The PC/104 Consortium has absorbed the new, mid-sized Embedded Platform for Industrial Computing (EPIC) standard into its growing portfolio of embedded computer board-level specifications. According to the consortium, an “overwhelming majority” of members voted in support of adopting EPIC, a 4.5 x 6.5 inch single board computer (SBC) format that expands via PC/104 and PC/104-Plus.

EPIC was launched last March through a joint effort of SBC makers VersaLogic, WinSystems, Ampro, Micro/sys, and Octagon. At 29.4 square inches, the EPIC form-factor sits midway between PC/104 and PC/104-Plus (13.5 square inches), and EBX (46 square inches). EPIC offers more space than PC/104, its originators point out, making it possible to fit faster CPUs and/or more I/O functions on an SBC than would be possible with the smaller PC/104 format; yet, it requires significantly less space than the larger EBX format, another standard managed by the group. And, like PC/104 and EBX, EPIC expands modularly with self-stacking PC/104 and PC/104-Plus expansion modules.

To date, EPIC format boards have been announced by WinSystems, Octagon, VersaLogic Micro/sys, Ampro, and Kontron.

The adoption of the EPIC standard follows on the heels of the consortium's announcement in 2004 of the adoption of the EBX standard. “These actions represent a commitment to provide PC/104 users the broadest possible range of options for PC/104 technology,” the consortium said.

All of PC/104 Consortium's standards are available for free download, here.

 
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