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doctalk
13 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Feb 2003 : 13:08:30
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Our application involves remote data acquisition and graphical data display. Most of the time our users will be within range of an 802.11 access point, where they can access data selectively. When they're not, we'll need to download extensive records for local access. We will need up to a hundred megabytes of storage now, but can envision a need to have several gigabytes of storage in the near future (patient xrays, CAT scans, etc).
I only see one post on your site about microdrives. Do you support them? What are other mass storage options are available with your products?
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akidder
1519 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2003 : 16:52:09
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There are a couple solutions available to you. Here are some ideas to work with...
Removable Storage
Since PCMCIA drives and CompactFlash cards are user-replaceable, end users can decide how much they're willing to spend for the application they have. Storage costs per GB continue to drop steeply in the minature storage world. PCMCIA and CF give a cost-effective, scalable storage solution for most applications.
CompactFlash (8-256MiB)
If you need removable storage in the 8 to 256 MiB range, your best bet is CompactFlash. Prices are currently very competitive, as they are used heavily in the digital camera business. A 64MB card with an industrial temperature rating ADS recently purchased cost US$48.
Rotating Media (300MB-5GB)
If you need storage in the 300MB to 5GB range, there are a number of affordable, PCMCIA mass-storage solutions available. Here are a few:- IBM Microdrive
Known under a number of names, the IBM microdrive comes in 340MB, 512MB and 1GB sizes in the CF Type II form factor. A 512MB drive ADS recently purchased cost about US$200 and worked reliably in our systems.
- Toshiba Microdrives
Toshiba sells a number of OEM microdrives with and without PCMCIA interfaces. Two such devices in the Type II PCMCIA form factor are the 2GB MK2001MPL and the 5GB MK2002MPL PCMCIA drives. We haven't used any of these at ADS to date. I understand that the next size up from these devices is used in the Macintosh iPod (MP3 player).
Conventional HDDs
If you need more than 5GB of storage, or using a full-size IDE hard disk drive (HDD) is critical to your application, you might might be able to make use of a PCMCIA-IDE adapter like the HD530-P. This adapter allows you to use a 2.5 inch IDE drive using a PCMCIA card. You (or ADS) may have to write drivers for the product. If such drivers present a problem, the 530-U or the 550 models, which use USB 1.1, might work (they most likely would use the standard USB mass storage driver). However, they would pay a price in performance (slower data throughput).
Another solution is to drive the HDD directly. We have included some features on the Bitsy Plus personality board (rev A) that may support IDE drives, but we have not yet written the drivers for them. If your program requires a full IDE interface, please contact us with details of your program requirements.
Drew Kidder
ADS Technology Transfer
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