The client's SCADA application needed a custom SBC with a specific I/O mix (Ethernet, RS-485, CAN, USB) that commercial industrial boards didn't offer at a reasonable cost.
The Solution
Custom SBC around the NXP i.MX with DDR, Gigabit Ethernet, USB, and expansion headers for application-specific I/O. Power input accepts 9-36VDC with transient protection to IEC 61000-4-5. The 10-layer stackup handles DDR with length-matched differential pairs and controlled impedance. The i.MX was selected partly for NXP's 15-year longevity commitment, which matters for industrial products.
Results
Running a custom Yocto Linux build with the client's SCADA HMI. Certified for hazardous location (HazLoc) deployment.
How the board is laid out
A processor chosen for a long life. The i.MX comes with NXP’s 15-year longevity commitment, the 10-layer stackup carries the DDR with matched lengths and controlled impedance, and the input stage takes 9 to 36 VDC with surge protection for industrial supplies.Surviving a surge on a 24 V line. The IEC 61000-4-5 test drives a 1.2/50 µs pulse through 2 Ω, a kilovolt on top of the supply, into an input whose regulator is rated for 60 V. The TVS takes the current and holds the line near 62 V, and the filter behind it stretches the remaining peak so the regulator never sees more than about 55 V.
Have a Similar Challenge?
Custom SBCs with DDR, industrial I/O, and embedded Linux are part of the regular workload.
