Introduction
Vending machines are
one of those modern contrivances that add convenience
to our already hectic lives. Whether it's pouring a
cup of hot coffee while waiting to catch a flight in
a busy airport, buying a cold soft drink at lunchtime,
or grabbing a candy bar for a mid afternoon snack,
we've all taken advantage of the time-saving convenience
that vending machines offer. On the downside
however, most of us have also experienced frustration
when the coffee was too cold, the soft drink was too
warm, or our favorite candy bar fell in the "item
not available" category. The UC-7420, MOXA's
miniature front-end embedded computer for industrial
device networking
applications, gives vending machine manufacturers and
maintainers the ability to stay one step ahead of the
customer.
Programmable Means Customizable
One of the main advantages
that MOXA's embedded computers provide is programmability.
System designers can write custom C programs that are tailor-made to
control the operation of the vending machine. For example,
the UC-7420 can be programmed to monitor temperatures
and power status. If one of the thermometer readings
is
too hot,
or too cold, or the power supply is interrupted, the
maintenance person can be notified automatically by
phone or e-mail so the problem can be fixed immediately.
The program can also be used to monitor the quantities
of items dispensed by the machine so that items running
low can be replenished before they run out. The ability
to monitor temperature and quantity helps guarantee
that customers get the items they want, when they want
them.
Built to Last
In addition to the considerable
cost reduction provided by MOXA's embedded computers,
users also get a much more reliable system that is
designed for near zero-failure operation. MOXA's embedded
computers are compact computers that have a built-in
Linux operating system, and to ensure
easy installation, the interfaces are integrated onto
a
single PCB board.
The Intel IXP-422
CPU, which forms the brains of the embedded computer,
generates almost no heat, ensuring that the no fan,
no hard drive design provides reliable service for
a much longer period of time.
Benefits
- No fan, no hard drive design for longer MTBF
- CompactFlash slot
for adding gigabytes of storage space
- Multiple connection options for greater networking versatility
- Programmability gives system integrators infinite possibilities
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