Epson Card-PCs Pack Portable Embedded Systems With Desktop Performance and Windows Environment

Business Wire, April 6, 1999

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 6, 1999--

Systems Integration Solution Includes

Hardware, Software, Evaluation Capabilities

Epson Electronics America has introduced two single-board personal computers (PCs) that pack the features of a desktop computer and Windows operating system into the size of a credit card. The SCE8700C0x/SH-CARD and the SCE86638xx/CARD-PC 686 feature high-density assembly and system integration to provide high performance in portable embedded systems.

SCE8700C0x/SH-CARD PC

The SCE8700C0x/SH-CARD is an all-in-one design that provides full system integration because all necessary hardware is built in to the CARD-PC. The device integrates the 133MHz Hitachi SH3 processor with the user's choice of a 16MB or 32MB synchronous DRAM, an Epson SED1355 video display controller, 2MB video memory, and a connector of compact flash on the board.

A companion chip in the SH-CARD provides additional serial ports, a parallel port, keyboard-and-mouse port, PCMCIA controller, and an ISA-bus controller. An analog interface is also available. The SH-CARD features very low-power consumption rates of 1.8V, 3.3V or 2W total.

The SH-CARD is designed for Microsoft Windows CE(R) 2.11 applications outside the typical PC arena, such as handheld computing devices, portable medical equipment, portable measuring devices, network-connected equipment, data gathering systems and other portable devices.

Commenting on the selection of the Hitachi processor, Ali Sebt, director of segment marketing for Hitachi Semiconductor (America) Inc., said, "We are pleased to see that Epson Electronics America has determined that the SuperH processor offers the right price/performance for PC card applications running Windows CE."

Epson CARD-PC 686

The Epson CARD-PC 686 is a high-performance follow-on to the Epson CARD-PC 586. The CARD-PC 686 offers Pentium(R)-class 233MHz performance for those applications requiring a high-performance video graphics controller, a large capacity of hard drive and memory.

The CARD-PC686 incorporates a K6 processor from AMD, plus DRAM in either 32MB or 64MB. Other built-in features include a high-performance Epson SPC8110 video controller with /-1MB of video memory; embedded RAM/DAC, CRT/LCD supported resolution up to 1024 x 768 and 256 colors. Interfaces for IDE, FDD, keyboard/mouse, and ISA-bus are also provided. The CARD-PC is compatible with the embedded all-in-one system interface (EASI), so upgrades from CARD-PC 586 to the CARD-PC 686 are easily accommodated.

The CARD-PC 686 is designed for Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0, and Windows CE 2.11, giving it the broadest compatibility with Windows operating systems. Target applications include handheld terminals, portable diagnostic equipment, point-of-sales terminals, automated teller machines, set-top boxes, smart TVs and general home automation appliances.

"Card-PCs spur the creation of innovative products in every industry segment," said Minoru Nimura, Epson director of new business development. "They provide systems companies with the key benefits of superb functionality, integration, performance and cost-effectiveness in a compact form. By delivering these benefits in our product line, we believe Epson's CARD-PCs set a de facto standard for single-board computers."

Price and Availability

The 16MB SH-CARD (SCE8700C01) is available now in sample quantities, at a price of $123 each in quantities of 10,000 units and $100 each in quantities of 50,000 units. An Epson evaluation board and Windows CE development kit are also available. The 32MB SH-CARD (SCE8700C02) will be available in the third quarter of this year.

The 32MB CARD-PC 686 (SCE8663800) is available now at a price of $450 each in quantities of 10,000 units. The 64MB CARD-PC 686 (SCE8663801) is available now at a price of $550 in the same quantities.

About Epson Electronics America

Epson Electronics America, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Seiko Epson Corporation in Japan and is chartered to market, sell and provide the engineering support necessary for Epson's electronic devices in the Americas. These devices include semiconductors, CARD-PCs, silicon foundry services, packaging and assembly services, quartz devices, LCDs, motor/magnets, and device-applied products.

All other products, services, or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only, and may be trademarked, registered, or copyrighted by their respective owners.