The OPUS A1 operator interface from Wachendorff has been specifically designed for use in inhospitable commercial vehicle applications. It combines a large bright landscape touchscreen display with a powerful 32bit processor in a ruggedised package to provide a flexible programmable platform for interfacing with all manner of vehicle-mounted systems from agricultural machinery to special-purpose vehicles such as snowploughs.
The display of the OPUS A1 is an easy-to-read backlit colour TFT supporting VGA resolution with 256 colours. Importantly for use in all possible environments, the display backlight automatically adjusts to the ambient conditions, ensuring that the screen can be read at all times. It also features an analogue resistive touchscreen using PVC on glass technology to ensure easy operation and scratch resistance.
Further control is provided in the form of a tactile silicon keypad with nine backlit programmable function keys plus a large digital potentiometer with push to operate functionality.
The interface is not short of processing power. Its 200MHz Intel Xscale processor has access to 16Mbyte of Flash memory, 32Mbyte of SDRAM and 32Kbyte of EEPROM to enable complex applications to be programmed and run in real time. Ample interfacing is provided as standard, with two each of CANbus and serial interfaces, together with two memory card slots for system expansion and programming.
The OPUS A1 survives the rigours of its environment with a diecast aluminium housing that is sealed to IP65K. Operating temperature range is a wide -25 to +65C, and the interface is also specified for automotive levels of vibration, shock, EMC and ESD. It runs from a wide range of power supplies from 8 to 36V DC, and so is compatible with both 12 and 24V vehicular power systems.
Internally, the OPUS A1 runs an embedded Linux operating system, but it comes with easy-to use PC software that makes programming simple. The intuitive Prejektor package needs no specialist skills or even training to use. Simple drag-and-drop techniques allow even novice users to produce working systems on the PC that will look exactly the same when programmed into the interface.
Alternatively, Sensor-Technik UK can supply the OPUS A1 interface ready programmed for any customer application.
