DSL Electronic Design

Custom PC104 Design : Rail & Transport

Client

DSL were approached by an internationally recognised leader in transportation solutions with a request to design a PC/104 processor card.

Objectives

Our client had less than 15 weeks to produce prototypes with a strict criteria including:

  1. – The product must support the QNX Neutrino Operating System
  2. – The product must have a current consumption of less than 1 amp
  3. – The product must have a performance of >200Mhz.
  4. – The product must function at extended temperature range.
  5. – The product must meet rail approval standards:
    1. – PrEN 50155:1999 – electronic equipment used on rolling stock.
    2. – EN 50121-3-2:2000 – Railway applications – EMC – Part 3-2:Rolling stock apparatus.
    3. – BS EN 61373:1999 – Railway applications – Rolling stock equipment – Shock and vibration tests

In addition there were mechanical constraints both in terms of maximum allowed dimensions and connection positions to allow the board to mate with existing equipment.

rail_pc104-new

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Solution

Working from the range of available QNX drivers it was evident that in processor terms the choices were quite restricted and of those many would have exceeded the specified power ceiling.
Sampling of processors would prove to be too costly as this product was expected to reach volumes in excess of 1000 units per annum.

DSL engineers concluded that a suitable lower power processor chipset could be provided and at boot time, held in reset until the core temperature had risen to within specification.
DSL was able to provide  a customised bios due to their IA partnership (BIOS creation and maintenance) with Insyde Technologies.

As DSL had existing relationships with pre-qualified (in accordance with ISO 9001:2008 standards) sub contract PCB manufacturers & assembly houses to whom they were already supplying product, they were able to reassign parts to fulfil the urgent requirement.

DSL succeeded in:

  1. – designing the PCB,
  2. – creating bill of materials,
  3. – customising a bios,
  4. – creating a PIC program
  5. – sourcing parts
  6. – manufacturing the PCB
  7. – assembling the PCB
  8. – proving the functionality
  9. – delivery of 20 working prototypes within the 15 weeks available.

Not only was  the client successful at achieving its contractual obligations but went onto place over £2M of ongoing production with DSL

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