Intel Processors

As a member of the Intel® Embedded and Communications Alliance MEN offers a full Intel® based range of 3U CompactPCI® and CompactPCI® Serial/PlusIO single-board computers, ESMexpress® and ESMini™ Computer-On-Modules and some VMEbus PCs as well as complete systems like box and panel PCs.

MEN makes computer boards based on Intel® processors and chipsets suitable for use in harsh environments, enabling the user to benefit from the advantages of Intel® architecture also in mission-critical applications. The measures necessary to do this include careful screening for extended operating temperature, up to -40 to +85°C. On most boards low-voltage and ultra-low voltage components are used in addition to high-frequency CPUs. Each board is equipped with a specially designed heat sink, or is even set up as a conduction cooled assembly (CCA), and racks recommended by MEN are tuned to guarantee optimized air flow in the system.

To prevent malfunction in vibrating and shaking environments, components (including all types of memory) are often directly soldered to the board. Processors are normally applied in ball-grid array technique. All boards are designed for optional coating against humidity, dust or chemical influences. In order to guarantee a minimum long-term availability of 7 years (and longer according to individual agreements), only Intel® components of the Embedded Line program are selected.

In addition to state-of-the-art PC functionality, all CPU boards feature industrial functions such as real-time clock, or watchdogs for temperature and voltage control. Memory and mass storage configurations include standard SDRAM system memory, non-volatile SRAM or FRAM, SATA, mSATA, NAND, SSD or CompactFlash®, or onboard hard disks. Many cards also include mezzanine slots for flexible and individual extension by further I/O functions.

A number of boards are equipped with FPGAs for implementation of further application-specific functions.

Software support comprises Windows®, Linux and several popular real-time operating systems.