Impulse Blog

Looking for a reason to try new hardware? Experience the benefits of SSDs

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:59:28 PST

Like you, we are constantly adapting our hardware and technology to keep at the forefront of our industry. When new boards and systems are launched we are first to identify if it has any positive benefit in our product range. This is true also for our range of peripherals.

Up until recently, solid state storage has always been an expensive technology reserved only for high end specialist enterprise applications. More recently however, there has been a rise in the adoption of Solid State Drives in the consumer computing industry. This sudden growth in demand for Solid State Drives has moved manufacturers to produce a cost effective alternative to traditional hard drives.

What are Solid State Drives?

Unlike traditional mechanical hard drives, which are made up of a series of magnetic platters, motors and reading arms, Solid State Drives contain flash memory. Flash memory is found in a wide range of every day products including smart phones, digital cameras and USB memory sticks.

What are the benefits of Solid State Drives?

When we first looked into solid state storage technology, we quickly identified the advantage it can bring to the industrial computing market. As explained by our Technical Manager, Chris Durose, the physical properties of Solid State Drives are very desirable in our industry.

“Solid State Drives offer a number of advantages over traditional magnetic hard drives. The main benefit being that Solid State Drives have no moving parts. With no moving parts, Solid State Drives are not affected by jolts, drops and vibrations.

In addition, Solid State Drives are not affected by magnetic fields and produce very little heat. These kinds of features are desirable in the industrial market where electromagnetic interference and high environmental temperatures are common.”

Thanks to not having to rely on power hungry motors, Solid State Drives consume over 20% less energy than its mechanical counterpart and produce no sound. With no mechanical parts to fail, many of the Solid State Drive manufacturers have published MTBF figures that double that of mechanical hard drives.

In addition to its physical properties, Solid State Drives also bring a number of performance advantages. For example, operating system boot up time is approximately 1.5 times faster compared to mechanical drives. Software has been noted to load within seconds and reading and writing data can reach speeds of up to 500MB/s.

With so many benefits, as well as a lower overall total cost of ownership, it is no wonder why we are taking full advantage of Solid State Drives as a rugged and reliable alternative to mechanical hard drives.

If you would like to trial a Solid State Drive in your next embedded system or would like to know more about solid state technology, then contact our technical account team on +44 (0)1782 337 800 or email sales@impulse-corp.co.uk.

Related links
Alternative high performance storage solutions available at Impulse

Discover our system integration facility

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:18:35 PST

Click to enlarge

Did you know that Impulse has a system integration facility based in Stoke-on-Trent? Our engineers take full advantage of the state-of-the-art facility when designing, building and customising industrial computer systems for our customers.

Many of our customers take advantage of our flexible build and delivery scheduling service. They rely on Impulse to ensure they receive the right hardware at the right time. With our build and delivery scheduling service we can ensure we have sufficient hardware in stock ready for testing, building and dispatching, on time and on budget.

Why do customers choose us for their industrial computing needs? Here are five reasons why:

Purpose built production facility based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Experienced team of highly qualified engineers
Flexible system build and delivery scheduling service
Strict quality assurance and revision control policies
Custom Windows Embedded OS design service

Click here to find out more about our system integration facility

For more information about our system integration facility and how it can benefit you, contact our technical account team on +44 (0)1782 337 800 or alternatively email sales@impuse-corp.co.uk.

The ARK-1120 – high performance yet compact embedded system

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:57:25 PST

The ARK-1120 from Advantech

This week we launched our latest embedded PC, the ARK-1120 by Impulse is a leading UK Advantech distributor. The ARK-1120 is an ultra compact embedded system powered by the popular Intel Atom N455 and includes the Intel ICH8-M chipset providing a powerful combination features and performance.

The first thing we noticed about the ARK-1120 was how small and light it was. The ARK-1120 measures in at just W133mm x H43mm x D94mm and weighs only 0.7kg. The chassis is constructed out of a rugged yet lightweight aluminium alloy featuring a series of solid fins designed to help disperse heat generated by the processor and board components. The ‘fin’ design gives the benefits of a true fan-less system without the need to rely on noisy and unreliable chassis fans. The chassis features VESA mounting holes on the underside allowing you to mount it on the back of a monitor or on a wall via a mating VESA bracket.

Although the ARK-1120 is very compact it still includes an impressive range of I/O features. As standard it has four USB2.0 ports and two RS-232 serial ports. Inside the system it features a SATA port, a CompactFlash Type I/II socket and a half size Mini PCIe socket. The Mini PCIe socket is quite a useful feature to have as it allows you to expand the system’s capabilities by including a WiFi or HSDPA/3G modem card.

The Intel Atom N455 processor is part of the embedded CPU range from Intel. Integrated into the processor for better reliability is a GPU and memory controller. The GPU is based on the Intel GMA3150 and performs at a 200MHz clock speed ensuring fast graphic performance. It features DirectX 9c and OpenGL 1.5 support and is capable of hardware accelerated MPEG-2 video playback. The integrated memory controller supports up to 2GB of DDR3 SODIMM memory and up to 384MB of this memory can be shared with the GPU through Dynamic Video Memory Technology (DVMT). In total the Atom N455 consumes only 6.5W making it an ideal solution for high performance yet low power embedded systems.

You can view the press release here. A full specification list and datasheet can be found on the product page. For more information on the ARK-1120 you can get in contact with us on +44 (0)1782 337 800 or alternatively email sales@impulse-corp.co.uk.

Impulse launch new Industrial Ethernet Switch range

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 09:13:34 PDT

Impulse is pleased to launch the new EKI Series Industrial Ethernet Switches from Advantech. These new Industrial Ethernet Switches are designed to meet the demanding requirements of the industrial environment and come with communication standards such as Fast and Gigabit Ethernet. These Industrial Ethernet Switches are avaliable with copper and fibre optic connections.

Our new Industrial Ethernet Switch range includes:

To learn more about our Advantech Ethernet Switches then contact our Technical Account team on +44 (0)1782 337 800 or alternatively email sales@impulse-corp.co.uk.

Leading UK Advantech Distributor

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:06:39 PDT

Did you know that Impulse is a leading UK Advantech distributor? Founded in 1983, Advantech has provided leadership for innovative ePlatform products and services for over 25 years. Advantech offer comprehensive system integration, hardware, software, customer-centric design services and global distribution support.

Impulse has been a leading UK Advantech distributor since 2003 and has provided customers with a comprehensive range of Advantech Single Board Computers, Panel PCs, Industrial Ethernet Switches and Distributed Analog and Digital I/O adapters.

Click here to find out more.

Impulse announces partnership with DFI inc

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 07:10:04 PDT

Impulse is pleased to announce that we are now an official UK distributor for DFI. DFI are a leading Taiwanese manufacturer and developer of high performance embedded computing technology. Since 1981 DFI has been leading the industry with cutting-edge boards and systems designed for embedded applications.

Impulse was keen to work with DFI as they ensure strict revision control and long life availability on their industrial computer products. DFI use the latest technology platforms and manufacturing techniques to produce cost-effective products for use in medical diagnostic & imaging, ATM/POS, industrial control, kiosk, security & surveillance, digital signage, gaming, and many other embedded applications.

Key benefits offered by DFI

Strict revision control
DFI is committed to strict revision control and ensures consistency by using the same components across its entire product line. DFI ensure that all customers are notified in advance if any revisions are required. When a change to a critical component is required, DFI perform extensive testing with their testing facilities to ensure every aspect of the component is tested before launch.

Long product lifecycle supply
DFI guarantees that their products will be available for a minimum of 3-5 years and do this by maintaining stock of critical components. This minimizes the risk of discontinued items and will issue end of life notices as soon as components become unavailable.

Manufacturing capability
DFI have a large in-house manufacturing facility that ensures that they offer stability and quality control. DFI have a wide range of manufacturing methods such as: Surface Mount Technology (SMT), Automated Optical Inspection (AOI), In-line Circuit Testing Machine (ICT) and Manual Insertion (MI). This allows DFI is able to fulfil the demands of off-the-shelf products, custom design service and EMS in various industries.

Quality control
DFI follows the ISO 14001 & ISO 9001 Quality Management System with QC080000 to ensure that customers receive only the highest quality product. This process includes product evaluation starting at functional/environmental/shipping tests to lifecycle analysis and quality reliability tests that consist of high frequency design analysis and thermal/humidity/vibration/drop tests.

Impulse is a leading UK DFI Distributor. For more information on our DFI product range then contact our Technical Sales team on +44(0)1782 337 800 or email sales@impulse-corp.co.uk.

Impulse launch GENE-LN05 Rev B

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:40:00 PDT

Impulse is pleased to launch the GENE-LN05 Rev B from Aaeon Technology. The GENE-LN05 Rev B is a high performance Single Board Computer featuring the Intel Atom D525/N455 processor and Intel ICH8M chipset.

The GENE-LN05 Rev B can also support DDR3 SODIMM memory making it an ideal solution for resource intensive applications.

GENE-LN05 Rev B specification and features

2 x 10/100/1000Base-TX RJ45 Ethernet
7 x USB2.0
6 x COM
1 x Parallel
1 x 8-bit Programmable digital I/O
1 x VGA
1 x 18/24-bit single channel LVDS
1 x 4/5/8-wire touchscreen controller
2 x SATAII
1 x CompactFlash
1 x Mini Card
1 x LPC Bus

Impulse is a leading UK distributor of Aaeon products and can configure your hardware to meet your exact requirements. Impulse is a Microsoft Windows Embedded Silver Partner and can create a tailor made embedded operating system built to your exact specification to suit your application.

For more information on the GENE-LN05 Rev B and our custom Embedded Windows Image solutions then contact our Technical Account team on +44 (0)1782 337 800 or alternatively email sales@impulse-corp.co.uk.

See our official GENE-LN05 Rev B news article

Panel PC Solutions at Impulse

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:22:10 PDT

Did you know that Impulse is a leading UK distributor and Integrator of Panel PC solutions? Since 1993, Impulse has been offering a wide range of Panel PC solutions such as Industrial Open Frame, IP65 Panel Mount, Digital Signage and Full IP67.

Our Panel PCs have a wide range of processing capabilities with processors such as the Intel Core i7, Core2 Duo, Atom and RICS based SOC. We can off you a tailor made solution for your industrial computing requirements.

Find out more about our Panel PC solutions.

Impulse launches new Intel Atom D525 Fanless PC

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:43:35 PDT

Impulse is pleased to announce the launch of the TANK-101B Fanless Embedded PC from IEI Technology. The TANK-101B features the Intel Atom D525 processor and utilises the Intel ICH8M system chipset. The unit also includes 1GB built-in DDR3 memory with optional expansion up to 2GB. The design of the TANK-101B allows the processor to be passively cooled and handle temperatures from -20C to +70C.

The TANK-101B I/O includes 4 x USB2.0, 3 x RS-232, 1 x isolated RS-232/422/485 and 2 x isolated CAN-bus. Storage includes 1 x 2.5” SATA hard drive bay and a CompactFlash socket. Networking consists of 2 x Gigabit Ethernet and optional 802.11 b/g/n WiFi.

The TANK-101B system includes IEI’s unique One Key Recovery software solution. The software eliminates the frustration of system recovery after an unexpected system failure. One Key Recovery easily creates a full system backup on demand and allows recovery by restoring to a previously made backup with a single click.

For more information on the TANK-101B Fanless Embedded Controller, please do not hesitate to contact our technical sales team on +44 (0)1782 337 800, or alternatively email sales@impulse-corp.co.uk.

Low cost HMI solutions at Impulse

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 04:15:51 PDT

Impulse is now offering an extensive range of low cost, low powered HMI products. Our latest HMI units offer you a cost effective solution for your industrial automation needs. We now have low cost HMI solutions starting at 5.6” up to 10.4” with a display resolution from 640 x 480 up to 1024 x 600.

Our latest Intel Atom HMI use the latest Intel Atom Z500 series processor. The low powered processors utilise the same instruction sets and architecture found in mainstream processors but with the added benefit of having a small footprint. The Z500 series feature such features as SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3 and Intel SpeedStep.

Impulse can pre-configure your HMI Panel PC to your exact specification including memory, storage and OS requirements. We can also assist in the supply chain management offering flexible call off scheduling of products direct from our stock.

As a Microsoft Windows Embedded Silver Partner, we offer development support for all Microsoft Embedded OS Solutions. Our qualified Microsoft Certified Technology Specialists can support you in the design and implementation of your own custom Windows Embedded OS images.

For more information on our low powered HMI solutions, you can contact our Technical Account team on +44 (0)1782 337 800 or email sales@impulse-corp.co.uk

Sealevel 8004e and 8012 available at Impulse

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 02:05:04 PDT

Impulse is pleased to announce the availability of the 8004e and 8012 digital I/O interface PCI Express cards from Sealevel Systems. The two digital I/O interface cards offer isolated input that protects the pc and other sensitive equipment from voltage spikes and ground loop currents that are commonly found in an industrial environment. The outputs provide high quality, long life, low current (10 Watt maximum) and dry contact switch closures. Reed relays are well suited for low current applications. The relays are normally open, and will close when energized.

8004e features

16 optically isolated inputs
16 Reed relay outputs (SPST)
Highly reliable 10VA DIP Reed relays
3 – 13 VDC input range
300V isolation
Socketed dip resistor allows user configurable input range up to + 24V

8012 features

8 optically isolated inputs
8 Reed relay outputs (SPST)
Highly reliable 10VA DIP Reed relays
3 – 13 VDC input range
Socketed dip resistor allows user configurable input range up to + 24V
MD1 low profile and Universal Bus (3.3V and 5V) compatible

Both boards are designed to be used with a variety of Operating Systems including Windows, Linux and DOS. The SeaI/O API Application Programming Interface included on the CD shipped with the digital I/O boards provides a variety of useful high-level function calls implemented as a Windows dynamic link library (.DLL) and as a Linux static library (.a). In addition to the API, SeaI/O includes a device driver, sample code and utilities to simplify software development.

Impulse is the exclusive UK distributor for Sealevel products. For more information on the 8004e, 2012 or any of the Sealevel digital I/O boards then contact our Technical Account team on +44 (0)1782 337 800 or email sales@impulse-corp.co.uk.

What Are: Capacitive Touchscreens

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 08:29:16 PDT

A capacitive touchscreen is a panel of glass coated with a special transparent conductor such as Indium Tin Oxide. A small voltage is applied to the layer resulting in an electrostatic charge. Because the human body an electrical conductor, touching the screen results in a distortion of the panel’s electrostatic charge.

When a finger touches the surface, a capacitance is formed at that location. Sensors located at each corner of the panel will measure the frequency variations to calculate the coordinates of the user’s touch. The coordinates are then fed back to the controller which translates this information in to something that allows software on an operating system to understand.

Capacitive touchscreens have no moving parts and are impervious to grease, dirt and water making them an ideal interface for outdoor Kiosks.

Impulse has an extensive range of capacitive touchscreen Panel PCs, LCD Monitors and Digital Signage Systems. For more information on our capacitive touschcreen range, contact our Technical Account Managers on +44 (0)1782 337 800 or alternatively email sales@impulse-corp.co.uk.

Advantech EKI Managed Industrial Ethernet Switches available at Impulse

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 03:38:58 PDT

Impulse is excited to announce the launch of the EKI Managed Industrial Ethernet Switches from Advantech. Advantech’s Industrial Ethernet Switches offer a variety of features such as high speed Gigabit Ethernet, Copper and Fibre Optic interfaces and Power over Ethernet. In addition, Advantech’s Industrial Ethernet Switches feature X-Ring technology allowing for fast and prompt recovery time (<10 ms) increasing the reliability and speed of network infrastructures.

Featuring a compact DIN-rail mount package, these switches are ideal where panel space is limited. Ruggedized for industrial applications, they feature dual 12 to 48 VDC power inputs with fault relay output, 4,000 VDC Ethernet ESD protection, power line surge (EFT) protection of 3,000 VDC, and feature an industrial operating temperature range. In addition, these switches are CUL (UL/CSA), CE, FCC, and RoHS/WEE certified.

The EKI-6558TI and EKI-6559TMI are IP67 certified with wide temperature support designed especially for the rail and transport industry. M12 connectors are used to securely fasten Optical and Ethernet I/O to ensure reliability in harsh environments.

For more information on the EKI Managed Industrial Ethernet Switches from Advantech, you can contact our Technical Account team on +44 (0)1782 337 800 or email sales@impulse-corp.co.uk.

Product overview - GOT-812 - 12.1" IP66 Rated Industrial Fanless Panel PC

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Thu, 26 May 2011 07:32:50 PDT

Impulse are pleased to announce the launch of the GOT-812 from Axiomtek. The GOT-812 is specially designed for heavy-duty and outdoor applications. This is reflected by its stainless steel enclosure, which is designed to protect the entire system from outside elements such as water, powder and dust. Through testing and certification the GOT-812 has been awarded an IP66 rating, meaning the unit is protected from dust entering the system as well as high pressure water jets, thus allowing the unit to be washed. In addition to the IP66 rating, the GOT-812 has also been awarded the IEC60945 certification, meaning it is protected from salt mist and is marine grade approved.

Technical Specification:

Intel Atom N270 processor with Intel 945GSE + ICH7M chipset
Supports up to 2GB of DDR2 SODIMM memory
2 x USB2.0, 2 x COM, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet - Protected by IP66 M12 connectors
Wide temperature operating range - -20ºC to +55ºC

The GOT-812 features a 12.1" TFT LCD display and is available with either standard (450 nits) or high brightness (1000 nits) backlighting and has a 5-wire resistive low reflection touchscreen interface. These display features make the GOT-812 an ideal solution for both indoor and outdoor applications regardless of the ambient lighting or weather.

Finally, the GOT-812 can sustain shock and vibration up to 3G with solid state storage and 2G with a standard 2.5" Hard Drive. The unit weighs in at only 4.5 kg and is just 59mm deep, so is easy to setup in mobile applications.

For more information on the GOT-812 or any of our rugged Touch Panel PC's call our sales team on +44 (0)1782 337 800 or alternatively email sales@impulse-corp.co.uk.

Oil and Gas - Industrial Computing Solutions from Impulse

noreply@blogger.com (Impulse - Innovative Industrial Computer Solutions) — Tue, 17 May 2011 03:59:38 PDT

The industrial computing industry reaches far into many vertical markets, one such market is the Oil and Gas Industry. It is vital for computing hardware providers and systems integrators to really understand this market in great depth in order to achieve the level of knowledge and customers service that the Oil and Gas Industry demands

IMPULSE has over 15 years experience supplying and supporting high quality industrial computing solutions to the Oil & Gas Industry and we recognise the importance of continuously building up knowledge of this market sector and how it fits together with our core business.

IMPULSE have the ability to combine the design, manufacture and supply of application ready industrial and embedded computing platforms. Couple this with our Oil & Gas Industry knowledge and it means that IMPULSE are a perfect partner and systems integrator who can offer the Oil and Gas Industry the very best industrial hardware solution for your Oil and Gas computing application.

Oil and Gas Industry Applications
Examples of our product solutions offered to our leading customers in this market include :

Embedded rugged computing platforms for offshore oil rigs

Rackmount/embedded computing platforms for SCADA

HMI (Human Machine Interface) compact terminals

Signal conditioning modules and systems

Rugged serial line drivers and converters

Oil and Gas Industry Experience and Expertise

IMPULSE have the necessary experience and expertise required in the Oil & Gas industry to meet the demanding requirements for :

Latest low power, embedded and fanless computing hardware technologies

Latest embedded operating system support and imaging requirements

Long lifetime of product supply and support with detailed revision control techniques

High quality product solutions to handle extreme environmental conditions

Quality documentation including MTBF figures and assembly and test build specifications

Extensive certification requirements for EMC, ATEX and other quality approvals

For more information on our Oil and Gas Industrial Computing products and services please contact our sales team on +44 (0)1782 337 800 or email sales@impulse-corp.co.uk.

You can also click here to visit our dedicated Oil and Gas page on the Impulse website

IMPULSE launch fanless i7 Embedded Computer - ARK-3440

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 10:04:33 PDT

IMPULSE is pleased to launch the new ARK-3440 Embedded Fanless PC from Advantech. The ARK-3440 is the first fanless i7 Embedded PC avaliable at IMPULSE. The high performance Embedded Computer is avaliable with both Intel Core i5 and i7 processors. The Intel QM57 graphics chipset, combined with the built in full HD HDMI decoder give the ARK-3440 a real edge in performance over previous generations.

The powerful new ARK-3440 supports up to 3GB of DDR3 memory. The ARK-3440 supports Multi-Display with its CRT, DVI, HDMI 1.3 and optional 24-Bit LVDS interfaces. The ARK-3440 is able to communicate usin g its dual 10/100/1000Mbit Ethernet ports (with Wake-on-LAN support), 3 x COMs, 4 x USB2.0 and optional support for Parallel and Digital I/O. The expansion capabilities of the ARK-3440 include 1 x PCI & PCIe slot and 2 x Mini PCIe.

Storage options in the ARK-3440 include 2 x 2.5" SATA hard disk bays allow space for solid state or mechanical storage. In adition, the ARK supports a wide voltage range input from 9V to 34V DC and is avaliable with 6 programmable function keys. The innovative design of the ARK-3440 makes in an ideal solution for environments that require a compact and robust Embedded PC.

For more information on the ARK-3440 or any of our Embedded PC’s, contact our sales team on +44 (0)1782 337 800 or email sales@impulse-corp.co.uk.

Impulse launch new Dataforth.co.uk website

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:14:48 PDT

Impulse is pleased to announce the launch of the Dataforth.co.uk website. The website is designed to provide a dedicated UK resource to highlight the Dataforth product range offered by Impulse to the UK industrial computing market.

About Dataforth

Dataforth was established in 1984 and have been an IMPULSE partner since 1995. They’re worldwide leader in data acquisition, signal conditioning and data communication products for automation, process control and test & measurement industries.

Dataforth has over 24 years experience in the market and is the global leader in Instrument class industrial electronics. There rugged, high-performance signal conditioning, data acquisition and data communication products play a vital role in maintaining the integrity of industrial automation, data acquisition and quality assurance systems.

Robert Smith - V.P. Sales and Marketing, Dataforth Corporation recently stated - "IMPULSE Corporation has been the Dataforth distributor for the UK since 1995. With over 15 years of partnership with IMPULSE, we have found them to exhibit the highest standards of professionalism in all aspects of business. As Dataforth has grown and evolved, so has IMPULSE grown their services and reach into the UK market. Their technical expertise, which is extremely important with our type of products, is exemplary. We look forward to a long future mutual beneficial relationship."

Craig Stone - General Manager, Impulse Corporation Ltd commented - "We have a long and successful history with Dataforth and have seen an increase in the demands for information on their product range. The new dataforth.co.uk website provides Impulse with the opportunity to really focus on the advantages and benefits offered by the Dataforth product range and provide UK customers with up to the minute news and product information.”

Click here to visit the new Dataforth.co.uk website.

PCM-9343 3.5" Single Board Computer now available at Impulse

noreply@blogger.com (Impulse - Innovative Industrial Computer Solutions) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:02:08 PDT

The PCM-9343 3.5" Single Board Computer manufactured by Advantech, offers extended temperature specification options (-20C to +70C) utilising a true industrial long-life low power processor, the Vortex86DX from DM&P. The PCM-9343 has a fanless design to ensure the board only needs 5W of power and runs off a single 5V supply.

The PCM-9343 features on-board DDR2 memory up to 512MB and incorporates the PC/104 bus for easy board I/O expansion should it be required. The board also supports dual 10/100Base-Tx Ethernet ports, up to four USB2.0 and four serial ports so there are plenty of I/O options available. Through the ownership of the CPU design the VDX range offers true longevity of supply and support industrial roadmaps essential in the embedded and industrial computing market.

Full details can be found at the following link:

http://www.impulse-corp.co.uk/embedded-single-board-computers/embedded-single-board-computers/3-5-inch-sub-compact-boards/pcm-9343/

PCM-9343 Press Release:

http://www.impulse-corp.co.uk/media/press-releases/PCM-9343.asp

For more information on the PCM-9343, any of our Single Board Computer's, please contact our sales team on +44 (0)1782 337 800 or email sales@impulse-corp.co.uk.

Introducing the new IMPULSE Demonstration Facility

noreply@blogger.com (Impulse - Innovative Industrial Computer Solutions) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 00:12:18 PST

IMPULSE have a custom-built design and industrial computer systems integration facility on site at our head office in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and are now pleased to announce the addition of a new demonstration facility. The demonstration facility offers customers the opportunity to get hands-on with a number of industrial computer products and actually see these products demonstrated in real world scenarios.

IMPULSE are one of the UK's leading manufacturers of Industrial PC (IPC) systems with over 15 years experience helping our wide range of customers in the sourcing, designing, assembling and testing of their industrial computer products.

Find out more

Panel PC's from Impulse

noreply@blogger.com (Impulse - Innovative Industrial Computer Solutions) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:23:15 PST

Need a Panel PC?
Take a look at the updated Panel PC range from Impulse Corporation Ltd. Website Link: http://www.impulse-corp.co.uk/panel-pcs/

Impulse are a leading Panel PC supplier in the UK, offering a wide range of Panel PC's, from rugged industrial models for automation and process control applications through to ergonomic slimline designs ideal for digital signage and thin client applications.
Our Panel PC range is touchscreen capable and come in a variety of packaging options including open frame, panelmount, VESAmount and full IP65 waterproof designs.

We can configure our Panel PCs to your exact requirements and custom designs are welcome.
Visit the impulse website for more information.

Impulse launch new ACP-5182 Wallmount Panel PC

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 09:35:19 PST

IMPULSE is pleased to announce the launch of the new ACP-5182 Wallmount Panel PC from AAEON Technology.

The ACP-5182 has a sleek front panel design with a rugged anti-scratch surface similar to modern touch phone specifications. The innovative design has a flat edge to edge surface with no outer bezel ensuring the Panel PC is ideal for digital signage applications and public information systems.

The ACP-5182 hosts an Intel Atom Dual Core D510 processor and can support up to 2GB of DDR2 SODIMM memory. The 18.5” WXGA 1366 x 768 widescreen display can support dual input interaction with its projected capacitive multi-touch technology. For multi-touch functionality you will require Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system.

The ACP-5182 also comes with a wide range of input/output features including 2 x COM, 6 x USB2.0, 1 x Audio Line-out x 1 x external VGA port and 2 x 10/100/1000Base-TX RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet ports. In addition, ACP-5182’s storage options include the use of a 2.5” SATA hard drive or a CompactFlash drive.

For more information on the ACP-5182, any of our Panel PC’s and our custom Windows Embedded development service, please contact our sales team on +44 (0)1782 337 800 or email sales@impulse-corp.co.uk.

TANK-GM45A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 08:19:09 PST

Impulse attended the International Armoured Vehicle Conference 2011 last week and we thought this is an opportune time to pen a small article introducing the recently released TANK-GM45A Embedded PC from IEI Technology.

Impulse are very pleased to welcome the next offering in a long line of innovative solutions from Industrial powerhouse IEI. Despite being driven by a high performance Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, IEI have engineered a completely fanless solution with an extended temperature range from –20°C to +70°C often essential in industrial computing applications.

The TANK-GM45A’s rugged aluminium chassis essentially acts as a giant heatsink, dissipating the heat away from the processor board using a thermal pad attached to the precision machined fins, which increase the cooling surface area. The fanless system helps increase reliability by removing all moving parts, lowering power consumption and reducing environmental noise.

IEI market this product as a high reliability Industrial PC suitable for the Digital Surveillance market with good reason. The Intel Dual Core processor and GM45 Chipset allows for H.264 and WMV9 video encoding; Gigabit Ethernet and wide temperature range, satisfying the industry’s core requirements. This said, the Impulse team anticipate that the product will not be confined to one field but will make tracks to other vertical markets with all the ease of its armoured namesake. Whilst the TANK-GM45A has an impressive specification, it also positions itself at a very reasonable price point, so with other features such as an Isolated COM port, 4 x USB and Dual LAN, this latest creation will nestle perfectly into a variety of performance demanding applications in emerging and traditional industrial markets.

For more information on the TANK-GM45A fanless Embedded PC System, please contact our Technical Sales Team on +44 (0)1782 337 800 or email sales@impulse-corp.co.uk.

This article was written by Stuart Martin - Technical Account Manager at IMPULSE.

IMPULSE Attending Intel® Atom™ Processor E6xx Series Hands‐On Training Event

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 03:40:23 PST

IMPULSE is attending the Intel® Atom™ Processor E6xx Series Hands‐On Training Event in London today. General Manager Craig Stone and Senior Technical Account Manager Stuart Martin will be getting a hands-on experience with the next generation of Intel Atom platforms.

The Intel® event provides valuable insight into the future of the Embedded PC and Single Board Computer markets. The lab will include hands on experience with OS installation, hardware customisation and details covering power and performance optimization, embedded debugging, software solution choices and many other design decision topics.

Click here for more information on the Intel® Atom™ E6xx training event

IMPULSE Launch TANK-GM45A Fanless Embedded PC

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 06:04:53 PST

IMPULSE is pleased to announce the launch of the TANK-GM45A fanless Embedded PC from IEI Technology. The TANK-GM45A hosts an impressive specification including the Intel Core2 Duo P8600 2.4GHz Processor alongside the Intel GM45 chipset.

The TANK-GM45A includes high performance MPEG-2 Decoding in WMV9 (VC1) and H.264 (AVC) video formats making it an ideal solution for the Digital Security Surveillance market. With the use of Solid State storage, the TANK-GM45A can be operated in temperatures from -20C to 70C.

System I/O on the TANK-GM45A includes Dual Gigabit Ethernet, 4 x USB2.0 and 2 x COM ports. The Dual Gigabit Ethernet is controlled by independent Intel 82574L and WG82567LM Ethernet chipsets allowing high bandwidth support for IP based surveillance camera systems.

For more information on the TANK-GM45A fanless Embedded PC System and our in-house custom Windows Embedded development service, please contact our Technical Sales Team on +44 (0)1782 337 800 or email sales@impulse-corp.co.uk.

Intel Atom Processor Platform

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Bate) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 01:57:26 PST

As you may have noticed, IMPULSE has recently been promoting the Intel Atom platform. In October we launched a newsletter covering the latest products with the Intel D510 Dual Core Atom microprocessor.

But what makes Intel Atom so special?

The atom is a low powered microprocessor designed by Intel for the cost and power sensitive embedded market. The 45nm chips are the smallest of the current Intel microprocessor range yet feature all of the common instruction sets required in the embedded market including MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, x86 and x64.

The current Atom processors are categorised into two code-names, Diamondville and Pineview. Diamondville contain the single core N200, 200 and dual core 300 series microprocessors and Pineview contain the single core N400, D400 and dual core D500 series microprocessors. Each Atom microprocessor uses very little power with a Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 2.5W to 13W.

Along with the small package size and low power consumption, Intel supports the Atom series with a long life roadmap making them the ideal solution for embedded projects. Impulse’s product range feature two main Atom processors, the Atom N270 and the Atom D510.

The 32bit N270 was launched in 2008 and was intended for the embedded market. It has a clock speed of 1.6GHz, 533MHz FSB, 512KB L2 Cache and has a TDP of 2.5W.

The D510 microprocessor was launched a year later in 2009 and features integrated graphics support and 64bit processing. The D510 is dual core and has a clock speed of 1.66GHz, 1MB L2 Cache and can support up to 4GB of DDR2 memory.

Benefits of the Intel Atom

The Intel Atom platform offers several benefits over previous mobile and embedded microprocessors.

Efficient integration – The new Intel Atom microprocessor integrates the graphics, display, and memory controller with the microprocessor. This integration results in platform BOM savings, improved performance, package area and power reduction.

Low thermal design power - Low thermal design power enables smaller, sleeker systems due to the lower cooling requirements. This also leads to lower energy consumption and provides beneficial operational savings.

Longer lifetime – Intel's 7-year extended lifecycle support for embedded microprocessors and chipsets protects your development investment.

Systems at Impulse

Impulse has a variety of Intel Atom based platforms available. Recently we launched several new products to the market.

The GENE-LN05 is a 3.5” SubCompact board from AAEON that includes 7 x USB2.0, 6 x COM, 1 x parallel and 1 x 8-bit digital I/O. It also has ample storage solutions available with 2 x SATA2 and 1 x CompactFlash socket.

IEI Technology recently bought out the IBX-300B, a low powered digital security and surveillance system. It is also integrated with the Intel Atom D510 microprocessor and supports up to 8 composite video channels (NTSC/PAL/SECAM) via two DB9 sockets.

Custom Windows Embedded Operating Systems
IMPULSE has a team of Microsoft Certified Technology Specialists available to develop a tailored and optimised Windows Embedded Operating System for your Intel Atom based platform. For more information on custom Windows Embedded Imaging then feel free to contact us.

If you have a project that requires a low cost, low powered solution with extended lifetime availability then the Intel Atom platform maybe to best solution. IMPULSE’s team of technical account managers have extensive experience with the Intel Atom platform and will be able to provide the ideal solution for your embedded requirements. For more information, please contact our sales team on +44(0)1782 337800 or alternatively email sales@impulse-corp.co.uk