Techsol New Product Announcement: TSCM-283 Medallion Touch Screen Computer Module enables low-cost touch screen devices
Techsol’s TSCM‑283 (Touch Screen Computer Module) enables low-cost HMI devices.
Vancouver, BC - June 27th, 2011
Technical Solutions Inc. (Techsol) releases a new, modular touch screen-optimized computer. With 500 MIPS of ARM computer power, DDR2 memory, interfaces for LCD, touch, on-board power supplies, and integrated Fast Ethernet (10BaseT/100BaseTX), it’s an ideal computer for touch terminals of all types.
The TSCM is the world’s first low‑cost, high‑performance, modular touch screen computer system based on high quality components and built in North America! You design your own custom computer in 3 easy steps:
- pick your display (it includes a matching Display Interface Board supporting the LCD, touch panel, adjustable backlight power, plus some optional extras)
- pick your computer power, from 500 to 1000 MIPS, with or without on‑board Ethernet
- pick your mix of I/O and power supply. From POE to a super low‑cost 2‑board option powered by USB, there’s a range of boards coming.
- And then when you receive them, just stack them together and turn on the power!
That’s it.
Display options currently supported include 3.5″ qVGA, 4.3″, 5″ WVGA, 7″ WVGA, 7″ Hi‑Brite, and 10.4″ SVGA LVDS with more coming.
Using the latest i.MX processors from Freescale Semiconductor of Austin Texas, Techsol’s engineers have applied ¼ century of experience designing low‑power CMOS computer systems for commercial, industrial, medical, automotive, and defense applications to the long‑standing challenge of “Why can’t I have high quality, high performance, AND low cost?”. Plus, all TSCM products run Techsol’s Medallion Linux, one of the oldest and most stable Linux distributions exclusively targeting ARM processors (for over 10 years).
The TSCM is not just a computer module: it’s a whole new way of building products.
It’s a “system”!
Last week Techsol launched the TSCM‑233 with 1k pricing of $49 for a fully‑functional, product‑ready computer module. This week, the TSCM‑283 is officially announced. With integrated Ethernet and double the memory, it starts at $59 for a usable computer with Medallion Linux preinstalled. If you’ve delayed updating that product of yours because the prices were too high, your time has come!
This modular system enables the rapid creation of powerful, custom touch screen solutions based on 3 or 4 layers, which are (from front to back):
- LCD itself
- Display Interface Board, with LCD connector, touch panel connector, power supplies, LED backlight supply, etc.
- TSCM :: the brains of the operation
- optionally, an I/O board with “outside” interface connectors and drivers, plus the power supply
For Ethernet-connected devices, you need all 4 layers (display plus 3 boards) as the Ethernet connector is on the 3rd board.
The first “stock” I/O board offered has a mix of the most‑demanded peripherals, including:
- Ethernet connector with integrated LEDs
- RS‑232 port on DE9 connector (PC‑compatible)
- RS‑485 port on RJ‑12 connector
- 2× USB Host ports on Type A connectors
- 1× USB Device port on Type B connector
- Power connector for AC or DC power on terminal strip
- microSD connector for memory cards
- buzzer
- LEDs for power, error, debug
Display options currently supported include 3.5″, 4.3″, 5″ WVGA, 7″ WVGA, 7″ Hi‑Brite, and 10.4″ SVGA LVDS with more coming.
The I/O board (above) in loaded configuration sells for only $49 at 1k quantities. The LCDs with adapter/mounting boards start at $36 for 3.5″ or 4.3″ size. That brings a 3‑piece modular set with 4.3″ LCD with LED backlight and touch panel, TSCM‑283 with 128 MB RAM, 128 MB NAND, and the loaded I/O board above to (36 + 59 + 49) $144. Jumping past the 5″ WVGA screen to the standard 7″ WVGA screen bumps the price of the complete touch screen computer kit to $162. All that’s needed to complete the product is an enclosure and application SW, which can be developed by the customer, or contracted to Techsol or one of our partners.
Conceived in 2007, designed starting in 2009, optimized in 2010, and now rolling out in 2011, the Touch Screen Computer Module (TSCM) simplifies the creation of your next product at low cost, with low risk, and with fast time to market. Plus, we still offer custom design services should you require a unique mix of interfaces or power supplies on your I/O board or support for a new display.
We’ve done the work. And you reap the rewards! Call us now to get started on that new design.
Embedded Engineering is the same all over the world. Engineers face the same
challenges of having too much to do, and not enough time or money to do it
with. Techsol's Medallion Classic and TSC modules address this issue
and provide a solution that extends into the production stages of a
product, not just the proof-of-concept stage like most SBCs.
Techsol's Medallion system is unique in the embedded computer world. The Medallion Single-board computer product line encompasses multiple CPUs, and different configurations with the same CPU. However, the pin-out and form-factor remain the same, even after 10 years. And the TSCM will also have a similar long availability for "planned NON-obsolesence". There is one Medallion module that is best matched to your application.
By designing with the Medallion system, you are effectively out-sourcing your CPU design and Linux porting with no up-front NRE fees! That lets your team concentrate on the hardware and software portions of your product that your customers see. The result is that you can create a higher-quality product in a fraction of the time (and cost) of designing everything yourself from scratch! Plus, the interchangeable modules extend product life-cycle times.
For more details, or to request further information, please visit our Web site
at <medallionsystem.com>,
call 888 TECHSOL (888 832 4765) or 604 946 8324, or e-mail
<sales@techsol.ca>.
Techsol is headquartered in Delta, British Columbia, Canada, where the mighty Fraser River meets the Pacific Ocean.