Embedded Computer helps maintain system integrity.
Embedded Computer helps maintain system integrity.
February 16, 2006 -
Exceeding shock and vibration requirements of EN 50155 standard, Hercules helps prevent failures in high-volume production equipment on factory floor. This 7-slot, 3U CompactPCI system runs Windows XP Embedded and comes equipped with CPU board based on 1 GHz ULV Celeron M MPU or 1.4 GHz Pentium M. With MTBF of 200,000+ hr, product also incorporates intelligent, 2-slot PSU board; Phoenix BIOS, and SiS chipset. It also includes 256 MB CF memory and various I/O offerings.
(Archive News Story - Products mentioned in this Archive News Story may or may not be available from the manufacturer.)
Glendale, AZ--Exceeding the shock and vibration requirements of the EN 50155 standard, the Hercules embedded computer system is the ideal control vehicle for high-volume production equipment on the factory floor. This rugged 7-slot, 3U CompactPCI system has a mean time between failures (MTBF) of over 200,000 hours for manufacturing operations that can't afford unscheduled downtime.
The Hercules packs a lot of performance into a very compact format. Running Windows XP Embedded, it comes equipped with a CPU board based on either a 1 GHz ULV (Ultra-Low Voltage) Celeron M microprocessor or a 1.4 GHz Pentium M. An intelligent, 2-slot PSU (power supply unit) board is also included, providing 3.3V at 4A, 5.1V at 6A and 12V at 0.25A. The four remaining backplane slots in the computer are vacant and available for adding a choice of off-the-shelf or home-grown CompactPCI boards to handle such functions as local and remote communications, sensor input, video input and motor control.
The Hercules CPU board contains a Phoenix BIOS and SiS chipset, along with 256 Mbytes (upgradeable) of Compact Flash memory and a rich set of I/O, including a USB 2.0 port, a Fast or Gigabit Ethernet port, three 24V optoisolated digital I/O lines and, for equipment with a man-machine interface, a videographics accelerator for driving display screens with up to a 2048 x 1536-pixel format.
Originally designed for the most rigorous of transportation applications, Hercules goes to great lengths to maintain system integrity in both hardware and software in order to prevent unexpected failures. It features a special aluminum heat-sink, for example, that conducts heat away from a high-frequency CPU to the chassis walls, where it is safely and passively dissipated through a set of cooling fins (see photo). This thermal management scheme prevents the occurrence of hot spots inside the chassis which can undermine operational stability and MTBF.
The PSU board of the Hercules system contains a dedicated microcontroller that functions as a system watchdog manager, utilizing five watchdogs to monitor voltage, temperature and, if an optional hard disk drive is included in the system, the health of that disk drive. A Board Support Package provided with Hercules contains utilities to monitor the operating parameters of the system and maintain reliability. This BSP can be tuned to meet individual requirements.
In order to prevent corruption of core software, the Windows XP Embedded operating system and drivers are loaded into a write-protected area in flash memory when Hercules boots up. (About 75 Mbytes of flash remains, providing ample headroom for storing application code.) The system is, thus, safe from viruses that may be contracted from various sources, eliminating the need for an external firewall.
With Hercules, all boards and interface connections are accessible from the front of the computer. Front-panel I/O avoids the cable clutter of systems with rear-panel I/O, simplifying interface connection/disconnection and maintenance. Hercules has a standard -20 degrees C to +50 degrees C operating temperature range (-40 degrees C to +85 degrees C optional), and it's comfortable with noncondensing humidity up to 95% at 40 degrees C. The system is screened against EMI emission and immune to EMI from external sources.
In OEM quantities, Hercules pricing begins at $1675 each, with delivery 4 to 8 weeks after receipt of order.
Contact
Paul Gaudreau
602-863-0726
pgaudreau@inova-computers.com
Contacts:
General Information:
Paul Gaudreau
USA
Phone: 602-863-0726 E-mail this person Company Information: Name: Inova Computers Inc. Address: 270 Communication Way, Bldg. 6 City: Hyannis State: MA ZIP: 02601 Country: USA Phone: 508-771-4415 FAX: 508-771-4346 http://www.inova-computers.com
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