Product category:
Embedded Computing and Control
News Release from: Diamond Systems | Subject: Hercules-EBX
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 27 January 2004
Embedded CPU takes analogue I/O and PSU
onboard
The Hercules-EBX is the first embedded CPU to integrate a Pentium-III class processor, professional-quality analogue I/O with autocalibration, and a wide-input DC/DC PSU on a single EBX-format board.
The Hercules-EBX is the first embedded CPU to integrate a Pentium-III class processor, professional-quality analogue I/O circuit with autocalibration, and wide-input DC/DC power supply onto a single EBX format board measuring 5.75 x 8.00in The board runs Linux, Windows 98/2000/XP, VxWorks, DOS and QNX
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 4 Mar 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Analogue input board handles its own calibration
The DMM-32X-AT analogue I/O PC/104 module features patented technology to automatically calibrate itself whenever needed without any user intervention.
PC/104 CPU takes data acquisition onboard
A new PC/104 board integrates a Pentium-II class CPU running at 200MHz, 128Mbyte memory, Ethernet and a professional-quality analogue and digital I/O circuit with autocalibration.
Hercules-EBX was specifically designed for transportation and military/aerospace applications where high integration, ruggedness, and power supply compatibility are key concerns.
The board has undergone complete testing over the industrial temperature range of -40 to +85C.
Memory is soldered onboard and provision is made for latching connectors to prevent failures in high-vibration environments.
Further reading
PC/104 module embeds eight serial ports
The Emerald-MM-8P PC/104 offers eight multiprotocol serial ports on a single PC/104 module with complete software configurability.
FPGA adds flexibility to digital I/O module
The GPIO-MM is a highly flexible and reconfigurable PC/104 digital I/O module based on a Xilinx Spartan II FPGA.
Autocalibration of analogue I/O circuitry maintains accuracy even during extreme variations in temperature.
And the built-in 5-28V input range DC/DC power supply enables direct connection to vehicle 12 and 24V systems as well as conventional 5V supplies.
With Hercules-EBX, embedded systems designers can reduce the number of embedded boards in their system and achieve the following important benefits: reduced size and weight as the three-in-one design eliminates two addon boards; quicker assembly time, with fewer boards and cables to handle; enhanced reliability and ruggedness, with fewer connectors and mechanical joints to fail under vibration; and lower purchasing and inventory overhead, with fewer items to purchase and track.
Specifications include: a Via Eden Pentium-III class processor running at 400 to 733MHz; low power (10W) fanless operation at 400-550MHz; onboard 128 to 256Mbyte memory for increased ruggedness; onboard video, audio, and 10/100Mbit/s Ethernet; integrated 32-channel 250kHz data acquisition circuit with autocalibration; integrated DC/DC power supply with 5-28V DC input range; PC/104 and PC/104-Plus expansion capability; and extended-temperature -40 to +85C operation.
The Hercules-EBX features Diamond Systems' unique multirange autocalibration technology, which provides maximum accuracy of the analogue I/O circuitry over temperature and time regardless of the board's settings.
Whereas competing products use a single pair of offset/gain correction values for all input ranges, Diamond Systems' AT technology provides an individual pair of corrections for each input range, resulting in a significant increase in accuracy.
This corrects for inherent errors that occur when changing gain settings in an analogue circuit.
US pricing for the board with data acquisition is $1100 (in single-figure quantities) and $880 (100-off).
A low-cost version without data acquisition is also available.
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