Digi-Key Releases Open Source BeagleBoard Development Board

Digi-Key announced it is shipping Revision C of the BeagleBoard from BeagleBoard.org.

The latest version offers increased design flexibility with twice the memory (256 MB RAM), additional high-speed USB port, and an LCD expansion connector. Based on a Texas Instruments OMAP3530 processor, the BeagleBoard bridges desktop and embedded development by delivering laptop-like performance in a 3x3-inch form factor.

This month, BeagleBoard.org launched the new Sponsored Projects Contest, which challenges developers to submit and complete inventive projects that leverage the expandability of the BeagleBoard. Those designing can submit their design concepts to the Sponsored Projects Contest at beagleboard.org/contest.

Each week, a group of contributors from the 1,600-plus member community will judge and award two proposed projects based on overall quality, technical complexity, creativity, and ease of use. Winners will receive BeagleBoards to help execute their ideas. Each month, a top contributor, who has completed a project, will be rewarded with other OMAP 3 processor based prizes, such as a Gumstix Overo gum pack from Gumstix, or a Touch Book from Always Innovating or a Zoom OMAP34xII Mobile Development Platform (MDP).

Interested developers are invited to collaborate and exchange project ideas with community members at the BeagleBoard users group meeting held at TI Technology Day in Dallas, Texas on June 16.

Features of the BeagleBoard Revision C include the following:

- The latest board integrates a dedicated-host USB port that can be used with a standard A-type connector to add a high-speed USB hub connected to TV tuners, network adapters, keyboards and mice, web cameras, hard drives, or other USB peripherals. At the same time, it can act as a USB device via the USB on-the-go port, potentially translating one USB device class into another.

- The LCD expansion interface can be used with an adapter board to connect to different displays, such as RGB LCD panels and LVDS panels.

- 256 MB RAM gives developers the flexibility to implement more instructions and run more than one program.

- Three pulse width modulation (PWM) signals on the expansion connector allow for motor driver functions or PWM signaling.

- An integrated TI TPS65950 power management device supports up to 13 channels of power management and incorporates audio and USB - all on a single chip.

- The OMAP3530 processor incorporates an ARM Cortex-A8, graphics engine, TI TMS320C64x+ digital signal processor (DSP) and video accelerators.

- A USB 2.0 on-the-go MMC/SD/SDIO and DVI-D, found on previous BeagleBoard versions, are also available with Revision C.

BeagleBoard Revision C (Digi-Key part number 296-23428-ND) is now available on Digi-Key's global websites, the company noted in a release.

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