Industrial PC
Encyclopedia
An Industrial PC is an x86 PC-based computing platform for industrial applications.
first offered the 6531 Industrial Computer in 1985. This was a proprietary 4U rackmount
industrial computer based on a clone IBM PC motherboard.
can be used to provide a base level of programming.
An application may simply require the I/O such as the serial port
offered by the motherboard. In other cases, expansion card
s are installed to provide analog and digital I/O, specific machine interface, expanded communications ports, and so forth, as required by the application.
Industrial PCs offer features different from consumer PCs in terms of reliability, compatibility, expansion options and long-term supply.
Industrial PCs are typically characterized by being manufactured in lower volumes than home or office PCs. A common category of industrial PC is the 19-inch rack
mount form factor. Industrial PCs typically cost considerably more than comparable office style computers with similar performance. Single-board computer
s and backplane
s are used primarily in Industrial PC systems. However, the majority of industrial PCs are manufactured with COTS
motherboards.
A subset of industrial PCs is the Panel PC where a display, typically an LCD, is incorporated into the same enclosure as the motherboard and other electronics. These are typically panel mounted and often incorporate touch screens for user interaction. They are offered in low cost versions with no environmental sealing, heavier duty models sealed to IP67 standards to be waterproof at the front panel and including models which are explosion proof
for installation into hazardous environments. Makers can tailor-make industrial panel PCs to the performance requirements and budget considerations of buyers through the use of different processors and OS. Most entry-level models are designed with VIA
processors and Linux
platforms. Midrange industrial panel PCs are mostly based on AMD processors. Models incorporating Intel processors and Microsoft Windows
OS are typically positioned as the high end. Some suppliers said that Windows 2000
and Windows XP
are the easiest to work with in terms of installing and developing applications, as these are stable despite their poor environmental adaptability. Meanwhile, Linux is not stable enough, but has better in environmental adaptability. Windows XP Embedded is hard to install, but it has better environmental adaptability. Interviewed makers claim that their industrial panel PCs can support Windows Vista
.
History
IBM released the 5531 Industrial Computer in 1984 , arguably the first 'industrial PC'. The IBM 7531, an industrial version of the IBM AT PC was released May 21, 1985. Industrial Computer SourceIndustrial Computer Source
Industrial Computer Source was company launched in 1985 with the publication of their first Industrial Computer Sourcebook. Industrial Computer Source was also known as ICS. Industrial Computer Source became notable for the volume of Sourcebooks mailed to engineers and scientists...
first offered the 6531 Industrial Computer in 1985. This was a proprietary 4U rackmount
19-inch rack
A 19-inch rack is a standardized frame or enclosure for mounting multiple equipment modules. Each module has a front panel that is wide, including edges or ears that protrude on each side which allow the module to be fastened to the rack frame with screws.-Overview and history:Equipment designed...
industrial computer based on a clone IBM PC motherboard.
Applications
Industrial PCs are used primarily for process control and/or data acquisition. In some cases, an Industrial PC is simply used as a front-end to another control computer in a distributed processing environment. Software can be custom written for a particular application or an off-the-shelf package such as Wonder Ware, Labtech Notebook or LabViewLabVIEW
LabVIEW is a system design platform and development environment for a visual programming language from National Instruments. LabVIEW provides engineers and scientists with the tools needed to create and deploy measurement and control systems.The graphical language is named "G"...
can be used to provide a base level of programming.
An application may simply require the I/O such as the serial port
Serial port
In computing, a serial port is a serial communication physical interface through which information transfers in or out one bit at a time...
offered by the motherboard. In other cases, expansion card
Expansion card
The expansion card in computing is a printed circuit board that can be inserted into an expansion slot of a computer motherboard or backplane to add functionality to a computer system via the expansion bus.One edge of the expansion card holds the contacts that fit exactly into the slot...
s are installed to provide analog and digital I/O, specific machine interface, expanded communications ports, and so forth, as required by the application.
Industrial PCs offer features different from consumer PCs in terms of reliability, compatibility, expansion options and long-term supply.
Industrial PCs are typically characterized by being manufactured in lower volumes than home or office PCs. A common category of industrial PC is the 19-inch rack
19-inch rack
A 19-inch rack is a standardized frame or enclosure for mounting multiple equipment modules. Each module has a front panel that is wide, including edges or ears that protrude on each side which allow the module to be fastened to the rack frame with screws.-Overview and history:Equipment designed...
mount form factor. Industrial PCs typically cost considerably more than comparable office style computers with similar performance. Single-board computer
Single-board computer
A single-board computer is a complete computer built on a single circuit board, with microprocessor, memory, input/output and other features required of a functional computer. Unlike a typical personal computer, an SBC may not include slots into which accessory cards may be plugged...
s and backplane
Backplane
A backplane is a group of connectors connected in parallel with each other, so that each pin of each connector is linked to the same relative pin of all the other connectors forming a computer bus. It is used as a backbone to connect several printed circuit boards together to make up a complete...
s are used primarily in Industrial PC systems. However, the majority of industrial PCs are manufactured with COTS
Commercial off-the-shelf
In the United States, Commercially available Off-The-Shelf is a Federal Acquisition Regulation term defining a nondevelopmental item of supply that is both commercial and sold in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace, and that can be procured or utilized under government contract...
motherboards.
A subset of industrial PCs is the Panel PC where a display, typically an LCD, is incorporated into the same enclosure as the motherboard and other electronics. These are typically panel mounted and often incorporate touch screens for user interaction. They are offered in low cost versions with no environmental sealing, heavier duty models sealed to IP67 standards to be waterproof at the front panel and including models which are explosion proof
Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Areas
In electrical engineering, a hazardous location is defined as a place where concentrations of flammable gases, vapors, or dusts occur. Electrical equipment that must be installed in such locations is especially designed and tested to ensure it does not initiate an explosion, due to arcing contacts...
for installation into hazardous environments. Makers can tailor-make industrial panel PCs to the performance requirements and budget considerations of buyers through the use of different processors and OS. Most entry-level models are designed with VIA
VIA Technologies
VIA Technologies is a Taiwanese manufacturer of integrated circuits, mainly motherboard chipsets, CPUs, and memory, and is part of the Formosa Plastics Group. It is the world's largest independent manufacturer of motherboard chipsets...
processors and Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
platforms. Midrange industrial panel PCs are mostly based on AMD processors. Models incorporating Intel processors and Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
OS are typically positioned as the high end. Some suppliers said that Windows 2000
Windows 2000
Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...
and Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
are the easiest to work with in terms of installing and developing applications, as these are stable despite their poor environmental adaptability. Meanwhile, Linux is not stable enough, but has better in environmental adaptability. Windows XP Embedded is hard to install, but it has better environmental adaptability. Interviewed makers claim that their industrial panel PCs can support Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
.
Construction and features
Virtually all Industrial PCs share an underlying design philosophy of providing a controlled environment for the installed electronics to survive the rigors of the plant floor. The electronic components themselves may be selected for their ability to withstand higher and lower operating temperatures than typical commercial components.- Heavier metal construction as compared to the typical office non-rugged computer
- Enclosure form factor that includes provision for mounting into the surrounding environment (19" rack, wall mount, panel mount, etc.)
- Additional cooling with air filtering
- Alternative cooling methods such as forced air, liquid, and conduction
- Expansion card retention and support
- Enhanced EMIElectromagnetic interferenceElectromagnetic interference is disturbance that affects an electrical circuit due to either electromagnetic induction or electromagnetic radiation emitted from an external source. The disturbance may interrupt, obstruct, or otherwise degrade or limit the effective performance of the circuit...
filtering and gasketing - Enhanced environmental protection such as dust proof, water spray or immersion proof, etc.
- Sealed MIL-SPEC or Circular-MIL connectors
- More robust controls and features
- Higher grade power supply
- Lower consumption 24 V power supply designed for use with DC UPS
- Controlled access to the controls through the use of locking doors
- Controlled access to the I/O through the use of access covers
- Inclusion of a watchdog timerWatchdog timerA watchdog timer is a computer hardware or software timer that triggers a system reset or other corrective action if the main program, due to some fault condition, such as a hang, neglects to regularly service the watchdog A watchdog timer (or computer operating properly (COP) timer) is a computer...
to reset the system automatically in case of software lock-up