A Guide to Amptek Technologies iCon Single Board Computer for Internet of Things (IoT) Applications
About Symmetry Electronics Team
Established in 1998, Symmetry Electronics is a focused global distributor of wireless connectivity solutions, sensors, and audio-video technologies. Offering comprehensive design support and available-to-ship inventory, Symmetry is committed to helping engineers accelerate time to market, reduce costs, and offer modern solutions for their IoT designs. Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway company, TTI, Inc. in 2017, Symmetry Electronics is part of the Exponential Technology Group (XTG) – a supergroup of electronic component distributors and engineering services firms working together to advance the electronics industry. For more information, visit www.symmetryelectronics.com.
The iCon from Amptek Technologies, Inc. stands for Internet Connectivity. It is a uClinux based, credit card sized (8.6 x 5.4 cm) Cortex-M3 single board computer with drivers Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0, USB, CAN, and RS-485, designed specifically for the Internet of Things (IoT) application. It brings the two most common and cost-effective wireless technologies into a single embedded system.
At the heart of the iCon is a 120MHz Cortex-M3 processor, 32Mbyte of flash memory, and 64Mbyte of SDRAM. Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules are CE, FCC, and Industry Canada qualified. The Open Source TCP/IP, WPA supplicant, and BlueZ protocol stacks are all included. iCon also comes standard with CAN bus, RS-485, and USB 2.0 ready to be connected to the real world. On the back of the iCon are two expansion connectors. There is also a battery holder for a coin cell battery that will keep the real-time clock running when the main power source is disconnected, essential for products that keep track of the time.
iCon is intended to be a low cost wireless platform for implementing industrial control systems, wireless sensors, or smart home appliances. It is also an excellent educational tool for wireless embedded systems.
Applications:
- Industrial control systems
- Sensor networks
- Smart home appliances
Hardware:
- NXP LPC1788 - up to 120MHz Cortex-M3 microcontroller
- 32MByte Flash memory
- 64MByte SDRAM
- 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth 4.0
- USB 2.0
- CAN 2.0B
- RS-485
- Real-time clock
Software:
- uClinux operating system - Linux kernel 2.6.33-ARM1
- BlueZ Bluetooth protocol stack
- TCP/IP protocol stack
- WPA supplicant
- Boa web server
- Inadyn DDNS client
Expansion:
- I2C
- SPI
- UART
- RMII
- PWM
- GPIO
- 10-bit DAC
- 12-bit ADC
- 16-bit RGB LCD
For more information about the iCon, or to purchase your own, please call Symmetry Electronics at (310) 536-6190, or contact us online.
About Symmetry Electronics Team
Established in 1998, Symmetry Electronics is a focused global distributor of wireless connectivity solutions, sensors, and audio-video technologies. Offering comprehensive design support and available-to-ship inventory, Symmetry is committed to helping engineers accelerate time to market, reduce costs, and offer modern solutions for their IoT designs. Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway company, TTI, Inc. in 2017, Symmetry Electronics is part of the Exponential Technology Group (XTG) – a supergroup of electronic component distributors and engineering services firms working together to advance the electronics industry. For more information, visit www.symmetryelectronics.com.