VersaLogic Corp., a manufacturer of embedded computing systems, has announced the launch of Bengal – a rugged new PCIe/104 Single Board Computer (SBC). Based on Intel’s highly acclaimed “Bay Trail” processor, Bengal combines high performance, low power consumption, enhanced security, and small size. It is ideal for unmanned systems, in-vehicle communications, complex medical devices, industrial control and automation and other embedded applications.
Bengal is available in three performance levels; single, dual, and quad core models. The quad core model delivers over 2x the performance of systems using the “Montevina” Core 2 Duo processor, with a 38% reduction in power consumption.
The board includes an extensive set of features including PCIe/104 expansion and an on-board Trusted Platform Module (TPM) security chip. The Bengal’s powerful feature set, combined with a low-power draw and compact PC/104 footprint, enables the next generation of intelligent medical, military, and industrial systems to be smaller, lighter, and more energy efficient.
“With its high performance and low power consumption, Bengal is a natural fit for new product designs,” said Len Crane, VersaLogic’s President. “More importantly, it is a very good match for migration and upgrade from PC/104 product using older processor chips. The Bengal has both the performance and power profile to operate in systems currently using either Atom or Core 2 Duo processors.” He also noted that “The quad core version of this product is very exciting to see in a PC/104 format, especially with the product life extension options that can support customers well past the year 2025.”
The Bengal’s on-board Trusted Platform Module (TPM) security chip can be used to lock out unauthorized hardware and software access. It provides a secure processing environment for applications in Defense, Medical, and Industrial Control that require enhanced hardware-level security functions. Additional security is provided through built-in AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) processor instructions.
Intel’s advanced Gen 7 HD graphics engine provides outstanding graphics performance and is capable of supporting up to two 1080p video streams simultaneously. On-board hardware acceleration is available for encode/decode of H.264, MVC, VP8, VC1/WMV9, and other standards. The graphics engine also supports DirectX 11, Open GL 4.0, full HD video playback, dual display support, and resolution up to 2560 x 1600 @ 60Hz. Bengal’s analog and dual mini DisplayPort video outputs support two independent simultaneous displays including Extended Desktop and Clone modes.
Bengal’s I/O connectivity includes dual Gigabit Ethernet ports with network boot capability, one USB 3.0 port, five USB 2.0 ports, two serial ports (RS-232/422/485), two PWM outputs, an I2C interface, and eighteen digital I/O lines. A SATA 3 Gb/s interface supports high-capacity rotating or solid-state drives. A Mini PCIe socket with mSATA capability provides flexible solid-state drive (SSD) options.
Bengal’s Mini PCIe socket allows easy on-board expansion with plug-in Wi-Fi modems, GPS receivers, and other mini cards such as MIL-STD-1553, Ethernet, and Analog.
For stacking expansion the Bengal supports PCIe/104 OneBank™ expansion using industry-standard add-on boards. The on-board expansion site provides plug-in access to a wide variety of expansion modules from numerous vendors, all with bolt-down ruggedness. The PCIe/104 OneBank interface includes both a legacy PCI connector, and a single bank high-speed PCIe connector to support high-bandwidth devices. An SPX™expansion interface offers additional plug-in expansion for low-cost analog and digital I/O devices.
All three Bengal models are designed and tested for industrial temperature (-40° to +85°C)operation and meets MIL-STD-202G specifications to withstand high impact and vibration. Latching connectors and fanless operation provide additional benefits in harsh environments.
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