MEN Micro announced a ruggedized single board computer (SBC) using AMD's Embedded G-Series processors. The SC24 SBC offers up to 4GB DDR3 memory, 2×2 DisplayPort interfaces, and PCIe expansion, while the available AE51 extension board adds real-world I/O including gigabit Ethernet, SATA, and USB, says the company.

The 6.7 x 3.54 x 1.18-inch SC24 SBC is said to be designed for display and box computers in harsh environmental conditions, including fleet management and digital signage systems. The SBC is being offered with the 6.7 x 5.2 x 1.18-inch AE51 — the first of several modular extension boards planned by MEN Micro.

MEN Micro's SC24 SBC
(Click to enlarge)

Previous MEN Micro SBCs have included the similarly rugged, Intel Atom-based SC21 (announced in July 2010). The SC24 is instead equipped with AMD's Radeon graphics-enabled AMD Embedded G-Series T52R, a single-core, 1.5GHz processor with an 18-Watt TDP. The SBC appears to support any G-Series processor, however, up to a dual-core, 1.65GHz T56N.

The SC24 comes with from 1GB to 4GB of soldered-on DDR3 SDRAM. The SC24 is also equipped with an mSATA port and an SD card slot, the latter ready to accept a bundled 2GB card.

Reverse view of SC24
(Click to enlarge)

Additional interfaces, meanwhile, are expressed via "three of four possible" FCI AirMax VS (Virtual Shield) connectors. This backplane connector design, which provides both 2mm and 3mm centerline options, "eliminates the need for interleaving ground shields by using air as a highly efficient dielectric," according to FCI.

The AirMax VS connectors include two 72-pin graphics connectors and two 72-pin I/O connectors. The graphics connectors deliver four USB 2.0 ports, as well as 2×2 DisplayPort interfaces. When expressed through the AE51 extension board, the DisplayPort channels result in two ports, one with AUX channel and hot plug detection support, and the other with a USB channel (see farther below).

When using the standard T52R processor, which offers AMD Radeon HD 6310 graphics — as well as other higher-end G-Series processors that offer Radeon HD 6310 or 6320 graphics — the SC24's DisplayPorts can push out dual 2560 x 1600 streams and dual 1920 x 1200 streams, says MEN Micro. They can also control a maximum of two different images on up to four screens, says the company.

The AirMax VS I/O connectors, meanwhile, deliver the remaining interfaces, including dual gigabit Ethernet ports, a SATA port, and three PCI Express (PCIe) slots for wireless expansion. The connectors also provide five more USB 2.0 ports, adding up to a total of nine, says the company.

SC24 block diagram
(Click to enlarge)

Five serial interfaces are also said to be available via the I/O connectors. These include a CAN bus, as well as four UARTs that can be optionally configurable as IBIS or GPS, says the company. HD audio I/O and various GPIOs are also said to be available, and the block diagram above also shows a temperature sensor.

Features and specifications for the SC24 include:

• Processor — AMD Embedded G-Series T52R (single-core, 1.5GHz ) standard; supports all G-Series up to T56N (dual-core, 1.65GHz)
• Chipset — AMD A55E
• Memory — 1GB soldered DDR3 SDRAM (667MHz), expandable up to 4GB
• Memory expansion — SD slot with 2GB SD card pre-installed
• Storage — mSATA slot; SATA interface via 72-pin AirMax VS I/O connectors
• Expansion — 3 x PCIe (via AirMax VS I/O)
• Display:
  • up to 2560 x 1600 resolution with G-Series chips with Radeon HD 6310/6320 graphics
  • up to 1920 x 1200 resolution with G-Series/Radeon HD 6250/6290
  • 2×2 DisplayPort interfaces (A,B,C,D) via 72-pin AirMax VS graphics connectors
  • DirectX11, OpenCL 1.1, and OpenGL 4.0 support
  • Optional touchscreen support via DisplayPort AUX
• Networking — 2 x gigabit Ethernet channels (via AirMax VS I/O)
• Other I/O (mostly via via AirMax VS I/O):
  • 9 x USB 2.0:
    • 4 x via AirMax VS graphics connectors
    • 5 x via AirMax VS I/O connectors
  • 4 x UARTs or IBIS, GPS
  • CAN bus
  • GPIO
  • HD audio in, out
  • SPDIF out
• Power — 12 VDC nom. about 10% supply voltage; up to 25 W consumption
• Ruggedization/compliance:
  • operating temperature —40 to 185 deg. F (-40 to 85 deg. C) screened (conduction cooling required)
  • shock resistance — 50 m/s(2), 30ms
  • vibration resistance — 7.9 m/s(2), 5Hz – 150Hz
  • ENC compliance — EN55022 (radio disturbance); IEC 61000-4-2 (ESD) and IEC 61000-4-4 (burst)
  • conformal coating on request
• Dimensions — 6.7 x 3.54 x 1.18 inches (170 x 90 x 30mm)
• Operating system — Linux, Windows 7, Windows Embedded Standard 7; Windows XP Embedded on request

The optional AE51 extension card offers access to dual mini-PCIe slots as well as two DisplayPorts. The AE51 also provides two gigabit Ethernet ports on M12 connectors, says MEN Micro. In addition, the extension card provides a SATA port, USB 2.0 port, as well as optional HD audio and audio I/O, says the company.

AE51 extension card, showing protruding Ethernet M12 connectors

Dual SA-Adapter slots can be populated with a customer's choice of serial interfaces including UARTs, IBIS or GPS, or CAN bus, says MEN Micro. Other features are said to include eight LEDs, as well as accelerometer and magnetometer channels.

The AE51 is said to come with support for operating temperatures of 32 to 60 deg. F (0 to 60 deg. C), and like the underlying SC24 module, comes with "screened" support for industrial -40 to 185 deg. F (-40 to 85 deg. C) temperatures when using conduction cooling. Both boards offer identical extended shock and vibration resistance, as well, according to the company.

AE51 block diagram
(Click to enlarge)

The SC24 consumes up to 25 Watts with the standard T52R processor, and the extension board consumes up to 30 Watts, says MEN Micro. The combined SC24 plus AE51 solution is certified according to EN 50155 European railway standards, and is prepared for e1 certification, says the company.

Features and specifications for the AE51 include:

• Interface to SC24 — 3 x AirMax VS connectors to graphics and I/O connectors P1/P2/P4
• Storage — SATA port (150Mbps)
• Expansion — 2 x mini-PCIe slots
• Front I/O:
  • DisplayPort 1 with AUX channel and hot plug detection
  • DisplayPort 2 with USB channel
  • 2 x gigabit Ethernet (M12 connectors)
  • USB 2.0 (type A connector)
  • 2 x SA-Adapter slots for serial I/O:
    • UART or IBIS, GPS
    • UART or CAN bus
  • optional HD audio codec/in/out/SPDIF via 9-pin D-sub
• Other features — 8 x LEDs; 3 x accelerometer channels; 3 x magnetometer channels
• Power — 24 VDC nom. (9 to 36 V) supply voltage; 12 VDC output; up to 30 W consumption
• Ruggedization/compliance:
  • Operating temperature — 32 to 60 deg. F (0 to 60 deg. C); screened support for -40 to 185 deg. F (-40 to 85 deg. C)
  • Shock/vibration/EMC — same as SC24 (above)
• Dimensions — 6.7 x 5.2 x 1.18 inches (170 x 132 x 30mm)

Availability

The SC24 and AE51 appear to be available for sale now, although it's unclear if the units are now shipping. The SC24 starts at 595 euros ($818), and the AE51 sells for 295 euros ($406), with both listed as "plus VAT for single units."

The SC24 supports Linux, Windows 7, and Windows Embedded Standard 7, with Windows XP Embedded support available on request, says MEN Micro. More information may be found at MEN Micro's SC24 product page and AE51 page, respectively.

---

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.