Although the Algo Smart Display looks from the outside like an LCD monitor for a PC, it is completely different on the inside. The smart display has the processing performance to run multimedia applications comparable to a PC and it maintains the level of reliability and durability needed to stand up to use in industrial applications. The equipment used in factory production lines must operate continuously in a harsh environment. It is subjected to conditions such as vibration, dirt, and static-electric discharges. Algo System understands the challenges presented by such conditions because it manufactures digital picking displays and picking cards for use in distribution and warehousing. The company also develops information systems, circuit boards, software, and similar elements for factory automation applications. "We have built up extensive experience in areas such as equipment control for production lines and distribution, as well as in techniques for reducing the number of cables required to link sensors, controllers, and other subsystems," said Mr. Kitaura. Algo System's in-depth knowledge of industrial applications and the experience and technical skills they have accumulated in this area have been applied to the panel computers to ensure their durability and reliability. A look inside the Algo Smart Display reveals two main differences from a PC. First, there is no hard disk drive (HDD) for external program and data storage because HDDs don't cope well with vibration. Instead, the external storage unit in the smart display uses flash memory, which is at no risk of losing data due to vibration. The other difference is that the smart display does not have a cooling fan, which also makes the unit more reliable. By contrast, if the cooling fan on a PC fails for some reason, the computer may overheat and stop working. The way in which Algo System provides support for Algo Smart Displays differs from the way that PC makers support their products. The company recognizes that in industrial applications, customers expect a manufacturer to support a product for an extended period of time, typically five to seven years. Thus, its engineers must determine whether or not the software and hardware will continue to be available for five years or more. This is an important consideration. In fact, one of the reasons that the design team chose the Linux OS was that they determined that they could provide support for it over the long term. The issue of long-term support was also a factor in selecting the microcomputer and other hardware in the panel computers. An embedded-systems oriented microcomputer was chosen because this type of device has a long product life, much longer than a PC-oriented CPU. Specifically, Algo System selected the SH7760 CPU for the Algo Smart Display. This 32-bit Renesas device has an SH-4 core that operates at speeds up to 192MHz. "The SH7760 is a very well-balanced microcomputer. It includes an internal LCD display controller and USB controller, and supports a large external memory area," Mr. Takahashi said. The development engineers at Algo System have been using SuperH microcomputers for about ten years and their familiarity and satisfaction with the SuperH architecture was another factor in the design decision. "Essentially, we intend to continue using SuperH microcomputers in the future," said Mr. Kitaura, who has already put these words into action by choosing a SuperH microcomputer for the second-generation of LCD panel computers (see Figure 1). The enhanced products will use the SH7770 (SH-Navi I), which has a superscalar SH-4A core for improved graphics-processing performance, but is upwardly compatible with the SH-4 CPU core to preserve engineering investments. The SH7770 delivers more than twice the processing performance of the SH7760 and also has an internal 2D/3D graphics engine. This upgrade in capability is necessary because the second-generation products will have an 800 x 600 pixel (SVGA) high-resolution LCD, whereas the first-generation panel computers have a maximum resolution of 480 x 234 pixels. Mr. Takahashi expressed his expectations for Renesas by saying, "I want them to keep on developing high-performance microcomputers aimed at embedded systems, and releasing the devices in a timely manner." As a leading global supplier of microcomputers, we intend to do that and more. For further information about this Algo Smart Display products, please contact: No. 2 Group, No.1 Electronic Device Department Mansei Corporation
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