Ampro Computers has introduced three new MiniModule PC/104-Plus expansion boards that are claimed to bring high-speed industry standard I/O capability to the PC/104 market for the very first time. The new modules provide high-speed USB 2.0 capability and IEEE 1394 'Firewire' interfaces. Also introduced is a new module that provides PC card support for PC/104-Plus systems. Together, these three products enable system OEMs who require PCI-bus level performance, 5- to 10-year product life, extended temperature support and/or conformal coating for their rugged application to incorporate the latest high-speed I/O interfaces into their PC/104-Plus systems, says Ampro.
"Once again, Ampro asserts itself as the CPU and I/O leader in the non-backplane embedded PC market with new modules that round out the feature set of modern embedded systems," says Paul Rosenfeld, CTO, Ampro. "Whether linking to a Firewire camera, supporting removable mass storage for field-upgradable applications, or providing wireless remote operation using the IEEE 802.11 WiFi standard, new military, medical, and industrial OEM products often need the performance offered by USB 2.0 or IEEE 1394 interfaces. These are best implemented using the PCI bus that is the basis for the PC/104-Plus standard.
"Since higher levels of processor integration have made it possible for the processor, memory, and all of the fundamental I/O in a Pentium-based system to reside on a small 91 x 96 mm PC/104 form factor SBC, Ampro has created I/O add-on modules to incorporate these new, high speed I/O standards into those systems."
The MiniModule PCC III brings the PCI-based PC/104-Plus bus to a 32-bit PC CardBus (PCMCIA) controller, which interfaces to off-the-shelf PC cards and PCMCIA cards and is fully compatible with standard device drivers. Commercially-available PC cards that the system OEM can install, include IEEE 802.11 wireless cards, modems, and Flash memory. The MiniModule USB2 module connects the PCI/104-Plus bus to a high-speed USB controller, which allows the OEM or end-user to easily install and remove plug-and-play devices ranging from hard disk drives to CompactFlash drives to USB cameras. This module stacks with a CPU board with a PC/104-Plus interface.
The MiniModule 1394 connects the PC/104-Plus bus to a high-speed IEEE 1394 (known as 'Firewire') controller, which allows the OEM or end-user to easily install and remove plug-and-play devices such as Firewire-compatible cameras. This module is easy to add to a CPU board with a PC/104-Plus interface.
Each MiniModule board plugs into any CPU module or SBC, which has a standard PC/104-Plus interface, such as Ampro's CoreModule P5e and new Little Board 700 SBCs.
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