Board computer aimed at low to mid-range CPU performance

It offers low to mid-range CPU performance, more than double that of the AMD LX800. Helios is a low cost SBC offering high feature density in a compact size and providing optional integrated high quality data acquisition circuitry, PCIe MiniCard I/O expansion and rugged construction. With a long processor lifetime of ten years or more, Helix is well suited for applications needing a stable, low cost SBC platform with many years of availability.

Two standard Helix models are available off-the-shelf - one aimed low cost basic applications and the other targeting data acquisition applications. The data acquisition model expands on the features of the basic model by adding a complete data acquisition circuit as well as other I/O. A variety of customisation options are also available allowing customers to match the specific needs of their application with on-board features of the Helix SBC.

Using an expanded PC/104 form factor measuring 102 x 102mm, Helix’s full rectangular shape provides more coastline for I/O connectors, enabling a high level of feature integration onto a single board of that size. In this compact form factor, Helix includes a range of system I/O plus optional on-board data acquisition, meeting the majority of today’s connectivity requirements in a single board.

Helix PC/104 SBCs combine the 1GHz DMP Vortex86DX3 dual core SoC with a wealth of PC I/O and on-board data acquisition circuitry. VGA and LVDS displays are supported and the available PC I/O includes up to 6 USB 2.0 ports, 2 RS-232/422/485 and 2 RS-232 ports, 1 10/100Mbps Ethernet port, 1 Gigabit Ethernet port and 1 SATA port that supports both on-board SATA DOM and off-board SATA devices.

The optional integrated data acquisition circuitry includes 16 16-bit A/D channels with 100KHz sample rate, 4 16-bit D/A channels with voltage outputs, and 11 additional programmable digital I/O lines for a total of 27 lines, all supported by Diamond’s free, industry leading Universal Driver data acquisition programming library. An interactive, easy to use graphical control panel for Windows and Linux is provided to control all data acquisition features.

Helix supports stackable I/O expansion with PC/104 (ISA) I/O modules and also provides a PCIe MiniCard socket for additional I/O expansion. PCIe MiniCard I/O modules featuring WiFi, Ethernet, analog I/O, digital I/O, and CAN are available from Diamond Systems and other vendors, enabling compact expandability without increasing the total height of the system.

The Helix SBC was designed with rugged applications in mind. With an operating temperature of -40°C to 85°C and memory soldered on-board, Helix is well suited for rugged applications including industrial, medical, on-vehicle and military. Aries is also available in Diamond’s off-the-shelf and configurable Octavio systems.