VersaLogic Owl Quick user guide

Hardware
Reference
Manual
REV. November 2020
Owl
(VL-EPU-4012)
Intel®Atom™ dual or quad core
E39xx-based Embedded
Processing Unit featuring error
correcting code memory (ECC),
TPM security, and extensive on-
board I/O.

VL-EPU-4012 Hardware Reference Manual ii
WWW.VERSALOGIC.COM
12100 SW Tualatin Road
Tualatin, OR 97062-7341
[phone]
Fax [phone]
Copyright © 2020 VersaLogic Corp. All rights reserved.
Notice:
Although every effort has been made to ensure this document is error-free, VersaLogic makes no representations or
warranties with respect to this product and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness
for any particular purpose.
VersaLogic reserves the right to revise this product and associated documentation at any time without obligation to
notify anyone of such changes.
* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

iii VL-EPU-4012 Hardware Reference Manual
Product Revision Notes
Revision 1.0 Initial draft
Revision 1.1 Updated the data rates in table 2
Revision 1.2 Replaced the CBR-4005B image (Figure 28)
Support Page
The Owl Product Page contains additional information and resources for this product including:
•Operating system information and software drivers
•Data sheets and manufacturers links for chips used in this product
•BIOS information and upgrades
Customer Support
If you are unable to solve a problem after reading this manual, visiting the product support page or
contacting VersaLogic Technical Support at [phone]. VersaLogic support engineers are also
available via e-mail at [e-mail].
Repair Service
If your product requires service, you must obtain a Returned Material Authorization (RMA) number by
calling 503-747-2261. Be ready to provide the following information:
•Your name, the name of your company, your phone number, and e-mail address
•The name of a technician or engineer that can be contacted if any questions arise
•The quantity of items being returned
•The model and serial number (barcode) of each item
•A detailed description of the problem
•Steps you have taken to resolve or recreate the problem
•The return shipping address
AS9100 All AS9100 products dispositioned for scrap shall be conspicuously and permanently marked, or
positively controlled, until physically rendered unusable.
Material designated for scrap may be recycled in a manner that complies with applicable environmental
regulations.
Note: VersaLogic recommends that all materials be disposed of in environmentally responsible manner i.e.,
recycling in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Warranty Repair All parts and labor charges are covered, including return shipping charges for
UPS Ground delivery to United States addresses.
Non-warranty Repair All approved non-warranty repairs are subject to diagnosis and labor charges,
parts charges and return shipping fees. Specify the shipping method you
prefer and provide a purchase order number for invoicing the repair.

VL-EPU-4012 Hardware Reference Manual iv

Note:
Mark the RMA number clearly on the outside of the box before returning.
Cautions
Electrostatic Discharge
CAUTION:
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage circuit boards, disk drives, and other
components. The circuit board must only be handled at an ESD workstation. If an
approved station is not available, some measure of protection can be provided by
wearing a grounded antistatic wrist strap. Keep all plastic away from the board, and do
not slide the board over any surface.
After removing the board from its protective wrapper, place the board on a grounded,
static-free surface, component side up. Use an antistatic foam pad if available.
The board should also be protected inside a closed metallic antistatic envelope during
shipment or storage.

Note:
The exterior coating on some metallic antistatic bags is sufficiently conductive to cause
excessive battery drain if the bag contacts the bottom side of the Owl.
Handling Care
CAUTION:
Avoid touching the exposed circuitry with your fingers when handling the board. Though
it will not damage the circuitry, it is possible that small amounts of oil or perspiration on
the skin could have enough conductivity to cause the contents of CMOS RAM to
become corrupted through careless handling, resulting in CMOS resetting to factory
defaults.
Earth Ground Requirement
CAUTION:
All mounting standoffs should be connected to earth ground (chassis ground). This
provides proper grounding for EMI purposes.

v VL-EPU-4012 Hardware Reference Manual
Contents
Introduction ...................................................................................................................9
Features.............................................................................................................................10
Technical Specifications...................................................................................................10
Block Diagram..................................................................................................................11
Dimensions and Mounting................................................................................................12
Owl Dimensions ..................................................................................................12
Mounting Plate Dimensions ................................................................................13
Configuration and Setup.............................................................................................14
Initial Configuration .........................................................................................................14
Basic Setup .......................................................................................................................14
BIOS Setup.......................................................................................................................16
Default BIOS Setup Values.................................................................................16
Operating System Installation........................................................................................... 16
Jumper Blocks ..................................................................................................................17
Jumper As-Shipped Configuration ...................................................................... 17
Jumper Configuration Summary.......................................................................... 17
Board Features............................................................................................................18
CPU...................................................................................................................................18
CPU Die Temperature .........................................................................................18
System RAM.....................................................................................................................18
Flash Storage ....................................................................................................................18
I/O Interfaces ....................................................................................................................18
Real-Time Clock (RTC) ................................................................................................... 19
Watchdog Timer...............................................................................................................19
External Connectors .........................................................................................................20
Baseboard Connector Locations..........................................................................20
Cabling.................................................................................................................21
Power Requirements............................................................................................21
Power Delivery Considerations...........................................................................21
Power Button.......................................................................................................22
Supported Power States.......................................................................................22
Battery Power Options.........................................................................................23
External Speaker...............................................................................................................24
Push-button Reset.............................................................................................................24
CPU Fan Connector..........................................................................................................25
Cabling.................................................................................................................25
LEDs.................................................................................................................................26
Power-Good/Fault Indicator LEDs......................................................................27
Mass Storage Interfaces.............................................................................................28
SATA Interface................................................................................................................. 28
microSD Socket................................................................................................................29

VL-EPU-4012 Hardware Reference Manual 6
eMMC Flash.....................................................................................................................29
Multi-purpose I/O.........................................................................................................30
USB Interfaces..................................................................................................................30
Mini PCIe Sockets............................................................................................................31
W_DISABLE# Signal..........................................................................................33
Mini PCIe Card Wireless Status LEDs................................................................34
mSATA Activity LED.........................................................................................35
User I/O Connector...........................................................................................................36
Cabling.................................................................................................................37
Analog-to-Digital Converter Interface.............................................................................. 38
Cabling.................................................................................................................39
SPX Expansion Bus..........................................................................................................40
Cabling.................................................................................................................41
Serial I/O ......................................................................................................................42
Serial Ports........................................................................................................................42
Serial Port Connector Pinout...............................................................................43
Cabling.................................................................................................................43
COM Port Configuration.....................................................................................44
Console Redirection .........................................................................................................44
Video Interfaces...........................................................................................................45
Mini DisplayPort++ Connector ........................................................................................45
VGA Output......................................................................................................... 47
LVDS Interface.................................................................................................................48
LVDS Flat Panel Display Connector...................................................................48
LVDS Backlight Connector.................................................................................50
Network Interfaces......................................................................................................51
Ethernet Connector..............................................................................................51
Cabling.................................................................................................................52
Ethernet Status LEDs...........................................................................................53
VL-CBR-4005B Paddleboard.......................................................................................54
VL-CBR-4005B Connectors and Indicators........................................................ 54
User I/O Connector..............................................................................................55
Cabling.................................................................................................................56
On-board Battery.................................................................................................56
Auxiliary I/O Connector......................................................................................57
Dimensions and Mounting Holes ........................................................................ 58
VL-CBR-2004B Paddleboard.......................................................................................59
Analog Input Connections................................................................................................60
Main I/O Connector..........................................................................................................60
Cabling.................................................................................................................61
Dimensions and Mounting Holes .....................................................................................61
Thermal Considerations .............................................................................................62
Selecting the Correct Thermal Solution for Your Application ........................................62
Heat Plate.............................................................................................................62
System-level Considerations ...............................................................................62

vii VL-EPU-4012 Hardware Reference Manual
CPU Thermal Trip Points....................................................................................63
Thermal Specifications, Restrictions, and Conditions ........................................64
Overall Restrictions and Conditions:...................................................................64
Heat Plate Only Restrictions and Conditions:.....................................................64
Heat Sink Only Considerations: ..........................................................................64
Heat Sink with Fan Considerations:....................................................................65
EPU-4012 Thermal Characterization ...............................................................................65
Thermal Test Results...........................................................................................65
Test Scenario 1: Dual Core EPU-4012-EAP without HDW-415 fan..................65
Installing VersaLogic Thermal Solutions.........................................................................67
Hardware Assembly............................................................................................. 67
Installing the VL-HDW-416 Passive Heat Sink..................................................68
Installing the VL-HDW-415 Heat Sink Fan........................................................ 70
Installing the VL-HDW-408 Heat Pipe Block.....................................................71
Figures
Figure 1. The Owl (VL-EPU-4012) ...............................................................................................................9
Figure 2. Owl (VL-EPU-4012) Block Diagram ............................................................................................11
Figure 3. Owl Dimensions and Mounting Holes ...........................................................................................12
Figure 4. Mounting Plate Dimensions...........................................................................................................13
Figure 5. Typical Development Configuration..............................................................................................15
Figure 6. Jumpers As-Shipped Configuration................................................................................................17
Figure 7. Baseboard Connector Locations.....................................................................................................20
Figure 8. Location and Pin Orientation of the Battery Connector.................................................................23
Figure 9. VL-CBR-0203 Latching Battery Module.......................................................................................24
Figure 10. Location and Pin Orientation of the CPU Fan Connector............................................................25
Figure 11. Location of Status Indicator LEDs...............................................................................................26
Figure 12. Location of the Power-good/Fault Indicator LED........................................................................27
Figure 13. Location of the SATA Connector ................................................................................................28
Figure 14. Location of the microSD Socket..................................................................................................29
Figure 15. Location of the USB Ports ...........................................................................................................30
Figure 16. Location of Mini PCIe Sockets....................................................................................................31
Figure 17. Mini PCIe Wireless Status LEDs.................................................................................................34
Figure 18. Location of the SATA/mSATA Activity LED.............................................................................35
Figure 19. Location and Pin Orientation of the User I/O Connector.............................................................36
Figure 20. Location and Pin Orientation of the Analog-to-Digital Input Connector .....................................38
Figure 21. SPX Connector Location and Pin Configuration .........................................................................40
Figure 22. Location and Pin Orientation of the Serial I/O Connectors..........................................................42
Figure 23. Location of the Mini DisplayPort++ Connector...........................................................................46
Figure 24. VL-CBR-2032 Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter......................................................................47
Figure 25. Location of the LVDS Connectors...............................................................................................48
Figure 26. Location and Pin Orientation of the Ethernet Connector .............................................................51
Figure 27. Onboard Ethernet Status LEDs ....................................................................................................53
Figure 28. VL-CBR-4005B Connectors, Switches, and LEDs......................................................................54
Figure 29. Location and Pin Orientation of the User I/O Connector.............................................................55
Figure 30. Location and Pin Orientation of Auxiliary I/O Connector ...........................................................57
Figure 31. VL-CBR-4005B Dimensions and Mounting Holes......................................................................58
Figure 32. CBR-2004B Connectors...............................................................................................................59
Figure 33. Analog Input and Ground Terminal Block Pinouts......................................................................60
Figure 34. Location and Pin Orientation of the Main I/O Connector............................................................60

VL-EPU-4012 Hardware Reference Manual 8
Figure 35. CBR-2004B Dimensions and Mounting Holes ............................................................................61
Figure 36. An Example of Hardware Assembly with Heat Plate Down ........................................................67
Figure 37. An Example of Hardware Assembly with Heat Plate Up.............................................................68
Figure 38. Installing the Passive Heat Sink...................................................................................................69
Figure 39. An Example of Installed Heat Sink Fan.......................................................................................70
Figure 40. Installing the Heat Pipe Block......................................................................................................71
Tables
Table 1: Jumper Block Configurations..........................................................................................................17
Table 2: Owl Memory Characteristics...........................................................................................................18
Table 3: Main Power Connector Pinout........................................................................................................21
Table 4: Supported Power States...................................................................................................................22
Table 5: CPU Fan Connector Pinout.............................................................................................................25
Table 6: Mini PCIe / mSATA Socket Pinout ................................................................................................32
Table 7: Mini PCIe Card Wireless Status LEDs ...........................................................................................34
Table 8: User I/O Connector Pinout and Pin Orientation..............................................................................37
Table 9: Analog-to-Digital Input Connector Pinout......................................................................................39
Table 10: SPX Connector Pinout ..................................................................................................................41
Table 11: COM1/COM2 Connector Pinout...................................................................................................43
Table 12: COM3/COM4 Connector Pinout...................................................................................................43
Table 13: Mini DisplayPort++ Connector Pinout..........................................................................................46
Table 14: LVDS Flat Panel Display Connector Pinout.................................................................................49
Table 15: LVDS Backlight Connector Pinout...............................................................................................50
Table 16: Ethernet Connector Pinout ............................................................................................................52
Table 17: User I/O Connector Pinout............................................................................................................55
Table 18: Auxiliary I/O Connector Pinout ....................................................................................................57
Table 19: Main I/O Connector Pinout...........................................................................................................60
Table 20: CPU Thermal Trip Points..............................................................................................................63
Table 21: Temperature Monitoring Programs...............................................................................................64
Table 22: Absolute Minimum and Maximum Air Temperatures...................................................................64
Table 23. Dual Core Hardware Setup............................................................................................................65
Table 24. Test 1 - Dual Core Thermal Test Results......................................................................................66
Table 25. Quad Core Hardware Setup...........................................................................................................66
Table 26. Test 2 - Quad Core Thermal Test Results .....................................................................................66

Introduction
9 VL-EPU-4012 Hardware Reference Manual
Introduction
Figure 1. The Owl (VL-EPU-4012)

Introduction
VL-EPU-4012 Hardware Reference Manual 10
Features
The Owl is a small and rugged board-level embedded computer. Approximately four inches
square and one inch thick, the Owl is a member of VersaLogic’s family of small, ultra-rugged
embedded x86 computers. Equipped with a powerful dual or quad-core Intel “Apollo Lake”
processor and soldered-on ECC RAM, the Owl is designed to withstand extreme temperature,
impact, and vibration.
Error correcting RAM Up to 8 GB
-40° to +85°C Operating
Temperature
5th Generation Intel Atom*processor
(“Apollo Lake”) E3950 (quad core)
or E3930 (dual core)
TPM 2.0 security
On-board power conditioning. 8 to 30
volt input
Hardware-based security
COMe Compact size (95 x 95mm)
Low power (8 W typ.)
Up to 8 GB of soldered-on Error Correcting Code (ECC) memory is available for highly reliable
applications. ECC memory is beneficial in environments where single bit memory errors may
occur, such as with cosmic ray interactions which increase dramatically with altitude.
Technical Specifications
Refer to the Owl Product Page for complete specifications. Specifications are subject to change
without notification.