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NEC Display Solutions Europe has announced a collaboration with the Raspberry Pi foundation that will put Raspis into slots in monitors: https://www.nec-display-solutions.com/p/hq/en/news/dp/Products/Shared/News/2016/PressReleases/Company/RaspberryPi/RaspberryPi.xhtml
The socket in the monitor looks a lot like it will hold the Raspi Compute Module, while the given specifications mention a quad 1.2 GHz CPU. So it is likely that a Compute Module with the BCM2837 SoC from the Raspi 3 will ship by the announced date in January 2017. The press release particularly points out the usefulness in IoT-related display and signage areas, but overall, the package should also be a rather decent all-in-one PC that could be used in many other situations that do not require very high performance.
NEC also announced, aside from the standard Raspi, some custom hardware to fit into these CPU sockets that "meets the needs of the display industry", but was not yet specific on technical details here.
(Score: 2) by dyingtolive on Friday October 14 2016, @08:01PM
It's certainly interesting, though I don't know if I'd have much use for it. Today I read that Siemens is releasing an "arduino-compatible" device mounted on a DIN rail, and then I had a thought that I should just be mounting stuff like this with one of those. I kinda wonder if this will even see consumer adaptation anyway. I picture it more for self-contained kiosks and those silly HDTV restaurant menus you're starting to see everywhere.
As a side note: I didn't realize NEC was even still around. I recall they had good monitors some 15 years ago.
Don't blame me, I voted for moose wang!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 14 2016, @08:11PM
> As a side note: I didn't realize NEC was even still around.
Come on, man. That is a statement about you, not NEC.
They had 28 billion dollars of gross revenue in 2013. They are more than "still around."
(Score: 2) by dyingtolive on Friday October 14 2016, @08:25PM
Yeah, I'll own that. My only defense is that I don't really work with industrial electronics. Other than tinkering with silly shit on the side, I'm just a code monkey. I guess they do still have a consumer product line. I guess I just kinda got my head in the sand though.
Don't blame me, I voted for moose wang!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 15 2016, @01:15AM
(Score: 2) by VLM on Friday October 14 2016, @09:10PM
Today I read that Siemens is releasing an "arduino-compatible" device mounted on a DIN rail,
Go to thingiverse and search for DIN Rail and you'll find you can 3-d print a mount to stick all kinds of COTS arduino and raspi stuff to DIN.
Probably 3-4 years ago I remember on HN a startup or discussion of an industrial control spec'd arduino (probably a kickstarter?) that fit on DIN and crucially was indestructible or at least more electrician proof than a bare arduino. Wonder if thats related to the announcement somehow (dude got hired byt Siemens or who knows)
(On ebay you can find all kinds of cool things that attach to DIN, so you can plug your arduino into an optoisolated 3-phase solid state relay in case you need to turn your 20 HP metal lathe on and off via arduino, or whatever else)
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Friday October 14 2016, @11:36PM
I try to build everything using DIN mounted devices. From PLC's/PAC's to terminal blocks. And if your going to use terminal blocks, screw-less blocks using wires terminated with ferrules are total win. It might sound more costly at first but once you factor in time saved with the right tools, you never look back. Get a nice crimp tool too; one with interchangeable dies. I buy most everything from Automation Direct and the rest from Allied Electronics.
As far as PLC's PAC's go, I have had my eye on those little Arduino DIN rail mounted gizmos. My only gripe is they seem to lack a decent set of software tools so connecting to Modbus or perhaps another protocol like CANopen or EtherCAT.
I have used PLC's from Automation Direct, they are a re-seller for Koyo and now have their own line called Productivity 2000/3000. My only gripe is they only support ladder logic which is good for expressing logic conditions but awful for more complex things like calculations, communication, state machines, and other more complex operations need to be implemented.
Control Technology Corporation or CTC makes a really neat PAC, the 5300. It uses a proprietary function diagram with blocks you drop in and write code using a basic like language and also has a C block where you can write C code at the RTOS level. Just drop the C block in and treat is as the inside of a function. Very costly though, a basic setup is like $4000.
Another interesting company is Opto22 who have the SNAP PAC line which runs Linux! Write code using a function diagram and/or using C/C++ code or I'm sure what ever else you'd like so long as you can get the run time and libs on it. I have never used their PAC directly though I have used their Remote I/O. The remote I/O can be accessed using Modbus, Allen Bradley PLC's, or via Opto22's open OptoMMP protocol which comes with Windows and open source POSIX compliant libraries. I've built and tested the POSIX libs on OpenBSD, Linux and Cygwin without any build errors or dependency problems, all standard UNIX stuff. My next project might be powered by a SNAP PAC.
(Score: 2) by driverless on Saturday October 15 2016, @05:52AM
It's certainly interesting, though I don't know if I'd have much use for it.
That pretty much sums it up in its entirety. I think it's fair to assume that this monitor or monitor type will be pretty hard to find and priced at a premium due to its nonstandard configuration. So you're paying more and having to go out of your way to find a monitor that can have an underpowered compute module slotted into it. Or you can get one of a zillion different VESA-mount nettop PCs and do the same thing with the monitor of your choice. OK, so it gets them media attention, but then what?
(Score: 2) by t-3 on Saturday October 15 2016, @01:43PM
I can definitely see the attraction of one of these, especially if there's no "smart" functionality other than what you choose to install with the raspi. Emulators, video, music, internet, dvr, all in one package without having to deal with cords and stuff would be pretty nice.