Automation PC includes homegrown SoC
By Jonathan Angel
2009-08-28
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Advantech has announced a box PC that runs Linux using a SoC (system-on-chip) of the company's own devising. Intended for harsh environments, the ARK-1310 has CompactFlash storage and includes two USB 2.0 ports, two 10/100 Ethernet ports, and four serial ports, the company says.Advantech characterizes its new ARK-1310 as a "cost-effective, entry-level automation system solution." The device, which has a rated operating range of -4 to 149 deg. F (-20 to 65 deg. C), is said to be suitable for gateway controllers, product line automation, I/O control systems, and other embedded applications.
 The ARK-1310 is powered by an x86-compatible SoC we haven't encountered before, Advantech's own EVA-X4150 (pictured at right). This device, which comes in a 27 x 27mm PBGA (plastic ball grid array) package, is said to be compatible with the 486SX instruction set and to provide integrated northbridge and southbridge functionality.
As depicted in the block diagram below, the EVA-X4150 includes SDRAM and DMA controllers, PCI and ISA bus interfaces, Ethernet and IDE controllers, and a UART that supports up to five serial ports, among other functionality. The SoC appears to lacks floating-point support, and offers a clock speed of just 150MHz, but it supports Linux, Windows CE 5.0, DOS, and "most popular 32-bit RTOes [real time operating systems]."
A block diagram of Advantech's EVA-X4150
(Click to enlarge)
The EVA-X4150 also lacks graphics support, but Advantech says the ARK-1310 includes a SMI 712 video controller, allowing it to support either VGA-interfaced CRTs or LVDS flat panel displays. The box PC ships with either 64MB of 128MB of RAM, as well as a Type I/II CompactFlash slot that's externally accessible via its rear panel, the company says.
 
Advantech's ARK-1310 (rear panel at left, front panel at right)
Other rear panel connectors, pictured above left, include two serial ports, VGA output, two USB 2.0 ports, and a PS/2 port. Front panel connectors (above right) include two more serial ports, two 10/100 Ethernet ports, an input for DC power (from 9VDC to 24VDC), and eight digital I/Os, according to Advantech.
The use of CompactFlash storage means that the ARK-1310 easily withstands shocks of up to 50GB (11ms duration) during operation, and vibration of up to 5Grms, claims Advantech. Naturally, given that the EVA-X4150 is said to use just 0.8 Watts, the ARK-1310 also runs fanlessly.
Features and specifications listed by Advantech for the ARK-1310 include the following:
- Processor -- Advantech EVA-X4150 SoC clocked at 150MHz
- Memory -- 64MB or 128MB
- Storage -- CompactFlash Type I/II slot
- Networking -- 2 x 10/100 Ethernet
- Other I/O:
- 2 x USB 2.0
- 4 x RS232/422/486
- 1 x VGA
- 1 x PS/2
- 8 x digital I/O
- Power requirements -- 9VDC to 24VDC; 7 Watts max. consumption
- Dimensions -- 7.44 x 5.14 x 1.61 inches
- Weight -- 2.53 pounds
Availability
The ARK-1310 appears to be available now, but pricing was not announced. More information on the device may be found on the company's website, here. More information on the EVA-X4150 SoC may be found here.
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