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386EX Single Board
Computer
The MERLIN single board computer is a low cost, small form factor board which features the Intel 25MHz
386EX CPU, along with 3 serial ports, 10baseT Ethernet,
2Mbytes DRAM, 1Mbyte Flash (pre-loaded with ROM-DOS or eCos), optional 512K battery-backed SRAM, real-time clock, I/O port and an
onboard 8
- 18V DC (or 10 - 16V AC) power supply.
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The MERLIN allows quick and easy application development using the
standard Borland C or Microsoft compilers. It is specified for operation
from -20°C to +70°C, and has been designed to meet European CE
standards. The PCB measures 92mm x 110mm. The MERLIN is shipped
with either ROM-DOS or eCos preloaded.
End-of-life
Notice: It
is Arcom’s policy to inform customers prior to final production to
allow a managed migration to a new product or, to allow you to order
sufficient product to maintain your long term production. Arcom has now
issued a Product Notice (APN) as notification of the planned End-of-Life
(EOL) for this standard product and all custom derivatives.
Click here
for further details.
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Technical
Documentation: Arcom provides on-line access to detailed technical
documentation to help you select the best product for your application. Click
here to download the manual for the MERLIN single board computer and
related products. |
Product Selection Guide: Arcom
produces a wide range of standard embedded processor platforms and
associated software development kits. To help you compare the key
features of these products and make the best choice for your
application, please check out our Selection
Guide.
Design
Services
Arcom
offers a Custom Design and Build service to create cost effective
solutions derived from our standard products. If you need a fully
integrated and tested system, a custom single board solution or a simple
modification to our standard product, please contact our Sales team to
discuss your requirements.
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| Specification |
| Processor |
25MHz Intel 386EX
processor |
| Memory |
2MB DRAM |
| Flash
Disk |
1MB Flash (Flash
File system included) |
| SRAM
Disk |
512KB
battery-backed SRAM (optional) |
| Network
support |
10baseT
Ethernet via RJ-45 |
| Comms
Ports |
2 RS-232 ports
(one 16C450 with RX, TX, /RTS and /CTS signals only, one 16C550 with full hardware
handshaking) and 1 RS-422/485 port (16C450) |
| Integrated Software |
ROM-DOS
or RedBoot/eCos |
| RTC |
Dallas DS1302
real-time
clock |
| Unique
48-bit ID tag |
for
software security and protection |
| Misc |
Rechargeable
lithium manganese battery, 1 user link, 1 user LED |
| I/O Port |
8-bit I/O port
with chip select line, interrupt line and 4 address lines |
| Mechanical |
92mm x 110mm |
| Power
requirements |
8 - 18V
DC, 10 - 16V AC (typically 3.5W) |
| Operating
temp. |
-20 to +70°C |
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| What
is eCos? |
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eCos
is an open source, royalty-free, real-time operating system
intended for embedded applications. The highly configurable nature
of eCos allows the operating system to be customised to precise
application requirements, delivering the best possible run-time
performance and an optimised hardware resource footprint.
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| What
is Datalight's Sockets?
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Datalight’s
Sockets is a command-driven Internet protocol software package for
embedded systems and runs on the ROM-DOS operating system
providing both client and server services. Sockets supports most
networking data transmission protocols, including FTP, TCP, DHCP,
IP and email (send and receive). Sockets can operate over the
MERLIN Ethernet port or via the RS-232 ports using SLIP or using
PPP and a modem.
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| License Issues |
The MERLIN-SE (DOS) and MERLIN
(DOS) boards are shipped with ROM-DOS and Sockets preloaded. The
boards also include all necessary software licenses for
Datalight's BIOS, ROM-DOS, FlashFX Flash File system and Sockets. RedBoot
and eCos are open source and no licenses are required.
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| Ordering
Information |
MERLIN-SE (eCos) 512Kbyte
battery-backed SRAM, eCos preloaded
MERLIN-SE
(DOS) 512Kbyte
battery-backed SRAM, ROM-DOS and Sockets preloaded
MERLIN (DOS) no SRAM
fitted, ROM-DOS and Sockets preloaded
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NOTE: The DOS
and eCos variants of the MERLIN have different hardware memory mapping
configurations.
Thus the DOS variants do not support eCos, and vice-versa.
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