Embedded PC

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An embedded PC is a modular, compact industrial PC . It is an embedded system whose computer architecture is based on the standard PC .

construction

Embedded PC CX1020 from Beckhoff
Embedded PC Microbox from Siemens

With this computer, only those components are inserted into the system that are also required for the corresponding application - an Embedded PC can e.g. B. be operated " headless ", d. H. without display such as monitor or display and operating devices such as mouse and keyboard; the corresponding interface can then be omitted. Because of their low power consumption , these PCs can usually be used without a fan and because of their low memory requirements , they can be used without a hard disk (e.g. with a CF card ). Embedded PCs are used in products in the automotive industry , traffic engineering , production and manufacturing technology , telecommunications and more. Ever more powerful processors enable the use of Embedded PCs to control complex machines and systems. Systems with integrated sensor-actuator wiring are used as decentralized machine control. Embedded PCs are also used in building automation.

The advantages of the standard PC architecture over other architectures are the hardware and software environment that many developers are used to and the availability of appropriate PC software and integrated development environments .

In most cases, very specialized operating systems ( VxWorks , Nucleus , OSEK , OS-9 , special Linux derivatives, NetBSD , etc.) are used in embedded systems . However, special embedded versions of standard operating systems such as Linux (Embedded Linux), NetBSD or Windows ( CE , XP Embedded , Automotive or Embedded for PoS) are also used.

An Embedded PC usually consists of the following components:

Embedded PCs are used where the properties and computing power of industrial PCs are required, but on the other hand their entry-level price should be less than € 1000 or even less than € 500. Often they can be used in the smallest of spaces - e.g. B. on the top hat rail - be mounted. Despite the compactness of the system, comparatively powerful processors such as Intel Pentium M and 2  GiB RAM are often used . Most of the time, the Embedded PCs remain switched on. H. the embedded operating systems do not need to be shut down.

The growing market for these devices is served by the embeddedworld trade fair, which takes place annually in Nuremberg .

Examples of corresponding small systems

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ MM MaschinenMarkt online on DIN rail PCs (2007)
  2. ↑ SSV Embedded PCs, Design & Elektronik-Magazin, August 2007, page 86.
  3. ↑ Embeddedworld trade fair in Nuremberg

literature

  • Hans-Joachim Blank: Das Embedded PC Handbuch , Freiburg, 2000, ISBN 3-7723-4274-4
  • Ina Schwabe, Hartmut Rogge: Embedded Intelligence '98 , Poing, 1998.