Kontron has added a compact Intel Atom-powered device to its range of thin-client HMI (human machine interface) subsystems. The fanless Nano Client 10.4 has a touchscreen display, features a sealed stainless steel housing, uses CompactFlash storage, and runs Linux, the company says.

Housed in a stainless steel case that's IP66-rated for resistance to spray and dust, the Nano Client meets "the highest hygenic requirements" and may be VESA-mounted rather than having to be placed in a wall or cabinet. The device is suitable for the food and beverage industry, shop-floor solutions (from the receipt of goods to shipping), hospitals, laboratories, pharmaceutical production, as a POS terminal or kiosk, and in building automation, according to the company.

Kontron's Nano Client 10.4

As its name suggests, the Nano Client 10.4 has a 10.4-inch touchscreen. The display has a 230-nit brightness rating and a resolution of 800 x 600 pixels, says Kontron. The device is offered with soldered-on memory up to 1GB, and with any of Intel's Z5xx processors, ranging from the 1.1GHz Z510 to the 1.6GHz Z530. Total chipset power consumption of approximately five Watts ensures that the Nano Client 10.4 can operate fanlessly and with an entirely closed cabinet, says the company.

According to the company, the Nano Client 10.4 stores its operating system on a CompactFlash card, a fact that helps the device withstand shocks of up to 50G (11ms duration). Ports include gigabit Ethernet, USB, and an optional RS232/422/485 serial port, Kontron adds.

Features and specifications listed by Kontron for the Nano Client 10.4 include the following:

• Processor — Intel Z5xx Atom up to 1.6GHz
• Memory — Up to 1GB of soldered-on RAM
• Display:
  • 10.4-inch touchscreen
  • 800 x 600 resolution
  • 230-nit brightness rating
• Storage — CompactFlash
• Networking — Gigabit Ethernet
• Other I/O:
  • 1 x USB
  • 1 x RS232/422/485 (optional)
• Operating temperature — 32 to 113 deg. F (0 to 45 deg. C)
• Power supply — 24VDC
• Dimensions — 11.3 x 8.9 x 2.2 inches (288 x 226 x 56mm)

Kontron's Nano Client 10.4 apparently joins the existing Nano Client 15.0, which also uses Intel Atom Z5xx processors but has a 15-inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. Earlier HMI devices from the company, the 7-inch [email protected] Micro Client and 15-inch [email protected] Micro Client, used 600MHz Celeron CPUs.

Availability

In addition to supporting Linux, the Nano Client 10.4 also runs Windows CE and XP Embedded, according to Kontron. Pricing wasn't disclosed, but the device appears to be available now.

More information may be found on the company's website, here.

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