manufacturer of I/O-rich SBCs, operator interfaces, handheld instruments, and development tools for embedded control low cost single board computers, embedded controllers, and operator interfaces for scientific instruments & industrial control development tools for embedded control order our low cost I/O-rich embedded control products embedded controller manufacturer profile single board computers & embedded controllers development tools & starter kits for your embedded design operator interfaces with touchscreens and graphical user interface plug-in expansion modules for digital & analog I/O C language & Forth language integrated development tools, IDE single board and embedded computer accessories embedded controller enclosures, bezels, environmental gaskets

Search Mosaic
Search the Web
Embedded Computers for Instruments and Automation Catalog

QCardTM Detailed Description

tiny single board computer for data acquisition and instrument control





Introduction to the QCard

A Tiny Yet Versatile Embedded Computer

The QCardTM packs a programmable computer, up to 1 megabyte of memory, communications, analog and digital I/O, and an expansion I/O bus on a tiny low-cost board. This 2" x 2.5" single board computer is perfect for space-constrained applications and dramatically cuts the cost of data acquisition and control. It is ideal for machine automation, industrial control, robotics, handheld data acquisition, and scientific instrumentation.

The I/O-rich QCard hosts a 16 MHz Motorola 68HC11F1 microprocessor, 512K Flash and 128K RAM (expandable to 512K), and 512 bytes of EEPROM. On-board I/O includes 8 digital I/O lines with counter/timer capabilities, 8 analog inputs, a fast synchronous SPI serial interface, and dual RS232/485 ports. An optional real-time clock tracks the calendar and time of day and battery-backs the 128K RAM.

The QCard is easily programmable in C, Forth or Assembly using any PC. Built-in programming tools include an interactive debugger, a multitasking executive, and comprehensive device-driver libraries.

To communicate with the QCard via USB, order a USB to RS232 adapter and cable (see QCC-USB option below).

Put Your Instrument Online

Use Mosaic's EtherSmart Wildcard, a 2x2.5" modular board to web-enable your QCard. The Ethersmart Wildcard enables communications between your instrument and other computers or peripherals via a Local Area Network (LAN) using the standard packet-based Ethernet signaling protocol. Simply plug a standard Ethernet cable into the RJ-45 jack on the Wildcard, and your instrument can communicate with other computers on a Local Area Network (LAN). Your application program can send emails to alert other computers on the network when significant events occur. You can even "browse into" your instrument using a browser running on an online PC to monitor the status of your instrument.

Expandable I/O

Convenient connectors allow for simple mechanical integration. The QCard can directly host up to four I/O expansion modules called WildcardsTM that you can mix and match depending on your application. The easy-to-use Wildcards stack onto the 24 pin Wildcard connector on the QCard. A convenient PowerDockTM module includes an efficient switching power regulator and expands the Wildcard bus to host up to 8 Wildcards

Wildcards implement a wide variety of user interface, communications, data acquisition and control capabilities. Available Wildcards include a Keypad/Display module, octal 12-bit D/A and 16-bit A/D converters, a 24-bit resolution analog data acquisition subsystem, Compact Flash card mass memory interface, fast buffered RS232/485 dual UART, high voltage/high current isolated I/O, and AC or DC solid state relays. You can select the Wildcards that meet your needs to configure a cost-effective customized controller for your application.

Fast time to market

For a quick and easy start, to rapidly prototype using the QCard, order a QCard Starter Kit
(Part No. QCSK), which includes a QCard (p/n QCC-RB) with 128K RAM, 512K Flash, and a real time clock; a 4" x2.5" version of the PowerDock (p/n PDW) to provide mechanical and electronic platform for your QCard and for up to eight Wildcards; a 9 pin serial cable, an 8VDC wall-mount power supply and documentation

Block Diagram

block diagram of the QCard, the single board computer for data acquisition and instrument control

Specifications

CPU

  • 16 MHz Motorola MC68HC11F1 microcontroller, 1 MB address space.

Onboard Memory

  • 512K Flash
  • 128K RAM (or optional 512K RAM)
  • 320 bytes of EEPROM
  • Optional battery backup of 128K RAM

Real-Time Clock

  • Optional battery-backed real-time clock

Interrupts

  • 21 interrupts support the 68HC11's on-chip I/O

Communications

  • RS232 or RS485 hardware UART at up to 19.2 Kbaud
  • RS232 software UART at up to 4800 baud
  • Fast synchronous serial peripheral interface (SPI) at up to 2 megabaud

Power

  • 5 VDC at 150 mA

Timer Controlled Input and Output

  • 8 bitwise programmable I/O (2 used for the secondary serial port), including 3 or 4 input captures, 4 or 5 output compares, and a pulse accumulator

8-bit Analog to Digital Conversion

  • 8 input channels, up to 100 kHz sampling rate
  • May be used as digital inputs

Runtime Security

  • A watchdog timer and clock monitor

Connectors

  • 24-pin 0.1" pitch dual row Wildcard bus connector
  • 24-pin 0.1" pitch dual row field bus connector
  • 10-pin 0.1" pitch dual row serial connector
  • 7-pin 2mm pitch single row power connector

I/O Expansion

  • QCard directly hosts 4 Wildcards; with PowerDock, hosts up to 8 Wildcards
  • Wildcards provide additional I/O for:
    • 4 x 20 character display and 5 x 4 keypad
    • 16- or 24-bit resolution A/D
    • 12-bit D/A
    • Isolated AC or DC solid state relays
    • 64 or 128 Mbyte Compact Flash
    • Logic level, high voltage, and high current digital I/O
    • Fully buffered dual RS232, RS422 or RS485 up to 56Kbaud
QCard Controller Digital and Analog I/O Summary
Signal Group # Signals Configurable as Committed Uncommitted Digital I/O
CPU Port A 8 Bitwise I/O 2[2nd Serial Port] 6
CPU Port E 8 Digital or Analog Input 8[8-bit A/D] 0
Totals 16   10 6

Applications

  • Process Control
  • Robotics
  • Instrument Control
  • Laboratory Automation
  • Rapid Prototyping
  • Product Upgrades
  • Data Logging
  • Smart Front Ends
  • Temperature Control
  • Solenoid Control
  • Valve Control
  • Signal Processing
  • Communications
Ordering Information
Part Number Product
QCC

QCard Controller

Includes 128K RAM and 512K Flash
 

Options: (add price to the standard product)
-MM

512K RAM replaces 128K RAM (cannot be battery-backed)
-RB Real-time clock and battery backup for 128K RAM (does not back up 512K RAM)

-USB

USB2.0 to RS232 adapter and 10 pin dual DB9F QCard communications cable
QCSK

QCard Starter Kit

Includes a QCard (p/n QCC-RB) with 128K RAM, 512K Flash, and a real time clock; a 4" x2.5" version of the PowerDock (p/n PDW) to provide mechanical and electronic platform for your QCard and for up to eight Wildcards; a 9 pin serial cable, an 8VDC wall-mount power supply and documentation (Limit of 1 Starter Kit per Customer at this low price).

QCSK-USB

QCard Starter Kit with a USB adapter

Includes a QCard (p/n QCC-RB-USB) with 128K RAM, 512K Flash, and a real time clock; a 4" x2.5" version of the PowerDock (p/n PDW), a 9 pin serial cable, a USB2.0 to RS232 adapter and a 10 pin dual DB9 communications cable, an 8VDC wall-mount power supply and documentation.


Home|Site Map|Products|Manuals|Resources|Order|About Us
Copyright (c) 2006 Mosaic Industries, Inc.
Your source for single board computers, embedded controllers, and operator interfaces for instruments and automation