MEN Mikro Elektronik - Embedded Computer Boards and Systems for Harsh and Safety-Critical Environments

Since its foundation in 1982, MEN has been developing and manufacturing failure-safe computer boards and systems for extreme environmental conditions in industrial and safety-critical embedded applications - made in Germany. Our standard product range includes:

• CompactPCI, CompactPCI PlusIO, CompactPCI serial and VMEbus SBCs
• Inherently safe computer assemblies, certified according to DAL and SIL
• ESMexpress, ESMini and ESM computer-on-modules
• PMC, XMC and M-modules as system-independent mezzanine I/O standards
• Box computers and display computers
• Network components, gateways and Ethernet switches

Electronic components in railway applications have to conform to the most rigid safety levels, combined with the most rugged environmental requirements. Because of the danger to human life and high downtime costs, reliability must be predictable and regular maintenance must not be required. Only the highest quality in development and production guarantees a reliable product for an operation period of up to 20 years.

Embedded computer boards and systems

"We are certified to IRIS (railway), EN 9100:2003 (aerospace), ISO 9001:2008 (quality management) and ISO 14001:2005 (environmental management) in order to meet the severe quality requirements in critical applications. MEN computer equipment is currently in use for vital locomotive and driverless subway control functions, on-train safety and communication management, tilting control, and on-train and stationary information and entertainment systems.

Our products are also used in electronic interlocking blocks (railway signalling), control and measuring functions in track-laying and maintenance vehicles, test computers for subways and streetcars, and station and track management systems."

Standard hardware platforms

Most of our standard products are available for an operation temperature of -40°C to +85°C, either screened or with qualified components. CPU cards have special heat sinks or can be used in a conduction cooled version and allow fan-less operation of the system.

All boards have passed additional shock and vibration tests in the company's own environmental laboratory and are prepared for coating against humidity, dust, salt fog or chemicals. MEN display computer systems are based on a flexible modular configuration concept. The control electronics are available as a stand-alone product or as part of a complete panel PC system, directly attached to the back of the screen."

System solutions and packaging technology

Besides standard 19 inch solutions MEN develops custom computer systems like human-machine interfaces, panel computers and DIN-rail computers. If required, the systems work without forced air-cooling, using technologies like conduction cooling. Our completely configured systems meet the quality standards required for mission-critical applications.

Measures include e.g. a 100% test of all integrated boards and the system including the PSU, backplane and cabling. A test report is provided for the complete system. MTBF calculations can be provided according to IEC/TR 62380.

Flexible and independent FPGA technology

MEN has developed a wide range of IP cores to realise application-specific functions in FPGA with minimum cost effort and an optimum time to market. FPGA technology is indispensable wherever long-term availability or harsh industrial environments are involved. IP cores per se are not threatened by discontinuation, even if for instance an FPGA component is replaced by a newer one after ten years. In addition, the cyclone types from Altera are qualified for an operation temperature of -40°C to +85°C right from the start.

Ethernet and fieldbus solutions

"MEN has realised fieldbus interface solutions based on CANopen, DeviceNet, Profibus, MVB, WTB, AFDX®, Arinc, Bitbus, WorldFIP and InterBus-S. Gateway solutions comprise for example WTB (Wire Train Bus) to CAN bus.

Ethernet networks are increasingly becoming an alternative to fieldbuses when price and bandwidth issues together make it necessary to use high-performance standardized transport protocols like TCP/IP or UDP/IP."