Intel® Atom™ E3800 Solutions from Extreme Engineering Solutions

Author: Laura Biddiscombe

So here is something rather exciting for you....

Extreme Engineering Solutions, Inc. (X-ES) has introduced the XPedite8101 XMC/PMC and XPedite8150 Rugged COM Express® modules based on the Intel® Atom™ E3800 (formerly Bay Trail-I) processor family.

With Built-In Test (BIT) support, true configuration and obsolescence management, class III PCB fabrication and assembly, environmental qualification per MIL-STD-810, as well as many other features, X-ES E3800-based modules are designed and tested for maximum reliability in the most demanding environments and applications that require long life cycles. Also, instead of using a legacy BIOS-based bootloader, X-ES’s E3800-based modules support industry-leading boot times and drastically simplify system security by employing Intel’s Firmware Support Package (FSP) to power their open source coreboot bootloaders.

Full Press Release
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   Left to right

   XPedite8150 - Rugged COM Express Mini Module
   XPedite8101 - Conduction-or-Air-Cooled XMC/PMC Module
   XPedite8152 - Rugged COM Express Mini Module with NAND    Flash



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Wind River VxWorks and Linux Board Support Packages, as well as Microsoft Windows drivers, are available for the XPedite8101, XPedite8150, and XPedite8152. These products support the E3827, E3826, E3815, E3845, and E3825 processors from the E3800 series.

The E3800 series is the 4th generation Atom processor from Intel and was formerly known as the Bay Trail-I platform and Valleyview processor.

X-ES will be displaying the Intel® Atom™ E3800-based modules at the 2014 Intel Developer Forum (IDF14) in San Francisco, September 9th through the 11th. Stop by and visit the team at IDF in booth 661 of the Intelligent Systems Community, or contact Sarsen Technology today to find out more about using the Intel® Atom™ for your application.

Extra Diagnostic Power When You Need It - The GUARDIAN Series I/O boards from United Electronic Industries

Author: Laura Biddiscombe

The Guardian series of boards from United Electronic Industries (UEI) provide a host of powerful diagnostics and have been extremely popular in simulator applications as well as other applications requiring high system up-time and maintainability.

The Guardian series boards provide an extra level of diagnostics and are designed to help you quickly and easily diagnose and correct short circuits, open circuits, over-voltage conditions and many other possible failure conditions. These features are also very useful when used in conjunction with Power On Self Test (POST). All Guardian series I/O boards are shown on a green background in the latest edition of the UEI Product Catalogue - click here to request a free copy.

With so many I/O options available to the UEI's unique PowerDNA/DNR I/O interface chassis, there are virtually limitless possibilities for deployment to suit your unique application, all with outstanding software support for a great number of operating platforms including Linux, Windows and Real-time operating systems. Application packages including LabVIEW, MATLAB, DASYLab are also supported. As with all PowerDNA/DNR products from UEI, their I/O boards are guaranteed to remain available for the next 10 years.

The DNx-DIO-449 from United Electronic Industries is a 48 channel, high performance AC and DC digital input board designed for use in a wide variety of digital monitoring applications.

For more information please contact Sarsen Technology on +44 1672 511166, or email the team.

Extreme Environments Demand Extreme Engineering Solutions - Rugged SBCs and Systems from X-ES

Author: Laura Biddiscombe

Extreme Engineering Solutions (X-ES) is a leader in designing advanced, embedded computing products for the harsh environments seen in military and industrial applications.

They utilise best-in-class design, test, and manufacturing practices to develop products that deliver reliable operation in the extremes of temperature, shock, vibration, and environment.

Three levels of ruggedization are available for X-ES products, supporting commercial, extended temperature, and conduction-cooled applications. Products may be air-cooled or conduction-cooled depending on the end application. These levels allow our customers to tailor a solution to their application by selecting the range that best suits their needs for thermal, vibration, shock and performance.

Standard Air-Cooled - Level 1
Operating Temperature	0 to +55°C ambient, 300 LFM, per MIL-STD-810F 501.4 Procedure II and Method 502.4 Procedure II
Storage Temperature	-40 to +85°C ambient †
Vibration	0.002 g²/Hz, 1 hour per axis from 5 to 2000 Hz
Shock	20 g, 11 ms sawtooth, per MIL-STD-810F Method 516.5 Procedure I
Humidity	0% to 95% non-condensing, per MIL-STD-810F Method 507.4
Rugged Air-Cooled - Level 3
Operating Temperature	-40 to +70°C, 600 LFM, per MIL-STD-810F 501.4 Procedure II and Method 502.4 Procedure II
Storage Temperature	-55 to +105°C, per MIL-STD-810F Method 501.4 Procedure I and Method 502.4 Procedure I †
Vibration	0.04 g²/Hz (maximum), 1 hour per axis from 5 to 2000 Hz ‡
Shock	30 g, 11 ms sawtooth, per MIL-STD-810F Method 516.5 Procedure I
Humidity	0% to 95% non-condensing, per MIL-STD-810F Method 507.4
Conduction-Cooled - Level 5
Operating Temperature	-40 to +85°C board rail surface temperature, per MIL-STD-810F Method 501.4 Procedure II and Method 502.4 Procedure II
Storage Temperature	-55 to +105°C, per MIL-STD-810F Method 501.4 Procedure I and Method 502.4 Procedure I †
Vibration	0.1 g²/Hz (maximum), 1 hour per axis from 5 to 2000 Hz ‡
Shock	40 g, 11 ms sawtooth, per MIL-STD-810F Method 516.5 Procedure I
Humidity	0% to 95% non-condensing, per MIL-STD-810F Method 507.4

If an application does not fall into one of these three ruggedization levels, X-ES offers extended temperature, humidity, and vibration screening services. Many military designs, for example, have a -55ºC operational requirement. In the case where screening alone is not practical, X-ES has experience with heater tapes and other alternative solutions. Optional features, such as conformal coating, are available.

Contact the Sarsen Technology Technical Team for more information about available options.

UL 94 - Flammability Rating in PCBs

Author - Laura Biddiscombe

UL 94 is the Standard for Safety of Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances. It is a plastics flammability standard released by Underwriters Laboratories of the USA. The standard enables testers to classify plastics according to how they burn in various orientations and thicknesses.

From lowest (least flame-retardant) to highest (most flame-retardant), the classifications are:

• HB: slow burning on a horizontal specimen; burning rate < 76 mm/min for thickness < 3 mm and burning stops before 100 mm
• V-2 burning stops within 30 seconds on a vertical specimen; drips of flaming particles are allowed.
• V-1: burning stops within 30 seconds on a vertical specimen; drips of particles allowed as long as they are not inflamed.
• V-0: burning stops within 10 seconds on a vertical specimen; drips of particles allowed as long as they are not inflamed.
• 5VB: burning stops within 60 seconds on a vertical specimen; no drips allowed; plaque specimens may develop a hole.
• 5VA: burning stops within 60 seconds on a vertical specimen; no drips allowed; plaque specimens may not develop a hole.

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In general, VersaLogic products are designed to meet certain safety standards, including UL 60950, CE emissions and immunity standards, and FCC Class A.

However, VersaLogic boards are components and not intended for stand-alone use. They are not tested and certified to meet those standards, as most safety certifications apply to complete products.

The UL mark on VersaLogic PCBs certifies a flammability rating of UL 94 V-0. This certification applies to the PCB only. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Requirements for V-0

• The specimens may not burn with flaming combustion for more than 10 seconds after either application of the test flame.
• The total flaming combustion time may not exceed 50 seconds for the 10 flame applications for each set of 5 specimens.
• The specimens may not burn with flaming or glowing combustion up to the holding clamp.
• The specimens may not drip flaming particles that ignite the dry absorbent surgical cotton located 300 mm below the test specimen.
• The specimens may not have glowing combustion that persists for more than 30 seconds after the second removal of the test flame.

 For more information on flammability ratings for any of our product lines please contact Sarsen Technology on +44 1672 511166 or send us an email - info@sarsen.net