Computer-On-Modules, or COMs, come standardized with the ETX, microETXexpress, and the ETXexpress systems. They offer standard functionality you can customize to any application needs. This provides for a tremendous amount of flexibility, all the while allowing the user to maintain functionality. The total design of the ETX baseboard keeps related costs to a minimum. Indeed, products that have embedded ETX modules are very scalable and enjoy longer life cycles.

ETX solutions have enjoyed a wide variety of industrial applications, especially in the automotive industry. These multi-faceted software topologies have been integrated into such amenities as Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Departure Warning systems. Meanwhile, engineering teams have been developing hardware that emphasizes the intersection of human need and computer precision.

With the advent of Computer-on-Modules, an old idea has been re-instituted. Daughter boards, otherwise known as add-on modules, had one specific IO function. They would add exceptional connectivity or input/output requirements to an off-the-shelf processor board. Computer functions have now become more and more generalized, creating a need for highly integrated, small, less expensive, application-specific functions.

The synchronization of chipset advances with processor evolution, has presented a major challenge to most embedded systems. The result is superior Computer-on-Modules which allow for an automatic upgrade path. The latest generation of interconnections enjoys the use of LVDS, or Low voltage Differential Signaling technologies, that make it possible to match the interfaces to any generic processing module. Computer-on-Modules currently utilize x86 models that possess a variety of standards and proprietary solutions.

There are currently applications that use embedded PDA with PXA255 X-Scales and WinCE 5.0 operating systems. These also use PXA255 and other diverse bus interfaces and mobile POS systems on ETX platforms. Certain industry CPU modules DMM-PC, X-board, ETX, and ETXexpress have successfully addressed the interface and speed to market problems. ETX is compatible with many baseboard designs and can be adapted for CPU architectures that are both comprehensive and customer driven. The use of interchangeable modules is scalable and offers many advantages over slower system integrators.