XPAC Introduction

What is XP-8000? Basically, XP-8000 is an embedded personal computer which is dedicated to industrial control.

XP-8000 is the new generation PAC of ICP DAS. It equips an AMD LX 800 CPU (500MHz) running a Windows Embedded Standard 2009 operating system, variant connectivity (VGA, USB, Ethernet, RS-232/RS-485) and 3/7 slots for high performance parallel I/O modules (high profile I-8K series) and serial-type I/O modules (high profile I-87K I/O modules).

Its operating system, Windows Embedded Standard 2009, has many advantages. Most of all, Windows Embedded Standard 2009 has the same Win32 API as Windows XP Professional, that is, almost every desktop program can be easily ported to Windows Embedded Standard 2009. This effectively reduces the efforts of developments and shortens the time to market.

IIS:
IIS stands for Internet Information Services. Microsoft provides Internet Information Services to make hosting web services easily and reliably. In XP-8000, FTP Server and Web Server are provided. The Web Server supports both VBScript and JavaScript.

ASP.NET:
ASP stands for Active Server Pages. ASP is an active scripting engine that runs on the server side and dynamically creates web pages for client’s requests. ASP.NET is based on Microsoft’s .NET technology.

.NET Framework 3.5:
Microsoft’s .NET Framework provides a run-time environment, CLR, and plenty of class libraries to simplify development processes. CLR is Common Language Runtime. It provides cross-language integration, enhanced security, etc. Windows Embedded Standard 2009 supports up to .NET Framework 3.5. Therefore, we provide .NET Framework 3.5 in XP-8000.

Many others:
There still are others such as Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, Windows Media Player, Remote Desktop Connection, etc.

Through OPC server, SCADA software can easily access remote I/O modules. OPC stands for OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) for Process Control which is developed by Microsoft for industrial automation.

The built-in OPC server not only supports I/O modules in local slots, but also supports Remote I/O modules with the following protocols via the RS-232/RS-485 or Ethernet:

Windows Embedded CE 6.0
Software features of Windows Embedded CE 6.0 are similar to those of Windows Embedded Standard 2009. Below lists the features of Windows Embedded CE 6.0:

• FTP Server
• ASP
• SQL Compact Edition 3.5
• .NET Compact Framework 3.5
• Remote Display
• Built-in OPC Server (Quicker)
• DCON Utility (with DCON_CE.exe run on the device)
• SCADA: InduSoft
• Microsoft Visual Studio.NET 2008

Power CPU module
The most important features of the CPU module are

Built-in VGA Port
A built-in VGA port can be directly connected to a regular LCD display. Users can operate the HMI or SCADA software (running on the XP-8000/XP-8000-CE6) with display, keyboard and mouse just as how they usually did on regular PCs.

Built-in Flash Disk (4 GB)
In normal situation, users can store their AP or data to the CF card or USB Flash disk. But in some vibration environment (for example, like driving ships), the two storage media would be bad connection. Then the built-in Flash disk will be the best storage media in such the vibration environment.

Dual Watchdog Timers
A system could be hanged up when the OS or the AP fails. There are two watchdogs (OS watchdog and AP watchdog) designed to automatically reset the CPU when the situations happen. The design will increase the reliability of the system.

Dual Battery Backup SRAM (512 KB)
To maintain important data while power off, non-volatile memory is the ideal design. The XP-8000/XP-8000-CE6 equips a 512 KB SRAM with two Li-batteries to maintain data while power off.
The two Li-batteries can continually supply power to the 512 KB SRAM to retain the data for 5 years; and the dual-battery design can avoid data lost while replacing a new battery. 

Dual Ethernet Ports
XP-8000/XP-8000-CE6 provides two Ethernet ports. The two Ethernet ports can be used to implement redundant Ethernet communication and separate Ethernet communication (one for global Internet, one for private Ethernet).

Redundant Power Inputs
To prevent the XP-8000/XP-8000-CE6 from failing by the power loss, the power module is designed with two input connectors. Once a power input fails, the power module switches to the other power input. And there is a relay output for informing the power failure.

Ventilated Housing Design Allows Operation Between -25 and +75°C
Each XP-8000/XP-8000-CE6 is housed in a plastic-based box with a column-like ventilator that can help to cool the working environment inside the box and allow the XP-8000/XP-8000-CE6 operating between -25 and +75°C.