The intelligent platform provides configurable signal routing with test points brought out to a board-edge connector, saving laborious and error-prone manual wiring and allowing easy verification of important signals. There are also special operating modes to assist development and fault finding. On-board connectors include a 5V DC power input, a 40-way connector supporting touchscreen connection and MCU programming, and a USB port for communication with a host PC. There are also user-configurable I/Os for development and expansion.
The Spider platform has been optimised to interface with the Anders range of embedded systems from Compulab, through a standard 40-way 0.1” dual row or a 30-way 1mm FPC connector. Any alternative embedded system can be easily interfaced though re-programming of the on-board CPLD and use of the 40-way 0.1” pitch dual row pin header.
The Spider platform has intelligence to initialise TFT displays that require initialisation via an SPI interface, using pre-configured values. It also enables engineers to set and adjust power-up and power-down sequencing and adjust brightness settings using a single command via the PC. Diagnostic capabilities include enabling or disabling individual signals to replicate fault conditions, as well as controls to reset the system to known working values.
The Spider platform is fully supported with comprehensive technical documentation and assistance from Anders application engineers during the product integration process.