Compact embedded PC is easy to expand

The CPU-1420 from Datasound Laboratories is an enhanced 586 class computer in a compact expandable PC/104-Plus form factor with a low-power-consumption core based on a 133MHz AMD 520.

The CPU-1420 from Datasound Laboratories is an enhanced 586 class computer in a compact expandable PC/104-Plus form factor with a low-power-consumption core based on the AMD 520 running at 133MHz.

With 64 or 128Mbyte of SDRAM, integrated peripheral controllers on the CPU-1420 include four serial ports (two can be RS232/422/485), one bidirectional EPP/ECP parallel port, two 10/100Mbit/s Fast Ethernet controllers, one standard IDE interface keyboard, mouse and two extra 16bit timers, all set in a 90 x 96mm footprint.

The BIOS is located, with its extensions, in a 1Mbyte Flash EPROM and is easily customised and upgraded and is reprogrammable onboard.

The BIOS needs 256Kbyte, so 768Kbyte is available to be used as read-only disk to store the O/S and user programs/data.

The setup parameters are saved on the same Flash allowing the module to operate without a battery.

The module supports SSD (solid state disk) IDE devices such as DOM, Compact Flash and ATA Flash which perform like standard hard disks and can be used to store data in rugged conditions where standard devices may not operate reliably.

Other peripherals available onboard include a floppy disk controller which is multiplexed with the parallel port, the RTC and a watch dog timer.

With dual Ethernet controllers and four serial ports, the CPU-1420 is particularly well suited for communications appliances, protocol converters, routers and gateways, The CPU-1420 supports several operating systems available for standard PC platforms, including: Windows 9x, Windows 2000, Windows NT, QNX, VxWorks, WinCE and Linux.

The module works with a single +5V only, and its power consumption is 4W (with 64Mbyte of RAM) or 5.5W (with 128Mbyte of RAM).

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