[Updated: June 19] — Intrinsyc’s tiny “Open-Q 410” module has a quad-core 1.2GHz Cortex-A53 Snapdragon 410, offers WiFi, BT, GPS, and 8GB eMMC, and runs both Android and Linux.

Vancouver, Canada based Intrinsyc Technologies Corp. has expanded its line of Qualcomm Snapdragon based Open-Q computer-on-modules with a tiny module that taps Qualcomm’s 64-bit, Snapdragon 410. The Open-Q 410 is designed for Internet of Things applications like robotics, cameras, set-top-boxes, wearables, medical devices, vending machines, building and home automation, and industrial control.

Open-Q 410 SOM
(click image to enlarge)

The Snapdragon 410 system-on-chip, which will also debut this month on Qualcomm’s own DragonBoard 410c, a 96Boards-compatible hacker SBC, features four 1.2GHz Cortex-A53 cores, a 400MHz Adreno 306 GPU, and a Hexagon DSP. The DragonBoard 410c came in fifth out of 53 single board computers in our recent hacker SBC survey.


Snapdragon 410 block diagram
(click image to enlarge)

The Open-Q 410 is the second computer-on-module we’ve seen to run a 64-bit, ARMv8 SoC after Intrinsyc’s own Open-Q 8094, which debuted the octa-core, Cortex-A57 and -A53 Snapdragon 810.

You can load Android 5.0, as well as Windows 10, which looks like it may be Microsoft’s biggest embedded OS competitor for Linux and Android since the heyday of Windows CE. Linux support is mentioned in the announcement, but is not listed in the product’s datasheet. In an email, a company official confirmed that a Linux BSP for the Open-Q 410 is planned, and “we will be updating the datasheet when it becomes available.”

Whereas the Open-Q 8094 and Snapdragon 805-based Open-Q 8084 were SODIMM-style COMs, the Open-Q 410 connects to its Open-Q 410 Development Kit carrier board via dual 100-pin connectors located on the back of the module. At a wee 44 x 26.5mm, the Open-Q 410 is almost half the size of the previous Open-Q modules.

Open-Q 410 rear view showing dual 100-pin connectors
(click image to enlarge)

Despite the tiny footprint, Intrinsyc managed to squeeze in 1GB of LPDDR3 RAM, and 8GB eMMC flash. You also get an Atheros WCN3620 chip with 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0, as well as an Atheros WGR7640 GPS/GNSS receiver with IZat Gen 8C, GLONASS, and Compass support. A power management IC (PMIC) is included as well.

There’s no Ethernet controller, but you get a single USB 2.0 interface and multiple helpings of I2C, SPI, UART, GPIO, I2S, and SDIO. The module is further equipped with dual, 4-lane MIPI-CSI interfaces for up to 13-megapixel cameras, complete with hardware post-processing.

Open-Q 410 module block diagram
(click image to enlarge)

A 4-lane MIPI-DSI display interface is included, which is spec’d out at 720p @ 60fps, or 1080p @ 30fps. (The carrier board provides an optional HDMI expansion module.) The Open-Q 410 also supports multiple audio codecs with noise cancellation, voice activation, and surround sound.

Specs listed for the Open-Q 410 include:

• Snapdragon 410 SoC:
  • CPU — 4x 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53 cores @ up to 1.2GHz
  • GPU — Adreno A306 @ 400MHz
  • Hexagon v5 DSP
• Memory — 1GB LPDDR3 RAM
• Storage — 8GB eMMC flash
• Wireless:
  • 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n
  • Bluetooth 4.0 + BLE
  • FM
  • GNSS receiver for Gen 8C GPS, GLONASS, Compass
• Display interface — 1x MIPI-DSI (up to 720p 60fps, or 1080p @ 30fps)
• Camera interface — 2x MIPI-CSI (up to 13MP)
• Other I/O — audio in/out, I2C, SPI, UART, GPIO, I2S, SDIO, 1x USB 2.0
• Other features — PMIC
• Expansion interface — 2x 100-pin board-to-board connectors
• Power — currently unspecified
• Dimensions — 44 x 26.5mm
• Operating system support — Android 5.0; Linux; Windows 10

 
Open-Q 410 Dev Kit

An Open-Q 410 Development Kit is available that extends the Open-Q 410 module with real-world ports and optional add-ons. For example, you can expand upon the MIPI-DSI interface with either an optional HDMI module or an optional 4.46-inch FWVGA (854 x 480) touchscreen.

Open-Q 410 Dev Kit with 4.46-inch touchscreen (left) and instead with HDMI module
(click images to enlarge)

The dual MIPI-CSI interfaces are available with an optional 5-megapixel camera card. There’s also an undetailed IOT Development Kit daughter-card that presumably extends the board’s 24-pin expansion connector.


Open-Q 410 Development Kit block diagram
(click image to enlarge)

The 12V, 130 x 130mm development board is further equipped with a microSD slot, dual audio jacks, dual speaker interfaces, and a microphone expansion interface. You get dual USB 2.0 ports and a micro-USB device port, but you can’t use them both at once. Another micro-USB connection handles debug duty.


Optional dev kit HDMI (left), Camera, and IoT add-ons

In addition to all the features of the Open-Q 410 module, the development kit supplies:

• Socket for Open-Q 410 module (2x 100-pin connectors)
• MicroSD slot
• I/O connectors:
  • Camera — 2x MIPI-CSI connectors (40-pins each)
  • Display — 1x MIPI-DSI connector
  • Audio — 2x 3.5mm audio jacks (headset, line-in); 2x speaker connectors; digital mic expansion
  • 2x USB 2.0 host ports (cannot be used with device port)
  • Micro-USB 2.0 device port (cannot be used with host ports)
  • UART debug port (over micro-USB)
  • 24-pin expansion header (UART, SPI, I2C, GPIO)
• Power, volume buttons; LEDs
• Add-on options:
  • HDMI output module (alternative to touchscreen option)
  • 4.46-inch FWVGA (854 x 480) touchscreen (alternative to HDMI option)
  • IOT module
  • 5-megapixel camera module
  • Turnkey development and customization services
• Power — 12V DC jack
• Dimensions — 130 x 130mm

 
Further information

The Open-Q 410 module and associated Development Kit are available now for $79 and $299 (including module), respectively. More information may be found at the Open-Q 410 SOM and Open-Q 410 Dev Kit product pages.