In recent years, embedded industrial PCs have matured rapidly and their applications have become increasingly widespread. To a certain extent, in some fields, traditional industrial PCs have been replaced by new embedded PCs. Currently, embedded industrial PCs are used far more frequently than traditional industrial PCs, with applications spanning manufacturing, process control, networking, communications, instrumentation, automotive, shipbuilding, aviation, aerospace, and military equipment. So, what are the differences between embedded industrial PCs and traditional industrial PCs?
Different structures
Traditional industrial PCs typically use a standard 4U chassis for easy installation. The chassis is made of steel and offers high resistance to electromagnetic interference and shock. It contains a dedicated power supply, enabling continuous long-term operation. The chassis requires a cooling fan; a fan failure can damage the power supply and the industrial motherboard.
The embedded industrial computer adopts a sealed, fanless design, which not only prevents dust, moisture, and vibration, and enhances its resistance to electromagnetic interference, but also enables it to operate over a wide temperature range.
1. Active heat dissipation
Embedded industrial PCs use heat sinks distributed on the surface of the chassis for heat dissipation, effectively solving the problems of high internal temperatures and the tendency for cooling fans to fail after prolonged operation. This improves the stability and reliability of the industrial PC during long-term field operation. Furthermore, the fanless operation eliminates the need for air convection, effectively preventing dust from entering the computer's interior.
2. Wireless design
All circuits are securely fixed inside the industrial computer using circuit boards, ensuring stable and reliable operation even in extremely harsh environments such as high temperature, high frequency vibration, and high dust.
3. Wide DC input voltage
Built-in industry-standard voltage and current regulators support wide DC input voltage, providing safe and reliable operation in various industrial environments.
Different functions
Embedded industrial PCs are compact industrial computers designed for applications in various confined spaces. They are compact in size, small in volume, lightweight, and occupy little space, making installation and maintenance simple and flexible, and operation convenient. They support various expansion interfaces, such as PCI, PCIE, mini PCIe, and mSATA, providing maximum flexibility for different industrial applications. High-performance embedded industrial PCs also support PoE ports, allowing data to be transmitted via Ethernet cables, enabling the system to use IEEE 802.3af standard power supplies, reducing complexity, installation, and maintenance costs, while increasing network security and reliability.
Different usage cycles
Embedded industrial PCs are often organically integrated with specific applications, and their upgrades and replacements are also carried out in sync with specific products. Therefore, once embedded system products enter the market, they have a long service life.
Traditional industrial PCs have a broad and solid user base, and their system configurations are highly flexible, making them familiar and accepted by a large number of technical personnel. Embedded industrial PCs occupy less space and are suitable for applications with higher requirements for reliability, size, and power consumption. Both have their advantages; compared to traditional industrial PCs, embedded industrial PCs are better suited to complex and harsh field environments. Currently, embedded industrial PCs are widely used in industrial automation, intelligent transportation, networking, communications, medical equipment, automotive equipment, power, financial monitoring, machine vision, video surveillance, and other fields.
