COMe-cEL6 - User Guide, Rev.1.3
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1.3.
COM Express® Documentation
The COM Express® specification defines the COM Express® module form factor, pinout and signals. For COM Express®
specification information, visit the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG®) website.
1.4.
COM Express® Functionality
All Kontron COM Express® Compact modules contains two 220-pin connectors containing two rows. The COM
Express® mini Computer-On-Module (COM) features the following maximum amount of interfaces according to the
PICMG module pinout type.
Table 1: Type 6 and COMe-cEL6 Functionality
Feature
Type 6
COMe-cEL6
HD Audio
1x
1x
Gbit Ethernet
1x
1x 1 GbE (option 2.5 GbE)
Serial ATA Gen3
4x
2x
PCI Express x 1
8x
Up to 6x
PCI Express x16 (PEG)
1x
USB Client
1x
1x (option)
USB
4x USB 3.0/2.0
4x USB 2.0
2x USB 3.1 Gen 2/USB 2.0
6x USB 2.0
Option: 4 USB 3.1 /USB 2.0 + 4x USB 2.0
LVDS (eDP)
2x / Dual channel
1x LVDS dual channel with 24-bit (eDP overlay)
DP/HDMI/DVI
3x
2x (DP++ and HDMI)
SPI
1x
1x
LPC /eSPI
1x
1x (overlay to eSPI with hardware assembly)
External SMB
1x
1x
External I2C
1x
1x
GPIO
8x
8x GPIO
UART (2-wire COM)
2x
2x
TPM 2.0
1x
1x
FAN PWM out
1x
1x
1.5.
COM Express® Benefits
COM Express® defines a Computer-On-Module (COM), with all the components necessary for a bootable host
computer, packaged as a highly integrated computer. All Kontron COM Express® modules are very compact and
feature a standardized form factor and a standardized connector layout that carry a specified set of signals. Each
COM module is based on the COM Express® specification. This standardization allows designers to create a single-
system carrier board that can accept present and future COM Express® modules.
The carrier board designer can optimize exactly how each of these functions implements physically. Designers can
place connectors precisely where needed for the application, on a carrier board optimally designed to fit a system’s
packaging.
A single carrier board design can use a range of COM Express® modules with different sizes and pinouts. This
flexibility differentiates products at various price and performance points and provides a built-in upgrade path when
designing future-proof systems. The modularity of a COM Express® solution also ensures against obsolescence when
computer technology evolves. A properly designed COM Express® carrier board can work with several successive
generations of COM Express® modules.
A COM Express® carrier board design has many advantages of a customized computer-board design and, additionally,
delivers better obsolescence protection, heavily reduced engineering effort, and faster time to market
