Eurotech Helios Quick user guide

Rev. 2-October 2009
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR A BETTER WORLD
www.eurotech.com
HARDWARE REFERENCE MANUAL
Helios™ Platform
Programmable Edge Controller

Disclaimer
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and should not be construed as a commitment
by any Eurotech company. While reasonable precautions have been taken, Eurotech assumes no responsibility for
any error that may appear in this document.
Trademarks
Helios™ and Everyware™ are trademarks of Eurotech Inc.
All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners.
Revision History
Issue no.
PWB
Date
Comments
1 Jul-09 Initial release, preliminary
2 Oct-09 Second release, preliminary
© 2009 Eurotech Inc.
For contact details, see page 27.

Contents
110124-30002, preliminary 3
Contents
Introduction............................................................................................................................ 5
Block Diagram ........................................................................................................... 5
Features .................................................................................................................... 6
Further Reading......................................................................................................... 7
Handling Your System Safely..................................................................................... 7
Conventions............................................................................................................... 7
Software Support ................................................................................................................... 9
Operating System ...................................................................................................... 9
BIOS.......................................................................................................................... 9
Boot Options .............................................................................................................. 9
Everyware™ Software Framework............................................................................. 9
Getting Started..................................................................................................................... 10
Components ............................................................................................................ 10
Connectivity ............................................................................................................. 10
Hardware Reference............................................................................................................ 12
Rear Panel............................................................................................................... 12
Connectors................................................................................................... 13
Boot Mode Switch ........................................................................................ 14
USB Bay .................................................................................................................. 14
Indicators ................................................................................................................. 15
Enclosure................................................................................................................. 16
Configurations ..................................................................................................................... 17
Processor ................................................................................................................ 17
Memory.................................................................................................................... 17
CompactFlash® Card or SD Card ................................................................ 17
On-Board Flash............................................................................................ 17
SATA Drive................................................................................................... 17
USB Disk Drive ............................................................................................ 17
Communications ...................................................................................................... 18
Universal Serial Bus..................................................................................... 18
Serial Port .................................................................................................... 18
Ethernet ....................................................................................................... 18
GPS ............................................................................................................. 18
Multimedia Cards..................................................................................................... 18
Power Supply........................................................................................................... 19
Peripherals .......................................................................................................................... 20
USB Device Support ................................................................................................ 20
System Specification............................................................................................................ 21
Processor ................................................................................................................ 21
Power ...................................................................................................................... 21
Power Supply............................................................................................... 21
Power Consumption..................................................................................... 22

Helios Platform Hardware Reference Manual
110124-30002, preliminary
4
Electrical .................................................................................................................. 22
Real-Time Clock........................................................................................... 22
Audio Interface............................................................................................. 23
SATA Drive ................................................................................................... 23
EMI/EMC ................................................................................................................. 23
Environmental .......................................................................................................... 24
Appendix A – Reference Information.................................................................................... 25
Appendix B – System Revision ............................................................................................ 26

Introduction
110124-30002, preliminary 5
Introduction
Helios™ is a programmable edge controller that provides a flexible application-ready
hardware platform with enhanced wireless capabilities. It is based on the Catalyst
Module which integrates with a base board and supporting peripheral devices. All
electronics are housed in an enclosure. Three USB host ports for wireless devices and
additional storage are accessible in the USB Bay located under the removable cover.
With the Helios platform, you can quickly and easily create an edge controller device,
loaded with your application software that precisely meets your requirements. Several
options are available allowing you to choose the hardware based on your specifications.
Using pre-certified wireless modules in the USB Bay, the Helios platform can be easily
customized for any network. Software support includes Eurotech’s Everyware™
Software Framework (ESF) offering simple to use APIs.
Block Diagram
The following diagram illustrates the system organization of the Helios platform. Notice
that the data connector on the Catalyst Module has been divided into two sections for this
illustration. Dotted lines indicate configuration options.For information about these
options, see Configurations, page 17.
Catalyst Module XL
Helios™Platform
1 x SD/MMC
Intel® Atom™
Processor
IDE/PATA
SDVO
1 x PCIe
3 x USB2.0
HD Audio
Pwr Supply
FSB
Intel®
SCH US15W
LPC Bus
TPM
VBAT (RTC)
Gigabit Ethernet
1 x USB2.0
CompactFlash
SD/MMC
V Reg
DDR-2
DRAM
BAT
Embedded
Ctrl
BIOS
I2C
Sys Mgmt I/O
GPIOs
2 x USB2.0
EIA 232/485
SATA
Drive
1 x PCIe
GigE
Controller
SMBus
SATA
Controller
3 x USB2.0 Host
(USB Bay)
LM75
Temp Monitor
2 x USB2.0 Host
USB to
Serial
GPS
Rcvr
4 Port Hub
I2C GPIOMomentary Switch
8 x LED
GPS
SMBus GPIO
On-board
PATA flash
LVDS Video
1 x USB2.0
Audio
Codec
SDVO
to VGA
Stereo Line In
Stereo Line Out
Microphone In
VGA Display Out
Multimedia Card Support
(VGA option board shown)
Regulated Power
(optional Vehicle Pwr)

Helios Platform Hardware Reference Manual
110124-30002, preliminary
6
Features
Processor
•Catalyst Module
- Intel® Atom™ processor at 1.1 GHz (up to 1.6 GHz options)
- Intel® System Controller Hub US15W
- 512 MB DDR-2 DRAM (up to 2 GB options)
- Battery-backed real-time clock
Memory
•CompactFlash® card or SD card (option)
•On-board PATA flash (option)
•Internal SATA drive (option)
•External USB disk drive support
Communications
•Five USB 2.0 host ports operating low, full, and high speeds
- Two general-purpose ports
- Three USB Bay ports for wireless devices and storage
(option for up to three external antenna connections)
•EIA-232 or EIA-485 serial port (software-selectable)
•Gigabit Ethernet port
•GPS with external antenna connection (option)
User Interface and Display
•Multimedia card support for display and audio options
- VGA options board (currently available)
VGA display out
Stereo line output and stereo line input
Mono microphone input
- (For additional options boards, see Multimedia Cards, page 18.)
•Eight software-controlled LED status indicators
•Software-readable push-button
Power Supply
•12 V DC power input (up to 36 V vehicle power input option)
•Power management support capable of operation at < 3W
Mechanical
•ABS plastic and aluminum enclosure

Introduction
110124-30002, preliminary 7
Further Reading
This document describes the Helios platform and is intended for system integrators. A
system-level overview is provided in the following sections. The following documents are
also important resources for developing applications for the Helios platform.
Document
Helios Platform Dev Kit Quick Start 110124-3003
Helios Platform Dev Kit with VGA option Quick Start 110124-3004
Check the Eurotech support site (http://support.eurotech-inc.com/) for errata reports and
for the latest releases of these documents.
Handling Your System Safely
Anti-Static Handling
The Helios platform is designed to meet the Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) criteria
contained in IEC 61000-4-2 (EMC – Part 4-2: Testing and Measurement Techniques –
Electrostatic Discharge Immunity Test). The electronics included in the enclosure contain
CMOS devices that could be damaged by electrostatic discharge (ESD). Observe
industry-standard electronic handling procedures when handling these electronics.
Where possible, work on a grounded anti-static mat. At a minimum, touch an electrically
grounded object before handling any electronics.
Packaging
Please ensure that, should a system need to be returned to Eurotech, it is adequately
packed, preferably in the original packing material.
Electromagnetic Compatibility
The Helios platform is defined as an unintentional radiator of electromagnetic energy.
For additional information about the EMI/EMC specification, see EMI/EMC, page 23.
Conventions
The following table lists the symbols used in this document.
Symbol Explanation
Note – information that requires your attention
Warning – proceeding with a course of action may
damage your equipment or result in loss of data

Helios Platform Hardware Reference Manual
110124-30002, preliminary
8
The following table describes the conventions for signal names used in this document.
Convention Explanation
GND digital ground plane
+ positive signal in differential pair
- negative signal in differential pair
The following table describes the abbreviations for direction and electrical characteristics
of a signal used in this document.
Type Explanation
I signal is an input to the system
O signal is an output from the system
IO signal may be input or output
P power and ground
nc no connection
reserved use is reserved to Eurotech

Software Support
110124-30002, preliminary 9
Software Support
Eurotech provides an application-ready platform including BIOS, operating system, and
development environment.This section gives a brief description of the software support
available for the Helios platform. For additional details, contact your local Eurotech
technical support.
Operating System
The Helios platform is available with the following operating systems:
•Wind River Linux 3.0
•Windows® Embedded Standard
•Windows CE 6.0
BIOS
The Helios platform incorporates a custom system BIOS developed by Eurotech.
Boot Options
The Helios platform has the capability to boot and install the operating system from five
sources. The following are the boot options:
•CompactFlash card
•USB disk drive
•SD card
•SATA drive
•On-board PATA flash
Everyware™ Software Framework
Everyware Software Framework (ESF) is an inclusive software framework that puts a
middleware layer between the operating system and the OEM application. It provides
industry-standard interfaces that shorten development time, simplify coding, and allow
software to be ported from one Eurotech hardware platform to another. ESF is available
on the Helios platform.
For information about ESF, refer to the Eurotech website (http://www.eurotech.com).

Helios Platform Hardware Reference Manual
110124-30002, preliminary
10
Getting Started
The Helios platform is configured to acquire its network address automatically using
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). This section describes how to determine
this address before you begin development.
Components
To get started, you will need the following components:
•Helios platform
•Power supply (12 VDC adapter and regional AC power cord)
•Null modem cable (DB9FF)
•Ethernet cable
•Computer with EIA-232 serial port, terminal emulation program, network connection,
and SSH client program
•DHCP server
Connectivity
To determine the network address, complete the following steps:
1. Connect any available serial port of the computer to the EIA-232 serial port using
the null modem cable.
2. Open a terminal emulation program on the computer with the following port
settings:
Baud rate: 9600
Data bits: 8
Parity: none
Stop bits: 1

Getting Started
110124-30002, preliminary 11
3. Connect your network cable to the Ethernet socket.
4. Connect the 12 VDC adapter to the DC power input.
5. Connect the 12 VDC adapter to AC power.
The power LED illuminates green when the adapter is connected. After several
seconds, the operating system boots and the system sends console output to the
terminal.
6. Retrieve the IP address displayed on the terminal.
After the message “Bringing up interface eth0” is displayed, the IP address is
given as “inet addr:”.
7. Use a SSH client program and the IP address to log in remotely.

Helios Platform Hardware Reference Manual
110124-30002, preliminary
12
Hardware Reference
This section gives an overview of the hardware features of the Helios platform. The
overview includes location and function of connectors, indicators, and switches and
details about the enclosure.
Rear Panel
The following diagram illustrates the location of connectors and switches on the rear
panel. Notice that the system shown uses the VGA options board and includes additional
connectors not found on the standard system. For other multimedia card options, see
Multimedia Cards, page 18.
Standard system
The following table describes the connectors on the rear panel of a standard system.
Connector
Enclosure Connector
Description
Antenna 1-3 Device dependent USB device external antenna connections
Power 1 x 2 header, 3.5 mm Main power input
USB 1-2 USB Type A receptacle USB 2.0 host ports
Serial DB-9 plug EIA-232 (default) or EIA-485
Ethernet RJ-45 socket Gigabit Ethernet network
GPS SMA socket GPS external antenna connection
USB
Serial
Ethernet
GPS
Power
Video
Line Out
Line In
Microphone
Antenna Connections
Switch

Hardware Reference
110124-30002, preliminary 13
VGA Option
The following table describes the additional connectors on the rear panel of a system that
includes the VGA options board.
Connector
Enclosure Connector
Description
Microphone RCA jack Mono microphone input
Line In RCA jack Stereo line in
Line out RCA jack Stereo line out
Video DE-15 socket VGA video output
Connectors
The following tables describe connectors that do not follow an industry-standard pinout.
Power Input
Connector: 2-pin header, 3.5 mm, Phoenix Contact 1937318
Mating connector: 2-pin plug, Phoenix Contact 1847055
The Helios platform accepts input power from a regulated external supply. For details
about input power options, see Power Supply, page 19.
Pin Name Type Description
1 GND P ground
2 VIN PI 12 V (nominal) power input
Serial Port
Connector: DB9 plug
Mating connector: DB9 socket
By default the Helios platform provides an EIA-232 serial port. As a software-controlled
option, this port can be configured for EIA-485 operation.
Pin EIA-232 (default) EIA-485
Name Type Description Name Type Description
1 DCD I Data Carrier Detect RX+ I Receive Data +
2 RXD I Receive Data RX- I Receive Data -
3 TXD O Transmit Data TX- O Transmit Data -
4 nc TX+ O Transmit Data +
5 GND P ground GND P ground
6 nc nc
7 RTS O Request To Send nc
8 CTS I Clear To Send nc
9 nc nc

Helios Platform Hardware Reference Manual
110124-30002, preliminary
14
Boot Mode Switch
The Helios platform includes a momentary push-button switch accessible through a small
hole on the rear panel near the GPS connector. This switch generates an interrupt to the
processor and is software-definable.
USB Bay
The following diagram illustrates the location of connectors inside the USB Bay.
The three USB 2.0 host ports located in the USB Bay permit use of wireless USB devices
inside the enclosure.These ports use USB sockets with locking latches preventing
accidental disconnects or lost connections due to vibration. Each USB port includes a
corresponding connection for an external antenna. The type of connection is dependent
on the USB device used.
Some USB devices will not fit in the USB Bay or require cabling external to the
enclosure. For these types of devices, cables for the USB interface can plug into the
locking sockets in the USB Bay and then pass through the larger external cooling vents in
the bottom of the USB Bay cover. A CAN interface is one example of such a device. For
additional information about the enclosure, see Enclosure, page 16.
Warning: Do not forcibly pull on the USB device to disconnect. Raise the
latch on the socket to remove the device.
USB Sockets with
Locking Latches
Antenna
Connections

Hardware Reference
110124-30002, preliminary 15
Indicators
The Helios platform has eight red/green/yellow light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that are
software-controlled. The following diagram illustrates the location of the LEDs. The
LEDs are visible to the operator on two sides of the enclosure.
The following table describes the LEDs on the enclosure.
LED CR Description Controller
(note 1)
Device
Red Signal
Green Signal
1 8 Serial activity USB UART IC CBUS4 CBUS3
2 1 Power SMBus GPIO P1 P0
3 2 Software-definable SMBus GPIO P3 P2
4 3 Software-definable SMBus GPIO P5 P4
5 4 Software-definable SMBus GPIO P7 P6
6 5 SATA activity SATA Controller LED0
SATA Controller LED1
7 6 Software-definable I2C GPIO P1 P0
8 7 SD card activity SMBus GPIO P2
SCH US15W SLOT0_LED
Note:
1. CR refers to the reference designator located on the base board.
LED2 indicates system power. By default, LED2 is illuminated green when power is
applied.
LEDs
1
8

Helios Platform Hardware Reference Manual
110124-30002, preliminary
16
Enclosure
The Helios platform is housed in an enclosure 25.9 x 12.1 x 4.5 cm
(10.2 x 4.75 x 1.75 inches) in size, as shown in the following diagram.
This enclosure includes the following features:
•ABS plastic
•Adaptable I/O side plates
•Removable USB Bay cover
- Accommodates USB devices with length up to 3.5 inches
- Includes security screws to secure the cover to the enclosure
- Uses 7/64-inch hex key to open the cover
•Aluminum base plate
- Provides various mounting options
- Supports thermal management
•External cooling vents
- Allows cooling by an external fan
- Provides openings for routing cables external to the enclosure
Note: To open the USB Bay, use the 7/64-inch hex key supplied
with the development kit.
Screws
External
Cooling Vents
Removable
USB Bay Cover

Configurations
110124-30002, preliminary 17
Configurations
The Helios platform’s flexible design enables several options supporting many possible
combinations to meet your system requirements. These options are factory-installed,
and the system is configured for operation at the factory with the specific combination of
options. This section describes the options available for the Helios platform.
Processor
The Helios platform bases its architecture on the high-performance, low-power Catalyst
Module. This module is available in various versions based on the following features:
•Processor speed
•On-module DRAM
•Operating temperature
The standard system includes a 1.1 GHz, 512 MB Catalyst Module XL for the industrial
temperature range. For the various performance variants, see Processor, page 21.
Memory
Five types of memory provide mass storage options for the Helios platform. In addition,
the system can boot from any of these memory options. For information about boot
options, see Boot Options, page 9.The following sections describe the memory options.
CompactFlash® Card or SD Card
As an option, the Helios platform can include a CompactFlash® card or Secure
Digital/MultiMedia (SD/MMC) card. Both media provide mass storage in a wide variety of
capacities. Each type of card is located internal to the enclosure and is not accessible
when the system is completely assembled.
Note: The CompactFlash card option is mutually exclusive with
the SD card option.Only one card can be installed.
On-Board Flash
On-board PATA flash is available as an option populated in increments of 1 GB.
SATA Drive
As an option, the Helios platform can include a single, 2.5-inch form factor SATA drive
internal to the enclosure. For SATA drive specifications, see SATA Drive, page 23.
USB Disk Drive
A USB disk drive can connect to any of the five USB host ports on the Helios platform.

Helios Platform Hardware Reference Manual
110124-30002, preliminary
18
Communications
A key capability of the Helios platform is its network and wireless connectivity. The
system offers five USB host ports, an EIA-232/485 serial port, a Gigabit Ethernet port,
and GPS. The following sections describe these interfaces.
Universal Serial Bus
Five Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports included on the Helios platform support
connectivity with a wide range of available USB devices. All ports support the USB 2.0
specification operating at low, full, and high speeds. For power requirements, see Power,
page 21.Two ports are general-purpose USB host ports accessible on the rear panel,
while the remaining three ports are located in the USB Bay. For additional information
about these USB ports, see USB Device Support, page 20.
Serial Port
The Helios platform provides a serial port accessible on the rear panel. By default, this
port is an EIA-232, 6-wire interface. Under software-control, the port can be configured
as an EIA-485 interface.
Ethernet
For network connectivity, the Helios platform includes a Gigabit Ethernet port.
GPS
The standard system includes a “u-blox” GPS module with an external antenna
connection on the rear panel. This module is a population option.
Multimedia Cards
To provide custom display and audio solutions, the Helios platform includes an internal
card slot for add-in multimedia cards. This hardware flexibility enables the Helios
platform to support a wide variety of display types and audio requirements.
Display Output
The Helios platform supports the following display output options:
•VGA with max resolution of 1366 x 768 (currently available)
•CVBS, S-Video, or HDTV
•HDMI
•DVI-D
•LVDS with 24-bit color, touch screen (4, 5, or 8-wire), and backlight
Note: The VGA options board is currently available. Other boards
will be available as future options.

Configurations
110124-30002, preliminary 19
Audio Interface
The multimedia card slot includes an Intel HD Audio interface to support an audio codec
on the add-in card. The Intel HD Audio specification defines an industry-standard
interface for implementing high quality audio in an embedded environment.
Currently, the VGA options board provides the following audio capabilities:
•Stereo line output and stereo line output
•Mono microphone input
For electrical specifications, see Audio Interface, page 23.
Power Supply
The standard system requires a regulated DC power input. As an option, the Helios
platform can be powered from vehicle rated power. For power specifications, see Power,
page 21.

Helios Platform Hardware Reference Manual
110124-30002, preliminary
20
Peripherals
Support for a wide variety of plug-in USB devices enables the Helios platform to be easily
customized for any application. This section describes the types of peripherals available
for use with the Helios platform.
USB Device Support
The three USB ports located in the USB Bay expand the capability and connectivity of the
Helios platform, in addition to providing the option to boot from a USB device. These
ports enable customization for your specific application with no hardware modifications to
the system.
The Helios platform supports the following types of USB devices:
•Cellular modem
•ZigBee
•Wi-Fi
•Bluetooth
•Telematics / CAN
•Mass storage
•HID (Human Interface Device)
For additional information about the USB Bay, see USB Bay, page 14.
Eurotech has pretested and approved several USB devices for use with the Helios
platform. For the latest list of devices, contact your local Eurotech sales representative.