Modular PC/104 power supply unit for embedded computing systems introduced by Sundance

CHESHAM, England, 23 Oct. 2013. Sundance Multiprocessor Technology Ltd. in Chesham, England, is introducing the SMT1024 modular PC/104 power supply unit (PSU) for embedded computing systems.

The SMT1024 can be purpose-built for individual systems to provide optimal DC-DC efficiency and variable wattage outputs on any of the voltage-rails, company officials say.

The lower voltages typically are provided on the individual PC/104 cards from one rail on the PC/104 bus-stack using small DC-DC converters. This typically means that the other voltage rails are 100 percent idle, simply consuming energy and generating heat.

The SMT1024 can be built and even upgraded after deployment with any combination of 30 Watts of 3.3 volts; 30 Watts of 5 volts; 30 Watts of 12 volts or a nominal 3 Watts for the -12 volts voltage-rail to offer legacy PCI/104 compatibility.

The SMT1024 overcomes another design requirement of the modern embedded system in respect to 1500 volts total I/O isolation between the consuming power and the providing power. This has been enabled with Traco Ultra Compact DC-DC converter modules with 92 percent efficiency, at full industrial temperature range and protected for surge transients to EN-61000-4-5 level. Additionally, the SMT1024 has thermal protection that will shut-down the PSU at 115 degrees Celsius.

The conventional way to build embedded solutions for the typical PC/104 enclosures has involved several cables from the PC/104 circuit board to either a side-panel or a bottom-panel of a PC/104 canister enclosure.

Although flexible, as individual proprietary connectors can be chosen, it does introduce a high level of manual handling with risk of mistakes, cable faults and shorts from overheating. Many high-reliability systems stipulate that internal casing cables are no longer an acceptable option.

The SMT1024 has eliminated this issue with a break-out circuit board that holds the 10 volts to 36 volts DC input power connectors. Variations are possible that provide IP-68 ingress protection in suitable enclosures, like the ICE range from ICOP Technologies Inc.

The SMT1024 has an optional power-over-Ethernet (PoE) module, based on the Infomart PEM3100 series modules, that replaces the typical AC-DC brick PSU and at the same time connects to an infrastructure network, either locally or globally.

For more information contact Sundance Multiprocessor Technology online at www.sundance.com.