The XLON PC xsl is designed for industrial volume deployment, but is also suitable for home automation.
A magnetic snap-on mechanism allows the front frame to be replaced and adapted to each application.
DH electronics offers the XLON PC xsl as an HMI panel PC with either a 7-inch WVGA TFT touchscreen or an 8-inch VGA TFT touchscreen. CPU options are an Intel PXA270 running at 312 MHz or 520 MHz. Other specifications include 64 MB of RAM, optionally 128 MB, and 32 MB of flash storage, optionally 64 MB.
An SD card interface provides flexible storage expansion. Alongside standard PC interfaces such as USB and Ethernet, the XLON PC xsl can be expanded with a modular selection of additional interfaces: USB slave, three COM ports, I2C, SPI, audio, LON TP/FT and Pyxos FT connections.
For building automation, the LON TP/FT interface provides a direct connection to a LON network. Additional equipment such as gateways is not required.
The XLON PC is intended for flush-mounted installation with a flush-mounted box, hollow-wall and console installation, and installation in a control-cabinet door.
The device is designed for good electromagnetic compatibility. Its Intel XScale CPU is intended to provide an optimal balance of performance and energy efficiency. Together with the appropriate selection and positioning of all other components, this produces a system with a high mean time between failures. This reliability makes the XLON PC xsl suitable for continuous 24-hour operation.
The operating system is Windows CE. This allows the complete system to be maintained or controlled remotely from another PC running Windows 2000, XP or Vista through Remote Desktop. Automatic connection to desktop systems through ActiveSync is also supported.
An Internet Explorer 6-compatible browser for web applications is integrated into the operating system. DH electronics also supplies the XLON Toolbar, which allows users to integrate their own tools and programs and run them in the browser. The browser starts directly in kiosk mode after booting, preventing direct system access. In addition to the web server installed as standard, SQL Server Mobile can be supplied on request.
Windows CE development uses the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework with Microsoft Visual Studio. LON applications created with the XLON HAPI DLL can also run independently of the platform on other Windows systems.
XLON HAPI is a development environment for creating LON visualisation, control and web applications without requiring extensive specialist knowledge. It supports more complex network applications through full support for the LONMARK SNVT Master List and every LonTalk service type and addressing method.
Pyxos networks can also be integrated into applications with the PYXOSAPI DLL development environment.
The use of Windows CE provides access to a large pool of existing third-party applications.
