1. StackPC Stackable Computers
June 1, 2012

2. StackPC General Board Layouts
StackPC Expansion Connector A
PCI/104 Expansion Connector B
FPE Expansion Connector B

3. StackPC Expansion Connector A Functionality:
4х1 PCIe root ports, 4 clocks
1x4 PCIe root port, 1 clock
USB ports
SATA ports
Gigabit Ethernet - 2 ports
LPC
FBUS ports
SPI slaves
SMB
ATX power and control signals: +5V_SB, PS_ON#, POWERGOOD
Power: +3.3V, +5V, +12V

4. FPE Expansion Connector B Functionality
1x16 PCIe or 2x8 PCIe or 2x4 PCIe - 2 root ports, 2 clocks
Display Port port
Configurable Section - User Defined
Power: +3.3V, +5V, +12V
Top Connector Bottom Connector

5. StackPC Approach
StackPC specification defines only one direction for modules stacking. Following that definition, StackPC peripheral modules are stacked on top side of Host board (“Stack-Up only” configuration). This allows Host module to be more functional and more cost efficient. Host module may be on top or bottom of system stack depending from the whole system stack orientation.
StackPC specification doesn’t limit Bottom side use. Additional Type 1 or Type 2 PCIe/104 connector can be used on Bottom side providing Stack-Down configuration option.
Having most popular peripheral interfaces within stack connectors StackPC opens the door to the new area of Computer-On-Module (COM) like applications which were not addressed by other PC/104 family specifications
Low speed SPI and FBUS ports allows cost effective peripheral modules which do not require speed of PCIe or USB. Ports can be used also as GPIO.

6. “Stack Up only” approach
Stack-up is a System level approach. Applicable for PC/104 and StackPC Specification implementations.
Provides more real estate on CPU’s PCB since there is no requirement for CPU module to have Q2 connector on Top and Bottom.
Provides more real estate for peripheral modules, reduces power consumption, simplifies layout, since there is no need for PCIe, USB and SATA switches.
Reduces Cost.
Allows more standardized and cost effective heat sink solutions.

7. “Stack Up only” approach

8. “Computer-On-Module” application
Most popular peripheral interfaces are within stack connectors StackPC
Unique feature of using StackPC CPU as a COM module is a possibility to add StackPC peripheral modules to the system .
Tall components can be used both on StackPC CPU module and on carrier board.
Reduces Cost.
Allows more standardized and cost effective heat sink solutions.

9. “Computer-On-Module” application
COM-application without StackPC Expansion Modules
COM-application with standard StackPC Expansion Modules

10. StackPC Interfaces –USB2.0
StackPC does support 6 USB 2.0
Type 3 Advantages:
Multiple USB2.0 can be used as user interfaces for standard peripherals and as board-to- board interconnect
USB 2.0 as interconnect can be used for I/O applications (see right side as example)

11. StackPC Interfaces –Ethernet
StackPC does support 2 GbE
Advantages:
Less cables – easy to release at front / front panel
POE support opportunity
Match to COM Express specs and usage model
Example of add-on board for
application development
with Ethernet

12. StackPC Interfaces – SPI
StackPC does support up to 3 SPI
Advantages:
SPI is supported by Intel, AMD, ARM, MIPS, PowerPC, AVR, PIC,…
SPI is used to talk to a variety of peripherals, such as:
Sensors: temperature, pressure, ADC, touchscreens, video game controllers
Control devices: audio codecs, digital potentiometers, DAC
Communications: USART, CAN, IEEE , IEEE
Memory: Flash and EEPROM
Real-time clocks
LCD displays, sometimes even for managing image data
Any MMC or SD cards

13. Interfaces availability for Type 1, 2 PCIe/104 and StackPC
Feature
Type 1
Type 2
StackPC
PCIe x 1 4
Express Card Interface - 2
PCIe x4 1
PCIe x8/x16
1/2
Ethernet
USB 2.0
2+4=6
USB 3.0
SATA
LPC
SPI 3
Fieldbus
RTC Battery
Superior

14. StackPC targets everything “Stackable”
A) StackPC in PC/104 Form-factor Stackable Industrial Computers
B) StackPC as an expansion bus for Single Board Industrial Computers. (EPIC, EBX, 3.5”, etc. form-factors)
C) StackPC CPU card as the mezzanine Computer-on-Module mounted on carrier board.

15. Thank You