3U VPX SBC Sports Freescale MPC 8640D Processor
There have been only a handful of SBC vendors so far that have rolled out VPX products. The ones that jumped on board have already got several out. Extreme Engineering Solutions’ latest VPX offering is the XPedite5170, a feature-rich 3U VPX (VITA 46) solution targeting Freescale Semiconductor’s dual-core MPC8640D processor. The XPedite5170 delivers enhanced PowerPC performance with AltiVec technology and power efficiency for today’s military customers requiring high performance in small form factors.
The board runs at up to 1.25 GHz, and includes two channels of 1 to 4 Gbytes of DDR2-533 SDRAM and up to 4 Gbytes of NAND flash and 256 Mbytes of NOR flash. Interconnects included dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, PCI Express or Serial RapidIO Fat Pipe P1 interconnect. The P2 interconnect includes GPIO, two RS-232/RS-422/RS-485 serial ports, I²C and PMC I/O. XPedite5170 is shipping today with XPand1000 development chassis. Pricing varies from $6,000-8,000 depending on ruggedization level, memory configuration and quantity purchased.
Extreme Engineering Solutions, Middleton, WI. (608) 833-1155. [www.xes-inc.com].
Real-Time Messaging Middleware Meets Secure Linux
The Linux operating system has a firm foothold in the defense arena. Software developers like the fact that they can start developing with Linux without the overhead of a commercial OS to consider. Real-Time Innovations (RTI) has announced that RTI Data Distribution Service, its real-time messaging middleware, has been integrated with Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux). This combination provides real-time and high-performance distributed applications with the ability to securely distribute data by combining RTI’s high-performance network communications with the extremely flexible Mandatory Access Control (MAC) facilities of SELinux.
RTI Data Distribution Service allows distributed applications to securely exchange messages and data by authenticating peers and encrypting information that is sent over the network. The MAC capabilities of SELinux add several additional levels of protection against mis-configuration, software errors and application vulnerabilities: System-wide security policies control which applications are allowed to communicate with each other. Even applications with the appropriate credentials and keys can communicate only if explicitly provisioned to do so. Files containing keys, configuration information and logs are protected from unauthorized access. RTI Data Distribution Service and a reference SELinux security policy are available today from RTI.
Real-Time Innovations, Sunnyvale, CA.
(408) 990-7400. [www.rti.com].
2.16 GHz Core 2 Duo System Is Just 34 Cubic Inches
Applications like UAVs call for the contradictory requirements of high compute density on the one hand with small size, weight and power on the other hand. General Micro Systems attacks that challenge with its “Raider” (S705), a new rugged, ultra-small, Core 2 Duo-based system. Adding to the system’s versatility is its super-small envelope with single drive version at only 4.6 x 4.6 x 1.6 inches, weighing only 2 pounds with power requirements as low as 15W. Raider has the ability to support up to six wireless radios on four to six antennae feeds.
Other key features are Dual GigE with TCP/IP offloading engine, high-performance video, Dual Com ports with 232/422, four USB ports, full audio for VoIP applications, full BIT and EBIT testing, and thermal management for safe thermal operation. Raider’s facility for rugged environments (-40° to +85°C, MIL-STD 810F), along with its ability to operate from a single voltage source (+16 to +28VDC), makes the S705 ideal for demanding applications such as UAVs. Two optional 256 Gbyte solid-state disks can be fixed or removable, offering the ability to store a half Terabyte of acquired data for security purposes in sensitive operations. Pricing for the conduction-cooled version of Raider (S705) starts at $8,300 in single quantities.
General Micro System, Rancho Cucamonga, CA.
(909) 980-4863. [www.gms4sbc.com].
AC-DC High-Density Power Supply Delivers 30 kW
Liquid-cooling technology is found in many applications that depend on regulated and highly reliable DC current power supplies. Along such lines, Pioneer Magnetics has announced the PM37223-10P, a power factor corrected, 360V at 30 kW liquid-cooled AC-DC power supply with power density of 27.4w/in3 in a 2U 19-inch rack configuration. This is one of a series of high-power products that will include air-cooled versions and a wide range of output voltages. At a high efficiency of over 92 percent at 80 percent of load, the PM37223-10P provides a 360 volt at 83 amp, remote sensed, fully floating, Over Current (OCP), Over Voltage (OVP) and Over Temperature (OTP) protected output. The input voltage is 408 to 528 VAC, 3Ø with Power Factor Correction (PFC) of greater than 0.95 at full load.
The PM37223-10P is a semi-modular unit housed in a 3.47- x 17.38- x 24.4-inch liquid-cooled plate enclosure. It is designed to meet regulatory agency TUV to EN60950-1, EMI Conducted & Radiated to EN55022 Level A, and EMC to EN50082-1. The unit comes with mounting ears for a standard 2U 19-inch rack.
Pioneer Magnetics, Santa Monica, CA. (310) 829-0921. [www.pioneermag.com].
PCIe Frame Grabber Exploits Camera Link-Compatible Camera
The bandwidth of PCI Express has brought the desktop capabilities that used to require a rack of embedded computing boards. American ELTEC offers an image processing solution for Camera Link-compatible cameras–the PC_EYE/CL–as part of its PCI Express frame grabber portfolio. In conjunction with this tool, the board supports base, medium and full configurations. The PCI Express interface with four lanes (x4) delivers data rates of up to 1 Gbyte/s for maximum speed cameras with full interfaces. The frame grabber delivers speeds of up to 680 Mbyte/s.
The PC_EYE/CL frame grabber has inputs for digital video data compliant with Camera Link standard Version 1.2 (Automated Imaging Association). Since each of the two onboard
Mini-Delta-Ribbon 26-pin connectors supports four ports, a total of eight ports (A-H) can be used. This makes it possible to connect either two independent Base cameras, using ports A-C each, or one Medium (A-F), or one Full (A-H) camera. Each 8-bit-wide Camera Link port uses a high-speed 7:1 multiplexing scheme with a serial transmission rate of 2.36 Gbit/s for optimal utilization of cable capacity. Pricing for the PC_EYE/CL frame grabber is $1,260 in single piece quantities.
American ELTEC, Las Vegas, NV. (702) 878-4085. [www.americaneltec.com].
3U VPX ATOM Card Is Highly Secure
This has become the “Year of the ATOM” for military embedded board designs. Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing has introduced a new low-power, high-performance, small form factor VPX3-1100 ATOMIC board designed for rugged deployed aerospace and defense applications that require highly secure computing. The VPX3-1100 ATOMIC provides a 1.1GHz Intel ATOM processor and up to 512 Mbyte DDR2 SDRAM, 1 Gbyte NAND flash, a BIOS Firmware Hub (FWH) and a Trusted Platform Module for trusted boot. The VPX3-1100 ATOMIC backplane input/output includes two high-performance PCI (x1) fabrics, 2x GbE interfaces, 2x RS-232 Serial interfaces, 8x GPIO, 2x USB 2.0, VGA, Audio (Mic, L/R) and XMC I/O.
Additional features include a Basecard user-programmable FPGA and Secure Computing Mezzanine card for advanced security and perimeter defense applications. Featuring Curtiss-Wright Controls’s patent-pending 2-Level Maintenance Secure Computing perimeter defense technology, the VPX3-1100 ATOMIC enables systems integrators to build secure rugged defense electronic systems for multiple applications that need to protect sensitive information, encryption keys, Intellectual Property (IP), or reverse engineering at the blade level. Volume pricing for the VPX3-1100 ATOMIC starts at $2,800. Availability is June 2009.
Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing, Leesburg, VA.
(703) 779-7800. [www.cwcembedded.com].
Atom-Based Mini-ITX Motherboards Boast Power Savings, Rich I/O
The perception of Intel CPUs as more power hungry than its competitors is in full retreat now that the ATOM family of microprocessors has entered the game. Riding that wave, Advantech announced production of its first Intel Atom industrial grade Mini-ITX motherboard. The AIMB-210, with an Intel Atom N270 CPU, features a super low-power design, but without sacrificing performance. Rich connectivity with up to eight USB 2.0 and six COM ports is integrated in a standard 170 x 170 mm form factor.
The AIMB-210 incorporates an Intel Atom 45nm processor, and is designed to enable space-efficient solutions with a power saving feature. Equipped with the Intel 945GSE chipset, total power consumption comes in at around a mere 14W. The AIMB-210 has a 533 MHz Front Side Bus and up to 2 Gbytes of DDR2 533 SDRAM. The AIMB-210 supports dual display with multiple display types, such as CRT + LVDS, TV-Out + LVDS, or LVDS1 + LVDS2 (optional) with TV-out via S-Video / Composite Video connections. Video output is complemented by HD audio for a complete audio/visual solution.
Advantech, Irvine, CA. (949) 789-7178. [www.advantech.com].
MIL-STD-1553 Transformer in Compact 3.3V Package
The 1553 interface seems like it’s been around longer than anything. But it’s not going away any time soon. 1553 component makers continue to roll out new products at a steady pace. Case in point is Beta Transformer Technology’s introduction of its MLP-3333. It is a through-hole mount, 0.4- x 0.4-inch footprint, 0.185-inch maximum height, single channel, dual ratio transformer. The MLP-3333 is designed for 3.3V MIL-STD-1553 transceivers. The 0.185-inch height makes it particularly attractive for today’s smaller board topologies. This dual ratio transformer enables board layouts to accommodate both transformer coupled and direct coupled applications.
The MLP-3333 uses a robust through-hole design, which meets all the requirements of the MIL-PRF-21038 specification and provides an extra margin of safety for vibration and shock tolerance for rotorcraft applications. It operates over the full Mil-temp range of -55° to +130°C.
Beta Transformer Technology
Bohemia, NY.
(631) 244-7393.
[www.bttc-beta.com].
ECX Board Operates at Under 10W
SWaP–or Size, Weight and Power–issues have moved to the top of many military system designer’s priority lists. American Portwell Technology offers Portwell PEB-2738, which utilizes the Intel ECX form factor and supports the latest options of the Intel Atom processor Z5xx series and the Intel System Controller Hub US15W, including industrial temperature range and larger footprint version with 1.0 mm ball pitch. The PEB-2738 is specifically designed to operate at a very low power consumption of less than 10W at full loading. It supports dual independent display by LVDS and SDVO daughter card (DVI/VGA/LVDS, project-based).
Based on the Intel Atom processor Z5xx series platform, the PEB-2738 takes advantage of the low-power processor, ground-breaking power management techniques and wide temperature range so it can be a truly industrial temperature and fanless configuration. In addition, the PEB-2738 supports one SO-DIMM memory slot for DDR2 SDRAM up to 2 Gbytes, and comes with one IDE, one CompactFlash socket, one SDVO connector, one TPM, PCI-E x1 golden finger, two RS-232/422/485, audio CH5.1, six USB2.0 and one SDIO connector.
American Portwell Technology, Fremont, CA. (510) 403-3399. [www.portwell.com].
Scopes Boast Large Display, Mixed-Signal Capability
Electronic design and test teams in aerospace/defense industries continue to produce increasingly sophisticated hardware designs. That calls for test gear to keep pace. With that in mind, Agilent Technologies expanded its mixed-signal and digital-storage oscilloscope portfolio with four new 100 MHz models in the InfiniiVision 7000 Series. The 7000 Series now offers bandwidths from 100 MHz to 1 GHz and delivers an unparalleled deep-memory waveform update rate of up to 100,000 waveforms per second. Each new model is equipped with the largest screen available in a 100 MHz scope–a 12.1-inch XGA LCD display–and comes in a package that is just 7 inches deep and weighs only 14 pounds.
Designers use oscilloscopes as the primary tool to test and debug their designs. The ability to consistently view subtle signal details and infrequent events allows designers to more quickly debug and test their electronic devices. Agilent’s InfiniiVision 7000 Series oscilloscopes deliver the best signal visibility for designs that include analog and digital or serial signals. The combination of large-screen and mixed-signal capability for logic and protocol display previously was not available to designers who required scopes with only 100 MHz bandwidth. Agilent InfiniiVision 7000 Series oscilloscopes are available today at prices ranging from $4,995 to $18,248 depending on configuration.
Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA
(800) 829-4444. [www.agilent.com].
PMC Card Offers Time-Triggered Networking
TTP is a communication protocol for design of fault-tolerant distributed hard real-time systems with clean definition of key system interfaces. TTTech has developed a PMC Card with TTP communication controller and a PowerPC host processor. TTPPMC Card enables time-triggered and deterministic networking for complex distributed systems. It has been designed for the use of all kinds of standard modules with PMC interface. System configuration with TTP-based PMC cards allows customers to benefit from faster time-to-market and reduced lifecycle costs.
Distributed embedded computing with TTPPMC Card enables development of distributed applications independent of the underlying communication architecture, physical layer, topology or embedded host hardware. TTPPMC Card makes application design as easy as possible. It contains an Austriamicrosystems AS8202NF communication controller and a standard Freescale MPC5567 host processor on board. A TTP network facilitates the development of reusable platforms and supports full separation of application design from system interfacing details.
TTTech North America, Tucson, AZ.
(619) 994-8626. [www.tttech.com].
Reflective Memory PMC Provides Data Security
Memory storage can be a critical asset in many military systems. MEN Micro now offers the new P512, a reflective memory PMC that provides real-time redundant memory storage across multiple computers in a networked system. In addition to high transmission speeds and exceptional flexibility, the 32-bit/33 MHz P512 offers increased data security as well as expanded memory capacity, since memory elements can be read from and written to different processors simultaneously and shared among PCs providing a redundant memory architecture. The P512 is widely used in a variety of mission-critical and data-intensive applications.
Each P512 module offers 32 Mbyte soldered, FPGA-controlled DDR2 SDRAM and an LVDS channel with a connection speed of 230 MHz and 86 Mbytes/s. The PMC supports multi-mode transmission up to six feet, so it can be integrated into a mesh connecting all modules of the network to each other. For this, each system CPU needs a PMC module for the connection to the other computers. Pricing for the P512 Reflective Memory PMC is $2,123.
MEN Micro, Ambler, PA. (215) 542-9575. [www.menmicro.com].
Load Board Ensures VPX Power Compatibility
As more and more vendors roll out VPX products, the new designed-for-military system architecture is quickly gathering momentum. Elma Bustronic has announced a new 3U VPX Load Board. The load board helps confirm the chassis meets the VITA 46/48 power specifications for VPX and aids in locating hot spots within the enclosure. The load board functions to test a system’s cooling capabilities by first applying the load to the power supply for verification and creating the necessary heat to confirm chassis cooling. By locating hot spots in the chassis, a system designer can verify where to optimally redirect the airflow to prevent overheating. The 3U VPX load card features a microcontroller-based stepped load control to 100W maximum. Other features include a power reset button (to minimum level) and a SYSRESET signal on the two test point outputs. Go-No-Go indicators are present for 3.3V, 5V, 12V, +12V Aux, -12V Aux and 3.3V Aux. There is also an IEEE injector/ejector handle to provide a secure and convenient latching mechanism. Bustronic is also planning a 6U VPX Load Board as well as a conduction-cooled version in the coming months. Pricing for the 3U VPX Load Board is under $1,000 depending on volume and type.
Elma Electronic, Fremont, CA. (510) 656-3400. [www.elma.com].
VME Card Is 1 GHz Drop-in Replacement for Predecessor
The longevity of VME in the military is partly thanks to technology updates to legacy slots. Feeding exactly such needs, Xembedded has announced a drop-in replacement for the End of Life SBS VR7, but with much more processor power! The XVME-689-VR7 is a powerful, very low-power single slot 6U single board computer with the same VMEbus P1 and P2 pin outs as the VR7. The XVME-689-VR7 VMEbus processor integrates an Intel Celeron M processor running at 1.0 GHz with up to 512 Kbytes of level 2 cache and a PCI-to-VMEbus interface. It is also available with 512 Mbytes or 1 Gbyte ECC or Non-ECC DDR, 266/333 MHz SDRAM. The XVME-689-VR7 has VGA Graphics out front panel or rear video support (Pixel resolution up to 1600 X 1200 at 85 Hz). The EIDE Ultra-100 DMA controller supports up to three EIDE devices, one PMC 32/64-bit 33/66 MHz site (IEEE P1386/P1386.1) with front panel I/O bezel and user I/O on optional P0 rear connector.
Additional options available on the XVME-689-VR7 are EIDE onboard 1.8-inch hard drive, CompactFlash carrier, two Serial ATA150 (SATA150) external devices and a floppy disk interface. SCSI can be added with the use of a SCSI PMC board. PMC expansion for two additional PMC sites is available using the XVME-976/209. This XVME-689-VR7 processor module allows users to take advantage of the low-power, multiprocessing capability of the VMEbus while using standard off-the-shelf PC software, operating systems and VMEbus I/O modules.
Xembedded, Ann Arbor, MI. (734) 975-0577. [www.xembedded.com].
4.8 Gbit DDR2 DRAM Offered in Compact PBGA Package
Gone are the days when it took a rack of boards to get a Gbit of RAM memory. Now multiple Gbits of RAM can be squeezed onto one device. Along such lines, the 4.8 Gbit AS4DDR264M72PBG1 device from Austin Semiconductor is a DDR2 device packaged in a 16 mm x 23 mm, 208 ball BGA with a ball pitch of 1.00 mm. It offers performance benchmarks up to 667 Mbit/s data rate while operating within the Mil-Temperature range of -55° to +125°C.
The device offers DLL for alignment of DQ and DQS transitions with clock signal. Eight internal banks are provided for concurrent operation and the device supports auto Refresh and self Refresh modes. The 208 PBGA offers 61 percent space savings, 55 percent I/O reduction, reduced part count and reduced trace lengths for lower parasitic capacitance. The AS4DDR264M72PBG1 has entered full production and is being delivered to all speed variants, including the DDR2-667 Mbit/s variant operating at full military temperature range.
Austin Semiconductor, Austin, TX. (512) 719-7250. [www.austinsemiconductor.com].
6U cPCI Intel Xeon Blade Has Dual Quad Core Xeons
The multicore trend shows no signs of slowing as military system developers push for ever greater compute density. Pushing more power into networking systems, a PICMG 2.0-compliant 6U CompactPCI dual-processor blade features up to two Quad-Core Harpertown or Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processors, server class Intel 5100 San Clemente chipset, four SO-RDIMM sockets for up to 16 Gbyte DDR2-667 registered ECC memory and 1066 MHz front side bus. The cPCI-6920 from ADlink Technology provides network and military equipment providers with higher memory capacity and up to eight times the computing power of previous single-core products.
In addition to multicore computing power, ADlink’s new cPCI-6920 offers a 64-bit/66 MHz PMC or x8 PCI-Express XMC site for high-speed I/O expansion, such as 10Gigabit Ethernet and high-end graphics. The cPCI-6920 brings RAID 0/1-enabled SATA/SCSI storage device support via a rear transition module (RTM), and reserves space for a 2.5-inch Serial ATA hard drive directly mounted on the SBC and RTM. A CompactFlash slot and embedded 4 Gbyte USB NAND flash are additional storage options. Single unit pricing is $3,895.
ADLINK Technology, San Jose, CA.
(408) 360-0200. [www.adlinktech.com].
Rugged Next-Gen Multiprocessor Links Seven CPUs
Upgradable modularity is critical in a variety of applications such as the Mounted Battle Command On The Move (MBCOTM), Command Post and a host of other C4ISR programs. Along such lines, the MPU COMx from Z Microsystems is a new multiprocessor unit that hosts up to seven hot-swappable processor modules, two sealed hot-swappable TP2 disk drives, dual hot-swappable AC or DC power supplies, 4 Gbyte RAM and optional PCI Express modules. With enhanced graphics, it is designed for full system modularity, seamless processor upgrades and long operational life in harsh mission-critical environments.
The advanced MPU COMx workstation incorporates up to seven Intel or AMD-based processor modules into one durable, sealed aluminum chassis. Operators can mix and match processor modules with optional graphically enhanced PCI Express modules for applications that require extreme graphics capabilities. Dual hot-swappable load sharing power supplies, field-replaceable fans and hot-swappable TP2 disks make deployed serviceability effortless. The MPU COMx can also be easily networked and remotely managed.
Z Microsystems, San Diego, CA. (858) 831-7000. [www.zmicro.com].
1U Solution Blends High-End Graphics and Eight GbE Links
Military systems continue to gravitate toward 1U form factors, partly because they match the form factor of numerous off-the-shelf blade and comms gear. Designed for high-performance networking and network security applications, the PL-10560 rackmount network appliance from Win Enterprises supports a range of applications including IDS/IPS, firewall, VPN gateway, load balancing and UTM. It offers a choice of Pentium M or Celeron M ULV processors. It features the 915GME/910GMLE integrated high-performance 2D/3D accelerated graphic chip and ICH6-M I/O controller with system memory up to 2 Gbytes with two DDRII memory sockets. A removable cover enables easy access to CompactFlash and memory for system upgrades.
The flexible platform offers a choice of four GbE Copper or eight GbE Copper with one pair optionally reserved for bypass function on the front panel. PL-10560 is available in two configurations: The PL-1056A 1U rackmount appliance with Intel Celeron M 600 MHz/512K onboard, 4 x RJ45 GbE, SATA, CF, PCI-E x 4, PCI-E x 8 is priced at $518; and the PL-1056B 1U rackmount appliance with an Intel socket 479 with 8 RJ45 GbE, SATA, CF, PCI-E x 8 is priced at $591.
WIN Enterprises, North Andover, MA. (978) 688-2000. [www.win-ent.com].
CSP/BallNest Socket Offers Reliable Test and Burn-In
Keeping up with the latest and greatest chip packaging schemes is a tough challenge for military system designers. Aries Electronics offers a patented CSP/BallNest hybrid socket that is suited for prototyping, test or burn-in of CSP (chip scale package), BGA (ball grid array), microBGA and LGA (land grid array) devices. The socket features a lid that nests each ball termination into the socket for a reliable connection and can be used on any device with a 0.30 mm pitch or larger.
The socket body is PEEK or Torlon, while screws and alignment pins are stainless steel, and all inserts are tin-plated brass alloy per QQ-B-626. The socket’s contact forces are 15 g per contact on a 0.30 mm to 0.35 mm pitch, 16 g per contact on a 0.40 mm to 0.45 mm pitch, 25 g per contact on a 0.50 mm to 0.75 mm pitch and 25 g per contact on a 0.80 mm pitch or larger. Operating temperature is -55° to 150°C (-67° to 30°F) and estimated contact life is 500,000 cycles. A BallNest socket for a typical 50 lead BGA device with 0.3 mm pitch is $500 each at quantity two pieces.
Aries Electronics, Bristol, PA. (215) 781-99561. [www.arieselec.com].
XMC Card Cable Adapter Boasts 40 Gbit/s Links
The XMC mezzanine form factor is destined to follow nicely in the footsteps of the popular PMC form factor. One Stop Systems’ XMC x8 Gen 2 is a host cable adapter that enables high-speed expansion over a PCIe cable. The XMC is the PCI Express version of the PMC and is installed on a CPU board in a host system. A PCIe x8 cable inserted into the cable connector on the face of the XMC expands the PCIe bus to a PCIe downstream device or expansion chassis. Gen 2 speeds provide greater bandwidth for applications demanding high-speed throughput such as video, imaging and audio devices, and requires no additional software or drivers to operate.
The short XMC form factor makes it easy to install in any carrier with an XMC connector. The XMC x8 cable connector on the bezel and the PCIe x8 edge connector are routed directly to the Pericom 5804 redrivers. Since the XMC x8 host cable adapter is based on redriver technology, there are no latency obstacles to throughput. The XMC x8 provides the latest high-speed functionality in the XMC form factor. The XMC x8 is an appropriate solution for porting PCI Express from a VXS (VITA 41.4) or CPCIe CPU board to an external drive array or expansion chassis. The XMC x8 Gen 2 host cable adapter lists for $759.
One Stop Systems, Escondido, CA.
(877) 438-2724. [www.onestopsystems.com].
SATA Solid-State Drive Stores 416 Gbytes
Solid-State Drives have rapidly captured market share away from rotating disks dives. SSDs are also much more rugged than traditional HDD solutions. The E-Disk Altima from BitMicro Networks is a robust SATA. A 2.5-inch, flash-based solid-state drive is capable of storing up to 416 Gbytes of data, sustaining transfer rates of up to 100 Mbytes/s and can withstand shock and vibration up to 1,500 G and 16.4 G rms respectively. Mobile computing applications are set to benefit from these features since the 2.5-inch E-Disk Altima E2A3GL solid-state drive is a drop-in replacement for disks used in business laptops or rugged portable PCs. It is among the new generation of E-Disk SSDs supported by the EDSA DMC and LUNETA MFI ASICs.
With the ongoing transformation of the personal computing market from desktop PCs to laptops, the 2.5-inch E-Disk Altima SATA solid-state drive easily meets the SSD requirements of mobile computer users. It can also be used as an SSD upgrade for business-critical, enterprise-class applications that require scalable and resilient solid-state storage solutions.
BiTMICRO Networks, Fremont, CA.
(510) 743-3193. [www.bitmicro.com].
Trio of Controller Boards Rides StackableUSB
With ISA-based all but fading from view, system desigers are hungry for a straightforward bus interconncet for small systems. StackableUSB feeds that need offering PC/104-like stackability linked via USB. Micro/sys continues to expand its selection of StackableUSB line with the release of three general-purpose industrial Client microcontroller boards: the USB1132, USB1124 and USB1108. The first in this family is the USB1132, a PIC32 Industrial Client card powered by the Microchip PIC32, the USB1132 has 1.56 DMIPS/MHz performance at 80 MHz, 512 Kbytes flash and 32 Kbytes SRAM memory. Features include 16 channel, 10-bit, 500 ksps ADC, RS-232, eight programmable LEDs, digital I/O, and much more (SPI, I2C, timers). The USB1124, meanwhile, is the more energy-economical PIC24 Industrial Client microcontroller powered by the Microchip PIC24, which typically requires only 40 mA power.
Rounding out the new selection is the Micro/sys USB1108 powered by an 8-bit, pipelined, 8051 general-purpose microcontroller (the Silicon Labs C8051F340). The USB1108 has 48 MIPS performance at 48 MHz, 64 Kbyte flash, 2 Kbyte EEPROM and 4352 bytes RAM. The USB1108 gives OEMs access to basic microcontroller features such as a 10-bit differential ADC, digital I/O, timers, PWMs, SPI, I2C and RS-232. The basic USB1132 starts at $165 in single quantity, the USB1124 at $145, and USB1108 at $125.
Micro/sys, Montrose, CA. (818) 244-4600. [www.embeddedsys.com].
HD SDI Matrix Routing Switcher Has Remote Capability
The military’s drive toward Network-centric operations is driving up demands for sophisticated graphics and video displays that convey the wealth of information the network provides. Feeding that need, Sensory offers a new HD SDI matrix routing switcher that features a built-in, customizable Web page that allows for remote operation while remaining operating system independent. The 2444 from Sensoray allows for remote capability as well as simple front panel operation. Model 2444 is capable of switching SMPTE 292M and SMPTE 259M from any of the four inputs to any of its four outputs. An automatic reclocking and equalization of the incoming signal is applied to HD SDI signals from as far away as 150m and SD SDI signals from as far as 250m away.
The unit is enclosed in a simple desktop case; custom packaging dependent upon the end user’s needs can be arranged for OEM quantity orders. Pricing starts at $226 with OEM pricing and customization available.
Sensoray, Portland, OR.
(503) 684-8000. [www.sensoray.com].
Low-Profile Heat Sinks Sport Copper/Aluminum Fins
Controlling the temperatures of electronic systems is a problem that keeps getting harder as high dissipating processors and other ICs make their way into military applications. A new line of extremely powerful hybrid copper/aluminum pin fin heat sinks are designed as an array of forged aluminum pin fins that are reflowed onto a copper plate. Hybrid pin fins are available in a wide array of standard sizes, with footprints as large as 8.2 x 8.2 inches.
The combination of the forging and reflow manufacturing technologies enables the creation of large footprint pin fin heat sinks that cannot be solely manufactured via forging technology. Due to their unique structural configuration, hybrid pin fin heat sinks possess the heat spreading properties of all-copper heat sinks, yet are substantially lighter in weight, and therefore highly suitable for applications that require the heat spreading capabilities of copper heat sinks without the associated weight constraints.
Cool Innovations, Concord, ON, Canada.
(905) 760-1992. [www.coolinnovations.com].
