Embedded Development Kit (EDK) for the Microsoft® .NET Micro Framework

EDK price is $165.00

EDKplus price is $225.00

Embedded Development Kit (EDK) for the .NET Micro Framework

The .NET Micro Framework consists of a CLR that allows developers to write managed code applications in Visual Studio® for small footprint devices. Using only a few hundred kilobytes of RAM and an inexpensive processor, the Microsoft .NET Micro Framework platform gives you the means to build applications by using the same development tools and advanced languages, such as C#, that you use to build desktop applications.

Developing an embedded device from the ground up has always been a challenging task. Board bring-up is the critical path for any project. The EDK has been design to help eliminate this critical path so you can concentrate on your application.

The EDK features EMAC’s iPac-9302 Single Board Computer (SBC) with the the .NET Micro Framework already on board. The iPac-9302 features an ARM9 processor with a variety of IO to meet the needs of any application. The EDK contains an instruction manual, sample source code, serial cables, and other tools to allow engineers and students to develop applications with managed code.

The EDK can be used to develop a variety of embedded applications such as robotics, shipment tracking, industrial controls, security systems, Point of Service applications, and much more. The EDK is ideal for engineering students getting familiar with writing code for an embedded system, hobbyists, and Engineers looking to build small footprint devices. With the .NET Micro Framework already ported to the iPac-9302, you only have to focus on writing the application, thus saving time to market.

There are two EDKs available - EDK and EDKplus. The EDKplus supports a fully populated iPac-9302 that includes a second serial port and batter backed RTC.

EDK Features

The version of the iPac-9302 that ships with the EDK has the following features

• Cirrus Logic EP9302 ARM9 200MHz Processor
• PC/104 Dimensions of 96 mm x 90 mm (3.77" x 3.54")
  
• 1 RS-232 serial port for application download
  
• 1 10/100 BaseT Ethernet port
  
• 2 USB 2.0 host ports
  
• 5 channels of 12 bit A/D (0 to 3.3V)
  
• Internal Real time clock/calendar (no battery backup)
  
• 16 processor GPIO lines
  
• 16 PLD 5 volt tolerant input lines
• 16 PLD output lines - 8 lines are for high drive output lines
  
• 2 PWM I/O lines
  
• SPI/I2S
  
• External Reset Button
• Green status LED
  
• 8 MB External Flash
  
• 8 MB External SDRAM
  
• MMC/SD hot-swap socket
  

EDKplus Features

The version of the iPac-9302 that ships with the EDKplus has the following features

• Cirrus Logic EP9302 ARM9 200MHz Processor
• PC/104 Dimensions of 96 mm x 90 mm (3.77" x 3.54")
  
• 2 RS-232 serial ports (COM1 port for application download / development, COM2 port for RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485 communication
  
• 1 10/100 BaseT Ethernet port
  
• 2 USB 2.0 host ports
  
• 5 channels of 12 bit A/D (0 to 3.3V)
  
• Internal Real time clock/calendar (no battery backup)
  
• 16 processor GPIO lines
  
• 16 PLD 5 volt tolerant input lines
• 16 PLD output lines - 8 lines are for high drive output lines
  
• 2 PWM I/O lines
  
• SPI/I2S
• Battery backed RTC
  
• External Reset Button
• Green status LED
  
• 8 MB External Flash
  
• 8 MB External SDRAM
  
• MMC/SD hot-swap socket

The following table lists each kit’s supported features in the .NET MF image:

EDK Datasheet

Download the EDK datasheet here.

System Requirements

• Pentium III or higher development system.
• 512MB of RAM, the more RAM the better
• RS-232 Serial port
• Windows XP Pro SP2 or higher
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 SP1.
• Microsoft .NET Micro Framework 2.0 SDK SP1

IEEE Computer Society Students - Microsoft Development Software Program learn more.

.NET Micro Framework SDK

The .NET Micro Framework SDK can be downloaded here. You must have Visual Studio 2005 with SP1 to install the SDK. Visual Studio Express versions are not supported.

EDK Development Guide

The EDK comes with a step-by-step development guide. The guide provides instructions on how to create basic applications for the I/O support in the .NET Micro Framework. The EDK guide was written by Sean Liming and John R. Malin.

There 18 different exercises that cover basic application development, GPIO & Interrupt basics, SPI usage, thread processing, emulators, managed code libraries, and much more.

The guide is posted in the Articles page.

Custom Solution - Consulting and Design Services

SJJ and EMAC offer consulting and design services. We can modify the iPac-9302 and .NET Micro Framework to fit your application, or if you have your own custom design, we can adapt the .NET Micro Framework to your platform. Please contact us for more information.

Questions/Answers

Q: If we have our own Cirrus EP93XX solution, can we get .NET Micro Framework support?
A: Yes. SJJ is a .NET Micro Framework porting partner so we can port .NET Micro Framework to your custom system. We support the EP93XX family as well as the Freescale processor. If you are just beginning to design your system, the best way to get started with .NET Micro Framework is to develop applications using the EDK.

Q: Is it possible to add more serial ports?
A: Yes, the SPI port can be used to add more serial ports. There is an applicaiton note found on the seanliming.com site that provides an example. You can also add other I/O devices to the SPI. There is an example of 2 Line x16 character display/Keypad in the EDK's step-by-step guide.

Q: When will PWM, ADC, Ethernet, and MMC/SD card be available?
A: An update to support PWM and ADC will be available first, and possibly available in the next 4 months. Microsoft is looking into Ethernet support, and the timeframe is to be determined. MMC/SD card - we are interested in hearing feedback on what developers would like to see supported.

Q: What are the differences between the iPac-9302 in the EDK and the version sold by EMAC, Inc.?
A: The iPac-9302 can support Windows CE and other embedded operating systems. Flash and RAM sizes can be increased to support these software packages. There is also optional support for the extra RS-232 serial port and battery backed RTC, which may be supported later. If you are looking for Windows CE or Linux support on the iPac-9302, please contact EMAC INC.

Q: Does the iPac-9302 support LCD?
A: No. The iPac-9302 is not intended to be a SideShow device. The iPac-9302 is intended for deeply embedded devices. A display can be added such as a SPI 2-line LCD, which is covered in the EDK Step-by-Step Guide.

Q: If I already have an iPac-9302, can I just get a copy of the .NET Micro Framework to install?
A: No. The port developed for the iPac-9302 only supports 8MB flash and RAM.

Q: Is the .NET Micro Framework a real-time Kernel
A: No. The CLR is for managed code only.

Q: How does .NET Micro Framework compare to Windows CE and Windows XP Embedded?
A: Where Windows CE focused on Mobile handled devices and Windows XP Embedded on x86 systems, the .NET Micro Framework is smaller than Windows CE and offers a simpler solution to just focus on the application.

Q: Is there "overlap" between Microsoft .NET Micro Framework and Microsoft .NET Compact Framework?
A: Yes, there are some devices where one could choose either one. This is similar to the overlap between Microsoft Windows® CE and Microsoft Windows XP Embedded. With the .NET Micro Framework, the .NET architecture can now span from big iron multiprocessor servers to very small and inexpensive devices.

Q: Is this the same platform that's in the current Smart Watches? What is the difference?
A: MSN Direct Smart Watches are based on a version of the technologies that power the Microsoft .NET Micro Framework. The .NET Micro Framework does not include product-specific extensions and applications, such as the Microsoft DirectBand™ network interface, glanceable UI shell, applications, etc. It is an application framework tailored to horizontal embedded devices.

Click here for more information about the .NET Micro Framework.