Monday 23 December 2013

Aaeon’s Clever Cooling Solution

Recently released EPIC SBC’s from Aaeon place the CPU and Chipset on the underside of the board... 


With the CPU and chipset mounted to the bottom of the PCB, the heat spreader dissipates heat across a surface area larger than the length of the board itself without adding unnecessary height to the board, making this incredibly slim as well as efficient.
The fanless design with heat spreader means the board can be mounted directly onto a chassis, dissipating heat away from a system instead of circulating around a system. 

This clever design hasn't gone to waste; some of the high end chipsets from both Intel and AMD are among the possible options distributed by RDS, increasing the EPIC form factor boards' application diversity massively. The lineup includes Intel Haswell, Ivy Bridge and Cederview platforms with Bay Trail expected in 2014, along with AMD's G-Series APU and the new SoC (System on Chip) family, (formerly eKabini) too. 

With this wide range of platforms available in a slim package, ask yourself if you have any projects where a slim x86 board could help improve the space available to you? Talk to a member of the team at RDS about a demo and your application requirements today.

Tuesday 17 December 2013

EMB-CV1 Mini ITX Industrial Mainboard
At only 17cm x 17cm, this is an attractive D2550 based 
motherboard supporting dual displays including LVDS.




Sporting a blue anodized heat sink and a black labelled PCB it’s hard not to appreciate the attention to detail AAEON have put into this board. It’s not all aesthetics though, there is a serious amount of I/O and expansion on a small form factor which includes:
  • Seven USB 2.0 ports
  • Five Serial ports
  • Dual Gigabit Ethernet
  • 8-bit Digital I/O
  • VGA, Dual Link DVI-D, LVDS
  • PCIe x1
  • Two SATA ports
  • One m-SATA pot
  • SIM card slot

The combination of a D2550 CPU and the variety of expansion possibilities, the EMB-CV1 is a versatile Mini-ITX industrial board which can suit many roles in a huge range of industries.

If you would like to discuss your requirements further or arrange a demonstration of this board, please contact our office to arrange this...

Further board details available on our website here...

Thursday 31 October 2013

Fujitsu Mini-ITX Chassis

Supporting the D3313-S mainboard, this lunchbox sized chassis has incredible expansion options.

This chassis is currently being sold to house the ever popular D3003-S mainboard, but will also suit the faster and more efficient D3313-S. Conveniently the D3313-S will be compatible with this chassis aiding design in and increasing it's popularity.

An example of an extreme setup that would be possible:


  •         Quad Core 2GHz AMD GX-420CA SOC with integrated              Radeon HD 8400E Graphics on D3313-S3 mainboard
  •          16GB 1600MHz Memory
  •          SATA-III SLC SSD
  •          SATA-III SLD mSATA
  •          Mini PCIe Expansion card
  •          PCIe Graphics card with further multiple display output
  •          USB Wi-Fi Card



These parts could all be run together, in this Mini-ITX chassis.

Tuesday 8 October 2013


I need Solid State Storage for my embedded application. But which one? 

The New SATA III Industrial Flash Storage Range from Innodisk Is Now Available
RDS are proud to announce the new InnoDisk industrial SATA III storage products which now includes; 2.5-inch SSD, SATADOM, SATA Slim, mSATA, and CFast, available in a wide variety of form factors and interfaces. With SATA III, Innodisk’s storage devices now offer sequential read and write speeds up to 500/340MBps – about two times faster than SATA II – to satisfy almost any embedded systems requirement.


With the upgrade to SATA III, Innodisk builds on its research and development strengths, by offering support for even wider temperature ranges, customized firmware, power outage data protection and other advanced functions. With these new features, Innodisk is moving the industrial PC application market forward into the next generation. As well as almost doubling read and write speeds, the upgraded SATA III 2.5-inch SSDs provide a lower power design and reduced operating costs with enhanced power saving slumber and sleep modes.

Along with the upgrade to SATA III, iSMART, Innodisk's proprietary disk health monitoring tool has also received its own update, iSMART 3.1. iSMART 3.1's one touch activate mode can save hours of setup and maintenance time, by giving users easy one touch access to features such as file write-protection, quick erase and power saving settings. All storage devices in a system can be monitored by iSMART 3.1. The latest iSMART can also help the user to visualize the SSD wear- leveling status at a glance, with a clear graphical display. Value added features like iSMART turn a product into a true storage solution.


Additional features include ATA security to keep critical data safe and TRIM command support to further extend drive life by avoiding unnecessary write operations. Innodisk has also extended operating temperature range to a new standard, -20°C to 85°C.

For a closer look , RDS are able to visit with samples to discuss further requirements and design restrictions. Why not get in touch to discuss your next project?

Friday 9 August 2013

New Fujitsu Motherboards Featuring Intel® Haswell 4th Gen Core™ Chipsets


RDS are pleased to introduce Fujitsu's new family of µATX mainboards with LGA1150 sockets - D322x-B. The mainboards support the new Intel® Haswell 4th generation Core TM processor family. From entry level boards with the Intel® B85 chipset up to the semi-industrial version, based on the Intel® Q87 chipset, this set of 3 boards is able to fulfil the requirements of industrial, medical and digital signage applications.

The new mainboard D3220-B which uses the Intel® B85 Chipset, D3221-B which uses the Intel® Q83 Chipset and D3222-B with Intel® Q87 Chipset are now in mass-production using the latest versions of the respective chipsets.

All boards of the D322x-B family share the same layout and drivers, which offers scalability with regard to customers' requirements and pricing, aiding the choice to design these boards into new applications. Their voltage supply is optimized for the lowest possible level of energy consumption. All models use a high-quality Intel® Gigabit Ethernet Network Controller for their network connectivity. In addition to the vast list of other tools available for the Fujitsu D322x-B family of mainboards, the Fujitsu SilentFan technology ensures very quiet, but safe operation thanks to temperature-based control of ventilation.

Fujitsu's µATX mainboards of the D322x-B family are ideal for remote management with various software solutions. Fujitsu DeskView offers a comprehensive solution for in-band management, i.e. the remote access to the mainboard while the operating system is running. Out-of-band management, i.e. remote access on the BIOS level while the operating system is switched off or dysfunctional, is particularly important for unstaffed embedded applications. In cooperation with American Megatrends, Fujitsu caters to out-of-band management requirements by utilising the remote management solution AMI Megarac XMS, based on iAMT or DASH.

The new semi-industrial Fujitsu D3222-B Mainboard with an availability of 3 years and it’s outstanding features is especially interesting for a number of applications including ATM machines, cashier systems and many other POS/POI systems.

The board is designed for 24/7 continuous operation in standard temperature range and it has an implemented watchdog and a TPM on-board.

For more information about the products you can either click on the product and easily order it at RDS or get in touch with the team at RDS.



Capacitive touch optically bonded to a 15” NLT TFT


Optically bonding the high quality Japanese display with this projected-capacitive touch sensor, produced a stunning example of what RDS can offer; this is an assembly which has to be seen.

Boasting 400cd/mand a 600:1 contrast ratio, NLT’s NL10276BC30-34D is an impressive and popular panel on its own. RDS have constructed a demo of this high-end panel and topped it off with a black bordered multi-touch capacitive touchscreen which has been mated utilizing optical bonding technology.


This example just scratches the surface on what panel and touchscreen combinations we offer, the massive amount of options would make this post extremely long. Feel free to contact RDS to arrange a viewing of this demo or to discuss other possibilities.


Tuesday 23 July 2013

Prototype Sandy Bridge Server

Incorporating an i5-2400, 8GB 1333MHz DDR3, 64GB SLC SSD on an industrial Fujitsu D3076-S1 mainboard produced a 2U rack mount server with some serious horsepower.

With this server we paired a 3100MHz quad core CPU with an industrial grade SLC SSD which lead to a blazingly fast user experience, booting to Windows 7 desktop in around 15 seconds and loading applications in a flash. Of course, an industrial grade server has a lot more potential than booting into an OS, we selected this CPU in our build to provide outstanding performance in single and multi-threaded applications especially when the maximum Turbo Boost speed of 3.4GHz is utilized.

  • The real potential comes from the D3076-S1 Fujistu mother board:
  • ·         LGA 1155 Supporting Sandy Bridge i7 CPU
  • ·         2xSATAIII, 4xSATAII
  • ·         2xPCIe x16 Slots (Running at x16 and x4), 1xPCIe x8
  • ·         4 PCI Slots
  • ·         12xUSB 2.0
  • ·         8bit GPIO
  • ·         Dual Gigabit LAN

 With the expansion this mainboard has to offer, the components we used in this prototype are definitely something to build upon. As a guide to the systems capabilities PassMark Performance Test 8.0 was ran on the system.




The combination of raw power with an industrial roadmap makes this board a perfect option for power users who need real reliability for their application. For More information on this build, or any of the components used in the build feel free to comment on this post or contact info@review-displays.co.uk for more information.


Wednesday 17 July 2013



Increased design options for PCAP touch sensors that enhance the look and operation of a product


Review Display Systems ltd has recently increased its range of design options for  engineers looking to utilise PCAP touch technology  as the main operator input device for a system.

Manufactured by AMT, two construction techniques are available, for screen sizes from 8.4 inch and above Glass- film-film-film (GFFF) technology is used and for smaller screens Glass-film-film. The design concept behind this is that the GFFF structure features an extra EMI shield under the bottom of the touch to reduce noise from the LCD. The lighter, thinner GFF structure is designed to support Chip-on –Flex controllers for mobile devices with limited space. GFFF allows 87% light transmission and GFF is slightly better at 91% both are an improvement over resistive screens.

Both of the structures have glass as the surface layer, and options here include the thickness of the glass from 0.7mm creating a thin sandwich, ideal for handheld applications, up to 5mm for rugged applications. The standard finish for the top glass layer is clear/glossy however anti-glare options are also possible.

Another feature of the glass is the option to have a décor glass finish where the border area is printed black with slightly rounded corners, these are idea for applications requiring a flush finish. Standard screen sizes here are 7 inch, 10.4 inch, 12.1 inch and 15.6 inch with more to follow.

The controller can either be Chip on flex or on the larger panels a separate controller board is used.
A full range of standard panels are available from 3.5 inch to 15.6 inch, standard operating temperature is –20 to +70 degrees Centigrade, this coupled with the unlimited touch life offers much better long term performance over a resistive solution.

The other benefit of the PCAP technology is its ability to support single touch and dual-touch gesture recognition, common place in many of todays applications.

To talk through the best configuration options please contact our sales office on 01959 563345.



Thursday 11 July 2013

AAEON: product compliance with Intel Intelligent Systems Framework
AAEON has been recognized for its products’ compliance with Intel’s Intelligent Systems Framework (ISF). ISF is a standard for computing components introduced to create a set of inter-operable solutions designed to address connecting, managing, and securing devices and data in a consistent and scalable manner. It is able to reduce fragmentation by scaling across applications and bring together operating systems, tools and hardware in one ecosystem.
According to Intel, the ISF creates a set of interoperable solutions that can scale across applications and bring together the hardware, OSs and software that enable these devices to be remotely managed and provide useful analytics on the data that is being collected by these systems. This framework consists of profiles assigned to devices that outline a set of constituents for integration, with Intel providing a level of integration testing and validation to ensure that components can interoperate, as expected. If the components pass these tests, they then can be designated as ISF ready under the assigned profile.
This new approach has the potential to lower deployment costs, simplify integration and enable new and innovative services. The resultant effects on vertical markets will be that Machine (M2M), Internet of Things, and Big Data become more manageable for system operators and developers. Intel is working with system integrators and vendors such as AAEON along with software developers to create Cloud-to-Device services that use the ISF as its foundation.
AAEON’s Intel Intelligent Systems Framework readiness can be exemplified by these selected products, which offer a full spectrum of system wide connectivity and ease of integration. The FWS-7810 for instance, is a 1U Network Appliance featuring Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3 Series Processor with the Intel C226 Chipset. The FSW-7810 has been validated by Intel as being compliant with Intelligent Systems Framework 1.05 Gateway Profile requirements, and will be listed on the Intelligent Solutions Alliance Solutions directory as “Intelligent Systems Framework Ready”. In addition, AAEON has released several other ISF Client approved boards including the COM-QM87, a Type 6 COM Express CPU module with its 4th Generation Intel Core processor and mobile Intel QM87 Express chipset, offering low-power and enhanced graphics power over the previous COM Express CPU modules, the 3.5” GENE-QM87 fully functional single board computer, the IMBA-Q87A ATX industrial motherboard also powered by a 4th Generation Intel Core CPU, and the EMB-QM87A Mini-ITX form factor board with a 4th Generation Intel Core i7/i5 processor. These new ISF certified boards feature Intel vPro technology, which delivers unprecedented hardware support for vital security and management functions. For the Edge Profile, AAEON offers the ISF-ready GENE-TC05, an industrial temperature range single board computer powered by an Intel E620T to E680T processor.
For AAEON, these embedded ISF ready products represent the continued effort towards creating solution-centred products based on Intel architecture that can be used as modular building blocks in a highly integrated and interoperable real-time computing environment across a broad range of its client’s applications.

RDS are able to discuss any requirements you may have with you if needed and provide advice and support where needed. Get in touch, we may be able to demo some hardware and even allow you to test your software on a test platform to check suitability.

Tuesday 4 June 2013

NLT integrates its own PCAP touch technology on NLT TFT displays.

In response to industrial requirements, NLT is increasing its focus on providing Industrial display Solutions. Development areas include long life backlights now up to 100k hours, vibration tolerant designs, high bright backlights and integrated touch sensors with and without optical bonding.
Through 2013 they plan to introduce a range of displays with integrated PCAP touch screens, screen sizes will be from 6.5inch through to 12.1 inch as standard products. All will be fitted with a one glass PCAP sensor ensuring the units are thin and as light as possible.
Also there will be two options on how the sensor is bonded to the display panel, for normal applications the sensor will be bonded to the bezel with an air gap between the sensor and the TFT front glass. For applications in high ambient light, the sensors can be optically bonded to the panel. This is where the air gap is filled with a material of a similar refractive index to the glass. This reduces the reflections from each air/glass surface (normally around 4%) thereby increasing the readability of the display.
The touch interface is via USB connection and a range of support tools are also supplied to help tune the sensor for the application.

For further information contact Thomastuxen@review-displays.co.uk

Friday 31 May 2013

NEW Fujitsu Mini-ITX motherboard based on the latest AMD Embedded G-Series SOC Platform

We can confirm that Fujitsu Technology Solutions are  developing  a new Mini-ITX Motherboard called the D3313-S for 24/7 continuous operation in an extended temperature range of 0 to 60 degrees Celsius. The board from Fujitsu’s Industrial Series will be optimised for a wide range of industrial and semi-industrial applications and will have a product lifecycle of at least five years.

It is based the new AMD Embedded G-Series system on chip (SOC), which was developed especially for industrial applications. Following the official worldwide launch of the AMD Embedded G-Series SOC Platform on 23 April, 2013, the Fujitsu developers at the Augsburg plant have started design work on the boards. The first samples of the motherboard will be available in September 2013. Volume production in Augsburg is scheduled to begin in November 2013.

The use of systems on a chip (SOC) enables increased computing performance at a low energy consumption level. The D3313-S will be available in three versions, each with a different system on a chip (SOC) by AMD. D3313-S1 is based on AMD Embedded GX-210HA SOC with AMD Radeon HD8210E Graphics (Dualcore, 1.0 GHz), D3313-S2 is based on AMD Embedded GX-217GA SOC with AMD Radeon HD 8280E Graphics (Dualcore, 1.65 GHz), and D3313-S3 is based on AMD Embedded GX-420CA SOC with AMD Radeon HD 8400E Graphics (Quadcore, 2.00 GHz). Each version is equipped with two DDR3-1866/1600-SDRAM SO-DIMM sockets for up to 16 GB single-channel memory.

All new Fujitsu motherboards based on AMD Embedded G-Series SOC support DVI-I, Display Port, and 24-bit dual-channel LVDS. Furthermore, all boards in the D3313-S series come with an m-SATA port and a PCIe Minicard socket supporting USB. The layout of the external I/O ports is identical with that of D3003-S, the preceding generation. This makes it possible to fit the D3313-S into Fujitsu’s existing Mini-ITX housing. The resulting possibility of easily changing platform technologies while retaining the same housing is set to offer optimum conditions for realising cost-efficient systems for years to come.

For further information contact Petermarchant@review-displays.co.uk

Thursday 23 May 2013

Remote control of i7 boards using iAMT and AAeons' Hi-Manager program

If your application requires the processing power of the i7 and it is intended to operate as a remote device, then using one of AAeons i7 platforms such as the compact Gene ( 3.5 inch) and EPIC format, or the slightly larger Mini ITX format, will mean you can utillise the AAeon Hi-manager program allowing you to remotely manage your product.
The AAeon Hi- manager is based around the Intel Active Management Technology 8.0 and allows remote control of the following functions:

  •  Power Control : Powers on/off the target device
  •  Group Management: Arrange devices in this function
  •  Event Log: Logs boot records of the selected device
  •  Alarm Clock: Sets timer to wake up a sleeping device
  •  Remote Recovery: Mounts boot image or physical CD-Rom to target device
  •  KVM: Controls remotely from the target device
  •  Schedule: Schedules the power on/off of target devices
  • Device Information: Shows Target device assets
  • Network Discovery: AMT device discovery
For further detailed information on how this feature can enhance your products performance in the field contact petermarchant@review-displays.co.uk

At last a high performance compact motherboard with onboard Intel Core i7-3555LE and the QM77 chipset.



Review Display Systems Ltd have introduced AAeons’s latest EPIC-QM77 industrial motherboard. This EPIC format board measures just 165mmx115mm and unlike most current designs, compact or otherwise, the CPU and PCH chips have been mounted on the rear (solder side) of this board. This design makes the transfer of heat to the outside world or enclosure far easier for the system designer
.
The board supports triple, simultaneous Display, via its LVDS, CRT, DVI-I or HDMI ports. Also for data critical applications the Board supports iAM T8.0 and RAID .
The on-board Intel Core i7-3555LE/Celeron 874E processor, is part of Intel’s 3rd Generation range on the Core i series processors and is supported by the QM77/H76 express chipset.

The board supports up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, and has an on-board dual LAN Capability. The board features two 6.0Gb/s SATA ports and one (half-size) mSATA slot, plus two USB 3.0 and six USB 2.0 ports as well as six COM ports, expansion is via a single minicard slot.

The board requires a 12Vdc AT/ATX supply and additionally has 2CH HD audio, 16bit digital I/O and an optional resistive touch screen decoder.

The extensive feature list demonstrates the high level of integration on the EPIC-QM77 and makes it ideal for projects that require a high level of processing power within a small space envelope, couple with a long production life of five years.


Wednesday 22 May 2013

In-cell touch technology for passive LCD displays

Review Display Systems Ltd have introduced in-cell touch technology as an option when designing custom LCD glass and modules. This allows design engineers to provide a single touch switch operation to segemented LCD displays. Up to twenty switch areas can be defined over the display area allowing the operation of simple switches.
  The In-cell technology does not require the additional cost of either a touch sensor or controller as it uses the X and Y plates of the actual LCD cell and is decoded through the LCD Driver.
The LCD can be protected by a window up to 3mm in thickness allowing the display to be sealed. The normal back light options are also not affected.
for more detailed information contact Thomas Tuxen on 01959 563345