Rugged Tablet Computers – Semicom Visual Ltd

In this age of the digital revolution, were technology is advancing so quickly whilst the purchase prices for electronic devices are dropping are unbelievable.  Just look at sites such as Amazon and you will see a wealth of electronic bargains, to be had at give away prices.

With these electronic devices being so affordable, it puts in the reach of almost every buyer. Hence the reason why the digital signage market is using LCD and plasma television displays. Especially since plasma displays have over come their initial problems of image burn and over heating, now they are more cost effective than LCD displays however they are a lot bulkier than an LCD display.

More and more businesses are using them for different applications, due to the low prices. From infomercials through to product training. If you ever go to a major motor manufacturer, you can bet they have a large display in the reception area, that shows the range of vehicles they manufacture and the high quality level of the build and then on the factory floor you may also see them used to monitor production. These displays show a flow chart of the production line, if and when an alarm is raised by stopped production this can be pin pointed almost immediately by glancing at the display. Then the relevant action can be taken to remove the bottleneck.

Now the only real problem with putting an LCD display on the factory production line is the amount of dust and fluid that will come in contact with the display. If for example the factory uses any coolant that will be present in the air and will cause corrosion over a period of time, so you would certainly be looking to protect the display from coolant as it would corrode the internal circuit boards of the display rendering it useless. The ideal choice would be a protective case that would let the display breath and at the same time protect the display from knocks and bands.

The best option is an IP65 (waterproof) LCD enclosures (also called NEMA 4X, the USA standard) these are a specially manufactured protective case, that protect the electronic devices inside from dust and water. They have various cooling or heating modules depending upon the application, budget and location of local services. Now we are seeing the use of these cases increasing as LCD and plasma television displays increase in size up to a whopping 108 inches.  

There are only a handful of LCD enclosure manufacturers in the world one in particular has reported a sharp rise in bespoke shipbuilders who have realised the opportunity with large displays and are installing them on billion dollar yachts, the only problem is they need to be very robust, to protect from the highly corrosive salt water. The solution supplied was an aluminium LCD enclosure that was then coated with a special waterproof plastic coating.

Waterproof LCD enclosures are also used on ships that search for oil, these are used as giant computer monitors and allow the operator to pin point a potential oil field, below the sea bed.

Amplicon has gained an unrivalled experience over the past 33 years in the design, manufacture and distribution of computer products, systems and solutions for industrial applications. They have the ability to tailor systems to meet application and environmental requirements across a wide range of industries. Their equipment would typically be destined for use in factories, transport, warehousing, laboratories and military COTS. Like all Amplicon products, their industrial computing systems are manufactured under strict quality management procedures certified to ISO9001:2000.

The first step in designing an industrial computing system is to be aware what product standards and directives have to be met. Industrial computing products would typically be covered by areas related to safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). If the product is to be put onto the European Market, it will need to be CE Marked to indicate that it has complied with all associated directives.

In designing a computing system, there are a number of main building components that influence the look, feel, performance, reliability, repeatability and robustness of the end product. These include the storage drives (HDD, Solid State, CompactFlash, CD drives and FDD), Memory, Central Processing Unit (CPU), processor cooler, Power Supply Unit (PSU) or redundant PSU, Motherboard or Single Board Computer (SBC) and Backplane combination, total chassis cooling mechanism and finally the Chassis.

A standard 4U chassis is highly scaleable and its versatility lends itself to many end applications and environments. Hence, in building a computing system, the industry and application in question have to be taken into consideration. Different applications may also require different IP ratings and certifications.

For the most extreme conditions and out-of-the-office applications, rugged mobile computer systems provide the ultimate in notebook and tablet computing. Rugged mobile computers feature protection against dust, debris and water by using the latest materials and sealing techniques. The rugged mobile computers offered are largely based on Intel’s 855GME chipset. This highly efficient chipset and associate component subsets, including processor and memory offer the performance to allow efficient fully sealed fanless rugged computers to be produced. Furthermore, flexible design techniques allow their rugged mobile computers to support plug-in PCI or ISA expansion cards. In this design, mobile application processors and associate fanless coolers are used; and for space conservation, a 2.5” HDD is used. This greatly improves the device shock and vibration tolerance.

For automotive applications, the computing system will be exposed to a lot of vibration and dust; hence it needs to be more robust in its total design. Any computing device made for use in the automotive industry needs e mark certification. The recommended design would be an embedded, fanless solution. Using a fully enclosed device, where the chassis acts as a cooling mechanism for the device

For medical, pharmaceutical and food applications the high tech modular industrial PC design is recommended. This can be easily configured to meet customer needs by including a touch screen and expansion slots for plug-in boards to further expand the system and provide additional features. The system can be operated using a touchscreen or via a rugged IP54/65 rated keyboard. The completely sealed stainless steel housing makes the system meet the IP specified protection norms and requirements for these industries.

Generally when designing an industrial computing system, a single board computer (SBC) solution will offer greater repeatability (typically 5 years). These products have a more versatile range of options and are revision controlled with a longer life cycle than motherboards. For projects requiring repeatability in excess of 5 years, spares requirements are calculated to support the product over its desired life cycle.

The PSU unit selection is dependant on the sum of the individual component power requirements, as well as the required availability of the device. It is also important to allow for any future increase in power demands, due to expansion of the original system. Industrial computing devices are designed for 24/7 use and in some cases a redundant PSU is required. These comprise of a minimum of two independent PSU modules housed in a single cage. The device needs to be capable of running effectively with just one of the modules operating. During normal mode there will be load sharing between both modules. When a module becomes defective an audible and visual alarm will indicate which module requires replacement.

Once the right components are put together to produce an end prototype unit, tests are carried out to ensure that the device gets the CE Mark.

After ensuring that components and hence the end product as a whole conforms to the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive, the product then can undergo conformance testing. All associated Amplicon products fully conform to the RoHS Directives.

Amplicon owns an extensive purpose-built EMC and conformance laboratory. Using the latest test equipment, they ensure all products conform to relevant international standards.

The primary objective of the CE Mark and associated product assessment is to provide the customer and enforcement bodies with the evidence that the devices placed on the market conform to the essential requirements of all associated directives.

For most electrical devices the safety is covered by the Low Voltage Directive (LVD). This applies to nearly all electrical equipment designed for use between 50V and 1000V AC or between 75V and 1500V DC. This refers to the electrical input or output voltages, not just the supply voltage powering the device. This directive has a huge scope and applies to industrial, domestic and many other environments.

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is a serious and increasing form of environmental pollution. Its effects could range from minor crackles on broadcast reception to potential fatal accidents due to corruption of safety critical monitoring and control systems. Various forms of EMI can cause electrical and electronic malfunctions and may even have a direct effect on human tissue. The EMC Directive’s main objective is to minimise the effect caused by EMI from electrical and electronic devices.

Shock and vibration tests are also carried out on the range of products recommended for use in applications under extreme ambient conditions. Once the pre-conformance tests and modifications are made to produce a certified design, the product is then manufactured.

All of Amplicon’s industrial computing systems are revision controlled and undergo an extensive soak-test before shipment. This eliminates the shipment of faulty or incomplete systems.

Touch screens are certainly not a new technology. Touch screen monitors have been around and in use since the 1970’s. However, recent advances in mobile phone technology, computer tablets and PDA’ shave seen touch screen monitors receive a renaissance in recent years.

And with a burgeoning digital signage market expecting to continue to expand, touch screens may become the norm for future monitor and signage applications.

A recent report from industry analysts Nanomarkets, entitled “Touch Screens: Technologies, Materials and Markets”, suggests that touch screen will play a key role in the digital signage market in the coming years with revenues from touch screen displays expecting to increase by 33% by the year 2014.

Much of this increase, the report concludes, will have been generated for the demand for touch screens in mobile and personal computing but also, the report suggests, many traditional LCD or plasma screens currently used in digital signage are likely to be replaced with touch screen technology.

With innovations like the iPhone and the latest Microsoft Windows 7 operating system being very touch screen orientated, combined with the falling costs of the technology, we may even see conventional displays and LCDs a thing of the past.

Touch screen is also far more versatile for digital signage in that it allows interactivity that is just not possible with conventional LCD monitors unless they are combined with a keyboard or other input device. But having a single flat screen that acts both as a dynamic display and input device for little additional cost is far more attractive to the digital signage market than conventional displays.

One area that touch screens may struggle to operate safely in, however, is in the outdoor digital signage market. As touch screens need to have an exposed screen, protecting the touch screen monitor from the elements can be problematic but LCD enclosures and touch screen enclosures do exist that should eliminate this problem.

Computers are now an essential in almost every industry and business. They are used to maximise efficiency, reduce waste, ensure processes are running smoothly and in many cases controlling machinery and systems.

Because of our reliance on computer systems, PC, monitors, printers and display devices are to be found in a variety of locations but unfortunately not all of them are congenial to the safe working of sensitive electronics.

Dust, water, extreme temperatures, vibrations and heavy impacts are just some of the extreme hazards that face computers and electronic equipment in industrial, factory and outdoor locations.

Keeping this equipment protected and ensuring it continues to function regardless of the environment is often achieved by using industrial computer enclosure, printer enclosures or display and LCD enclosures.

The protective enclosures are designed to keep out any foreign particles and liquids, not to mention protecting against temperatures, vibrations and heavy impact.

Often they are designed to European and North American standards to ensure their use in certain environments. In Europe this is referred to as the IP rating (Ingress Protection) where the standards IP65, IP 54 and IP 66 are the most commonly used for computer, printer and display enclosures.

In the US, NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) govern the standards for electronic enclosures with the NEMA 4 rating offering similar protection to the European IP65.

The advantage of using industrial computer enclosures, printer enclosures and display/LCD enclosures are that they house standard computer, print and display equipment. Not only does that make the technology that enclosed cost effective but also it allows the user to select the type of hardware that is required. The alternative to industrial computer enclosures is to use intrinsic industrial computer systems that are often far more expensive and less flexible and advnanced as standard equipment.

ATEX is the name commonly given to the European directives for controlling explosive atmospheres and the standards of equipment and protective systems used in them. ATEX is now law in all European Union countries with companies that have potentially explosive atmospheres legally obliges to ensure all equipment in ATEX zones complies with the directive.

Explosive atmospheres do not just occur in chemical facilities. Explosive atmospheres are actually incredibly common in the food production industry. Many substances from flour, coffee, sugar and even custard can hold the potential to cause an explosion.

Dust is the primary reason for explosive atmospheres. If an area has a high constitution of say organic dust (such as custard or sugar) a small spark could be enough to set off a catastrophic explosion.

For this reason, industries that deal with such substances have to zone-off all their areas. Zone 0 is described in ATEX as having the highest and most dangerous levels of potential explosive risk whilst zone 2 are areas that have the potential, albeit remotely.

In zoning their areas many companies assume that all zones have to offer the same protection against explosions and they spend vast sums ensuring all electrical equipment satisfies Zone 0. However, this is not the case and many manufacturers in the food industry are literally wasting money in ensuring all equipment satisfies the ATEX directives.

In many areas labelled as Zone 2 for instance specialist intrinsically sealed industrial computers, printers and monitors are installed at great cost when in fact a simple and cheap conventional PC could be used as long as it is housed in a Zone 2 industrial computer enclosure.

Zone 2 industrial computer enclosures are available from many manufacturers and these intrinsically sealed cabinets are vastly cheaper, even including the housed PC than a bespoke sealed industrial computer.

An industrial computer is just the same as a conventional PC, only they are designed and built to withstand many of the harsh elements of industrial environments. Industrial areas contain many of things that computers and other sensitive electrical items struggle to cope with.

Water is prevalent in many industrial areas particularly those that process food products and water and computers do not mix well together. Water, if it penetrates a computer or other electrical item; will instantly short circuit it and probably render the device inoperable in the future.

For this reason many industrial computers are designed as waterproof computers. They are built intrinsically sealed to prevent any ingress of water and a potential short circuit.

Another major constituent of industrial areas is the prevalence of dust. Dust is generated from all sorts of industrial processes from grinding and polishing to simple cleaning. Dust can clog filters and encase an electrical item like a PC and over-insulate it causing it to overheat. Another aspect of dust is that it can contain many elements including conductive particles. When these dust particles penetrate an electrical item, such as an industrial computer this will also cause a short circuit for this reason Industrial computers are built also as dustproof computers.

Heavy impacts are another peril of the industrial workplace. No matter how carefully areas are marked accidents involving forklifts and other heavy machinery Is still common. A swipe from a forklift will finish off a PC so Industrial computers are built solid state (without moving parts) to ensure they are rugged enough to withstand impacts.

An industrial computer is therefore well suited to the environment that it has to work in but all this protection does come with a cost; flexibility.

The unfortunate problem with an industrial computer is because they are intrinsically sealed to make them waterproof and dustproof and because they are solid state to withstand heavy impacts, this makes them incredibly difficult to repair or upgrade. If an industrial computer goes down a specialist engineer has to be called to open up or take-away the intrinsically sealed unit. This obviously costs in down production time. Also because of these difficulties industrial computers are built with outdated technology and older versions of software to maximise their reliability. This obviously makes them less efficient than their desktop counterparts.

Fortunately a solution to this problem is in the guise of an industrial computer enclosure. These industrial cabinets can house an ordinary off-the-shelf desktop PC but protect them to the same standards as an industrial computer preventing ingress of dust and water and providing protective armour against heavy impact.

These industrial computer enclosures can house any type of PC and monitor, mouse, keyboard combination and the units can be replaced simply, easily and without the hassle and cost of expensive downtime.

Keeping equipment such as computers, printers, touch screens and other monitors such as LCD TVs protected in industrial locations is vital to ensuring the continued operation of such equipment.

Ensuring a computer will continue to function could even be mission critical so it is vital that any of the hazards located in the areas where the computer will be working are identified so that they can be countered. Her are some of the elements contained in industrial areas and how they are bets protected against:

Dust

In many production and manufacturing facilities, there is often quite large amounts of dust. Dust is often created from manufacturing processes but it will also contain a wide variety of other materials including metals and other conductive elements. Dust can penetrate electrical systems and cause short circuits and it can also block up filters and cause over-insulation, a primary cause of failure in computer systems.

Protecting against dust can be quite complicated as most computer systems need fresh air to help dispel heat, sealing off the dust can be problematic. One solution that many industrial PC enclosures employ is to ensure there is positive pressure inside the enclosure keeping the dust outside and allowing airflow within the enclosure.

Liquids

Liquids, particularly water, are commonplace in some factory areas, especially in food production where water is liberally used to hose down areas for hygiene reasons. Water is also problematic to defend against for similar reasons to dust.

Water can have an even more damaging effect on equipment if it penetrates an enclosure which is why printer and computer enclosures that are used in washdown areas use plenum chambers which are air vents that don’t allow water access.

Laptop is now one of the necessities of nearly every occupation but, those who are working in unfavorable conditions may worry about their laptops because of the surrounding conditions. For example, military personnel always work in a hostile environment and the last thing they should worry about is the dirt and impact that may jam their laptops. Also those working by the sea, in oil refineries and those working in construction sites know that standard laptops cannot perform in such conditions.

For all of these occupations that need laptops but cannot afford the delicacy of standard ones, rugged laptops are the best choice. One of the best examples of these durable laptops is Panasonic Toughbooks.

Toughbooks are known to be one of the best choices for those working outdoor because it can offer full specifications of regular standard laptops and tablet PCs but with the ultimate protection against impact, dust and water.

Engineers who work in construction sites appreciate rugged notebooks that are able to perform in the middle of bricks, dust and can bare impacts and dents much more than standard laptops.

One of the major disadvantages of regular laptops is that they are not viewable in the day light and the user should buy and mount accessories to provide a shade around the screen so they can use their laptops outdoor. On the other side, most of the rugged laptops come with a daylight viewable LCD screens that can be viewed in the day light without affecting the battery of the laptop. This is a great advantage for those working in desert or in any place where the sunlight could not be avoided.

While there are different laptop manufacturers offering rugged laptops but, Panasonic toughbooks proved that they can perform virtually anywhere. They can withstand heat, dust and even water spills. They also contain all the features that you may require for your work. Toughbooks may come with integrated cameras, wireless connections, Bluetooth connectivity, external hard disks and much more features. Although rugged notebooks are heavier than standard ones but this is a very small price that you can pay for ensuring that your equipment will work anywhere and under any condition.

Panasonic toughbooks come with optional spare battery, car charger or external drives. You can also configure your laptop according to your specific requirements. You are able to expand your RAM or Hard disk or even add a finger print reader.

OC Rugged laptops is one of the pioneer companies in the field of rugged laptops. They are offering a full array of rugged notebooks including the famous series of Toughbooks. You are able to choose from between different models according to your budget and the specifications you need. No matter what you are choosing, you will get it with the best price from OC rugged laptops.

Touchscreen monitors are an ideal tool for any industrial, production or manufacturing environment. Some touchscreens are ideal for working in dirty environments as they can tolerate dirt and moisture that would quickly disable a keyboard or a mouse, whilst other varieties of touch screen are incredibly durable able to withstand the most ham-fisted operator.

Touchscreens are incredibly flexible this is because touchscreen monitors are based on numerous different types of technology and the application that the touchscreen display is required for, should govern the type of touchscreen technology employed.

For instance, resistive touchscreens wok by using a thin, flexible membrane separated from the glass screen. The surface has a transparent metallic coating that when touched closes an electrical circuit, triggering the Graphical User interface software (GUI the software that recognises the position on the screen.

This makes resistive touchscreens one of the least expensive methods of implementing touchscreen technology. However, resistive touchscreens are easily scratched or damaged which doesn’t make it ideal for industrial use, however, a resistive touch screen does offer high levels of sensitivity.

Capacitive touchscreens on the other hand are ideal for industrial applications. Capacitive touchscreens have no membrane, and as the touch sensitive electrodes at the corners are inside the glass this makes them incredibly durable with even surface scratches not affecting the sensitivity. Many industrial touchscreen monitors work this way.

Other methods of touch screen technology exist including surface acoustic wave; strain-gauge and infra-red although these are less common but are to be found in applications that require the extra durability or extra sensitivity that these other methods can provide.

Following technological advances and the use of touch screen in mobile phones, touch screen is now cheaper and more efficient than ever before. Some argue that it touchscreens are soon to replace the trusty mouse. Whether the mouse survives or not, with the next generation of operating systems such as Windows 7 being designed for touchscreen it is a technology that is here to stay.