SolidRun

Last updated

SolidRun Ltd.
Industry Internet of things, Embedded systems, edge computing
Founded2010
Headquarters,
Israel
Area served
International
Key people
Atai Ziv (CEO)
Rabeeh Khoury (CTO)
Kossay Omary (Co-founder)
ProductsVarious SOMs, COMs & SBCs, including HummingBoard, CuBox, ClearFog & SolidPC
Website solid-run.com

SolidRun is an Israeli company producing embedded systems components, mainly mini computers, Single-board computers and computer-on-module devices. It is specially known for the CuBox family of mini-computers, and for producing motherboards and processing components such as the HummingBoard motherboard.

Contents

Situated in Acre, Israel, SolidRun develops and manufactures products aimed both for the private entertainment sector, and for companies developing processor based products, notably components of "Internet of Things" technology systems. [1]

Within the scope of the IoT technology, SolidRun's mini computers are aimed to cover the intermediate sphere, between sensors and user devices, and between the larger network or Cloud framework. Within such a network, mini computers or system-on-module devices, act as mediators gathering and processing information from sensors or user devices and communicating with the network - this is also known as Edge computing.

History

Three of SolidRun's MicroSOMs from the i.MX6, Intel Braswell & Marvell ARMADA product families. SolidRun-soms.jpg
Three of SolidRun's MicroSOMs from the i.MX6, Intel Braswell & Marvell ARMADA product families.

SolidRun was founded in 2010 by co-founders Rabeeh Khoury (formally an engineer at Marvell Technology Group) and Kossay Omary. The goal of SolidRun has been to develop, produce and market components aimed for integration with IoT systems.

The company today is situated in Acre in the Northern District of Israel, and headed by Dr. Atai Ziv (CEO).

The major product development line aimed at the consumer market is the CuBox family of mini-computers. The first of which was announced in December 2011, followed by the development of the CuBox-i series, announced in November 2013. The most recent addition to the CuBox line has been the CuBoxTV (announced in December 2014), which has been marketed primarily for the home entertainment market. A further primary product developed by SolidRun is the Hummingboard, an uncased single-board computer, marketed to developers as an integrated processing component.

SolidRun develops all of its products using Open-source software (such as Linux and OpenELEC), identifying itself as a member of the OSS community and a promoter of Open-source software platforms.

The products developed by SolidRun are classed into a number of families, based upon the processor maker. Each family offers a range of mini-computers, SOM's & and networking solutions - currently divided into NXP's i.MX 6, i.MX 8 and LX2160A processor families, Marvell Armada and Octeon families, and Texas Instruments Sitara family. Every processing family offering different advantages with different application capacities.

IoT and industrial products

SOMs

The i.MX6-based System-on-Module. Imx6-som.jpg
The i.MX6-based System-on-Module.

A compact system-on-module ARM based processing board, with a Freescale i.MX 6 system-on-chip & networking, power management and storage capabilities. At 47 mm × 30 mm (1.9 in × 1.2 in), the MicroSoM is aimed for device and system developing, as an all rounded modular processing component. [2]

The SOM varies between 4 models ranging in performance, especially in regard to processing. The Single-core and Dual-Light-core SOMs house a Vivante GC880 GPU, 10/100 Mbit/s Ethernet network connection and a 2 Lane CSI camera interface port. The Single-core variant holds 32-bit DDR3, 512 MB memory, while the Dual-light variant holds 64-bit DDR3, 1 GB memory.
The Dual-core and Quad-core SOM's house a Vivante GC2000 GPU, 10/100/1000 Mbit/s Ethernet network connection and a 4 Lane CSI camera interface port, they also include a built in 802.1 b/g/n wireless and a 4.0 Bluetooth port. Both variants offer 64-bit DDR3 memory at a 1066 Mbit/s speed, the dual-core coming with 1 GB of memory, while the Quad-core comes with 2 GB of memory. [3]

Models & specifications: [4]

SOM i1SOM i2SOM i2exSOM i4Pro
SoC i.MX6 Soloi.MX6 Dual Litei.MX6 Duali.MX6 Quad
ProcessorSingle core ARM A9
1 GHz (up to 1.2 GHz)
Dual core ARM A9
1 GHz (up to 1.2 GHz)
Dual core ARM A9
1 GHz (up to 1.2 GHz)
Quad core ARM A9
1 GHz (up to 1.2 GHz)
Memory32 bit, 512 MB DDR3 @ 800 Mbit/s64 bit, 1 GB DDR3 @ 800 Mbit/s64 bit, 1 GB DDR3 @ 1066 Mbit/s64 bit, 2 GB DDR3 @ 1066 Mbit/s
GPU Vivante GC880Vivante GC880Vivante GC2000Vivante GC2000
Dimensions47 mm × 30 mm47 mm × 30 mm47 mm × 30 mm47 mm × 30 mm

CuBox-i & CuBox-M

A CuBox-i quad-core variant housing a Freescale I.MX6 Microprocessor. Cubox.png
A CuBox-i quad-core variant housing a Freescale I.MX6 Microprocessor.
The HummingBoard i.MX6-based computer-on-module. Hummingboard-i2eX-Top.png
The HummingBoard i.MX6-based computer-on-module.

Announced in December 2011, CuBox and CuBox-i are a series of fanless nettop-class mini computers, all cube shaped and approximate 2 × 2 × 2 inches in size, weighing around 91 g (3.2 oz). [5]

The first generation CuBox was a low-power ARM architecture CPU based computer, using the Marvell Armada 510 (88AP510) SoC with an ARM v6/v7-compliant superscalar processor core, Vivante GC600 OpenGL 3.0 and OpenGL ES 2.0 capable 2D/3D graphics processing unit, Marvell vMeta HD Video Decoder hardware engine, and TrustZone security extensions, Cryptographic Engines and Security Accelerator (CESA) co-processor.

In November 2013, SolidRun released a family of CuBox-i computers initially named CuBox-i1, i2, i2eX, and i4Pro, containing a range of different i.MX6 processors by Freescale Semiconductor. [6]

A further development in the family, CuBoxTV was announced in December 2014 as a mid-range CuBox-i SOM device designed to run Kodi on an OpenELEC Operating system, developed for the home entertainment market. [7] CuBoxTV was based on an ARM architecture Quad core CPU, 1 GB, 64 bit memory, GC2000 GPU with an OpenGL ES quad shader, and a host of video, audio and picture decoders and encoders supporting all major file type. The device has a number of connection ports including HDMI, 10/100/1000 Ethernet, USB 2.0, eSATA and optical audio. [8] [9]

HummingBoard

A compact computer-on-module ARM-based mini computer, running an i.MX6 or iMX8M SoC. HummingBoard is marketed as a modular fanless mini computer, to be integrated with larger networks or systems, especially in the area of IoT development. [10]

HummingBoard Base/Pro HummingBoard Gate HummingBoard Edge HummingBoard Pulse
SOM modeli.MX6 Single/Dual/Quad corei.MX6 Single/Dual/Quad corei.MX6 Single/Dual/Quad corei.MX8M Dual/Quad core
Dimensions85 mm × 56 mm102 mm × 69 mm102 mm × 69 mm102 mm × 69 mm
Voltage in5 V7 V – 36 V7 V – 36 V7 V – 36 V, PoE
RTC no/on board (RTC battery off board)on board (RTC battery socket/header)on board (RTC battery socket/header)
Back to back connectors2333 [11]
LVDS display outno/yesnoyes ???
SATA II no/mSATA Full Sizeno [12] M.2 2242 [13] M.2
PCI express 2.0no/mPCIe – Half SizemPCIe – Half & Full SizemPCIe – Half & Full SizemPCIe – Half & Full Size
Infrared remote control receiverno/yesnoyesyes
MikroBUS Click Board supportnoyesno
Enclosurenooptionaloptionaloptional

Networking products

ClearFog Pro, based on the ARMADA 38x SoC with the MicroSoM clearly visible on the left side. ClearFog-pro.jpg
ClearFog Pro, based on the ARMADA 38x SoC with the MicroSoM clearly visible on the left side.

Marvell ARMADA A388 family

A388 SOM

Based on the Marvell ARMADA 388 SoC, the SOM features a Dual core ARM Cortex-A9 with 1.6 GHz processing power (up to 1.3 GHz in industrial grade), and up to 2 GB, 32-bit DDR3L memory. At 30 mm × 50 mm the ARMADA MicroSoM is the basis for a number of SolidRun's products in this product family.

ClearFog A388

Announced in November 2015, SolidRun's ClearFog Single-board computer (SBC) is based on Marvell's Armada 38x ARM Cortex-A9 Dual SoC and is marketed as a modular development integration SBC. [14] The ClearFog is divided into two grades: Base and Pro, differing mainly in connectivity options and size.

The ClearFog is a fanless SBC based on a Marvell ARMADA A388 dual 1.6 GHz core SOM, with 1 GB memory, Mikroelektronika mikroBUS Click Board support, and various connection ports including USB 3.0, mPCIE & Ethernet ports. The Clearfog Pro has a Marvell 88E6176 DSA chip.

NXP Layerscape LX2160A family

LX2160A COM Express type 7

Marvell OCTEON TX2 CN9130 family

See also

Related Research Articles

XScale is a microarchitecture for central processing units initially designed by Intel implementing the ARM architecture instruction set. XScale comprises several distinct families: IXP, IXC, IOP, PXA and CE, with some later models designed as system-on-a-chip (SoC). Intel sold the PXA family to Marvell Technology Group in June 2006. Marvell then extended the brand to include processors with other microarchitectures, like Arm's Cortex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power Mac G5</span> Line of tower computers designed and manufactured by Apple

The Power Mac G5 is a series of personal computers designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple Computer, Inc. from 2003 to 2006 as part of the Power Mac series. When introduced, it was the most powerful computer in Apple's Macintosh lineup, and was marketed by the company as the world's first 64-bit desktop computer. It was also the first desktop computer from Apple to use an anodized aluminum alloy enclosure, and one of only three computers in Apple's lineup to utilize the PowerPC 970 CPU, the others being the iMac G5 and the Xserve G5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mini-ITX</span> 17 × 17 cm motherboard

Mini-ITX is a 170 mm × 170 mm motherboard form factor developed by VIA Technologies in 2001. Mini-ITX motherboards have been traditionally used in small-configured computer systems. Originally, Mini-ITX was a niche standard designed for fanless cooling with a low power consumption architecture, which made them useful for home theater PC systems, where fan noise can detract from the cinema experience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OMAP</span>

The OMAP family, developed by Texas Instruments, was a series of image/video processors. They are proprietary system on chips (SoCs) for portable and mobile multimedia applications. OMAP devices generally include a general-purpose ARM architecture processor core plus one or more specialized co-processors. Earlier OMAP variants commonly featured a variant of the Texas Instruments TMS320 series digital signal processor.

The PowerPC 400 family is a line of 32-bit embedded RISC processor cores based on the PowerPC or Power ISA instruction set architectures. The cores are designed to fit inside specialized applications ranging from system-on-a-chip (SoC) microcontrollers, network appliances, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to set-top boxes, storage devices and supercomputers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Digital My Book</span>

My Book is a series of external hard drives produced by Western Digital. There are currently nine series of My Book drives: Essential Edition, Home Edition, Office Edition, Mirror Edition, Studio Edition, Premium Edition, Elite Edition, Pro Edition, AV Dvr "Live Edition", and the World Edition.

The i.MX range is a family of Freescale Semiconductor proprietary microcontrollers for multimedia applications based on the ARM architecture and focused on low-power consumption. The i.MX application processors are SoCs (System-on-Chip) that integrate many processing units into one die, like the main CPU, a video processing unit, and a graphics processing unit for instance. The i.MX products are qualified for automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Most of them are guaranteed for a production lifetime of 10 to 15 years.
Devices that use i.MX processors include Ford Sync, the Amazon Kindle and Kobo eReader series of e-readers until 2021, Zune, Sony Reader, Onyx Boox readers/tablets, SolidRun SOM's, Purism's Librem 5, some Logitech Harmony remote controls and Squeezebox radio and some Toshiba Gigabeat MP4 players. The i.MX range was previously known as the "DragonBall MX" family, the fifth generation of DragonBall microcontrollers. i.MX originally stood for "innovative Multimedia eXtension".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">QorIQ</span> Microprocessor range

QorIQ is a brand of ARM-based and Power ISA–based communications microprocessors from NXP Semiconductors. It is the evolutionary step from the PowerQUICC platform, and initial products were built around one or more e500mc cores and came in five different product platforms, P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5, segmented by performance and functionality. The platform keeps software compatibility with older PowerPC products such as the PowerQUICC platform. In 2012 Freescale announced ARM-based QorIQ offerings beginning in 2013.

Nvidia Ion was a product line of Nvidia Corporation intended for motherboards of low-cost portable computers. It used graphics processing units and chipsets intended for small products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ARM Cortex-A9</span> 32-bit multicore processor developed by SR1

The ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore is a 32-bit multi-core processor that provides up to 4 cache-coherent cores, each implementing the ARM v7 architecture instruction set. It was introduced in 2007.

Vivante Corporation was a fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with an R&D center in Shanghai, China. The company was founded in 2004 as GiQuila and focused on the portable gaming market. The company's first product was a DirectX-compatible graphics processing unit (GPU) capable of playing PC games. In 2007, GiQuila changed its name to Vivante and shifted the direction of the company to the design and licensing of embedded graphics processing unit designs. The company licensed its Mobile Visual Reality to semiconductor solution providers, serving embedded computing markets for mobile gaming, high-definition home entertainment, image processing, and automotive display and entertainment.

Rockchip is a Chinese fabless semiconductor company based in Fuzhou, Fujian province. Rockchip has been providing SoC products for tablets & PCs, streaming media TV boxes, AI audio & vision, IoT hardware since founded in 2001. It has offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Hong Kong. It designs system on a chip (SoC) products, using the ARM architecture licensed from ARM Holdings for the majority of its projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PandaBoard</span> Single board computer

The PandaBoard was a low-power single-board computer development platform based on the Texas Instruments OMAP4430 system on a chip (SoC). The board has been available to the public at the subsidized price of US$174 since 27 October 2010. It is a community supported development platform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CuBox</span> Nettop computer

CuBox and CuBox-i are series of small and fanless nettop-class computers manufactured by the Israeli company SolidRun Ltd. They are all cube-shaped and sized at approximately 2 × 2 × 2 inches and weigh 91 grams. CuBox was first announced in December 2011 and began shipping in January 2012, initially being marketed as a cheap open-source developer platform for embedded systems.

OpenELEC is a discontinued Linux distribution designed for home theater PCs and based on the Kodi media player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banana Pi</span> Series of Chinese single-board computers

Banana Pi is a line of single-board computers produced by the Chinese company Shenzhen SINOVOIP Company, its spin-off Guangdong BiPai Technology Company, and supported by Hon Hai Technology (Foxconn). Its hardware design was influenced by the Raspberry Pi, and both lines use the same 40-pin I/O connector.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amlogic</span> American fabless semiconductor company

Amlogic Inc. is a Fabless semiconductor company that was founded on March 14, 1995, in Santa Clara, California and is predominantly focused on designing and selling system on a chip integrated circuits. Like most Fabless companies in the industry, the company outsources the actual manufacturing of its chips to third-party independent chip manufacturers such as TSMC. Its main target applications as of 2021 are entertainment devices such as Android TV-based devices and IPTV/OTT set-top boxes, media dongles, smart TVs and tablets. It has offices in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Hefei, Nanjing, Qingdao, Taipei, Hong Kong, Seoul, Mumbai, London, Munich, Indianapolis, Milan, Novi Sad and Santa Clara, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockchip RK3288</span>

The Rockchip RK3288 is an ARM architecture System on Chip (SoC) from Rockchip. It is the first SoC, in August 2014, that uses the 32-bit ARM Cortex-A17 processor. It is a quad-core processor with a NEON coprocessor and hardware acceleration for video and 3D graphics. It is used in a number of Chromebooks and other low-power, low-performance devices.

References

  1. "Company page". SolidRun. July 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  2. "SOM product overview". SolidRun. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  3. "SOM specifications". SolidRun. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  4. "iMX6 MicroSOM announcement" (Press release). Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  5. SolidRun Announces Cubox-i Platform with Freescale i.MX6 for as low as $ 45, www.cnx-software.com
  6. "CuBox-i specifications" . Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  7. Honorof, Marshall. "CuBox is a Tiny XBMC Set-Top Box in a 2-inch Cube". Tom's Guide. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  8. "CuBoxTV tech specs". CuBoxTV. Archived from the original on 2 June 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  9. Lehrbaum, Rick (21 December 2014). "Hands-on review: CuBoxTV running OpenELEC+Kodi and Android". Linux Gizmos. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  10. Sims, Gary (3 February 2015). "HummingBoard-i2eX review, dual-core SBC which runs Android and Linux". Android Authority. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  11. https://wiki.solid-run.com/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=imx8:som:docs:sr-imx8m-som-user_manual-rev-1.0.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  12. "HummingBoard Gate/Edge".
  13. "HummingBoard Gate/Edge".
  14. "ClearFog Pro datasheet" (PDF). SolidRun. Retrieved 28 February 2017.