolescence due to component discontinuations. Many of today's highly sophisticated ICs have lifespans often as short as 12 to 18 months. Consequently, embedded systems manufacturers may find themselves in a constant cycle of product redesign due to critical components becoming obsolete shortly after — or even before — their products begin to ship.

To some extent, Ampro protects manufacturers from the risk of component obsolescence in several ways. First, Ampro carefully evaluates key components used on its products for expected lifetime. Vendors are prompted to provide the information as they best know it at the time the design is initiated. Components with expected lifetimes of less than 3-5 years are eliminated from consideration as well as most single-sourced components. Secondly, Ampro offers a broad range of products that share a common form-factor and provide functional compatibility. When one of Ampro's component suppliers obsoletes an IC, Ampro can usually provide its customers with an ongoing supply of a modified or redesigned module that meets or exceeds the original module's specifications and provides plug and play. Thirdly, where use of an upgraded module can not be immediately accepted, Ampro will stockpile end-of-life parts to insure uninterrupted supply of the original product for at least one year following the last shipment date of the IC, and frequently for a longer period based on customer financial participation.