VARISCITE RELEASES HEADLESS VERSION OF ITS LINUX-FRIENDLY DART-6UL COM

Variscite is releasing another pin-compatible version of their 50 x 25mm DART-6UL computer-on-module. This time it will be loaded with NXP’s headless new i.MX6 ULZ variant of the single Cortex-A7 core i.MX6 UL. This yet unnamed module lacks display or LAN support. It is described as “a native solution for headless Linux-based embedded products such as IoT devices and smart home sensors requiring low power, low size, and rich connectivity options.”

VARISCITE RELEASES HEADLESS VERSION OF ITS LINUX-FRIENDLY DART-6UL COM

The lack of display and LAN features mimic the limitations of the cost-effective Linux processor i.MX6 ULZ by NXP. The headless, up to 900MHz Cortex-A7 ULZ SoC offers most of the I/O of the of the i.MX6 UL/ULL, including ESAI, S/PDIF, and 3x I2S audio interfaces, but features such as the 2D Pixel acceleration engine and Ethernet controllers are missing.

We’ve seen last year, Variscite upgraded the Linux-ready DART-6UL into a faster, 696MHz v1.2, which added the option of NXP’s power-efficient i.MX6 ULL SoC in addition to the i.MX6 UL. It was followed up with a DART-6UL-5G model that houses an onboard, certified WiFi/Bluetooth module with dual-band, 2.4GHz/5GHz 802.11ac/a/b/g/n.

The upcoming i.MX6 ULZ based version has the same WiFi-ac module with Bluetooth 4.2 BLE. Like the latest versions of the other DART-6UL modules, the module can be clocked to 900MHz. The “cost effective” ULZ version only lacks the touch-enabled, 24-bit parallel RGB interface and dual 10/100 Ethernet controllers. Other deducted features compared to earlier models include dual CAN, parallel camera, and “extra security features.”

The new module is also limited to a temperature range of 0 to 85°C instead of being available in 0 to 70°C or -40 to 85°C versions. The i.MX6 ULZ SoC itself has a slightly wider range of 0 to 95°C. The pin-compatible DART-6UL with iMX6 ULZ will offer the i.MX6 ULZ SoC with optional security features. It will include TRNG, AES crypto engine, and secure boot. This 50 x 25mm module will ship with 512MB DDR3L. The storage range is similar, with a 512MB NAND and up to 64GB eMMC.

The DART-6UL with i.MX6 ULZ will support 2x USB 2.0 OTG host/device ports, audio in and out, and UART, I2C, SPI, PWM, and ADC interfaces. OS support is revealed as Linux Yocto, Linux Debian, and Boot2QT.

The DART-6UL with iMX6 ULZ will be available in the fourth quarter this year. The DART-6UL/ULL/ULZ product page mentions that the lowest, volume-discounted price is $24. More information may be found in Variscite’s announcement.


About The Author

Ibrar Ayyub

I am an experienced technical writer holding a Master's degree in computer science from BZU Multan, Pakistan University. With a background spanning various industries, particularly in home automation and engineering, I have honed my skills in crafting clear and concise content. Proficient in leveraging infographics and diagrams, I strive to simplify complex concepts for readers. My strength lies in thorough research and presenting information in a structured and logical format.

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