In order to begin the process of supporting or modernising a legacy
embedded system, we first look at the original processor platform and operating system so we can tailor the replacement solution to be as close to the original as possible.
One of the options we often look towards is the Vortex86 range of single-board computers from
Icop Technology. The Vortex86 CPU's are 32-bit x86 computer processors that offer clock frequencies from 300MHz to 1GHz and support DOS, older Windows operating systems (desktop, embedded and CE/Compact), as well as Linux, and have built-in support for a range of modern and legacy I/O interfaces such as ISA, PCI, PCIe, serial comms (RS-232 and RS-485), IDE/SATA, I2C, SPI, CAN, GPIO, USB and 10/100 LAN.
Icop's sister company DM&P Electronics, manufacture the chip in-house allowing for very long supply and support lifecycles across their product range making them ideal for long-term applied computing applications where base system continuity is key.
In addition to the Vortex range, we can also supply base boards and systems that support all major available
Intel platforms from Atom to Core and everything in-between, supporting ISA, PCI, PCIe, serial (RS-232 and RS-485), SATA/RAID, CAN, GPIO and USB.
Next, we look at the board footprint. With all of the major embedded footprints at our disposal, such as PC/104, 2.5”, 3.5”, Pico-ITX, plug-in options such as half-size ISA and PCI, full-size PICMG 1.0/1.3
SBC's as well as
Mini-ITX, ATX and Micro-ATX
industrial motherboards we are able to source the exact board platform to meet the requirement of your legacy
embedded system.
Finally, we consider the environmental variables such as power, temperature and IP rating of the device. Not only do many of our products support wide voltage input off-the-shelf, but Impulse can also provide a range of power conversion products to tailor the incoming power from your installation to an
embedded computing device, as well as UPS solutions if power stability is an issue.
As well as devices that work in standard temperature environments (0°C to 50°C) we can also offer the vast majority of our solutions to cope with wide temperatures as low as -20°C and as high as +70°C. Some of our solutions even reach extended operating temperatures as low as -40°C and as high as +85°C.
Using the available technologies, Impulse has supported customers with maintaining legacy applications in all kinds of environments such as roadside controllers and signage, OEM medical devices, automation systems,
test and measurement devices amongst many others.