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Re: [oc] Re: Need a little direction
Hi Davesh,
Flextronics is a sponsor of some of the projects. But it is expected that
other companies will help as well.
regards,
Damjan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Devesh Kothari" <dkothari@protosys.com>
To: "Damjan Lampret" <damjan.lampret@flextronicssemi.com>
Cc: <cores@opencores.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2001 5:22 AM
Subject: Re: [oc] Re: Need a little direction
> Hello Damjan,
>
> Yes we would be very interested to get in touch with Flextronics. We can
> talk but before that it would be nice to decide on what we would be
talking
> (the agenda). As I stated on the newsgroup about our intention to create a
> flexible platform for headless devices, a cheap and affordable solution to
> take distributed intelligence to the masses. Looking at some of the
> responses on the newsgroup, what i believe I would do over the day or two
is
>
> 1. provide a short description of our project.
> 2. application areas we are targetting
> 3. consolidation of pointers and information from various people together
so
> it starts to shape the device, in terms of features and requirements.
>
> I appreciate all gurus on the newsgroup and would like to participate with
> all of you in creation of such a platform with all possible contributions
> from my side. I am of the firm belief of wonderful contribution open cores
> and OpenIP is doing at helping affordable hardware. But at the same time I
> also have a strong belief, that efforts should not just stop there, but
the
> efforts should lead a complete workable system, with maybe reference or
> production quality designs using as much OpenIP work as possible.
>
> If flextronic is already working on that, then that is wonderful news.
>
>
> Best Regards,
> Devesh Kothari
> Chief Technology Officer
> ProtoSys Technologies Pvt Ltd
> Phone: +91-80-2998859
> Mobile: +91-9844054325
> Email : dkothari@protosys.com
> Web: www.protosys.com
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Damjan Lampret" <damjan.lampret@flextronicssemi.com>
> To: <dkothari@protosys.com>
> Cc: "Damjan Lampret" <lampret@opencores.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2001 4:18 AM
> Subject: Re: [oc] Re: Need a little direction
>
>
> > Hi Patrick,
> >
> > very interesting ideas. What if I tell you that major contracting
> > manufacturer (the biggest?) that has a lot of experience also with
> handhelds
> > is supporting opencores to create a platform that you just described -
to
> > run Linux on it. Name of the EMS is Flextronics, manufacturer of Palm
> > Pilot's, Handsprings etc.
> >
> > If you need a contact to Flextronics, I work for them. Yes, I also run
> > OpenCores. If you are interested to talk about your ideas, I can give
you
> a
> > call.
> >
> > One of the projects that Flextronics completed for a customer is a PDA
> > device with StrongARM running Linux. Now I'm working in a team to create
> an
> > SOC specifically for PDAs, GSM phones and other handheld and internet
> > appliances. Many parts ofthis SOC are already being developed under
> > OpenCores, such as OpenRISC 1200, UART, memory controller, USB,
Ethernet,
> > IrDA etc.
> >
> > regards,
> > Damjan
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Devesh Kothari" <dkothari@protosys.com>
> > To: "Patrick Bernaud" <b-patrick@wanadoo.fr>; <cores@opencores.org>
> > Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2001 5:36 AM
> > Subject: [oc] Re: Need a little direction
> >
> >
> > > Hello Patrick,
> > >
> > > The platform which we are developing, we dont have much hardware
design
> > > capabilities. do you know someone or could get me in touch with
> > freelancers
> > > who can design this hardware board for us. We would definitely keep
all
> > the
> > > boards and designs and everything as GPL'ed so people could just take
> > > it/modify it.
> > >
> > > Well Linus gave us Linux, and I of the opinion that we should take
that
> to
> > > every device and to the people, what i see standing in the way is the
> > > affordable hardware.
> > >
> > > We want to concentrate on headless devices, as these are what i
> personally
> > > believe would provide the distributed intelligence to the masses, the
> > things
> > > they do and interact day in and out. I dont want the displays because
of
> > the
> > > simple reason, a)they are expensive b)they consume power c)they are
> > fragile
> > > d)they can not be shared. I believe as more and more mobile phone and
> > mobile
> > > terminals (whatever shape and size) would be owned by the masses and
> they
> > > would interact with these headless devices, and the headless devices
> over
> > > wireless (bluetooth or ...) would provide services using the mobile
> > terminal
> > > display. these displays could be as small as display in a watch,
mobile
> > > phone, PDA or webpads.
> > >
> > > We want to create the following platform and we would appreciate all
> help.
> > > We would even try and support the efforts in reasonable financial
ways.
> > >
> > > 1. BOM should not cross USD $50.
> > > 2. Should have wireless (Bluetooth, short range)
> > > 3. Should have 32MB Flash
> > > 4. Should have 256 MB SDRAM
> > > 5. Should have two PC Card slots.
> > > 6. CPU (could be a SOC)
> > >
> > > After doing considerable search, there are some of the options
> > > 1. taking the SA1110 reference design and depopoulate the board
> > extensively.
> > > 2. design from scratch
> > >
> > > Now biggest thing to be descided is what SOC/CPU to use. The options
are
> > > (you can suggest more)
> > > 1. StrongArm from Intel
> > > 2. DragonBall MX1 from Motorola (would be mass produced in March
2002),
> > > having integrated support for bluetooth and cost less than $25, they
> > claim.
> > > 3. AMD Elan processors (they are x86, and they consume as i am told
too
> > much
> > > power, but they are cheaper)
> > >
> > > The massive amount of SDRAM (I guess they are faster than flash and
lot
> > > cheaper too) , is for big enough RAM filesystem, which can then
download
> > > content from masterstation, like MP3 and MPEG video etc to be streamed
> on
> > > wireless (BT), this content would get lost if power goes off, which we
> > > believe is not the most often case.(the unit would be externally
> powered)
> > > and would have battery for maybe 1 hour operation.
> > >
> > > What we need is
> > > 1. freelancers to work on the designboard or any volunteers
> > > 2. pointers to information and any feedback to help us achieve what we
> set
> > > out to achieve. Any criticism or any sort of feedback is appreciated.
> > > 3. Component manufacturers/contract manufacturers who can give help us
> > > achieve that price.
> > > 4. any kind of support.
> > >
> > > We are based in India (Bangalore), and if anyone happens to be in
> > Bangalore
> > > and want to drop by our place you are more than welcomed to do that.
Any
> > > enquires please send it to me
> > >
> > > Looking forward for more pointers , feedback, answers in search for
the
> > > perfect solution.
> > >
> > > Best Regards
> > > Devesh Kothari
> > > Director
> > > ProtoSys Technologies Pvt Ltd
> > > www.protosys.com
> > > dkothari@protosys.com
> > > 22/2 Mission Rd, Samson Complex,
> > > Bangalore, 27, INDIA
> > >
> > > >
> > > > > [..] I am complete novice in terms of
> > > > > hardware (please dont suggest to just drop it then).
> > > > I will not. I do not know what you are into exactly. Nothing is
> > > impossible.
> > > >
> > > > > Then I would start the porting on one of Linux variant on the
box.
> > > > You may know that Linux has already been ported to the Strong Arm
> > > > architecture and Debian for example is providing a complete
> > > > distribution.
> > > >
> > > > > [..] I have
> > > > > all the BOM/Gerber files and schematic diagram from intel, but
not
> > sure
> > > how
> > > > > to proceed.
> > > > I guess that you want to use the gEDA tools and other free tools and
> > > > that is why you mailed me.
> > > >
> > > > If so, basically you will have to reenter all the schematics from
> Intel
> > > > into gschem. That mean that you will also have to create a new
symbol
> > > > for almost all the components, i.e. SA1110, bluetooth module ...
> > > > Then you will have to generate a netlist from the schematic - with
> > > > gnetlist.
> > > > And finally, you will have to route the board. I am not sure that
the
> > pcb
> > > > software from Harry Eaton would be complete enough for this task. In
> > fact,
> > > > SA1110 is quite a complex component as it is in a BGA - Ball Grid
> > Array -
> > > > package. At the working frequency you also have to take into account
> > > > the way the board is tracked.
> > > >
> > > > Of course, that was the scheme for the software manageable part. You
> > will
> > > > have to place an order for this board to a pcb maker.
> > > > As the package for SA1110 is a BGA you will not be able to solder it
> by
> > > > yourself and will require external help for that.
> > > >
> > > > > It would be quite useful if someone could help us finnish this
> > > > > project. If you can provide us with some direction please.
> > > > I would be pleased to help you as much as I can. Let me know how far
> > > > in the specification of the device you are, what kind of direction
> > > > you need.
> > > >
> > > > > Maybe I am just wasting your time. In that case please accept my
> > > apologies.
> > > > > Sorry for the trouble
> > > > I am not sure to have answered all your questions. If my
explanations
> > > > were too basic, excuse me.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Patrick BERNAUD
> > > >
> > > >
> > > --
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> > http://www.opencores.org/mailinglists.shtml
> > >
> >
> >
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