myOPALE - Modular Building Blocks for AI on the Edge

ECRIN Systems designs and manufactures rugged VPX COTS Boards, Mil-COTS and rugged systems, and their core business is the integration of COTS building blocks from Open Standard form factors like PICMG 1.3, to achieve the best system performance at reduced cost and shortest time to market.

Read More about ECRIN Systems

One of their latest solutions is the myOPALE building block system, which provides truly disruptive technology to realise ambitious design goals for industrial computers that target size, weight, and power consumption (SWaP)-constrained operating environments.

The myOPALE modular concept is based on four key points, all inspired by open or de facto standards used in the embedded market. It eliminates the mechanical link between the CPU module and its I/O cards thanks to PCI Express Gen3-over- cable interconnection in a standard half-height 5.25-inch casing.

myOPALE datasheet

The design is based on COM Express Type 6 and integrates Embedded Low Power SKU’s with 10 years life support. In Skylake and Kaby Lake versions, Intel Core i7 or Xeon E3-1500 CPU with Chipset platforms are selected, which directly drive 24 PCIe Gen3 lanes as their expansion bus.

There are a wide range of configurations and options available. If you would like to discuss the myOPALE concept please contact us at info@sarsen.net.

ECRIN can provide a complete integrated computer with Environmental Qualification Tests passed and mandatory Certification stickers for domestic and export countries. ive 24 PCIe Gen3 lanes as their expansion bus.

REFLEX CES and Sarsen Technology Announce Partnership

Sarsen Technology is pleased to announce that it has been named by REFLEX CES as sales and marketing partner for their high-speed FPGA based solutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Based in Paris, France, REFLEX CES is a well-known and trusted supplier to major OEMs across the world and is established in numerous markets such as High Frequency Trading, High Performance Computing, Government, Cyber Security and Network Acceleration.

REFLEX CES offers solutions for both evaluation and prototyping using the latest FPGA technology solutions based on Intel FPGA or Xilinx FPGA, including COTS, modified COTS, or full turnkey designs. Their FPGA boards have almost limitless applications and can be easily adapted to fulfill new projects and customers’ specifications.

REFLEX CES

XpressGX S10-FH200G
200G Stratix 10 FPGA PCIe Board

Nigel Norman, MD Sarsen Technology says, “The Sarsen Technology team has great experience in supplying and supporting Intel and Xilinx FPGA based technology solutions to demanding UK and Irish customers. We work with the leaders in the cyber security, high speed trading and telecoms infrastructure markets.  REFLEX CES has exciting and innovative FPGA boards and system level solutions that are ideal for our customer’s applications. We look forward to working closely with the REFLEX CES team to continue to grow the use of FPGA technology solutions.”

“We are delighted to work with Sarsen Technology and expand our customer base in the UK and Ireland, like many regions in the world where REFLEX CES High End FPGA boards and modules are already leading the market. We trust them with their professionalism and knowledge of high-end FPGA boards, and look forward to starting this partnership,” stated Eric Penain, Chief Business Officer of REFLEX CES.

Since their inception in 2000, REFLEX CES’ team of highly skilled engineers has been focused on designing mid-to-highly complex boards and systems, which are all supported by their significant experience in hardware, firmware, software, mechanics, CAD and signal integrity.

For more information about the new relationship and how it could benefit your application please contact Sarsen Technology on +44 1672 511166, or email info@sarsen.net.

For more information about REFLEX CES, please email sales@reflexces.com  or go to www.reflexces.com

Unrivaled Processing Performance on Rugged, Deployable Intel Xeon D Processor Boards

Since announcing their first single board computers (SBCs) based on the Intel® Xeon® D-1500 family of processors in 2015, Extreme Engineering Solutions (X-ES) has been busy, developing an industry-leading portfolio of embedded Xeon D products that is still growing.

These embedded SBCs provide designers with feature-rich computing solutions that are equally at home in a broad range of industries and applications, from challenging industrial environments to rugged defence deployments.

Originally available with up to eight cores, the Xeon D processors from Intel are now available with support for 12 and 16 cores in a single processor. Integrated on X-ES VPX SBCs, these high-performance, low-power processors are ideally suited for a variety of applications and infrastructure, including routers, network appliances, and battlefield communications.

Xeon D is also the first Intel processor with native extended temperature support, a key requirement for many defence and aerospace applications. Xeon D processors with up to 12 cores are rated by the manufacturer for an operating temperature range of -40⁰C to 85⁰C.

Keeping pace with strong demand from the defence and aerospace sectors, X-ES continues to introduce new products and features to their Xeon® D lineup. Their talented design engineering team draws upon an impressive breadth of experience with this architecture to minimise risk for even the most challenging designs.

There are a number of configurations available, including 3U VPX, 6U VPX, and COM Express form factors. For more information please contact Christos or Nigel who can discuss your application with you in detail.

What is an Embedded Processing Unit (EPU) ?

Embedded Processing Unit

Definition - Fully assembled and tested x86 embedded computer based on COM Express form factor.

The EPU concept is based on the flexibility of a 2-board set forming a complete embedded computer product. When you combine two completely separate CPU and I/O modules, tightly sandwiched together, the final product provide a huge range of advantages and a much smaller footprint than equivalent single board computers.

VersaLogic's family of rugged EPU products are designed around the COM Express form factor, and are delivered as fully assembled and tested units (including heat plate).



What's Inside

 

EPUs offer a long list of advantages over other embedded computer board products, including:

• Fast time-to-market 
• Smaller footprint 
•  -40° to +85°C operation 
• Fully tested 
• Available off-the-shelf!

There is also often the added complication of designing a custom carrier card for COM Express modules. EPUs eliminate the effort needed to design with high speed signals, validate the I/O circuits to make sure they work properly, create testing methods for the finished units, etc. The expertise required to create software drivers, BIOS customisation, and API code for the on-board I/O is also removed for easy integration.

EPU modules are almost obsolescence proof. The industry standard form factor means it's really easy to migrate to an EPU with a newer CPU module, but keep your existing I/O configuration and connectors for drop-in compatibility. This is combined with VersaLogic's standard 5-year availability guarantee and Product Life Extension programs for almost completely future-proof technology solutions.

Have a look at the EPU Product Overview to find out more.

If you think one of VersaLogic's rugged, off-the-shelf EPU embedded computer models might be a good fit for your application please give one of our experienced engineers to discuss your requirements.

T: 01672 511166
E: info@sarsen.net  

VersaLogic Announces ARM Based Embedded Computer Family

VersaLogic announced a brand new line of production-ready, ARM-based embedded computers at Embedded World 2018.

The Tetra is the first in the family, and provides a power-efficient, quad-core Single Board Computer (SBC) featuring a quad-core i.MX6 Cortex®-A9 32-bit processor. The board typically consumes about 4W of power when operating (not idle). It is ready for off-the-shelf deployment into demanding industrial applications requiring rugged, long-life, power-efficient, industrial temperature rated (-40° to +85°C) solutions.

VersaLogic Tetra Datasheet

Unlike many ARM-based "modules," VersaLogic's new line of ARM-based EPC (Embedded Processing Card) products are complete board-level computers. They do not require carrier cards, companion boards, connector break-out boards, or other add-ons to function.

For ease of mounting, and future upgrades, VersaLogic's ARM products are designed around the size and mounting points of COM Express products. Unlike proprietary-format ARM products, VersaLogic ARM boards provide a standard mounting pattern allowing for simplified upgrading in the future.

The Tetra matches the COM Express Basic footprint (125 x 95 mm) and offers a variety of I/O options for rugged, industrial applications. All three quad-core Tetra models feature a wide (8 to 17-volt) power input, making it ideal for 12-volt automotive applications.

More information

Many applications that require lower power or lower heat dissipation still need very high levels of reliability. VersaLogic's 10+ year formal life-extension program ensures long production cycles free from expensive changes and upgrades that come from short, disposable life cycles.

On-board I/O
A variety of on-board I/O includes a Gigabit Ethernet port with network boot capability, HDMI and LVDS video outputs, and two USB 2.0 Ports. Serial I/O (RS-232) and a SATA II interface or mSATA, support high-capacity rotating or solid-state drives.

CAN Bus, I2C and SPI are also included along with a 6-axis e-compass, and MIPI camera input. The on-board Mini PCIe socket provides flexible expansion using plug-in Wi-Fi modems, GPS receivers, Ethernet, FireWire, and other mini cards.

Industrial Toughness
Designed and tested for Industrial temperature (-40° to +85°C ) operation, VersaLogic's rugged Tetra meets MIL-STD 202G specifications to withstand high impact and vibration. It is engineered and validated to excel in unforgiving environments. Each component is carefully selected to ensure reliable operation in the field. With decades of embedded design experience, VersaLogic understands how to design in quality and reliability. U.S.-based technical support includes comprehensive assistance during project development.

Availability
The Tetra, part number VL-EPC-2700, is available from stock. Contact info@sarsen.net for more information.

Embedded World 2018 - Highlights from Nuremberg

From 27 February until the end of the day tomorrow the focus is once again on all things embedded.

The embedded technology community has joined together at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre to shine a spotlight exclusively on the latest trends in the sector, with more than 1,000 exhibitors presenting state-of-the-art covering all aspects of embedded systems.

This year Mike Blee from Sarsen Technology is joining representatives from ECRIN Systems, VersaLogic and DAVE Embedded Systems to showcase all the latest and greatest innovations from these market leading companies.

ECRIN Systems www.ecrin.com	Hall 2 - Stand 449	This is the first time ECRIN Systems has exhibited at Embedded World. The new µONYX SWaP-C rugged system, based on the Intel Core i7 Skylake SoC will be on display, alongside their VPX COTS Boards, Mil-COTS and rugged systems. Embedded World will also be the first time visitors can see the brand new myOPALE modular system. myOPALE provides a simple solution for applications that need more I/O boards than can be fitted in a standard Industrial PC based on backplane PCB.
VersaLogic www.versalogic.com	Hall 3 - Stand 259	VersaLogic Corporation is the trusted name in embedded computer products. Featuring 5 to 10 year availability, -40 to +85° C operating temperature, MIL-STD 202G shock and vibration testing, and outstanding US-based support, VersaLogic products are ideal for critical applications that value ruggedness, reliability and long life. VersaLogic will be officially introducing their newest embedded computer product line at Embedded World. Built around ARM processors for low power, lower performance requirements using the COM Express form factor (95x125 mm), the EPC line offers designed in reliability and is validated to withstand extreme temperatures and high-impact/vibrations. The first board in the EPC family is the rugged Tetra (VL-EPC-2700)
DAVE Embedded Systems www.dave.eu	Hall 4 - Stand 481	DAVE Embedded Systems is a well-established Italian company, focussed on the design of highly complex miniaturised embedded electronic systems. This year DAVE Embedded Systems is celebrating their 20th anniversary, so join them at embedded world 2018 where they will be showcasing their past and present solutions with a new booth design. Their latest technology successes includes the Xilinx Zynq-based BORA SoM and their new range of single board computers.

Embedded World 2018 Photos:

DAVE Embedded - Hall 4 Stand 481

ECRIN Systems - Hall 2 Stand 449

Mike Blee from Sarsen Technology supporting DAVE

How VersaLogic's Rugged Computers are Being Used in Security and Surveillance Applications

VersaLogic designs products for use by OEMs in a variety of market applications. Anywhere that the need for superb quality and high-performance embedded computing exists, VersaLogic can provide an effective and robust solution.

More: VersaLogic

Protecting lives and property are at the heart of every security application. And VersaLogic embedded computers are designed into some of the most sophisticated and high profile security equipment used today.

Caught on Camera
A leading supplier of security and surveillance cameras is using VersaLogic single board computers in their ultra-long-range laser illumination cameras. These high performance surveillance systems are protecting airports, borders, ports, waterways and nuclear power plants around the world.

Designed to be rugged and highly reliable, the systems are employed by both the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of Defense. Unlike conventional night vision technologies that rely on moonlight, laser illumination cameras use continuous wave laser illumination, electro-optics and image processing to provide clear pictures in zero light or full daylight.

Using the high performance processing power of the VersaLogic SBC, the surveillance system is capable of producing gray scale video in which words and numbers are legible from a range of up to 3000 meters. The system also provides visibility through rain and other inclement weather. Designed to withstand extreme temperature fluctuations, VersaLogic SBCs are capable of operating smoothly under the harshest environmental conditions.

VersaLogic SBCs for Security Applications

Bengal	Fox	Blackbird
PCIe/104 OneBank format Intel Atom E38xx processor Dual gigabit Ethernet DDR3L RAM (up to 8 GB) USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports Visit Bengal Webpage	PC/104-Plus format DMP Vortex DX2 processor (933 MHz) Dual Fast Ethernet Serial I/O (4 ports) Visit Fox Webpage	COM Express Basic form factor Intel Skylake i7 or i5 processors Dual gigabit Ethernet Onboard TPM chip Visit Blackbird Webpage

Protecting lives and property are at the heart of every security application. And VersaLogic embedded computers are designed into some of the most sophisticated and high profile security equipment used today.

• Rugged solutions for operation in harsh, mobile, and/or remote environments
• SBCs with extensive on-board I/O capabilities help to minimise system size, power, complexity, and expense
• Ultra-high reliability COTS – industry leading manufacturing quality and screening programs
• IoT Ready embedded CPU and processing modules
• Customised boards in quantities as low as 100 units
• Extensive lifecycle support - guaranteed 5-year off-the-shelf availability and formal programs for 10+ year extensions
• US-based manufacturing and support

Every VersaLogic product is designed from the ground up for high reliability, manufactured and tested to the highest quality standards, and backed by world-class service, 5 year warranty, and a 5+ year production life guarantee.

ONYX-HD: High Performance Embedded Computing Platform for Video Imaging and Situation Awareness

Pre-Qualified Multi-Mission Rugged Computer

 
The ONYX family from Ecrin Systems is based on leading edge multi-core Intel® Core™ i7  processing capabilities to support a wide variety of mission requirements. Pre-Qualified MIL-STD-810/461/1275/DO-160 and in a lightweight, conduction cooled chassis the ONYX is an ideal choice for space constrained applications and harsh environmental conditions.

ONYX-HD is unique: instead of the traditional, expensive multi-slot VPX architecture, ONYX is built around a scalable and rugged multi-Core COM Express module operating between -40°C/+71°C.

It pairs cutting edge heterogeneous system architecture with an Intel multi-core i7 and Xilinx Kintex 7 FPGA capture engine. This set up combined with the latest generation AMD E8860 GPU, dedicated to parallel image computing, means the ONYX HD comfortably meets a wide variety of civilian and military requirements needing advanced Augmented Reality features, including video and data management, digital maps, tactical video overlays and mission management systems.

In a departure from the original ONYX system there is no XMC I/O module limited to PCIe 8Xlinks, but a high performance GPGPU dedicated MXC mezzanine with PCIe 16X Gen 2 links offering up to 8 GB/s bandwidth and a large choice of Digital and Analogic I/O video formats, from legacy STANAG up to new generation HD-SDI and 3G-SDI.
The added H.264 compression via Quick Sync from Core i7 means ONYX-HD is perfectly designed for UAVs or helicopter HD Video situation awareness missions.

See Datasheet

Details:

INTEL Multi-Core i7 + KINTEX 7 + AMD E8860 with up to 768 GFLOPS GPGPU engine	PMC and mini PCI Express sites for flexible I/O expansion and Wireless functions
2 x HD-SDI inputs SMPTE-292M, 1920x1080p30	Cable-free, Fanless, MIL-DTL-38999 connectors
2 x simultaneous HD-SDI outputs SMPTE-292M, 1920x1080p30	Real cold start at -40°C and up to +71°C Operating Temp (depends on configuration and cooling system)
2 x Analog NTSC/PAL inputs for legacy sensors	Standard BOM Qualified DO-160F and MIL-STD-810G/461F/1275D/704
1 x VGA + 1x DVI-D Single Link (Intel HD Graphic)	IP-67 Ingress
H.264/AVC video Encoding with streaming capabilities	ITAR free without Export Control
Linux Metadata Extraction/Insertion	Only 80 Watts Power consumption
Embedded EGNOS-capable GPS	High flexibility to Modified COST services

For more information please contact Sarsen Technology - +44 1672 511122

VersaLogic Releases Intel Skylake-based Rugged Embedded Computer in COM Express Basic Form Factor

Blackbird from VersaLogic is a very high performance embedded computer built around Intel's Skylake processor.

Blackbird is the latest member of the growing family of VersaLogic's EPU (Embedded Processing Unit) format computers. EPUs combine processor, memory, video, and system I/O into a compact fully functioning embedded computer. Supplied fully assembled and tested these computers are based on COM Express standards. Available in dual- and quad-core versions, the Blackbird provides extreme CPU processing and video performance for its compact size.

See Datasheet

At 95 x 125 x 37mm the Blackbird is a small, ultra-rugged embedded x86 computer, combining the new 6th generation Intel® Core "Skylake" processor, with system interfaces and I/O features, in a configuration designed to withstand extreme temperature, impact, and vibration.

Depending on the selected configuration the Blackbird provides up to six times the processing power of Intel's Bay Trail processors, while keeping power consumption as low as 15 Watts. The Blackbird provides compatibility with a broad range of standard x86 application development tools for reduced development time.


"The Blackbird's i5 and i7 Skylake processors deliver amazing compute and video performance, at power levels that are very manageable. The on-board power supply, which accepts 8 to 30 VDC, makes it an easy match for fixed or mobile 12 and 24-volt systems." said Len Crane, President of VersaLogic. "The on-board TPM security chip, USB 3.0 ports, analog inputs and output, and other I/O, make the Blackbird a perfect fit for higher-performance systems."

Built-In Security
The on-board Trusted Platform Module (TPM) security chip can be used to block unauthorised hardware and software access. Additional security support is provided through built-in AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) processor instructions.

Powerful Video Processing
Intel's HD graphics 500 system provides superior graphics performance and is capable of supporting up to two 4K UHD monitors at once. The Skylake GPU can also transcode a 4K video up to 20 percent faster than the previous generation of CPU's. It also supports other graphic technologies such as OpenCL 2.0, DirectX 12, Open GL 4.4, HEVC/H.265 encoding and decoding, and H.264 encoder.
Dual DisplayPort outputs and a single/dual-channel LVDS display output is available.

High Performance I/O Capabilities
On-board I/O includes eight channels of 12-bit programmable Analog Inputs, four channels of 12-bit Analog Output, twenty four Digital I/O lines, I2C and SPI. Also included are two Gigabit Ethernet ports with network boot capability, two USB 3.0, four USB 2.0 host ports, and four serial ports. Two SATA III interfaces support high-capacity rotating or solid-state drives.

Three Mini PCIe sockets provide easy system expansion using plug-in Wi-Fi modems, GPS receivers, MIL-STD-1553, Ethernet, Firewire, and other mini PCIe cards. These sockets, one with mSATA capabilities, also provide flexible solid-state drive (SSD) options.

Designed, Manufactured and Tested for Extreme Environments
Blackbird is designed and tested for extended temperature (-40° to +85°C) operation and meets MIL-STD-202G specifications for high impact and vibration. The Blackbird is fully compatible with 12 or 24V vehicle applications, and the on-board power regulation supports inputs of 8 to 30 volts to simplify system power supply requirements. Reverse Voltage Protection, and Over Voltage Protection enhances field durability and reliability.

Long-term Availability
The Blackbird is covered by VersaLogic's 5+ year availability guarantee and a 5-year product warranty. VersaLogic's Life Extension programs typically keep products available for 10+ years.

For more information please contact Sarsen Technology.

Rugged Multi Mission Computer Manufacturer Expands the Family

Here at Sarsen Technology we work with 13 different manufacturers, giving us the ability to provide our customers with a complete solution for almost any embedded requirement. We chose to work with Ecrin Systems, based in France, because they offer rugged, integrated COTS building blocks from Open Standard form factors like PICMG 1.3, achieving the best system performance at reduced cost and shortest time to market.

Founded in 1976, Ecrin Systems designs and manufactures COTS, Mil-COTS and rugged systems for military/aerospace customers, OEMs, system integrators and application providers in a number of domains.

Their leading product, ONYX, is based on leading edge multi-core Intel® Core™ i7 3rd and 4th Gen processors. Pre-Qualified MIL-STD-810/461/1275/DO-160 and in a lightweight, conduction cooled chassis the ONYX is an ideal choice for space constrained applications and harsh environmental conditions.

Ecrin has recently expanded the ONYX product family, and now offers 4 versions for different types of application.

ONYX:
Generic version with one discrete GPGPU MXC site (AMD E8860), one PMC and one miniPCIe mezzanines for I/O and wireless extensions. Suitable for any type of mission in Air (manned/ unmanned Aircraft, Helicopter, UAS, EW), Ground (Ground Vehicle, Radar, ELINT/SIGINT, EW) and Sea (ships and submarines, UUS, drone, Sonar, EW)

ONYX-HD:
For situation awareness with HD-SDI digital inputs/outputs, RS170 Analog inputs, metadata extraction.

ONYX-Datalink:
For Tactical Data link system, IP communication, data concentrator with 2x PMC/XMC, 2x miniPCIe and full spec. USB 3.0

µONYX:
Designed for applications with strict Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) requirements. Compare ONYX previous versions, we reduce the volume by two (3 litres), weight by two (<3kg) and power by two (<40W)

For more information please contact Sarsen Technology - info@sarsen.net or give us a call - 01672 511166

XMC/PMC and Rugged COM Express modules for high-temperature environments introduced by X-ES

Author - Laura Biddiscombe

We have a little treat for you - the brand new XPedite8101 Express Mezzanine Card and PCI Mezzanine Card (XMC/PMC) and XPedite8150 Rugged COM Express modules from Extreme Engineering Solutions (X-ES) have been featured in an article written by the editor of Military & Aerospace Electronics, John Keller.

Based on the Intel Atom E3800 processor family (formerly Bay Trail-I) these embedded computing modules are designed and tested for maximum reliability in the most demanding environments and applications that require long life cycles.

Read the full article

X-ES supports the Atom E3800 processor in industry-standard XMC/PMC and Rugged COM Express modules, enabling system integrators to develop a single x86-based application on modular hardware solutions that can be tailored for the performance and environmental constraints of each platform.

The XPedite8150 Rugged COM Express Module from Extreme Engineering Solutions

For more information or to request a quote please contact Sarsen Technology on +44 1672 511166, or drop us an email.

X-ES Announces 4th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processor Support Across Seven Industry Standard Form Factors

It's official. You heard it here first....

Our friends at Extreme Engineering Solutions, Inc. (X-ES) have introduced their new family of SBCs based on the 4th generation Intel® Core™ i7-4700EQ processor (formerly codenamed "Haswell").

We are all very excited about this news, as the 4th Gen Intel Core i7 processor has some serious advantages, including increased raw processing performance per watt, hardware-based memory encryption with Intel® AES New Instructions (AES-NI), and increased floating-point and integer performance utilising Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions 2.0 (AVX 2.0). The GPU has also been enhanced, adding additional execution units and up to a 24% increase in raw performance.

If that isn't enough for you, the 4th generation Intel Core i7 processor also supports OpenCL 1.2, allowing it to perform as a general-purpose graphics processing unit (GPGPU).

One size doesn't fit all...
Variety is the spice of life, so X-ES has incorporated the new Intel Core i7 processor on a range of form factors, including 3U VPX, 6U VPX, XMC, 3U CompactPCI, 6U CompactPCI, 6U VME, and COM Express. The new line up of conduction and air-cooled 4th generation Intel Core i7 products from X-ES includes the XCalibur4500 6U cPCI, the XCalibur4530 6U VME, and the XCalibur4540 6U VPX modules, which maximise I/O capabilities and add configurability with two PMC/XMC sites.

They have also introduced the XPedite7570 3U VPX and XPedite7530 3U cPCI modules - ideal for space constrained aerospace and vehicle platforms that require maximum processing performance and I/O capabilities, with the flexibility of PMC and XMC support. For applications with extreme size, weight, and power (SWaP) challenges X-ES also offers the XPedite7501 XMC and XPedite7550 Rugged COM Express modules.

XCalibur4530 from X-ES

For more information about the new boards from X-ES, featuring the 4th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, please give us a call on +44 1672 511166, or email the sales team at sales@sarsen.net

Something lovely in the post this week!

As a reflection of the Sarsen Teams’ hard work in promoting their 5 newest boards VersaLogic have gifted us some delicious Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir. Their Pinot noir bottlings are frequently awarded "Outstanding" scores from the Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate critics, so I’m sure it will pass the taste test with our educated palates!

Thanks to VersaLogic for our lovely wine!

A Little Bit of History
Established in 1987, Domaine Drouhin Oregon is owned by famed Burgundy producer, Maison Joseph Drouhin. Hand-crafted by fourth generation winemaker, Veronique Drouhin-Boss, the distinctive Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays of Domaine Drouhin are prized for their elegance, balance and finesse, as well as their ability to age. Ninety acres of the 225-acre estate are now planted, with over 3100 vines per acre.

VersaLogic manufacture a range of rugged industrial computers, designed for embedded applications across a variety of markets.
The latest boards cover the complete form factor range available from VersaLogic.
Tiger – VL-EPM-24 – PC/104 with Intel Atom Z5xx processor
Iguana – VL-EPIC-25 – EPIC with Intel Atom D525 or D425 processor
Copperhead – VL-EBX-41 – EBX with Intel Core i7 processor (quad or dual core)
Newt – VL-EPIC-17 – EPIC with Vortex86DX processor
Falcon – VL-EPU-2610 – EPU, based on COM Express Mini, with Atom E6*0T processor

For more information please give us a call on +44 1672 511166 or drop us an email.

The Twelve Days of Christmas. Sarsen Style.

Today is the twelfth of the twelfth of the twelfth. So we're carrying on the theme and bringing you the Twelve Days of Christmas, in our own special way.

(Feel free to join in....)

On the first day of Christmas,

Sarsen sent to me

A BittWare Anemone

On the second day of Christmas,

Sarsen sent to me

Two UEI Cubes

And a BittWare Anemone

On the third day of Christmas,

Sarsen sent to me

Three Cisco Routers,

Two UEI Cubes

And a BittWare Anemone

On the fourth day of Christmas,

Sarsen sent to me

Four dspBloks

Three Cisco Routers,

Two UEI Cubes

And a BittWare Anemone

On the fifth day of Christmas,

Sarsen sent to me

Five Copperheads,

Four dspBloks

Three Cisco Routers,

Two UEI Cubes

And a BittWare Anemone

On the sixth day of Christmas,

Sarsen sent to me

Six RACKtangle chassis

Five Copperheads,

Four dspBloks

Three Cisco Routers,

Two UEI Cubes

And a BittWare Anemone

Well done guys, half way through....

On the seventh day of Christmas,

Sarsen sent to me

Seven Half-length Stratix V boards,

Six RACKtangle chassis

Five Copperheads,

Four dspBloks

Three Cisco Routers,

Two UEI Cubes

And a BittWare Anemone

On the eighth day of Christmas,

Sarsen sent to me

Eight Amazon Streamstors,

Seven Half-length Stratix V boards,

Six RACKtangle chassis

Five Copperheads,

Four dspBloks

Three Cisco Routers,

Two UEI Cubes

And a BittWare Anemone

On the ninth day of Christmas,

Sarsen sent to me

Nine Tech Source Condors

Eight Amazon Streamstors,

Seven Half-length Stratix V boards,

Six RACKtangle chassis

Five Copperheads,

Four dspBloks

Three Cisco Routers,

Two UEI Cubes

And a BittWare Anemone

On the tenth day of Christmas,

Sarsen sent to me

Ten General Standards boards,

Nine Tech Source Condors

Eight Amazon Streamstors,

Seven Half-length Stratix V boards,

Six RACKtangle chassis

Five Copperheads,

Four dspBloks

Three Cisco Routers,

Two UEI Cubes

And a BittWare Anemone

Nearly there, keep going!

On the eleventh day of Christmas,

Sarsen sent to me

Eleven Iguanas,

Ten General Standards boards,

Nine Tech Source Condors

Eight Amazon Streamstors,

Seven Half-length Stratix V boards,

Six RACKtangle chassis

Five Copperheads,

Four dspBloks

Three Cisco Routers,

Two UEI Cubes

And a BittWare Anemone

On the twelfth day of Christmas,

Sarsen sent to me

Twelve Trenton Backplanes,

Eleven Iguanas,

Ten General Standards boards,

Nine Tech Source Condors

Eight Amazon Streamstors,

Seven Half-length Stratix V boards,

Six RACKtangle chassis

Five Copperheads,

Four dspBloks

Three Cisco Routers,

Two UEI Cubes

And a BittWare Anemone!

Hurrah! Next up, We Wish You a Merry Christmas.......

Sarsen By Numbers - Friday Facts from the Team at Sarsen Technology

12 – The number of years Sarsen Technology has been supplying embedded hardware solutions to our UK customers.

10 – The number of US-based manufacturers we currently represent.

5 – Exciting new board variants from VersaLogic released this year.

8 – Ways to contact us….
The obvious ones; email, phone and direct contact through the website.
The retro choice – fax and snail mail.
For the social butterfly – LinkedIn, Twitter or even a visit to the office here in Marlborough. We like visitors….

830 – The number of hits on our blog last month. We are actually very interesting….

3 – New COM Express modules from Extreme Engineering. For more info click here…

25 – days until Christmas!!!

5 – Twitter feeds from the team here at Sarsen.
@Laura_Sarsen
@Nigel_Sarsen
@Robbie_Sarsen
@Embedded_Tim
@Sarsen_Tech

24 – Current issue of NewsBytes, released today. There are lots of new technology releases from our manufacturing partners this month including OpenCL support for Altera Stratix V FPGA COTS boards, plus a new technical paper on "many-core" strategy written by Jeff Milrod, President of BittWare.

½ - The new S5-PCIe-HQ from BittWare is a half-length PCIe x8 card based on the Altera Stratix V FPGA. Check it out here.

2 – Number of times we have had cake in the office this week. Soon to be 3.

Have a great weekend!

Whats new? Intel Core i7 and Freescale based Embedded SBCs from Extreme Engineering!

In the last 3 months, Extreme Engineering has released a host of brand new boards. From COMe to VPX, they offer solutions for a variety of applications.
 
The XPand6104 is a natural convection cooled small form factor system supporting the XPedite7450 Intel® Core™ i7 processor rugged COM Express module. An Ethernet port, two serial ports, a USB port, graphics port, and a SATA port from the XPedite7450 are brought out to standard commercial connectors on the front panel.

XPand6104

The XCalibur4440 is a high-performance, 6U VPX, multiprocessing, single board computer that is ideal for ruggedized systems requiring high bandwidth processing and low power consumption. Supporting 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7 processors and 3rd generation Intel Core i7 processors the XCalibur4440 delivers enhanced performance and efficiency for today's network information processing and embedded computing applications.

XCalibur4440

The XPedite5650 is a ruggedized COM Express mini module (55 mm x 84 mm) that supports an enhanced Type 10 pinout. With four PowerPC e500mc cores running at up to 1.5 GHz, the P2041 delivers enhanced performance and efficiency for today's network information processing and other embedded computing applications. There are plenty of I/O ports, including one copper Gigabit Ethernet port, a single x2 PCIe port, two x1 PCIe ports, two USB 2.0 ports and two SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports.

XPedite5650

The XCalibur4402 is a high-performance, 6U CompactPCI, multiprocessing, single board computer, supporting Supports 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7 processors and 3rd generation Intel Core i7 processors. The XCalibur4402 provides up to 16 GB of DDR3-1600 ECC SDRAM in two channels, two PrPMC/PrXMC slots, 32 MB of NOR flash, and up to 128 GB of NAND flash. 

XCalibur4402

X-ES offers the widest range of commercial and ruggedized 3rd Gen Intel Core i7 processor solutions for embedded applications. As the UK distributor for X-ES we can help with any questions you may have.

Please give us a call on +44 1672 511166 to discuss your application, or email us!

Supporting the 3rd Gen Intel Core™ i7 Processor Across Eight Industry-Standard Form Factors....

Extreme Engineering Solutions, Inc (X-ES) has remained at the forefront of leading edge technologies over the years, by developing numerous designs based on Intel® Pentium®, Core™ Duo, Core™2 Duo, and Atom™ processors.

 

Continuing in this tradition, X-ES has embraced the embedded Intel® Core™ i7 processors and had design experience with the (first generation) Intel Core i7 processor, the 2nd generation Intel Core i7 processor, and the 3rd generation Intel Core i7 processor.

The 3rd generation Intel Core i7 processors are the first chips in the world made using Intel’s 22-nanometer (nm) 3-D tri-Gate transistor technology. This generation Intel Core i7 processor provides up to twice the HD media and 3-D graphics performance, as well as significant processor performance improvements over the previous generation of Intel Core i7 processors.

X-ES has coupled this revolutionary processor technology with the Intel® QM57 Express and  QM67 Express chipsets, low-power interface controllers. These power-efficient devices offer integrated PCI Express, USB, SATA 3.0 Gb/s, and graphics interfaces. The Intel Core i7 processor coupled with the Intel QM57/QM67 Express chipset provides high performance within an embedded power budget.

The XPedite7470 3U VPX SBC and the XCalibur4401 6U CompactPCI SBC were the first products available from X-ES to support the 3rd Gen Intel Core i7 processor, and

X-ES is supporting the 3rd Gen Intel Core™ i7 Processor across eight industry-standard form factors:

• COM Express
• 3U VPX
• 6U VPX
• 3U CompactPCI
• 6U CompactPCI
• VME
• Air-cooled PrPMC/XMC
• Conduction-cooled PrPMC/XMC

For more information on these or any X-ES products please give us a call on +44 1672 511166 or email us: info@sarsen.net

Have a great weekend!
 

VersaLogic launches BRAND NEW family of Embedded Single Board Computers

Roughly the size of a credit card and less than one inch thick, the Falcon is the industry’s smallest, lightest weight, and lowest power x86 rugged, embedded computer. 

The new Falcon EPU release from VersaLogic means we are talking to people about all kids of applications, including Mil-Aero, Medical, Security, R&D and Robotics. It’s a really compact board, (weighing under 40g) so it’s also a brilliant solution for use in for portable applications and unmanned systems where Size, Weight and Power consumption (SWaP) are critical design elements. 

It’s the first in a new family of VersaLogic Embedded Processing Units. EPUs combine processor, memory, video, and numerous system interfaces into an extremely compact embedded computer. 

Standard on-board features include up to 2 GB soldered-on RAM and a microSD socket. The standard Type 10 pin-out provides SDVO, LVDS, GbE, SATA, seven USB ports, three x1 PCIe lanes, two COM interfaces, HD audio, LPC, SDIO, GPIO, SMBus, and I2C to the baseboard. VersaLogic also offer an auxiliary board-to-board connector providing two additional COM interfaces, two GPIO lines, and one CAN interface. The Falcon is compatible with most x86 operating systems including Windows, Windows Embedded, Linux, and VxWorks. 

In a departure from their well-established high reliability PC/104 based product line, VersaLogic have applied the same strict quality and manufacturing practices to the PICMG Com Express form factor. Plus, offering a 5+ year availability guarantee and a 2 year warranty as standard on board level products you know your project is in safe hands. 

VersaLogic offer a 45 day evaluation scheme where you can 'try before you buy'. Evals are limited to single quantities of a specific product (including memory and development peripherals) and an evaluation survey needs to be completed before the product can be returned. 

If you would like more information on this exciting new product, or if you'd like to get your name on the list for an evaluation board please give us a call on +44 1672 511166, or email us - info@sarsen.net .