RS Components explains EDP enhancements

Richard Eden, market development manager for electronics at RS, has explained how its embedded development platform (EDP) enhances its distribution service to the electronics design engineer.

The world of the electronics design engineer is fast-paced and dynamic.

As new technologies and market demands emerge and evolve, the engineer needs to be one step ahead of the game, producing devices to meet the capability requirements of the future.

Thus the role of the design engineer becomes a complex and expensive business, as they are left to continually upgrade equipment in line with the latest developments.

Knowing how our customers work is key to the development of our business strategy, helping us deliver a complete distribution service under one roof.

It is apparent to us that if a company wants to grow and prosper in the current distribution climate, then customers' needs should take precedence during its decision-making processes.

The distributor that flourishes will do far more than simply sell products, it will add services that support and enhance the customer's overall experience.

As part of this initiative we are always investing time and money to improve our services.

The recent launch of our EDP, demonstrates our commitment to the electronics design engineer and offers a cost- and time-saving solution.

The EDP consists of a baseboard able to hold a combination of up to four CPU or application modules.

The EDP's robust design has been rigorously tested, and every effort has been made at the design stage to protect it from the most common human errors.

The baseboard has been produced to have a longer life than the average development board.

It is an extended euro card size measuring 220 x 100mm.

Fitted with rubber feet for laying flat on the bench, it can also be used in a standard rack system.

By adding a 64-way DIN connector, such as our 381-8696 (not part of the EDP package), you can plug the EDP into a backplane.

The EDP is also fitted with +3.3V and +5V regulators, a back-up battery, RJ45 Ethernet and mini-USB connectors, +12VDC power-supply jack, I/O breakout header and eight DIP switches.

The minimum configuration of the baseboard consists of four stations with a single plug-in processor module, as standard.

The baseboard currently supports the Infineon XC167 and STmicroelectronics STR912 processors, with others to be added on a regular basis.

All four stations are identical, with various CPU and application module permutations possible.

Even the minimum configuration allows the engineer to easily operate a web-server via a standard onboard Ethernet connection.

Various application modules are available including an initial starter kit range consisting of basic digital and analogue I/O, a motor control module and a communications module.

A CD is supplied with the baseboard, and each module contains full schematics, Gerber files and a Bill-of-Materials.

We supply these on an open-source basis so that engineers can develop their own boards for their own use and not for resale.

The CD also contains all the necessary software drivers, and in the case of processor modules, appropriate Windows-based development tools.

So how does it work? The DIP switches allow the user software, running on a processor module, to read a configuration setting enabling I/O ports to be setup correctly.

Depending on the capability of the particular processor module, up to three IC buses and two CAN networks are available.

Many of the application modules use an IC bus for primary communication with the processor providing maximum flexibility.

Some processor chips will require +5VDC, others +3.3VDC.

A factory link on the module selects the correct supply from the connector.

This supply is linked to a further connector pin on all the other module stations providing a correct voltage reference or bus pull-up for the application modules.

There is also duplication of an analogue input unit, for larger inputs.

We are planning to launch many more modules as the EDP becomes a standard tool among engineers.

The more advanced user will also discover the baseboard has the ability to run more than one processor module in a master and slave configuration.

We are also working to extend this offering to incorporate more devices; these additions will be made on a regular basis and will include a new processor and application modules.

Further to this we have invested several thousand man-hours in our production packaging service for France, Germany, Italy and the UK.

This allows customers to order electronic components in industry standard packaging for use in automated PCB assembly equipment, in bespoke quantities, with new low prices for production quantities.

The choice of six packaging options includes reels, tubes, trays, boxes, bags and continuous tape strips.

To ensure competitive pricing on larger quantities, we have added thousands of new price breaks and reduced many existing prices by up to 35 per cent.

Remaining committed to our customers, we will roll out the service through the rest of Europe and Asia by the end of the year.

We've made selecting the production packaging option as easy as possible by simply adding a 'P' suffix to existing RS Stock Numbers online.

All available products are flagged for easy identification, allowing customers to view packaging format, set the quantity required, check stock in real-time, and place orders.

Customers can also order Production Packaging by phone by calling our order line.

We are conscious of developing our services to complement each other to offer our customers a complete distribution option.

As a resource for information and shopping the internet is becoming an invaluable business tool, especially to design engineers who are becoming more inclined to do everything from their desktop.

The website enables electronics designers and maintenance engineers to save time, reduce costs and prevent errors when researching, selecting and ordering products.

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