What version of the Linux OS should you have installed on your development PC?
InHand's Board Support Package comes with all the necessary tools to build applications and the Linux kernel for the Elf3/Fingertip3. Because the user will be cross-compiling those images, the Host Development Machine has little effect on the process. RedHat Linux y.x-9.x has been thoroughly tested as a host, but any other
distribution with kernel 2.2.x/2.4.x will also work.
The InHand BSP consists of the Linux kernel 2.4.19 with the most recent ARM & PXA 255 patches, tinylogin, busybox, networking, and many other utilities. Because of BSP embedded nature and keeping the choice of distribution,
if any, for the customer; InHand's boards are currently shipped with a Familiar v0.7 based distribution with IPkg. Other Distributions like Intimite and Debian can be ported, with some further development, easily to InHand's boards.
As for the Window's GUI environment, InHand's boards come with Qt-Embedded/Qtopia and MicroWindows/PIXIL as example GUI/PDA-like environments, but a developer can easily choose to port, if needed, any other GUI distribution
available for StrongARM/XScale, like: OPIE, Matchbox, TinyX, picogui, GPE, and many others.
What can I do with InHand's development platforms?
Our Development Platforms are designed to allow rapid prototyping of your embedded device's hardware and software.
Preloaded with Windows CE or Linux-and configured with a display, serial and audio ports, three hardware buttons, and an AC power adapter-our development platforms are ready for you to begin software development as soon as you receive them. Each Development Platform also ships with a CD providing stock operating system images that can be loaded into Flash, providing different capabilities depending on the needs of your embedded device.
For customers that need to create application-level software for Windows CE or Linux, our Development Platforms ship with the necessary application-level SDKs. In addition, our Linux Development Platform provides the necessary cross-compiler for producing Linux binaries for a StrongArm target device using an x86-based host. While our Development Platforms do not provide the Microsoft Embedded Visual Tools suite needed for application development, Microsoft has made these tools available as a free download from their website for some time.
For customers that need to create custom Windows CE or Linux operating system images, our Development Platforms ship with the necessary components. For Windows CE, we provide precompiled kernels, drivers, and applications-along with the necessary BSP files-for use with Microsoft's Platform Builder product, which must be purchased separately. For Linux, we provide the Linux kernel and a variety of add-on components in two different forms: with InHand patches already incorporated and with InHand patches as separate files.
In much the same fashion, many of the ports and signals of the XScale processor are accessible via documented connectors and pads on the Development Platform, making it straightforward to attach custom keypads, peripherals, and daughtercards via SSP or our ElfBus expansion connectors. And of course, all of our Development Platforms feature either Compact Flash or PCMCIA slots, providing an option for integrating wireless, DAQ card, and other technologies.
What third-party development tools do I need to supplement the Elf3 and Fingertip3 development platforms?
If you are developing applications for Windows® CE, you need the Embedded Visual Tools from Microsoft. With the latest version of Windows CE, these tools are free. If you are developing custom operating system images for Windows CE, to be burned into Flash memory, you need Microsoft's Platform Builder, available from any of Microsoft's embedded distributors (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/).
Many of our Windows CE customers also choose to purchase an Ethernet card-such as Socket Communication's Low Power Ethernet Compact Flash card-to speed development. Development using both Microsoft Embedded Visual Tools and Microsoft Platform Builder is significantly speeded through the use of Ethernet for loading programs and debugging.
For Linux development, our Development Platforms provide the necessary GNU cross-compiler and debugging tools for use with our platforms.
How do I create packaging for my handheld?
The Elf3 and Fingertip3 boards are designed to be easily mounted inside standard and custom handheld packages. Mounting holes and rails are provided, and solidworks drawings are available. InHand offers prototype packaging in the form of the OmniMeter III. We also do custom packaging, call us for more details.
Can I license your IP?
Yes, the intellectual property for the Elf, Fingertip hardware and BatterySmart software is available for licensing, as well as for volume purchasing. Our engineering services are also available to complement your development efforts. Please contact us to determine if IP licensing is the right solution for you.
What are the application areas for InHand's products?
Our products can be used for almost any application. Customers have created handhelds for military, medical, security, instrumentation, and transportation applications, to name a few.
The diversity of our client's applications is apparent in our case studies
Can you support the display I want to use?
The Elf3 and Fingertip3 platforms currently support a variety of monochrome and color LCD displays. Our display software drivers include rotation algorithms to allow the displays to be used in portrait and landscape mode. Rotation can be adjusted at run-time, via the control panel under most circumstances. Other displays can be supported using a universal mating connector.
Contact sales@inhandelectronics.com to inquire about a specific display.
What is the temperature range for your products?
Our products are built for commercial temperatures (0 to 50 C), but some of our customers have used our hardware in industrial temperatures (-20 to 70 C). There is an XScale PXA 255 chip with an extended temperature range that is optional on our platforms.
What wireless technologies are available for Elf3 and Fingertip3?
Both the Elf3 and Fingertip3 can be fully integrated with an optional Socket Communications Bluetooth module.
Other wireless technologies that work with our products are:
OpenAire
802.11b
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WaveLAN/IEEE Turbo 11 Mb PC Card
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Cabletron Roamabout 11 Mbs PC Card
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NCR WaveLAN 11 Mbs PC Card
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Symbol Wireless CF Card
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Socket 802.11b wireless CF card
Bluetooth
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Socket PNC with PCMCIA adaptor
What is included with InHand's development platform?
You can choose to develop your application using either a Windows CE or Linux Development Platform based on our Elf3, Fingertip3 boards (for those wishing to port another operating system-such as VxWorks or QNX-please contact InHand for more information). These development platforms include:
Hardware
- Plexiglas stand with standoffs which support the SBC and display
- Base aluminum stand for vertical mount
- Elf3 32MB Flash/64 MB, 4ooMHz SDRAM or Fingertip3 32MB Flash/64 MB SDRAM, 4ooMHz
- DB9 null modem cable for serial connection to a PC
- USB cable
- Wall cube power supply
- Custom mounting frame for display
- QVGA Hitachi monochrome display SP10Q003-T (larger and color options available)
Software
For Windows CE.NET development platforms, the following software is included on the development platform CD or pre-loaded on the device:
- Windows CE.NET pre-loaded
- BatterySmart power management software pre-loaded
- Stock Windows CE.NET operating system images with utilities for burning to Flash and setting bootloader parameters
- Platform Builder* BSP files necessary for creating custom Windows CE.NET images
- Windows CE.NET SDK for use with Microsoft's Embedded Visual Tools*
- Development platform User Guide and Hardware Reference
- Windows CE.NET license
- InHand Electronics software license
For Linux development platforms, the following software is included on the development platform CD or pre-loaded on the device:
- Linux 2.4.19 for InHand Electronics platforms pre-loaded withmbedded/Qtopia and FamiliarDistribution.
- Stock Linux Kernel, Loader, and JFFS2 File System images
- Linux v2.4.19 Kernel sources and InHand patches
- Linux Loader v1.0 sources
- JFFS2 & Ramdisk File System images and trees with Familiar v0.7 Distribution
- ARM Cross Compiler v2.95.3 for the Linux kernel and applications
- ARM Cross Compiler v2.95.3 with Software Floating Point for the Linux kernel and applications
- QT-Embedded v2.3.3 and Qtopia v1.5.0 sources and InHand patches
- Microwindows v0.89 and PIXIL OE v1.0 sources and InHand patches
- Source code for all software licensed under the GPL, with InHand modifications integrated and also as patches
- Development platform User Guide and Hardware Reference
- GNU General Public License
- InHand Electronics software license
Support
- 180 days of standard support
* Microsoft Platform Builder and Microsoft Embedded Visual Tools are not included with InHand Development Platforms.
How do I choose between the Elf3 and Fingertip3?
Both the Elf3 and Fingertip3 platforms include BatterySmart and are highly integrated and designed to include the features necessary to implement a handheld device with a minimum of added hardware.
The Elf3 is targeted at handheld devices where peripheral connectivity is most important. Its dual PCMCIA sockets and daughtercard interface are unique and allow unparalleled support for custom and off-the-shelf peripherals. It provides up to 400MHz of processing power while consuming as low as 350mW.
The Fingertip3 is targeted at handheld devices where size and integration are most important. Peripheral support includes a Secure Digital slot, a compact flash slot, I˛C, synchronous serial interface and a network synchronous serial port. It provides up to 400MHz of processing power while consuming as low as 350mW.
View the Product Comparison Matrix for additional comparison information.
What is the power consumption of the Elf3 and Fingertip3 platforms?
This of course depends on how the platforms are used. Typically, the boards consume about 0.3-1.1 watts without any peripherals attached. With a display, touchscreen, and backlight turned on, power consumption can go above 1.1 watts, but may be less or more, depending on the size and type of the display, and the type of backlight. When using PCMCIA or Compact Flash cards or other peripherals, power consumption will vary, depending on the type of peripheral. | 
