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Products   >   Processor Modules   >   Single Board Computers   >   Helix
      HELIX  PC/104 SBC with Vortex86DX3 1GHz CPU and Data Acquisition   PC104    2 in 1
OverviewData AcquisitionSpecificationsOrdering
Information
Support

Description

The HELIX family of PC/104 SBCs combines mid-range CPU performance, standard PC I/O, and on-board data acquisition circuitry in a compact size and at a competitive price. Available PC I/O includes 3 or 6 USB 2.0 (model dependent), 4 serial ports (2 RS-232/422/485 and 2 RS-232), 1 10/100Mbps Ethernet, 1 Gigabit Ethernet, and a SATA port. The optional data acquisition circuit includes 16 16-bit analog inputs, 4 16-bit analog outputs and 27 digital I/O lines configurable as counter/timers and pulse width modulators.

Helix supports stackable I/O expansion with PC/104 I/O modules, and it also has a combination mSATA/PCIe MiniCard socket for additional I/O expansion and mass storage. I/O modules featuring WiFi, Ethernet, analog I/O, digital I/O, and CAN are available in the PCIe MiniCard form factor, providing compact expandability without increasing the total height of the system.

Helix runs Linux and Windows Embedded Standard 7. Both Linux and Windows Embedded 7 Software Development Kits are available with bootable images and drivers to get you started on your design project right out of the box. Note: Board does not support booting from mSATA port.

The Helix SBC was designed with rugged applications in mind. With an operating temperature of -40°C to +85°C, soldered on-board memory, and thicker PCB, Helix is an excellent choice for vehicle and other harsh environment applications. A 9-36VDC power supply option is also available for easier integration into industrial or military systems.

Block Diagram

Helix: Processor Modules, Rugged, wide-temperature SBCs in PC/104, PC/104-<i>Plus</i>, EPIC, EBX, and other compact form-factors., PC/104

Development Kits

Complete Development Kits with a bootable operating system are available with all the components you need to get started on your embedded design project. The kit contains a Helix SBC, 32GB MLC SATA-DOM flashdisk with your choice of Windows Embedded 7 or Linux pre-loaded, cable kit, and software CD.

Cable Kit

The Helix cable kit includes cables for Helix input and output. Many cables are also available individually.


Helix Cable Kit

CK-HLX-01 includes the following cables:

No. Qty Cable Description Drawing
1 1 6980511 Battery cable Show
2 1 6980512 Power input cable, discrete wires Show
3 2 6980515 Digital I/O and Analog I/O cables Show
4 2 6981075 Dual serial port DB9M Show
5 1 6981076 Audio Show
6 1 6981080 Gigabit Ethernet cable, RJ-45 socket, 10 pin board connector Show
7 2 6981082 Dual USB 2.0 type A Show
8 1 6981083 Keyboard/Mouse, 2mm 2x4 crimp to 2x Mini-DIN-6 Show
9 1 6981084 VGA, 2x5 2mm latching to DD15F Show
10 1 6981161 RJ45PNL-CRIMP2x5 2mm, 12" Show
11 1 6981169 Ribbon cable for GPIO, A/D, and misc Show
12 1 6989101 SATA Cable, 7-Pin Data, Straight to Right Angle, 500mm Show

Helix Data Acquisition Circuit

Helix is available with two different data acquisition circuits, denoted by either A or D in the model number.

All digital and analog I/O features are supported by Diamond’s industry-leading Universal Driver software, which provides a C language programming library that supports all features in an easy-to-use, high-level fashion. Demo programs with source code and executables are included to demonstrate the use of each library function. A graphical monitor and control program provides easy access to all the I/O features and lets you prototype your application quickly as well as debug problems. Universal Driver is available as a free download from our website upon acceptance of our software license agreement.

"A" Model Full Data Acquisition

Helix "A" models include a complete data acquisition circuit with a combination of analog and digital I/O features.The circuit controller is an FPGA that interfaces to the DX3 processor via the SPI bus for data I/O and via the ISA bus for interrupt operation.

A/D Features

  • 16 analog voltage inputs
  • 16-bit resolution (1 part in 65536)
  • Programmable input ranges: 0-5V, 0-10V, +/-5v, +/-10V
  • Single-ended and differential input configuration options
  • Precision, low-drift 2.5V reference voltage
  • 100KHz maximum total A/D sample rate (all active channels combined)
  • Integrated 2048-sample FIFO and interrupt service for efficient high-speed sampling

D/A Features

  • 4 analog voltage outputs
  • 16-bit resolution (1 part in 65536)
  • Single-channel and multi-channel simultaneous update modes
  • Programmable output range: 0-5V, 0-2.5V
  • 330KHz update rate capability
  • Waveform generator on 1 to 4 outputs with user-defined waveforms and 2048-sample waveform buffer

Digital I/O features

  • 27 digital I/O lines
  • User-selectable 3.3V / 5V logic levels
  • User-selectable 10K pull-up / pull-down resistors
  • Programmable direction in 8-bit and 1-bit groups
  • 8-bit programmable edge detection circuit
  • Buffers for protection and higher current drive
  • 8 32-bit counter/timers with up counting, down counting, pulse output, and interrupt features
  • 4 24-bit pulse-width modulators with programmable duty cycle and output polarity
  • Interrupt support on ISA bus for A/D, digital I/O, and counter/timer circuits

Helix: Processor Modules, Rugged, wide-temperature SBCs in PC/104, PC/104-<i>Plus</i>, EPIC, EBX, and other compact form-factors., PC/104

"D" Model Digital I/O

Helix "D" models include a digital I/O (GPIO) circuit coming from the DX3 processor with the following features:

  • 16 digital I/O lines
  • User-selectable 3.3V / 5V logic levels
  • User-selectable 10K pull-up / pull-down resistors
  • Programmable direction in 8-bit groups
  • Buffers for protection and higher current drive

Helix: Processor Modules, Rugged, wide-temperature SBCs in PC/104, PC/104-<i>Plus</i>, EPIC, EBX, and other compact form-factors., PC/104

CPU
Processor 1GHz dual core DMP Vortex86DX3
Memory Up to 2GB of on-board 64-bit DDR3 SDRAM
Bus Interface PC/104 (ISA)
Display Type 24-bit LVDS LCD and VGA CRT
Display Resolution LVDS: 1920 x 1080 maximum
VGA: 1920 x 1080 maximum
1280 x 1024 maximum in dual display mode
USB Ports 3 or 6 USB 2.0 ports (model dependent)
Serial Ports 2 RS-232/422/485 ports
2 RS-232 ports
Networking 1 10/100Base-T Ethernet ports
1 Gigabit Ethernet port
Mass Storage 1 SATA 1.5Gbps port for external hard drive or SATA DOM
1 mSATA socket shared with PCIe MiniCard
Keyboard / Mouse PS/2
Audio HD audio ALC892 CODEC with stero line out, line in and microphone
Analog inputs 16 16-bit
Input ranges ±10V, ±5V, 0-10V, 0-5V programmable
Sample rate 100KHz maximum
On board FIFO 2048 samples, programmable threshold
DAQ calibration Autocalibration values stored in EEPROM
Analog outputs 4 16-bit
Output ranges 0-5V, 0-2.5V programmable
Digital I/O 27 lines independently programmable (A model)
16 lines independently programmable (D model)
PWM 4 24-bit pulse width modulators
Counter/timers 8 32-bit counter/timers
Watchdog Timer Programmable watchdog timer 0-255 seconds
Expansion socket PCIe MiniCard socket shared with mSATA
Expansion bus PC/104 (ISA) stackable I/O expansion
Input power +5VDC ±5%
Power Consumption 7.5W
Cooling Heat sink, no fan
Operating Temperature -40°C to +85°C (-40°F to +185°F)
Shock MIL-STD-202G compatible
Vibration MIL-STD-202G compatible
Dimensions 4.0” x 4.0” (101.5mm x 101.5mm)
Weight 2.5 oz / 70.8g with heat sink
MTBF HLX1000-2GA: tbd hours
RoHS Compliant

Get an online quote

 
Helix
Available Models:
HLX1000-1GA
Helix SBC, 1 GHz VortexDX3 CPU, 1GB DDR3 SDRAM, analog I/0 (Data Acquisition), digital I/O, extended temperature.
Min Order Quantity
HLX1000-2GA
Helix SBC, 1GHz Vortex 86DX3 CPU, 2GB DDR3 SDRAM, analog I/O, digital I/O, extended temperature
Available
HLX1000-1GD
Helix SBC, 1GHz Vortex 86DX3 CPU, 1GB DDR3 SDRAM, digital I/O, extended temperature
Available
HLX1000-2GD
Helix SBC, 1GHz Vortex 86DX3 CPU, 2GB DDR3 SDRAM, digital I/O, extended temperature (minimum order quantities apply)
Min Order Quantity
DK-HLXA-WE7
Helix Development Kit with HLX1000-2GA SBC,cables, and Windows Embedded 7 OS
Available
DK-HLXA-LNX
Helix Development Kit with HLX1000-2GA SBC,cables, and Linux OS
Available
DK-HLXD-WE7
Helix Development Kit with HLX1000-1GD SBC,cables, and Windows Embedded 7 OS
Available
DK-HLXD-LNX
Helix Development Kit with HLX1000-1GD SBC,cables, and Linux OS
Available
SDK-HLX-WE7
Helix Windows Embedded 7 Software Development Kit
Available
SDK-HLX-LNX
Helix Linux Software Development Kit
Available
Please login or signup for an online quote request.


 
Cables and accessories
Available Models:
FDSM-64G-XT
SATADOM Flashdisk, MLC, 64GB, Pin 7 VCC, -40/+85C
FDSM-32G-XT
SATADOM Flashdisk, MLC, 32GB, Pin 7 VCC, -40/+85C
FDMM-64G-XT
mSATA MLC Flashdisk, 64GB, extended temperature
FDMM-32G-XT
mSATA MLC Flashdisk, 32GB, extended temperature
FDMM-16G-XT
mSATA MLC Flashdisk, 16GB, extended temperature
6980511
Cable Battery Hdr 1.25 mm Conn to Flying leads, 12"L
6980512
Cable Power, 2x4 0.1" Latching to Discrete Wires, 15"L
6980515
Cable,DIO/AIO, 2x13 2mm Hdr to 2mm DC Skt female, 12"L Ribbon
6981075
Cable, Dual Serial, 2mm 2x5 conn to 2x DB9M Pnl Mt, 12"L
6981076
Cable, Audio, 2mm 2x5 conn to x3 3.5mm Jack Pnl Mt, 12"L
6981080
Gigabit Ethernet cable, RJ-45 socket, 10 pin board connector
6981082
Cable, Dual USB, 2mm 2x5 conn to 2x USB Type A Female, 12"L
6981083
Cable, PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse, 2mm 2x4 conn to 2x Mini-DIN-6, 12"L
6981084
Cable, VGA, 2mm 2x5 conn to DD15F, 12"L
6981161
RJ45PNL-CRIMP2x5 2mm, 12"
6989101
SATA Cable, 7-Pin Data, Straight to Right Angle, 500mm
Please login or signup for an online quote request.

Product Support for Helix

User Manual

Helix User Manual(.pdf, 1.9 MB)
Visit Universal Driver software page
DSCUD 8.4.0 Driver
DSCUD 8.4.0 Demos-Helix
Universal Driver User Manual

Helix SBC Universal Driver Software User Manual(.pdf, 1.3 MB)
Drivers

Helix 1210 Ethernet Controller Driver(.zip, 7.3 MB)
Driver for 1210 Ethernet Controller
Helix DOS Driver(.zip, 1.2 MB)
DOS Driver for Helix
Helix Linux VGA Driver(.zip, 7.3 MB)
Linux VGA Driver for Helix
Helix Windows 7 Driver(.zip, 2.5 MB)
Windows 7 driver for Helix
Helix Windows_XP Driver(.zip, 32.9 MB)
Windows XP driver for Helix
Datasheet

Helix Datasheet(.pdf, 332.7 KB)
Mechanical Drawing

Helix SBC 3D Model(.zip, 6.6 MB)
FEATURES
CPU Features
Vortex86DX3 SoC dual core CPU running at 1GHz
Up to 2GB of DDR3 SDRAM soldered on board
3 or 6 USB 2.0 ports (model dependent)
2 RS-232/422/485 serial ports &
2 RS-232 ports
1 10/100Mbps Ethernet port
1 Gigabit Ethernet port
1 SATA port for disk-on-module or external drive
1 mSATA socket shared with PCIe MiniCard
24-bit dual channel LVDS LCD display
VGA CRT
HD audio
PCIe MiniCard socket shared with mSATA
16 16-bit analog inputs
100KHz maximum sample rate
4 16-bit analog outputs
Up to 27 digital I/O lines with programmable direction
8 counter/timers
4 pulse width modulators
PC/104 stackable I/O expansion capability
PC/104 extended form factor
(4.0" x 4.0")
-40ºC to +85ºC operation
ONLINE SUPPORT
See Helix Technical Resources
Request Product information
Request Technical Support
DOWNLOADS
Helix User Manual
(.pdf, 1.9 MB)
Helix Datasheet
(.pdf, 332.7 kb)
RELATED PRODUCTS
These PC/104 I/O modules can be used to add even more I/O to your Helix SBC.
Diamond-MM-32DX-AT 32-Channel Analog I/O PC/104 Module with Advanced Automatic Autocalibration
Emerald-MM-4M 4 RS-232/422/485 ports, extensive address/interrupt configurations, extended temperature
GPIO-MM-XT PC/104 module with 48 line digital I/O plus 10 counter/timers, reconfigurable
Opal-MM-1616 Opal-MM 16 Optoisolated Input & 16 Relay Output PC/104 Module