Intel386™ EX Processor Embedded PC Evaluation Platform Overview

EXPLR2 provides PC compatibility reducing
development time and effort.

• Product Overview
• EXPLR2 Features
• Embedded PC Functionality
  • R380EX Controller
  • Embedded BIOS and RTOS
  • LCD/VGA Controller
  • PCMCIA, IDE and Floppy Control
  • System Requirements
  • Ordering Information

Product Overview

Complete, Flexible, Versatile Embedded PC Evaluation Platform
As the second member of the Exploration Series from Intel, the EXPLR2 provides both performance and feature enhancements to those offered in its predecessor, the EXPLR1. EXPLR2 demonstrates embedded PC capabilities using the new 33 MHz Intel386™ EX processor as its processor engine and the RadiSys R380EX embedded system controller to perform system control and I/O functions. The platform can be used as a traditional processor evaluation board providing an environment for code execution, debug and hardware development. EXPLR2 is also valuable when used within an embedded PC environment where applications are written on top of a PC-like BIOS and ROMable Operating System. Further, the embedded PC evaluation platform is expandable allowing for additional functionality to be incorporated within a customer-specific prototype or development environment.

The EXPLR2 enables new embedded designs to get to market sooner by taking advantage of the PC infrastructure for both hardware and software development. The platform comes equipped with a BIOS and a ROMable OS so there is no need to build an embedded application from scratch. It has keyboard and mouse interfaces, an IDE drive interface, floppy disk drive interface, ISA and PC/104 interfaces, and LCD/VGA display capabilities. Intel fully expects designers to re-use some portion (if not all!) of this base design within their specific application. The challenge of this platform was to be able to provide all the ingredients necessary for our customers to build a custom embedded PC system. The hardware design itself is modular, allowing for portions of the embedded PC design to be cut and pasted easily if desired.

The EXPLR2 can be used:

• As an Intel386 EX processor evaluation board running x86 code
• As an Intel386 EX processor prototype board for quick, proof-of-concept development
• As a stand alone target embedded PC platform for DOS/RTOS based applications.

EXPLR2 Features:

• 33 MHz Intel386 EX processor running pipelined, zeros ws, page mode
• 4 Mbit Boot Block Flash Memory
  (Intel 28F400SV) configured as 256Kb x 16
• 16 Mbit Resident Flash Array (Intel 28F016SV) expandable to 32 Mbit
• 4 MB of DRAM SIMM expandable to 16 MB
• A single slot Type II PCMCIA controller
• 2 ISA and 1 PC/104 expansion slots
• LCD/VGA graphics controller
• IDE controller
• Floppy Disk Controller
• PS/2 style mouse and keyboard
• 4 asynchronous serial ports (COM1, COM2, COM3, and COM4) and Parallel Port (LPT1)
• Real time clock (RTC) with battery backed CMOS RAM
• Embedded BIOS in Intel Flash memory
• ROMed QNX RTOS in Intel Flash memory
• Port 80h POST LED display

Embedded PC Functionality

R380EX Controller
The R380EX Embedded System Controller is a member of the RadiSys family of embedded core logic specifically designed to support the Intel386 EX Processor. The R380EX directly incorporates features needed for a PC compatible “glueless” interface to additional chips like a video controller or PC-Card controller. The R380EX features the following:

• True single chip ISA implementation
• DRAM Controller (512K to 64MB)
• Flash SIMM controller
• Integrated real-time clock
• Enhanced IDE interface
• PS/2 compatible keyboard and mouse controller
• Power management
• BIOS shadowing
• 4 programmable I/O chip selects
• 16-bit digital I/O port plus 6-bit output port
• Supports local bus implementation
• ROM or flash ROM interface
• Speaker interface
• Test mode
• 5V or 3.3V operation
• 208 pin PQFP

Embedded BIOS and RTOS
The EXPLR2 comes with a custom BIOS developed by Phoenix Technologies supporting the Intel386 EX processor and device drivers for all hardware supported devices. In addition, a ROM version of the QNX RTOS and GUI interface comes installed on the platform.

LCD/VGA Controller
Local bus graphic support is provided by a Cirrus Logic CL-GD6245 LCD/VGA controller. The 6245 supports 640 x 480 dual or single-scan color or monochrome STN LCDs and color or monochrome TFT LCDs. CRTs are supported with resolutions up to 1024 x 768 with 16 colors or 800 x 600 with 256 colors. The 6245 also provides simultaneous CRT and LCD operations. VGA uses a standard DB15 connector. LCDs can be attached using a 50 pin high density header.

PCMCIA, IDE and Floppy Control
The EXPLR2 provides a number of methods for accesses and executing applications. The on-board single slot Type II PCMCIA controller provides access to PCMCIA modules as well as a means to support large file transfers using portable media. A 40 pin header enables the more conventional method of booting your embedded design via an IDE controlled hard drive. A floppy disk drive is supported to allow easy installation of standard software and copying files between EXPLR2 and a host PC.

System Requirements
The EXPLR2 is an embedded PC evaluation platform that does not require any additional hardware. The board includes both the BIOS and OS in ROM. Just attach any VGA CRT, a PS/2 keyboard and mouse, and power supply to begin.

Ordering Information
To order the Reference Design Kit associated with the board call
1 (800) 548-4725 and request order number 272920; to order the EXPLR2 board contact your local Intel distributor, request Product Code: EX386EXPLR2.