REFERENCE DESIGNS INTEL CORPORATION

Intel386™ EX Processor Embedded PC

The EXPLR1 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 Based

Applications

EXPLR1 Features:
■ 25 MHz Intel386 EX Processor

Running Pipelined, Zeros ws,

Page Mode
■ 4 Mbit Boot Block Flash Memory

(Intel 28F400BXT) Configured as

256Kb x 16
■ 1 MB of DRAM SIMM Expandable

to 16 MB
■ A Single Slot Type II PCMCIA

Controller
■ LCD/VGA Graphics Controller

■ IDE Controller

■ PS/2 Style Mouse and Keyboard

■ 2 Asynchronous Serial Ports

(COM1 and COM2) The EXPLR1 evaluation platform differs EXPLR1 Kit Includes:
■ Real Time Clock (RTC) With considerably from other Intel embedded The EXPLR1 kit includes the Intel386
Battery Backed CMOS RAM evaluation boards. The EXPLR1 enables EX CPU based embedded PC evaluation
■ System Bus Access Via Two new embedded design to get to market platform board and a flash utility for
Expansion Headers quicker by taking advantage of the PC downloading and reprogramming the on-
■ Embedded BIOS in FLASH
infrastructure for both hardware and soft- board flash memory. The flash utilities
■ ROMed DOS in FLASH
ware development. The platform comes allow a user to install an operating system
■ Compact Board Design - 6" x 6"
equipped with a BIOS and a ROMable or debug monitor of choice. By using the
OS so there is no need to build an embed- flash utilities, users can easily download
As part of the new Exploration Series ded application from scratch. It has key- and run application programs from flash
from Intel, the EXPLR1 demonstrates board and mouse interfaces, an IDE drive memory whether in a DOS or proprietary
embedded PC capabilities using the interface, and LCD/VGA display capabil- environment.
Intel386 EX Processor as its primary ities. Intel fully expects that embedded
processor engine. The platform can be designers will re-use some portion (if not Embedded PC Functionality
used as a traditional processor evaluation all!) of this base design within their spe- R300EX Controller
board providing an environment for code cific application. The challenge of this The R300EX memory/bus controller is a
execution, debug and hardware develop- platform was to be able to provide all the low cost semi-custom device developed
ment. However, the platform is best used ingredients necessary for our customers
within an embedded PC environment to build a custom embedded PC system C O N TA C T:
where embedded applications are written for their specific target market segment or Local Intel Sales Office
on top of a PC-like BIOS and a ROMable application. The hardware design itself is WWW: http://www.intel.com/embedded/
DOS Operating System. Further, the modular, allowing for portions of the
embedded PC evaluation platform is embedded PC design to be cut and pasted
expandable allowing for additional easily if desired.
functionality to be incorporated within
a customer specific prototype or develop-
ment environment.
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 REFERENCE DESIGNS INTEL CORPORATION

Flash Installation Utility

The flash installation utility establishes
COM1
Tranceivers
COM2
communication between the serial port
Intel386 EX
and the flash support utility. A hardware
DIO Header
Processor switch allows the install software to
Keyboard
Buffer 82C42PC
download an embedded application into
Mouse
Boot Block FLASH
ROM (flash). The utility also allows for
Synchronous Expansion
Expansion
downloading other software such as
Address & Bus Header
Control another operating system or debug moni-
PCMCIA
PCMCIA tor. The flash utility accepts Intel OMF-
Real-Time Clock Controller
Data
386 bootloadable format, Intel hex for-
Buffer
IDE Header IDE Device mat, or absolute memory image. The
DRAM Control
flash utility allows displaying the directo-
1, 2, 4, 8,
or 16MB LCD/VGA Controller VGA Monitor ry of programs stored in flash memory on
Muxed the EXPLR1.
Address R300EX
Memory/Bus Video Memory
Controller System Requirements
The EXPLR1 is an embedded PC evalua-
tion platform that does not require any
additional hardware to run DOS based
Intel386™ EX Processor Block Diagram applications. The board includes both the
BIOS and OS in ROM. Just attach any
VGA CRT, a PS/2 keyboard and mouse,
by Radisys Corp. that reduces board LCD/VGA Controller
and power supply to begin.
space by combining a number of basic Local bus graphic support is provided by
system control functions for the EXPLR1 a Cirrus Logic CL-GD6245 LCD/VGA Ordering Information
within a single controller. The R300EX controller. The 6245 supports 640 x 480 To order the Reference Design Kit associ-
has two primary functions. First, it pro- dual or single-scan color or monochrome ated with the board call 1 (800) 548-4725
vides DRAM control taking advantage of STN LCDs and color or monochrome and request order number 272768; to
pipelining for maximum access speeds. TFT LCDs. CRTs are supported with res- order the EXPLR1 board contact your
Second, it provides critical system bus olutions up to 1024 x 768 with 16 colors local Intel distributor, request Product
signals to enable expansion capabilities to or 800 x 600 with 256 colors. The 6245 Code: EX386EXPLR1.
the platform. In addition, the R300EX also provides simultaneous CRT and
provides Flash memory control, data bus LCD operations. VGA uses a standard
transceiver control, reset synchronization, DB15 connector. LCDs can be attached
ready generation and NMI generation using a 50 pin high density header.
logic.
PCMCIA and IDE Control
Embedded Bios and Dos The EXPLR1 provides a number of meth-
The EXPLR1 comes with a custom BIOS ods for accesses and executing applica-
developed by Phoenix Technologies tions. The on-board single slot Type II
supporting the Intel386 EX processor and PCMCIA controller provides access to
device drivers for all hardware supported PCMCIA modules as well as a means to
devices. In addition, a ROM version of support large file transfers using portable
MS DOS supported by Annabooks comes media. A 40 pin header enables the more
installed on the EXPLR1 board. As other conventional method of booting your
BIOS’s and DOS’s become available embedded design via an IDE controlled
they will be supported on the Intel hard drive.
applications BBS.

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