Embedded computer features conductive cooling
By Warren Webb -- EDN, December 22, 2005
The new seven-slot, 3U Hercules CompactPCI system from Inova Computers features a special aluminum heat sink that conducts heat away from the CPU and peripherals. This thermal-management scheme prevents hot spots inside the chassis and extends system MTBF. Running Windows XP Embedded, Hercules comes with a CPU board with either a 1-GHz Celeron M or a 1.4-GHz Pentium M, an intelligent power-supply-unit board, and five vacant backplane slots for adding CompactPCI I/O and controller boards for such functions as digital video, global positioning, wireless LAN and removable hard disk drive.
The CPU board contains a Phoenix BIOS; 256 Mbytes of Compact Flash memory; a USB 2.0 port; a Fast or Gigabit Ethernet port; a 2048×1536-pixel analog video accelerator; and three 24V, optoisolated digital I/O lines. The system has a standard –20 to +50°C operating-temperature range plus an optional –40 to +85°C range. A board-support package provides utilities to monitor the operating parameters of the system and maintain reliability. Prices begin at $1675 (OEM quantities), and delivery is four to eight weeks after receipt of order.
Inova Computers, www.inova-computers.com.
