Small form factor SBC based on Intel Skylake processor

15th March 2017

Alice Matthews

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Supplier of compact, rugged, I/O-rich embedded computing solutions for real-world applications in a broad range of markets, Diamond Systems, has unveiled VENUS, believed to be the first rugged small form factor Single-Board-Computer (SBC) based on the Intel 'Skylake' 6^th generation Core i7/i5 processor. The company claims that Venus offers the highest available CPU performance in a small form factor rugged SBC with modest power consumption.

Venus features DDR4 memory soldered on board, bottom side conduction cooling, two PCIe Minicard sockets, in the 3.5” embedded form factor. Venus is available in two models, the high performance 2.6GHz i7 version (VNS766-4GD) and a lower cost 2.4GHz i5 model (VNS563-4GD).

The wide range of I/O functionality included on Venus meets a majority of today’s embedded computing connectivity requirements. The board includes 6 USB 2.0/3.0 ports, 4 RS-232/422/485 serial ports, 16 digital I/O lines, two Gigabit Ethernet ports, HDA audio, Camera interface, and TPM support. Venus supports three simultaneous independent displays consisting of VGA, HDMI, and LVDS LCD; all three displays are 4K capable.

For additional I/O needs, the board includes a PCIe/104 OneBank Plus socket (PCIe/104 and PCI-104 expansion) with support for up to 4 I/O modules. Venus also supports two MiniCard sockets; The top side socket supports full-size PCIe and USB minicards along with mSATA disk modules, while the bottom side socket supports full and half size PCIe minicards. Mass storage options include SATA DOM, mSATA, and a connector for an external SATA drive (all ports are SATA III capable). The wide range 9-18V input voltage provides additional flexibility.

Venus incorporates a full suite of rugged features such as soldered memory, latching connectors, and a thicker PCB, making it suitable for the most demanding vehicle applications. The 4GB soldered memory may be upgraded to as high as 20GB using Diamond’s RSODIMM rugged memory modules, which are designed to withstand MIL-STD-202G shock and vibration specifications. Standard DDR4 SODIMM modules may also be used.

According to the company, the bottom side heat spreader provides the most efficient cooling solution in a weight-optimised design, enabling Venus to run reliably at up to 85°C (lower operating limit is -40°C). Venus is the latest addition to Diamond’s Raptor rugged computer systems that offer MIL-DTL-38999 connectors, MIL-STD-202G shock/vibration conformance, MIL-STD-461 compliance, and IP67 environmental rating. These systems can be customised to include additional I/O boards and storage media, as well as customer-specific connector arrangements.