News and New Products

Fan card boosts embedded reliability

By Warren Webb -- EDN, 12/11/2003

A new PC/104 multifunction module from Parvus provides embedded systems with temperature-controlled, forced-air cooling along with environmental monitoring of humidity and pressure conditions (Picture). The ThermoCool Environmental Fan Card II includes two high-efficiency, brushless fans that turn on and off in response to changing temperature while conserving power and increasing product life. In a sealed enclosure, the device can effectively reduce or even eliminate the need for an embedded system for outside air exchange. The card drives air in a push-pull, circular cooling pattern around the fan module and adjacent PC/104 cards.

The Environmental Fan Card II also integrates capacitive humidity and atmospheric pressure sensors, which you can use as alarm indicators. Other standard features include two Form C relays, two digital inputs, multiple analog inputs, and Windows 9x/NT/2000/XP drivers. Prices start at $187 (100).

Parvus Corp, 1-801-483-1533, www.parvus.com.