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Vehicle PC focuses on fleet management

Jan 17, 2012 — by Eric Brown — from the LinuxDevices Archive — 2 views

Portwell announced an in-vehicle telematics computer for fleet management operations, equipped with a 1.1GHz Intel Atom Z510 processor. The PTH-2080A features an eight-inch, 800 x 480-pixel resistive touchscreen, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, 4GB of CompactFlash storage, a full range of wireless radios, plus I/O that includes an OBD-II port.

The PTH-2080A can be considered the x86 counterpart to last September's PTH-1070A, which runs Android, Linux, or Windows CE on an ARM-based, 416MHz Marvell PXA270 processor. The PTH-2080A instead runs Windows XP Embedded — and optionally, Linux — on a similarly well-aged processor, the original Intel Atom Z510. Clocked at 1.1GHz, the Z510 is still notable for consuming only two Watts of power.
 


PTH-2080A
(Click to enlarge)

In 2008, Portwell introduced a PCS-8320 automotive infotainment computer based on the same Atom Z510 chip. Last year, Portwell announced a somewhat similar Intel Celeron-based PCS-8270 vehicle PC.

The PTH-2080A is focused more on in-vehicle telematics than entertainment. The computer targets fleet management, vehicle preventative maintenance service, in-vehicle IP camera, law enforcement, real-time vehicle status monitoring, and location-based service applications, says Portwell.

The PTH-2080A is intended to integrate a vehicle's engine data, location information, video images, and sensory data. It then transmits updates to a control center at a remote site via its wireless connections, says the company.

The computer is equipped with 1GB of DDR2 RAM as well as a 4GB CompactFlash card, says Portwell. The eight-inch 800 x 480-pixel touchscreen uses resistive technology, and is promoted for being sunlight-readable, featuring 600-nit brightness.


Side and bottom views of the PTH-2080A

The PTH-2080A is equipped with three PCI Express interfaces for the available Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0, 3G, and GPS radios. One of two terrestrial TV receivers is optional, says Portwell.

The computer is further supplied with a gigabit Ethernet port, dual USB 2.0 ports, audio I/O, and a 0.3-megapixel camera for videoconferencing, says the company. Serial connections include a software-selectable RS-232/422/485 port and an OBD-II (On-Board Diagnostic II) interface, the latter enabling direct data capture from a vehicle's engine control unit (ECU).

A 9~30V DC power input has ignition control management to protect the system from surge current shock during "crank-on," according to Portwell. A "One-Key-Recovery" feature can save the system "in case of catastrophe," the company adds.

The 10.28 x 6.38 x 1.73-inch computer is equipped with programmable function keys and IP54-compliant water and dust resistance, says the company. Operating temperatures may range from -4 to 140 deg. F (-20 to 60 deg. C), says the company.

The device is available with turnkey fleet manager application software, presumably compatible only with the pre-installed Windows XP Embedded operating system.

Features and specifications listed for the PTH-2080A include:

  • Processor — Intel Atom Z510 @ 1.1GHz
  • Chipset — Intel US15WP
  • Memory — 1GB of DDR2 533MHz RAM
  • Storage — 4GB CompactFlash card
  • Display — 8-inch, 800 x 480-pixel resistive touchscreen; sunlight-readable, 600-nit brightness; 60/60/50/50 viewing angle
  • Expansion/wireless:
    • 3 x PCI Express for wireless modules
    • 802.11b/g
    • Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
    • 3G (WCDMA/HSUPA/GPRS/GSM/EV-DO)
    • GPS (32-channel, with internal antenna)
    • optional DVB-T or CMMB terrestrial TV module
  • Networking — gigabit Ethernet
  • Other I/O:
    • 2 x USB 2.0
    • OBD-II (DB-9, serial)
    • RS-232/422/485 (software selectable with 5V DC)
  • Camera — 0.3-megapixel CMOS
  • Audio — 3 W speaker; line in; line-out
  • Power:
    • on/off mode, software configurable delay time, ignition detection
    • optional [email protected]@36W
    • cigarette lighter power cable (DC 9~30V)
  • Operating temperature — -4 to 140 deg. F (-20 to 60 deg. C)
  • Ingress protection — IP54-compliant front panel for water, splash, dust
  • Weight — 3.81 lbs (1730 g)
  • Dimensions — 10.28 x 6.38 x 1.73 inches (261 x 162 x 44mm)

Availability

No pricing or availability information was provided for the PTH-2080A. More information may be found at the Portwell PTH-2080A product page.


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.



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