Marine panel PC from Datasound Laboratories

25th March 2009

ES Admin

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All but the smallest of offshore vessels have become reliant on computer technology for many aspects of seamanship from simple GPS to complex data translation. Naturally, the primary concern for the computer’s ability to function at sea was initially concerned with weatherproofing, but today, the effects of electromagnetics have become equally significant.

Datasound Laboratories has introduced the APC-3931 marine panel pc which has been designed to withstand both the harshest of conditions, but also ‘above deck interference’.

The chief source of the latter problem is normally the high powered radio transmitters which are used and probably the device most susceptible to EMC has been the vessel’s radio receivers. It is for this reason that bridge mounted equipment must be tested to a demanding EMC standard.

The fanless APC-3931 is certified to meet the standards of IEC 60945, in addition to CE/FCC Class A. This means that it has passed the agreed tests for reliable operation in

dry or damp heat and low temperature, withstanding vibration, resistant to conducted and radiated emission and immune to conducted radio frequencies, radiated radio frequencies,

fast transients, surges on a.c. power lines, power supply short-term variation and electrostatic discharge.

In addition, the APC-3931also has protection against accidental access to dangerous voltages.

Protected by a silver/aluminium bezel and stainless steel housing which has an anti-corrosion coating, the computer has a vibration rating of 1G / 5~500Hz (random), a shock rating of 15G peak acceleration (11 msec. duration), a drop test of 92cm (1 corner, 3 edge, 6 surfaces) and an operating temperature range of 0°C to 50°C.

The display is a 19 (300cd/m2) TFT LCD (1280x1024) with a backlight lifetime of 50,000 hours and an optional resistive touch overlay.

Computing power is supplied by a 1.5GHz Intel Celeron M processor with options of using the 1.8GHz Pentium M, supported by 200/266/333 DDR RAM with capacities to 1GB.

Powered from 240VAC source (or 11-32V DC as a build option) the APC-3931 has 2 COM ports, 4 USB 2.0 ports, 1 LAN, Audio Line in/out, MIC, PS2 keyboard & mouse and a VGA port (all located to the rear) which provides a good range of interface opportunities. A 2.5 HDD and an optional CDROM drive are also located to the rear, provide ample application storage.