MEN Micro has launched a PC/104-Plus SBC (single board computer) based on a telematics SoC (system-on-chip) from Freescale. The rugged, extended temperature range PP01 board features Freescale's low-power 384MHz MPC5200 PowerPC processor, supports Linux and VxWorks, and targets telematics, harsh environment, and… industrial control applications.

(Click for larger view of PP01)

The PP01 can operate at temperatures between -40 and 85 degrees C, according to MEN, and features soldered-down memory for vibration and shock tolerance, It also has two optically isolated RS232 ports with rugged 9-pin D-Sub connectors.

The PP01 SBC is based on the Freescale MPC5200, a telematics-oriented PowerPC SoC which Motorola launched in July of 2003, with a Linux port from Metrowerks and a reference board following in November.

The MPC5200 is said to deliver 760 million instructions per second (MIPS) while consuming less than 850 milli-Watts (mW) of power. It integrates a telematics communications unit (TCU), floating point unit (FPU), memory management unit (MMU), DRAM controller, and a BestComm/DMA I/O controller. The chip's BestComm/DMA I/O controller drives a number of industrial I/O interfaces through MEN's SA-Adapters: two CAN (controller area network) ports and a USB 1.1 host. Aditional I/O interfaces include Fast Ethernet, two RS232 ports, and SPI (system packet interface).

MEN Micro PP01 block diagram
(Click to enlarge)
Additionally, the PP01 SBC includes a 32-bit PCI bus, 32MB of SDRAM, 8MB of Flash, 64KB of non-volatile static memory (FRAM), 16KB of serial EEPROM, a real-time clock, temperature sensor, a watchdog monitor, and optional PCB (printed circuit board) display.

“The PP01 is particularly well suited to mobile systems in trains, planes, ships, commercial vehicles, and automobiles,” said Ernest Godsey, president of MEN Micro.

The PP01 sells for $424.80 in single units, and is said to be available now.

---

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.