New I/O, VGA and System Management Modules Enhance Embedded PC Capability.LONGMONT, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 16, 1998--Adaptive Systems, Inc. today announced the availability of three new modules that enhance the capability and improve the performance of the company's compact nC52(TM) embedded Inserted into. See embedded system. PC systems. These enhancements include a 4-Serial-Port Super I/O "Super I/O" is the name given to a class of I/O controller integrated circuits that began to be used on personal computer motherboards in the late 1980s. A super I/O chip combines interfaces for a variety of low-bandwidth devices. interface module, a VGA (Video Graphics Array) The display standard for the PC. All PC display adapters support VGA, and Windows machines boot up in "VGA mode" before switching to higher resolutions. module with 2 Mbytes of video memory, and a System Management module with 8 Mbytes of FLASH memory. The nC52 embedded PC is based on a patented interconnect system and compact module design that dramatically reduces the PC's package size and power requirements over traditional PC-104 approaches. Business-card-size modules nest together in various configurations to suit a variety of form factors. A compact carrier board eliminates expensive cabling, speeds assembly, enhances system reliability and provides real estate for custom circuitry and components. "The new nC52 module enhancements reflect the market's need for higher and higher levels of integration," said Bill McDermid, President of Adaptive Systems An adaptive system is a system that is able to adapt its behavior according to changes in its environment or in parts of the system itself. A human being, for instance, is certainly an adaptive system; so are organizations and families. . "With the additional I/O ports (1) (Input/Output port) A pathway into and out of the computer. See port. (2) (Input/Output port) In a PC, an address used for input or output. See PC I/O addressing. , expanded video memory and larger FLASH memory provided in our nC52 modules, designers who incorporate embedded PCs can achieve greater capability and higher performance without compromising their space and power limitations. In addition, they will also find it easier to move into the Windows CE (Windows Consumer Electronics) Microsoft's version of Windows for handheld devices and embedded systems that use x86, ARM, MIPS and SHx CPUs. Windows CE .NET superseded Windows CE 3.0. environment." Specific details on Adaptive Systems' new enhanced modules are as follows: o The new 4-Serial-Port Super I/O Interface module includes one port that provides TTL (1) (Time To Live) A parameter in a network packet that sets a time limit to its validity. In order to prevent an IP packet from propagating endlessly through the network, the value in the TTL field is reduced by each router. signals programmable for an IR interface complying with IrDA and Amplitude Shift Keyed IR. Two ports are equipped with RS232 drivers/receivers, and one port has RS485 drivers/receivers. In addition, the module includes interfaces for floppy disks, parallel and IDE devices. (McDermid noted, "Embedded systems Embedded systems Computer systems that cannot be programmed by the user because they are preprogrammed for a specific task and are buried within the equipment they serve. designers can never have too many serial ports, thus the 4-Serial-Port Super I/O Interface module. We also expect to announce an 8-Port Serial module in the 4th quarter.") o The enhanced VGA module provides a VGA interface to CRT's and a wide variety of flat-panel displays. It includes 2 Mbytes of video memory for more screen resolution/color combinations, plus a Chips and Technology 65550 controller (a 64-bit graphics engine with support for the BitBLT format) that provides improved multi-media capabilities. o The enhanced System Management module is available with up to 8 Mbytes of FLASH memory for system and video BIOS Video BIOS is the BIOS of a graphics card in a computer. Much the way the system BIOS provides a set of functions that are used by software programs to access the system hardware, the video BIOS provides a set of video-related functions that are used by programs to access and other expansion ROM code. The nC52 product line consists of a family of modules for building PC-compatible engines in portable, low-power-consumption, and small-form-factor applications. In addition to the recently announced Super I/O, System Management and VGA modules, the family includes 586 and 486 Processor modules; a Sound Blaster A very popular family of sound cards from Creative Labs. In the days of DOS, Sound Blaster was the de facto interface for gaming sounds. Monaural Sound Blaster cards were introduced in 1989, and stereo cards followed in 1992 (Sound Blaster Pro). (TM) compatible Audio module; and a dual-port PC Card Interface module. All modules in the nC52 product line are in production and available now. Adaptive Systems, Inc. is an innovative manufacturer of compact, off-the-shelf PC modules for portable embedded computing applications. The company's modular architecture, combined with a patented interconnect technology, allows designers to achieve custom portable computing solutions within short development cycles and with minimum cost. Note: nC52 is a trademark of Adaptive Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Information on all Adaptive Systems products is available on the World Wide Web at www.AdaptiveSystems.com. |
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