Avnet Electronics Marketing releases PicoZed System-On-Module

Avnet Electronics Marketing, an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT) recently released PicoZed, its newest family of System-On-Modules (SOMs) based on the Xilinx Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoC. In support of PicoZed development and prototyping, Avnet is also releasing the PicoZed Carrier Card, which provides the necessary interfaces and access to user I/O from the PicoZed SOM. Targeted for industrial control, embedded vision, test and measurement, motor control and software-defined radio applications, PicoZed enables designers to get to market faster with a proven Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoC subsystem.

Leveraging the highly successful MicroZed SOM, PicoZed gives designers the flexibility to migrate between the Zynq 7010, 7015, 7020, and 7030 All Programmable SoC devices in a pin- compatible footprint. The highly flexible and rugged PicoZed SOM contains the common functions required to support the core of most SoC designs, including memory, configuration, Ethernet, USB, clocks and power. It provides easy access to over 100 user I/O pins through three I/O connectors on the backside of the module. These connectors also support access to dedicated interfaces for Ethernet, USB, JTAG, power and other control signals, as well as the GTP/GTX high-speed serial transceivers on the Zynq 7015 and 7030 All Programmable SoC models. The transceiver-based Zynq 7015 and 7030 All Programmable SoC versions of PicoZed are a superset of the Zynq 7010 and 7020 All Programmable SoC versions, adding four transceiver ports to the I/O connectors.  

The PicoZed Carrier Card provides connector interfaces for the on-module Gigabit Ethernet PHY and USB PHY, and supports common processor system interfaces including a microSD card slot and USB-UART port. A majority of the PicoZed’s programmable logic I/O are made available through a Low-Pin Count (LPC) FMC connector. In addition, an HDMI output port, a second Gigabit Ethernet port and several peripheral module connectors are included. The four serial transceivers on the Zynq 7015 and 7030 SOMs are allocated to an x1 PCIe Gen2 card edge interface, the FMC connector, a SFP+ cage and a general purpose SMA interface. Adjustable bank voltage power supplies enable user I/O voltage selection of the multiple I/O banks on the PicoZed.  

“With the launch of PicoZed, Avnet is providing a cost-effective alternative to chip-down SoC design,” said Jim Beneke, vice president of global technical marketing at Avnet Electronics Marketing. “The scalability in being able to go from a lower density, transceiver-less 7010 to a higher density, transceiver-based 7030 Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoC opens the door to some creative options for designers. Avnet provides the necessary board support packages, reference designs and support to help our PicoZed customers speed their design efforts.”  

All four PicoZed SOMs are available for order today from Avnet Electronics Marketing. Pricing per hundred pieces for the 7010, 7015, 7020, and 7030 PicoZeds are $179, $299, $229, and $399, respectively. Industrial temperature versions are also available. The PicoZed Carrier Card is offered at $425. Further information on the PicoZed SOM and Carrier Card can be found at www.picozed.org.  

Both kits are being demonstrated at Avnet’s X-fest technical workshops. To view the X-fest seminar schedule or register for an event, visit the X-fest 2014 website.