The PA-AVR128 is a new stacking computer system designed for control of industrial processes or for instrumentation applications.  The main CPU board uses the Atmel AT90CAN128 AVR processor running at 16 MHz.  The CPU board interfaces to peripheral I/O boards via an I²C interface. Peripheral boards may be physically stacked with the CPU board or located remotely and connected via on-board I²C bus drivers. The CPU board also implements an optoisolated CAN bus for high-speed, long-distance expansion capabilities. An optional CAN software library is available which allows for easy node-to-node communications with another PA-AVR128 processor board. 

Other on board CPU peripherals include RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485 line drivers, 32-KB expansion RAM, SPI and JTAG programming ports, a four-channel 10-bit ADC with programmable gain, and a battery-backed real-time clock. An optional JTAG keyfob programmer is available for easy field programming. 

Stacking peripheral boards available for system expansion include a 8 × 8 optoisolated matrix keypad interface, a bit programmable buffered digital port, a Noritake VFD interface board for driving two displays simultaneously, and a 16-channel digital I/O board that accepts OPTO22 G1-style digital interface modules. An extensive C software library is included with each CPU board allowing for easy stacking system software development.

Prices for the board start at $187 in low volumes.

Pioneer Automation, Inc.
www.pioneercontroller.com