B-Board PRO
EMBEDDABLE CONTROLLER
The ultimate controller for embedded applications
 | your price |
Use B-Box RCP for your R&D activities
The B-Box RCP offers the very same capabilities and performance as B-Board PRO, but with some additional flexibility that is tailored for R&D purposes, contributing to accelerate product development.
Migrate easily to B-Board PRO
Thanks to the exact equivalence between B-Box RCP and B-Board PRO, control code that was previously developed on B-Box can be instantly ported on B-Board. In fact, the very same bitfile can be used !
Use B-Board PRO for your products
The B-Board PRO possesses just what is needed for embedded control applications. It is small enough to be integrated directly within power converters, yet powerful enough to support advanced applications.
Development phase
- Flexible hardware
- Rapid control validation
Production phase
- Cost-optimized hardware
- Product integration
B-Board PRO
Embeddable controller
B-Box RCP
Prototyping controller
The exact compatibility between B-Box RCP and B-Board PRO allows to benefit from the increased flexibility of the prototyping controller during developments, while using a product-embeddable variant during series production.
Development phase
- Flexible hardware
- Rapid control validation
Production phase
- Cost-optimized hardware
- Product integration
Development phase
- Flexible hardware
- Rapid control validation
Production phase
- Proof of concept
- Don't waste time
B-Box RCP Prototyping controller
The exact compatibility between B-Box RCP and B-Board PRO allows to benefit from the increased flexibility of the prototyping controller during developments, while using a lower-cost product-embeddable variant during series production.
Full bitfile compatibility!
B-Board PRO Embeddable controller
A low-cost controller, equivalent to B-Box RCP!
The B-Board PRO possesses most of the features of the B-Box RCP, except the configurable analog front end and the software-independent protections.
It is meant to be a cost-optimized equivalent system for embedded applications, fully cross-compatible with its bigger and more flexible variant.
| B-Box RCP | B-Board PRO | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 2x ARM 1GHz | 2x ARM 1GHz |
FPGA | Kintex 7 125K | Kintex 7 125K |
Analog to digital converters | 16x | 8x |
C++ programming | ||
Simulink programming | ||
Programmable front-end | ||
Hardware protections |
| B-Box RCP | B-Board PRO | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 2x ARM 1GHz | 2x ARM 1GHz |
FPGA | Kintex 7 125K | Kintex 7 125K |
Analog to digital converters | 16x | 8x |
C++ programming | ||
Simulink programming | ||
Programmable front-end | ||
Hardware protections |
KEY specifications
| System on chip | Zynq XC7Z030-3FBG676E | Digital outputs | 16x Electrical (3.3V) |
| Processor | 2x ARM Cortex A9 1GHz | Digital inputs | 16x Electrical (3.3V) |
| FPGAs | Kintex 7 125K (user programmable) | Fault inputs | 16x Electrical (1.8V) 1x Electrical interlock |
| Analog inputs | 8x 16bits @2Msps | Incremental decoder inputs | 4x 3-pins (A,B,Z) (shared with GPI inputs) |
| PWM outputs | 16x Electrical (1.8V) 16x Electrical (3.3V) | Communication | 1x USB 2.0 (computer) 1x Ethernet 1Gbps (RJ45) 3x SFP+ 5Gbps |
| User High-speed I/Os | 36x Electrical (3.3V) |
| System on chip | Zynq XC7Z030-3FBG676E |
| Processor | 2x ARM Cortex A9 1GHz 1GB DDR3 |
| FPGAs | Kintex 7 125K (user programmable) |
| Analog inputs | 8x 16bits @2Msps |
| PWM outputs | 16x Electrical (1.8V) 16x Electrical (3.3V) |
| User High-speed I/Os | 36x Electrical (3.3V) |
| Digital outputs | 16x Electrical (3.3V) |
| Digital inputs | 16x Electrical (3.3V) |
| Fault inputs | 16x Electrical (1.8V) 1x Electrical interlock |
| Encoder inputs | 4x 3-pins (A,B,Z) (shared with GPI inputs) |
| Communication | 1x USB 2.0 (computer) 1x Ethernet 1Gbps (RJ45) 3x SFP+ 5Gbps |
Device description
Bitfile compatibility
The B-Board PRO is guaranteed to work exactly the same way as the B-Box RCP, with the exact same performance. In fact, the very same bitfile can be used on both devices.
Small form factor
Despite its numerous I/Os, the B-Board PRO measures only 86×124 mm. This is small enough to be assembled in most industrial systems. It also fits within a headroom of 22mm only!
Processing power
The B-Board PRO is exactly as powerful as the B-Box RCP. Indeed, with its dual-core 1GHz processor, it features outstanding performance, especially for an embedded controller.
Extensive connectivity
The B-Board PRO is ready for the most demanding needs and has been specially designed with low- to mid-volume, complex applications in mind.
With its high number of digital I/Os, there’s plenty of extension margin. The application scope is thus mostly defined by the available analog inputs.
When needed, hierarchized or distributed control systems can also be implemented, similarly to B-Box RCP, so that the total number of usable I/O becomes practically boundless (512 analog in and 2048 PWM outputs).
Features and benefits
Integrated with Simulink and PLECS
The B-Board PRO can be programmed using C/C++ code, or directly from simulation software, such as Simulink and PLECS. Thanks to a fully automated code generation toolchain, just one single click is all it needs to fully program the device!
The provided blocksets also embed simulation models so that the system can be accurately simulated and tuned before run-time is generated.
Absolutely no expertise in FPGA-based development is needed to work with the B-Board, as it operates readily with a highly flexible and highly configurable FPGA firmware.
Nevertheless, for the most advanced users who require to alter the FPGA code, the B-Board allows to do so. In this case, dedicated areas are provided, with straightforward integration within the existing DSP software kernel.
User-programmable FPGA
High processing power
The B-Board PRO uses a dual-core processor. One core is dedicated to the execution of the closed-loop control tasks (bare metal, dedicated kernel), the other one to the system supervision and monitoring (linux). Most low-level tasks are also shifted in FPGA.
This results in the full dedication of a fast floating-point processor core to real time control tasks, with best-in-class performance, ranging up to 400kHz control frequencies in closed-loop operation.
In addition to being 100% compatible with B-Box RCP, the B-Board PRO benefits from the same software environment and tools. It can be programmed from Simulink (or PLECS) and controlled from BB Control too!
Overall, most of the specific integration efforts are only those related to the mechanical aspects as well as the signal conditioning and protection, which are often tailored to the application anyway.
Quick integration
Features and benefits
Integrated with Simulink and PLECS
| |
The provided blocksets also embed simulation models so that the system behavior can be accurately simulated and tuned before run-time is generated.
User-programmable FPGA
|  |
Nevertheless, for the most advanced users who require to alter the FPGA code, the B-Board allows to do so. In this case, dedicated areas are provided, with straightforward integration within the existing DSP software kernel.
High processing power
| |
The B-Board PRO uses a dual-core processor; one core being dedicated to the execution of the closed-loop control tasks (bare metal, dedicated kernel), the other to the system supervision and monitoring (linux). Besides, most low-level tasks are shifted in FPGA.
This results in the full dedication of a fast floating-point processor core to real time control tasks, with best-in-class performance, ranging up to 200kHz control frequencies.
Quick integration
|  |
In addition to being 100% compatible with B-Box RCP, the B-Board PRO benefits from the same software environment and tools. It can be programmed from Simulink (or PLECS) and controlled from BB Control too!
Overall, most of the specific integration efforts are only those related to the mechanical aspects as well as the signal conditioning and protection, which are often tailored to the application anyway.
Tailor-made kernel
The B-Board PRO embeds an ultra-light operating system, BBOS, specially tailored for hard real time, very low latency operation, as in power electronics. This kernel simultaneously combines a high level of safety and very low overhead.
More importantly, thanks to its fully FPGA-based peripherals, the B-Box and B-Board are built on a strong hardware abstraction layer. As such, any control code is guaranteed to keep working across future generations of hardware, facilitating system maintenance and upgrade.
A nice benefit of this approach is also that B-Box RCP and B-Board PRO are fully cross-compatible, although the underlying hardware differs. This allows users to switchover very easily from one controller to the other.
Comprehensive computer software
Comprehensive design suites
The B-Box RCP and B-Board PRO can be easily programmed using our software development kits (SDK). Either C++, Simulink or PLECS can be used to instantly program the device.
- Support for C++, Simulink or PLECS
- Code libraries / examples
- Free maintenance
Monitoring & control software
During operation, the BB Control Utility allows to observe, edit and log any variable present in memory. This allows for the rapid debugging and tuning of any converter control code.
- Real-time tuning of all variables
- 2 million points datalogging
- Free maintenance
The Evaluation kit allows to quickly assess
the tremendous capabilities of the B-Board PRO,
right from the top of your desk.
Evaluation kit
Discovery and development kit for B-Board PRO
The Evaluation kit enables development engineers to power up the B-Board PRO and get the first signals out of it within few minutes. It notably contains an easy-to-use carrier board that gives instant access to most analog and digital signals, normally located on the bottom of the B-Board PRO.
The kit also contains suitable documentation and getting-started examples as to best support a rapid evaluation of the hardware and software capabilities, featuring the very same performance as the larger B-Box RCP system.
carrier board signals
| x8 | Analog inputs | Full-differential inputs,16bits | Phoenix 3.5mm (1989023) | ± 5V |
| x4 | Analog outputs | 16bits, single-ended | Phoenix 3.5mm (1989023) | ± 5V |
| x1 | Fault input | Electrical | 2.54 mm header | 3.3V |
| x1 | Communication | Ethernet, device programming and monitoring | RJ45 socket | |
| x16 | PWM outputs | Dedicated modulators, 4 differents time bases | Phoenix 3.5mm (1989023) | 3.3V |
| x8 | Digital outputs | 2.54 mm header | 3.3V | |
| x8 | Digital inputs | 2.54 mm header | 3.3V | |
| x36 | User configurable I/Os | Direct to FPGA, bidirectional | 2.54 mm header | 3.3V |
| x8 | Analog inputs | Full-differential inputs,16bits Phoenix 3.5mm (1989023) | ± 5V |
| x4 | Analog outputs | 16bits, single-ended Phoenix 3.5mm (1989023) | ± 5V |
| x1 | Fault input | Electrical 2.54 mm header | 3.3V |
| x1 | Communication | Ethernet, device programming and monitoring RJ45 socket | |
| x16 | PWM outputs | Dedicated modulators, 4 differents time bases Phoenix 3.5mm (1989023) | 3.3V |
| x8 | Digital outputs | 2.54 mm header | 3.3V |
| x8 | Digital inputs | 2.54 mm header | 3.3V |
| x36 | User configurable I/Os | Direct to FPGA, bidirectional 2.54 mm header | 3.3V |
| CONTENT | |
|---|---|
Carrier board (motherboard) | x1 |
| B-Board PRO | x1 |
| Power supply (20W / 12V) | x1 |
| Ethernet cable | x1 |
| Quick start guide (user manual) | x1 |
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 | ACG SDK your price |
 | C/C++ SDK your price |