Category Archives: News

Syracuse, NY (March 4, 2014) – Critical Link is pleased to announce a new brand for its System on Module products. The company has introduced MitySOM, which it feels more clearly identifies with the technology offering while leveraging the brand equity that has been built with the Mity name.

Critical Link System on Modules offer industrial, scientific, medical and defense companies the ability to develop electronic products more quickly and cost effectively than if they were designing the boards from scratch. Customers are able to leverage Critical Link’s years of hardware and software development, and in turn focus on the other critical aspects of system design that drive their intellectual property.

“Today’s electronic applications require high throughput and advanced processing technology. Our MitySOMs deliver an off-the-shelf solution that eliminates the non-recurring costs and technical risk you would otherwise encounter with component integration, board layout, software porting, testing, and pre-production activities,” said Thomas Catalino, Vice President, Embedded Solutions. “Not only do we supply an off-the-shelf solution, but in doing so we allow you to focus your team on your core expertise.  In addition, we manage component obsolescence for you, and guarantee the long lifespans needed for industrial and military customers.”

Moving forward, the company will use the MitySOM brand to grow market awareness for its System on Modules, which are based on cutting edge single and multicore DSP, ARM, and FPGA technology.  In addition, some of the company’s most popular current modules will be rebranded under the new name. The transition is expected to be complete next month.

MitySOM modules and development kits are available today through the company’s distribution partners Arrow, Mouser, Digikey, and Avnet.  For the full listing of MitySOM products, visit https://www.criticallink.com/system-on-modules/.

About Critical Link

Syracuse, N.Y.-based Critical Link (www.criticallink.com) is an embedded systems engineering firm, offering a broad range of highly customizable, small-form factor SOMs and development kits for highly integrated, embedded systems for medical, scientific, and industrial applications. Critical Link’s end-to-end product engineering offerings include design, development, and production services. Critical Link is a member of the Altera Design Services Network, a Platinum Partner of the TI Design Network, and a certified member of the Arrow Consulting Engineering Services (ACES) network.

Syracuse, NY (January 27, 2014) – Critical Link has announced the availability of a new Analog I/O Expansion Kit for the company’s MityDSP-L138F.  The new kit adds three expansion connectors, supporting both low-speed and high-speed digital-to-analog (DAC) and analog-to-digital (ADC) data converters, to the standard MityDSP-L138F Industrial I/O Development Kit. The kit supports both low speed and high speed analog input and output, offering up to 40MSPS high speed input and up to 100MSPS high speed output, including arbitrary waveform generation. The kit was designed for prototyping applications that require data acquisition in addition to on-board signal processing. These include software defined radio (high speed channels), instrumentation, and custom analog measurement and control.

The new expansion kit is compatible with Critical Link’s MityDSP-L138F based development kits (one of which is required to interface with this expansion kit). The expansion board includes:

• Quad channel 16-bit low-speed DAC
• Dual channel 14-bit high-speed (options up to 275MSPS) DAC
• 16 channel low speed (1.8K – 23.7K SPS) ADC
• 16 bit single channel high speed (80MSPS) ADC
• 7 External GPIO pins
• One External I2C bus interface

To speed the development process while utilizing this expansion kit, Critical Link also includes a Linux- based software and firmware SDK, in addition to FPGA source code that can also be used as a reference for a custom implementation.

The MityDSP-L138F System on Module is the highest performance module in the OMAP-L138 family of MityDSPs. The MityDSP-L138F ARM9 system supports QNX, embedded Linux, Windows CE6 and ThreadX operating systems. It features the dual-core OMAP-L138 CPU from Texas Instruments, which provides both an ARM9 applications processor and a C674x Fixed / Floating Point DSP. When combined on the MityDSP with the optional on-board Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGA, system designers have available two 456 MHz CPUs, along with the capability to add fixed function co-processing or I/O co-processing in the FPGA.

About Critical Link

Syracuse, NY-based Critical Link is an embedded systems engineering firm. It offers a broad range of highly-customizable, small form factor SoMs that provide a complete and flexible CPU infrastructure for highly integrated embedded systems. Critical Link’s end-to-end product engineering offering includes design, development, and production services. Critical Link is a member of the Altera Design Services Network, a Platinum Partner of the TI Design Network, and a certified member of the Arrow Consulting Engineering Services (ACES) network.

The expansion kit is available now. More information can be found here, or by contacting Tom Catalino, Critical Link VP, at 315-425-4045, x201 or tom.catalino@criticallink.com.

Syracuse, NY (January 23, 2014) – Critical Link has announced the availability of its premier Altera Cyclone® V SoC based System on Module (SoM) through the company’s distribution partners Arrow, Digi-Key and Mouser.

The MitySOM™-5CSX features the Altera Cyclone V System-on-Chip, which combines FPGA logic and a dual-core ARM Cortex™-A9 processor subsystem. The MitySOM-5CSX provides a complete and flexible CPU infrastructure for high-throughput, highly integrated embedded systems.

“Our SoMs have always been about giving customers design flexibility and multiple options to achieve the performance their applications demand. The MitySOM™ and MityDSP^® SoM families include an array of DSP, ARM, and FPGA options suitable for today’s complex electronic products,” said Critical Link vice president Tom Catalino. “We’re excited to work with a great partner like Altera.”

Adding Cyclone-based SoMs broadened the number of applications Critical Link’s SoMs can support, which now includes machine vision, industrial automation and controls, test and measurement, scientific imaging, medical instrumentation, defense/security, and a variety of motor control applications. The MitySOM-5CSX offers advantages for data intensive applications in these markets where other products don’t achieve the required throughput.

In addition to the Cyclone V SoC, the MitySOM-5CSX includes NOR FLASH and DDR3 RAM memory subsystems. The SoM is capable of running a rich set of real-time operating systems containing the software applications programming interfaces expected by modern system designers. These operating systems include Linux, QNX, and Windows Embedded Compact.  The original module design has been updated to production silicon, making it ready to be delivered to end customers in OEM products, available in Q1.

In addition to the MitySOM-5CSX, Critical Link also offers off-the-shelf development kits for customers to experiment with the technology before locking down their design. Development kits include a baseboard for “plug and play” access to the SoM, with common interfaces such as Gigabit Ethernet, PCIe, CAN, USB, HSMC, and SD Card.

Since establishing relationships with top electronics component distributors, Critical Link has experienced tremendous growth in its line of SoMs, both in the US and Worldwide.

About Critical Link

Syracuse, NY-based Critical Link is an embedded systems engineering firm. It offers a broad range of highly-customizable, small form factor SoMs that provide a complete and flexible CPU infrastructure for highly integrated embedded systems. Critical Link’s end-to-end product engineering offering includes design, development, and production services. Critical Link is a member of the Altera Design Services Network, a Platinum Partner of the TI Design Network, and a certified member of the Arrow Consulting Engineering Services (ACES) network.

Syracuse, NY and Pittsburgh, PA – August 14, 2013 – Critical Link and Timesys Corporation today announced they are partnering to provide developers building embedded devices around the Critical Link MityDSP-L138(F) System-on-Module (SoM) with an easy-to-use, affordable Linux toolset that enables maximum embedded platform and application customization and reduces time to market.

Critical Link’s MityDSP-L138(F), with optional FPGA, is designed for those looking to supplement ARM® with DSP processing.  It features the dual-core OMAP-L138 DSP + ARM9™ processor—which includes a C674x fixed-and floating-point DSP from Texas Instruments (TI). When combined with the optional on-board Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGA, the MityDSP-L138(F) can be used for cost-sensitive applications requiring fixed function co-processing and power management in markets including industrial automation, communications and telecom, and medical. In addition, there are also plans for LinuxLink to be supported on Critical Link’s MitySOM-1808, a SoM-based on TI’s Sitara™ AM1808 processor. LinuxLink is currently available on the MitySOM-3359, based on TI’s Sitara AM3359 processor.

Timesys’ LinuxLink for MityDSP-L138(F) enables quick and easy design, development, deployment and debugging of an embedded product based on open source Linux. MityDSP-L138(F) developers can download a free board support package and matching software development kit (BSP/SDK) and get support for build and boot issues by registering for a LinuxLink FREE Edition account  here. For developers requiring maximum customization and control of their Linux platform and value-add application, Timesys’ commercially supported LinuxLink Pro Edition provides developers with a comprehensive development toolset, and it includes unmetered, expert support for all phases of their product development lifecycle.

For development teams requiring advanced engineering expertise, Timesys offers just-in-time professional services and customized training courses.

“We are pleased that Timesys has extended its embedded Linux support for the TI OMAP-L138 processors to include the MityDSP-L138(F),” said Critical Link vice president Thomas Catalino. “On top of the development jumpstart that our SoM provides, Timesys’ easy-to-use LinuxLink suite of tools and expert support will even further accelerate development, helping our customers bring feature-rich HMI-based products to market in the shortest time possible.”

“Timesys is pleased to add the Critical Link MityDSP-L138(F) to the growing list of TI platforms supported by our LinuxLink product offering,” stated Maciej Halasz, director of product management at Timesys. “With LinuxLink for MityDSP-L138(F), developers can leverage the advanced customization capabilities of our easy-to-use tools and support and confidently bring to market products that leverage the processing power and low power consumption of the TI OMAP-L138 processor.”

“Companies like Critical Link and Timesys are essential to the model of our design network,” said Tom Kelly, director of TI’s Design Network “Their modules and software make it easier for TI customers to design and get to market quicker.”

To learn more about Timesys’ support for Critical Link’s MityDSP-L138(F), including device drivers enabled, please visit the Timesys development center.

About Timesys
Timesys is the provider of LinuxLink, a high-productivity software development framework that dramatically simplifies and speeds up embedded Linux application development and product lifecycle maintenance. A total solution that fits teams of all sizes and experience levels, the LinuxLink framework includes pre-tested software, powerful development tools for building feature-rich applications and debugging, and live, expert support. For more information, visit www.timesys.com. Timesys is a platinum member of the TI Design Network.

Timesys Press Contact
Theresa Kisha
Tel: +1.412.325.6362
Email: theresa.kisha@timesys.com

About Critical Link

Critical Link is an innovative electronics product development company that helps its customers develop award winning products in a broad range of industries.  Its MityDSP and MitySOM System on Modules (SoMs) consistently demonstrate the ability to reduce product development cost and accelerate time to market.  For more information on Critical Link’s SoM family, visit www.mitydsp.com. Critical Link is a platinum member of the TI Design Network.

Critical Link Press Contact
Thomas Catalino
Tel: +1.315.425.4045 x201
Email: tom.catalino@criticallink.com

 

About the Texas Instruments Design Network
Timesys and Critical Link are members of the TI Design Network, a premier group of independent, well-established companies that offer products and system-level design and manufacturing services complementing TI’s semiconductors to a worldwide customer base to accelerate product innovation and time-to-market. Network members provide product design, hardware and software system integration, turnkey product design, RF and processor system modules, reference platforms, software development, proof-of-concept design, feasibility studies, research, certification compliance, prototyping, manufacturing, and product life cycle management. For more information about the TI Design Network, please visit www.ti.com/designnetwork.

Editors’ Notes
Timesys and the Timesys logo are registered trademarks of Timesys Corporation.
ARM and Cortex are trademarks of ARM Limited.
Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the United States and other countries.
All other company and product names mentioned are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Syracuse, NY (May 21, 2013) – Critical Link today announced the development of its first Altera Cyclone® V System-on-Chip (SoC) based System-on-Module (SoM). The MitySOM-5CSX features the Altera Cyclone V SX-U672, which combines FPGA logic and a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor subsystem. The MitySOM-5CSX provides a complete and flexible CPU infrastructure for high-throughput, highly integrated embedded systems.

“Since we first began developing SoMs, we’ve been committed to giving our customers choice. Our SoM family includes a wide array of DSP, ARM, and FPGA options, covering many different application requirements,” said Critical Link vice president Tom Catalino. “By adding Altera Cyclone-based SoMs to our offering set, we’re expanding the number of applications we can support.” Applications well-suited for the MitySOM-5CSX include machine vision, test and measurement, scientific imaging, medical imaging and instrumentation, military/aerospace, and a variety of motor control applications.“We’re very excited about partnering with Altera,” Catalino added.

“Critical Link is an important member of Altera’s Design Services Network, with significant embedded design services and product expertise in the Industrial market,” said Michael Sharpless, Altera’s Worldwide Program Manager, Design Services Network. “The company’s innovative industrial solution, based on Altera’s Cyclone V SoC device, will help embedded systems designers meet challenging product development needs, lower risk, and accelerate time to market for Industrial and new product applications.”

In addition to the Cyclone V SX-U672 SoC, the MitySOM-5CSX includes NOR FLASH and DDR3 RAM memory subsystems. The SoM is capable of running a rich set of real-time operating systems containing the software applications programming interfaces expected by modern system designers. The ARM architecture supports several OS, including Linux, uC/OS, QNX, and Windows CE.

The MitySOM-5CSX will be available through Arrow Electronics, a global provider of products for industrial and commercial users of electronic component, as well as through Mouser and DigiKey, beginning in Q3 2013.

About Critical Link
Syracuse, NY-based Critical Link is an embedded systems engineering firm. It offers a broad range of highly-customizable, small form factor SoMs that provide a complete and flexible CPU infrastructure for highly integrated embedded systems. Critical Link’s end-to-end product engineering offerings include design, development, and production services. Critical Link is a member of the Altera Design Services Network.

Arrow Electronics Signs Global Distribution Agreement with Critical Link

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.- March 20, 2013 — Arrow Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: ARW) has signed a distribution agreement with Critical Link, a leader in the development of embedded systems with expertise in a broad range of electronic applications. Under the agreement, Arrow will distribute Critical Link’s ARM and DSP-based system-on-modules (SoMs) and development kits to customers in North America.

“Arrow is highly regarded throughout the industry for the depth and breadth of products and services they offer,” said Tom Catalino, vice president for Critical Link. “Given their reputation and reach, we are very pleased that Arrow will be carrying our products.”

“Critical Link expands Arrow’s diverse embedded solutions offering and the tool packages to help our customers design and go to market quickly and effectively,” said David West, vice president of supplier marketing for Arrow Electronics. “This collaboration adds to our strength in enabling new technologies and accelerating customer timelines.”

 

About Arrow Electronics

Arrow Electronics (www.arrow.com) is a global provider of products, services and solutions to industrial and commercial users of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions. Arrow serves as a supply channel partner for more than 100,000 original equipment manufacturers, contract manufacturers and commercial customers through a global network of more than 470 locations in 55 countries.

 

About Critical Link

Syracuse, N.Y.-based Critical Link (www.criticallink.com) is an embedded systems engineering firm, offering a broad range of highly customizable, small-form factor SoMs and development kits for highly integrated, embedded systems for medical, scientific, and industrial applications. Critical Link’s end-to-end product engineering offerings include design, development, and production services. Critical Link is one of a select group of Platinum Members of the Texas Instruments Design Network.

 

Adeneo completes work on MityDSP-L138(F) and MitySOM-1808(F)

 

Syracuse, NY – November 20, 2012 – Critical Link today announced that Windows Embedded Compact is now available in its MityDSP-L138(F) and MitySOM-1808(F) System on Modules (SoMs). These are the first in a series of Critical Link ARM®-based SoMs that will include Windows Embedded Compact to facilitate development of display and human-machine interaction. Development of this capability was done by Bellevue, Washington-based Adeneo Embedded, a globally recognized expert on Windows Embedded Compact, Linux and Android technologies.

“Adding Embedded Compact to the list of operating system support for the MityDSP-L138(F) and MitySOM-1808(F) will provide our clients with the means to leverage their Windows experience and code base when developing applications on our modules,” said Critical Link vice president Tom Catalino . “We view this new capability as especially well-suited for those developing small-form-factor applications with a user interface in the industrial, medical, test and measurement, and alternative energy industries.” The MityDSP-L138(F) board combines an OMAP-L138 DSP + ARM9™ processor from Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) and an optional Xilinx Spartan 6 FPGA. The MitySOM-1808(F) features TI’s Sitara™ AM1808 ARM9 processor, along with an optional FPGA. In addition to Windows Embedded Compact support, these SoMs offer support for QNX, embedded Linux, and ThreadX. These SoMs are part of Critical Link’s MityDSP and MitySOM families, which offer different combinations of a varied set of TI DSP, TI ARM and Xilinx FPGA processors, supporting a broad range of application processing requirements. They enable developers to bring their applications to market more quickly and cost-effectively than they could with ground-up development efforts. “Adeneo Embedded was the logical – and optimal – choice as a partner for this initiative,” Catalino added.

Vijay Raisinghani is the Chief Operating Officer of Adeneo Embedded Americas. “Critical Link’s approach is to offer application developers a wide range of processing options. With Windows Embedded Compact, they’re adding new interface options, as well,” he said. “Adeneo Embedded’s skills and expertise in Windows Embedded Compact OS complement perfectly Critical Link products, providing an end-to-end solution for OEMs developing complex embedded devices requiring advanced human machine interactions.” Adeneo Embedded will next develop Embedded Compact support for Critical Link’s MitySOM-335x, which is based on TI’s Sitara AM335x ARM Cortex™-A8 processor.

“We are excited to see two of our platinum TI Design Network partners collaborating on this effort,” said Tom Kelly , director, TI Design Network. “Critical Link and Adeneo Embedded each bring unique strengths and expertise to their partnership, which will serve our customers well. We look forward to the release of Windows Embedded Compact support on additional Critical Link SoMs featuring TI’s DSP + ARM9 and ARM processors.”

 

About Critical Link

Syracuse, NY-based Critical Link is an embedded systems engineering firm. It offers a broad range of highly-customizable, small form factor SoMs that provide a complete and flexible CPU infrastructure for highly integrated embedded systems. Critical Link’s end-to-end product engineering offerings include design, development, and production services.

 

About Adeneo Embedded

Adeneo Embedded provides system integration, design, support and training services to companies seeking world-class expertise in embedded solutions using high-performance architectures. Adeneo is Microsoft Windows Embedded Gold Partner and Texas Instruments development partner for distribution, support and maintenance of Windows Embedded Compact BSPs for Texas Instruments ARM processors.

 

About the Texas Instruments Design Network

Critical Link and Adeneo Embedded are platinum members of the TI Design Network, a premier group of independent, well-established companies that offer products and system-level design and manufacturing services complementing TI’s semiconductors to a worldwide customer base to accelerate product innovation and time-to-market. Network members provide product design, hardware and software system integration, turnkey product design, RF and processor system modules, reference platforms, software development, proof-of-concept design, feasibility studies, research, certification compliance, prototyping, manufacturing, and product life cycle management. For more information about the TI Design Network, please visit http://www.ti.com/

Easy-to-Use, Affordable Linux Development Platform for MitySOM-3359

Syracuse, NY and Pittsburgh, PA – August 23, 2012 – Critical Link (https://www.criticallink.com) and Timesys Corporation (http://www.timesys.com), today announced they are partnering to provide developers using the Critical Link MitySOM-3359 System-on-Module (SoM) with an easy-to-use, affordable Linux software development framework that significantly speeds up time-to-market.

Based on the Sitara™ AM3359 ARM® Cortex-A8 processor from Texas Instruments (TI), the MitySOM-3359 is a highly configurable, small form factor SoM that offers support for many peripherals including integrated 3D-graphics. The MitySOM platform is used in a broad range of industrial, instrumentation, medical, commercial, transportation, and agricultural applications, integrated into benchtop, handheld, kiosk or mobile devices.

LinuxLink for MitySOM-3359 enables Critical Link customers to cost effectively develop cutting-edge products with state-of-the-art UIs and 3D graphics while ensuring a short learning curve — even for customers new to the embedded open source Linux community.

“Given all the features of our boards, we have been looking for a strong commercial embedded Linux partner that is well-aligned with our customer base and the markets we target,” said Critical Link Vice President Thomas Catalino. “We are very pleased to partner with Timesys. With Timesys’s LinuxLink offering and expert support team, our customers will be able to successfully design their MitySOM based next generation products.”

A free BSP/SDK for MitySOM-335x reference boards is available at www.timesys.com/register. By registering, users can download an existing Linux BSP/SDK or quickly build a custom version using Timesys’s cloud-based LinuxLink FREE Edition, which includes:

• A wizard-based interface that simplifies the selection of a Linux kernel, software packages and tools,

• Kernel, tool chain and debugger,

• Access to hundreds of open-source software packages, and

• First line of support by Timesys for build/boot issues.

In addition, customers will have the option to easily upgrade to Timesys’s LinuxLink PRO Edition which features a desktop-based development environment, tools for advanced customization and integration, and unmetered, expert support. When needed, customers can further shorten their time-to-market by utilizing the vast expertise of Timesys’s just-in-time professional services.

“Critical Link’s focus on providing high-quality yet cost-effective product development services aligns perfectly with our goal at Timesys of providing the industry’s most easy-to-use and affordable embedded Linux development tools that leverage the capabilities offered by established as well as emerging silicon platforms. We are delighted to add Critical Link to the family of Texas Instruments platforms supported by LinuxLink.” said Maciej Halasz, Director of Product Development at Timesys.

“We are pleased that Timesys continues to expand the availability of its LinuxLink platform across a variety of TI-based processors. The combination of LinuxLink software development tools and Critical Link’s MitySOM AM335x platform will definitely be welcomed in the market. For customers bringing new applications to market based on TI’s Sitara ARM processors, it provides a proven and complete hardware and software solution,” said, Alejandro Erives, brand marketing manager, Sitara, Texas Instruments. “LinuxLink for MitySOM enables advanced customization capabilities with its easy user interface, integrated open-source plug-ins and tested build environment.“

To learn more about this offering, please join us for a brief webinar on September 12, 2012 at 1pm EDT by registering now at http://www.timesys.com/webinar/mitySOM-3359.

 

About Timesys

Timesys is the provider of LinuxLink, an easy to use embedded Linux software development framework and associated professional services that dramatically simplifies and speeds up platform and application development. LinuxLink enables development teams to easily build and maintain embedded applications and devices through regularly updated Linux sources, proven middleware packages, and a scriptable GNU-based build environment. For more information, visit www.timesys.com. Timesys is a platinum member of the TI Design Network.

 

About Critical Link

Critical Link is an innovative electronics product development company that helps its customers develop award winning products in a broad range of industries. Its MityDSP and MitySOM System on Modules consistently demonstrate the ability to reduce product development cost and accelerate time to market. For more information on Critical Link’s SoM family, visit www.criticallink.com. Critical Link is a platinum member of the TI Design Network.

 

About the Texas Instruments Design Network

Timesys and Critical Link are members of the TI Design Network, a premier group of independent, well-established companies that offer products and system-level design and manufacturing services complementing TI’s semiconductors to a worldwide customer base to accelerate product innovation and time-to-market. Network members provide product design, hardware and software system integration, turnkey product design, RF and processor system modules, reference platforms, software development, proof-of-concept design, feasibility studies, research, certification compliance, prototyping, manufacturing, and product life cycle management. For more information about the TI Design Network, please visit www.ti.com/designnetwork.

 

Editors’ Notes

Timesys and the Timesys logo are registered trademarks of Timesys Corporation.

ARM and Cortex are trademarks of ARM Limited.

Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the United States and other countries.

TI is a trademark of Texas Instruments.

All other company and product names mentioned are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.