August 15, 1997

Rugged products, tough applications

Most of the things you design have to operate in less than optimum conditions. They'll get bumped and dropped. They'll have to work when temperatures and humidity are high. Because you're conscientious and thorough, you factor those conditions into your design. In most cases, by making proper allowances, you can make do with standard components.

But some designs really have it tough. They get bumped and dropped a lot. They have to work when temperatures are really high--or really low. Maybe they're exposed to humid salt air or dust storms. For these designs, you have to take special measures. And you'll probably need to use some special, rugged components.

In the pages that follow, we present some rugged products for your examination. Although we provide only a sampling, bear in mind that many of the companies that make these rugged components make others as well, so they can be valuable sources for many of the things you need. Remember, too, that most chip and component manufacturers supply rugged, as well as standard, devices. Finally, note that EDN includes many pages of new products in every issue. We don't especially emphasize rugged products in each issue, but we do take note of quite a few. We hope the products that we list here, and throughout the year, will be helpful.

Sturdy PC takes to the road. Three three-fourths-length ISA-bus expansion slots and compliance with stringent environmental requirements make the CAR-PC computer system adaptable to a variety of applications, such as emergency response, navigation, fleet management, and vehicle-performance measurements. The 486DX4-based system, which the car's battery (11 to 16V dc) powers, consists of an 11.1×8.5×4.25-in. computer module and a TFT display that you can place as far away as 16 ft from the computer. The CAR-PC operates over a temperature range of ­10 to +50°C and runs under DOS, Windows, ROM-DOS, OS/2, and Unix. Prices start at $5700.

Kontron Electronik Corp, Newport Beach, CA. 1-714-851-1872, fax 1-714 -851-3180, www.kontron.com.

4-Mbit SRAM in gull-wing package wins DSCC approval. The WS128-K32XG2X, a DSCC-approved 4-Mbit SRAM module qualified under SMD 5962-95595, comes in a dual-cavity, gull-wing G2 package designed to fit the JEDEC standard 0.990-in.-sq JLCC footprint. Organized as 128k×32 bits, the device is user-configurable to 256k×16 or 512k×8 bits. The ceramic G2 package provides a 34% space saving over four 32-lead CSOJ devices and a 40% space saving over four 36-lead CSOJ devices. The G2 also reduces the number of solder connections from 128 or 144 to 68 for the same memory density. Prices start at $375.

White Microelectronics, Phoenix, AZ. 1-602-437-1520, fax 1-602-437-9120, www.whitemicro.com.

Portrait LCD prevails in bright, harsh surroundings. Permitting ±60° horizontal portrait viewing, the EDI1D5 10.4-in., active-matrix LCD uses TFT drivers to enhance operation in harsh environments. The display offers 640×480-pixel VGA resolution with a 200-to-1 contrast ratio and 30-msec response time. Operating temperatures range from ­20 to +70°C. Optional heaters extend the low-temperature range. The backlit panel has a brightness of 200 fL with a 1000-to-1 dimming ratio. The EDI1D5 costs $4500 (200).

Electronic Designs Inc, Westborough, MA. 1-508-366-5151, fax 1-508-836-4850, www.electronic-designs.com.

Rugged chassis line touts versatility. Covering sizes 1 to 12U, chassis in the BoxFlex line come in the EIA standard 19-in. rack style with removable feet, handles, and fan covers for rack-mount or benchtop applications. The rugged chassis are constructed of 14- to 18-gauge cold-rolled steel with aluminum front and back plates. Fan kits include ac fans, guards, an IEC connector, a fuse, an ac switch and lamp, a cord, and predrilled front and back plates. Prices range from $50 to $300.

Hyberlab Corp, Concord, ON, Canada. 1-905-761-0055, fax 1-905-761-6203.

Compact, industrial-grade keyboard goes mobile. Enclosed in aluminum, the Streetlight keyboard for the mobile-computer and transportation markets measures 8.25×0.95×4.25 in. The 75-key layout supplies the standard alpha keypad and a set of 12 function keys, each with an average life of 10 million cycles. The keyboard meets NEMA 4, 4X, 12, and 13 standards, and the silicone-elastomer keypad resists water, dust, and many harsh contaminants. A backlighting option permits viewing in low-light environments. The Streetlight costs $199 (100).

Texas Industrial Peripherals, Austin, TX. 1-512-837-0283, fax 1-512-837-0207, www.ikey.com.

Thermoelectric coolers block moisture. Equipped with a perimeter seal, the SealTec series of thermoelectric coolers affords maximum protection from water condensation that often occurs when devices operate at or below the dew point or in humid conditions. The SealTec barrier prevents water or gases from contacting the thermoelectric elements and electrical conductors, thereby eliminating corrosion and thermal and electrical shorts. A 6A, 51.4W, 15.4V thermoelectric cooler costs $18.30 (100).

Melcor Corp, Trenton, NJ. 1-609-393-4178, fax 1-609-393-9461.

Gaskets keep instrument case watertight. Molded from an impact-resistant ABS alloy, the CTP-G968 series of handheld instrument cases is watertight when you use it with a gasket in a mating tongue and groove. Standard options include a solid cover, an LCD or a window cutout, and a battery door for one 9V or two AA batteries. Overall case size is 4×7 in. with a keyboard area of 4.50×3.33 in. Units cost $6.75 to $9.95 each, depending on style and quantity.

Connect-Tech Products Inc, Carson City, NV. 1-702-883-0986, fax 1-702-883-4874, www.connect-tech.thomasregister.com.

PC flash cards sport full-metal jacket. In an agreement with Altec Computer Systeme GmbH, the vendor will supply Altec with flash-memory storage cards for its new full-metal-card and photo-card lines. The flash cards are enclosed in hermetically sealed solid-metal cases for both product lines. Altec will market the vendor's flash cards for numerous applications requiring extremely rugged and durable memory cards that can survive major temperature fluctuations, high shock and vibration, and exposure to moisture and dust. The PCMCIA Type II cards come in densities of 6, 8, 10, 20, 40, and 85 Mbytes with prices from $160 to $1394 (OEM).

SanDisk Corp, Sunnyvale, CA. 1-408-542-0500, fax 1-408-542-0503, www.sandisk.com.

Magnetic position sensor takes temperatures as high as 150°C. You can achieve reliable position sensing in dirty industrial, automotive, and commercial applications with the OHS-3150U ratiometric linear Hall-effect sensor. Specified for operation over a temperature range of ­40 to +150°C, the sensor provides a voltage output proportional to an applied magnetic field. The OHS3150U is sealed to prevent performance degradation in harsh environments, and its quadratic Hall-sensing element and temperature-compensation circuitry permit operation at high temperatures. The device costs $1.38 (1000).

Optek Technology Inc, Carrollton, TX. 1-972-323-2200, fax 1-972-323-2396, www.optekinc.com.

Steel enclosure protects Pentium Pro industrial computer. Designed to survive on the factory floor, the IRC9000 series of industrial computers employs an ATX motherboard with a choice of Pentium Pro processors running at 150, 166, 180, or 200 MHz. Positive pressure cooling and a dual-µP, fan-cooled heat sink allow reliable operation to 50°C. The drive bay is shock-mounted to reduce the effects of shock and vibration. A 200-MHz steel-enclosed configuration, including 16 Mbytes of DRAM, a 1-Gbyte hard drive, a floppy drive, a PCI-bus video controller with 2 Mbytes of DRAM, two RS-232C ports, and a USB port, costs $3995.

Nortech Engineering Inc, East Walpole, MA. 1-508-668-3490, fax 1-508-668-3568, www.norteng.com.

VMEbus single-board computers survive in tough environments. Two VMEbus single-board computers, each based on a 100-MHz PowerPC RISC processor, operate in tempe ratures from ­55 to +85°C and where shock and vibration greater than 40g and 0.1g²/Hz occur. Suitable for mission-critical applications, the SVME/DMV-176 and 177 come in four ruggedization levels, including air- and conduction-cooled versions. The 176 has as much as 16 Mbytes of SRAM, and the 177 has as much as 64 Mbytes of DRAM. Both models include Ethernet, SCSI, and serial connections, as well as four timers and separate execution ROM and boot memory. Prices start at $7500.

DY 4 Systems Inc, Kanata, ON, Canada. 1-613-599-9199, fax 1-613-599-7777, www.dy4.com.

Digital data recorder meets MIL shock spec. Conforming to MIL-E-5400 16400 vibration standards, the VLDS-BR variable-speed digital data recorder is for use in environments in which shock and vibration are common, such as helicopters and mobile ground vehicles. The ruggedized recorder offers variable data rates from 0 to 32 Mbps and a burst rate as high as 160 Mbps, storing 13.7 Gbytes of data on one ST-160 tape cassette. Record times vary by data rate and range from 58 minutes at 32 Mbps maximum streaming rate to 35 hours at 800 kbps using an ST-160 tape. Prices start at $66,000.

Metrum, Littleton, CO. 1-303-773-4963.

Keyboard/trackball unit conforms to NEMA 4/4X standards. Sealed industrial-class keyboard and trackball units in cased or uncased versions are compatible with IBM PC AT and PS/2, DEC, RS-232C, and other standard computers. The NEMA 4/4X-rated Series 96 offers units for vertical panel mounting, front or rear panel mounting, and stand-alone configurations for 19-in. rack systems. Each mechanical key switch is rated for more than 20 million cycles, protected by a rigid, 2-mm-thick steel plate tough enough to withstand a direct hammer blow. A wear- and chemical-resistant polyester front sheet provides addi tional protection, as does overall moisture-protection sealing. A 96-key version of the keyboard/trackball costs $852 cased and $658 uncased.

Computer Keyboard Systems, Santa Monica, CA. 1-310-664-9272, fax 1-310-664-1072.

Sensor chip helps manage automobile engines. Almost 75% smaller than previous-generation devices, the MAP 1452 manifold-absolute-pressure (MAP) sensor allows greater freedom for in-vehicle mounting. The sensor measures the vacuum in the engine manifold to optimize the air-to-fuel ratio. This process maximizes engine power and minimizes emissions. The MAP 1452 contains a micromachined sensor element and a signal-conditioning ASIC that integrates amplification, calibration, temperature compensation, and diagnostic circuitry on one chip. Operating over a temperature range of ­40 to +125°C, the MAP 1452 meets the automotive industry's requirements for EMI, shock, and vibration resistance. The part costs less than $10 (OEM).

Integrated Sensor Solutions, San Jose, CA. 1-408-324-1044, fax 1-408-324-1054.

Mouse seals out industrial contaminants. Plugging directly into a mouse port or RS-232C connection, the M90X9/M90X9-N3 industrial mouse is fully sealed to NEMA 4X and IP 67 standards for use in harsh environments, in which moisture and dirt commonly cause device failures. The unit's inductive joystick has a solid, 3/16-in.-diameter, stainless-steel shaft to eliminate breakage and solid-state electronics to ensure long life. The pencil-style M90X9 costs $269; the point-and-click, pushbutton M90X9-N3 costs $299 (25).

CTI Electronics, Stratford, CT. 1-203-386-9779, fax 1-203-378-4986.

Sturdy SCSI flash disk delivers fast read/write operations. Fully compatible with the SCSI-2 command set, the Fast Flash Disk (FFD) provides highly reliable data storage in demanding environments, such as flight instrumentation, mobile systems, and PBX systems. The FFD has a sustained read rate of 3 Mbytes/sec and a write rate of 1 Mbyte/sec. To prevent compromising sensitive data, a security-erase feature wipes out all the data on the flash disk in less than 1 sec. Versions of the FFD come in storage capacities of 16 to 800 Mbytes. An 80-Mbyte flash disk costs less than $1200 (1000).

M-Systems Inc, Santa Clara, CA. 1-408-654-5820, fax 1-408-654-9107, www.m-sys.com.

Data-acquisition options read inputs to 1000V. A high-voltage option for the DI-500 series of industrial data-acquisition systems lets you connect analog voltage inputs as high as 1000V, extending the previous limit of 40V. The DI-500-HV option uses a series of resistors built into the instrument mainframe to divide the high-voltage analog input signal to a level within the measurement range of a DI-5B40-1042 signal-conditioning module, which is required for each channel that has the high-voltage option. Using programmable instrument gains of 1, 2, 4, and 8, you can obtain a measurement range of ±1000, ±500, ±250, and ±125V, respectively. The DI-500-HV costs $80; the DI-5B40-1042 costs $225.

Dataq Instruments, Akron, OH. 1-330-668-1444, fax 1-330-666-5434, www.dataq.com.

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