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1. RabbitFLEX BL300F Introduction

We all know you cannot fit a square peg into a round hole. But sometimes that is exactly what you are asked to do when forced to choose an off-the-shelf single-board computer (SBC) for your embedded system application. In the past, price and time constraints could make a custom-designed board unattainable.

That has all changed with the introduction of the RabbitFLEX BL300F.

Now, you can design your own perfect-fit controller board using Rabbit's new online design and order system, the RabbitFLEX Configurator. Because the controller board is customized during surface mount assembly, a custom solution can be obtained more quickly and at a lower price than previously possible.

1.1 RabbitFLEX BL300F Options

The items in the following list may be specified to customize your board design.

• PowerCore Module

  PowerCore 3800 (Ethernet, 512 K Flash, 1 MB SRAM, 1 MB Serial Flash)
  PowerCore 3810 (512 K Flash, 256 K SRAM)

• Serial Communication Channels

  RS-232 (3- or 5-wire)
  RS-485 (2-wire) or a RabbitNet port¹

• ADCs

  Up to 16 ADC channels

• DACs

  Up to 2 DAC channels

• Digital I/O

  Up to 40 pins for combinations of:

  • Digital Inputs
  • Sinking Outputs
  • Sourcing Outputs
  • Line Drivers
  • Bidirectional lines

• PWM

  Up to 4 PWM outputs

• External Interrupt
• External Reset
• Keypad

  Range of matrix keypad options: m x n, where m+n <=8

• LCD

  With or without backlight and/or contrast control

• Power Routing

  5 V available on all user-selectable connectors
  3.45 V available on most connectors

1.2 The RabbitFLEX Configurator

When designing and ordering a RabbitFLEX BL300F, you have the opportunity to tailor the board according to the demands of your application and not to limitations imposed by an off-the-shelf SBC. You are in control when you design a board using the RabbitFLEX Configurator.

1.2.1 Configurator Access

The RabbitFLEX Configurator is available at:

www.rabbit.com/products/RabbitFLEX

From the above location you can order a customized board, check previous orders, or peruse the site for ideas and tips for your design.

All information entered at the website is secure and confidential--nobody but you or those whom you authorize will be able to see the board designs you have saved or ordered. You will be asked to log in to your account with a user name and password when you save, order or reload a board design.

1.2.2 Ordering Information and History

An XML file encapsulates the board design. It can be downloaded by a person who has password access to it. The design file is very important. You must safeguard this file to ensure that you will be able to reorder the design or to derive other designs from it.

A customized Dynamic C library file is automatically generated when a board design is ordered. The library file is downloadable from the RabbitFLEX Configurator. This file is necessary for proper operation of library functions for your board.

See Section 6.2 for more information on RabbitFLEX BL300F files.

1.2.3 Assumptions

The following assumptions are made regarding the use of the RabbitFLEX Configurator:

• Compatible Web Browsers - Internet Explorer ver. 6 or later, Mozilla and Firefox are all compatible with the Configurator interface.

• You should have a clear and comprehensive idea of your application parameters before selecting the options for your RabbitFLEX BL300F.

• An electrical engineering background is recommended to make the best decisions among the options available.

1.3 RabbitFLEX Tool Kit

The RabbitFLEX Tool Kit contains the software and the extra hardware needed to develop your application. This section lists the tool kit items.

Tool Kit Items

• RabbitFLEX BL300F Getting Started Instructions.

• Programming cable, 10-pin header to DB9 connector with integrated level-matching circuitry.

• 48 V AC, 800 mA center-tapped transformer. A transformer compatible with power outlets in continental Europe is included with kits sold overseas.

• CD, containing Dynamic C 9.41 (or later) with complete product documentation, including this manual: the RabbitFLEX BL300F User's Manual.

• Demonstration board with pushbutton switches and LEDs.

• Cable assemblies to access connectors on RabbitFLEX BL300F.

• Hardware bag containing mounting standoffs and screws, female DB9 connector.

• Rabbit 3000 Processor Easy Reference poster.

• Registration card.

1.4 CE Compliance

Equipment is generally divided into two classes.

CLASS A	CLASS B
Digital equipment meant for light industrial use	Digital equipment meant for home use
Less restrictive emissions requirement: less than 40 dB µV/m at 10 m (40 dB relative to 1 µV/m) or 300 µV/m	More restrictive emissions requirement: 30 dB µV/m at 10 m or 100 µV/m

These limits apply over the range of 30 to 230 MHz. The limits are 7 dB higher for frequencies above 230 MHz. Although the test range goes to 1 GHz, the emissions from Rabbit-based systems at frequencies above 300 MHz are generally well below background noise levels.

The RabbitFlex single-board computer has been tested and was found to be in conformity with the following applicable immunity and emission standards. Boards that are CE-compliant have the CE mark.

NOTE Earlier versions of the RabbitFlex boards that do not have the CE mark are not CE-compliant.

1.4.1 Immunity

The RabbitFlex series of single-board computers meets the following EN55024/1998 immunity standards.

• EN61000-4-3 (Radiated Immunity)

• EN61000-4-4 (EFT)

• EN61000-4-6 (Conducted Immunity)

Additional shielding or filtering may be required for a heavy industrial environment.

1.4.2 Emissions

The RabbitFlex series of single-board computers meets the following emission standards.

• EN55022:1998 Class A

• FCC Part 15 Class A

Your results may vary, depending on your application, so additional shielding or filtering may be needed to maintain the Class A emission qualification.

1.4.3 Design Requirements for CE Compliance

Note the following requirements for incorporating the RabbitFlex series of single-board computers into your application to comply with CE requirements.

1.4.3.1 General Design Requirements

• The power supply provided with the Tool Kit is for development purposes only. It is the customer's responsibility to provide a CE-compliant power supply for the end-product application.

• The LCD/keypad module was tested with the RabbitFlex, but no ESD testing was done. It is the customer's responsiblity to provide a properly designed enclosure for the LCD/keypad interface to meet ESD requirements.

• When connecting a RabbitFlex single-board computer to outdoor cables, the customer is responsible for providing CE-approved surge/lightning protection.

• Rabbit recommends placing digital I/O or analog cables that are 3 m or longer in a metal conduit to assist in maintaining CE compliance and to conform to good cable design practices.

• When installing or servicing the RabbitFlex board, it is the responsibility of the end-user to use proper ESD precautions to prevent ESD damage to the RabbitFlex board.

1.4.3.2 Safety Design Requirements

• All inputs and outputs to and from the RabbitFlex series of single-board computers must not be connected to voltages exceeding SELV levels (42.4 V AC peak, or 60 V DC).

• The lithium backup battery circuit on the RabbitFlex single-board computer has been designed to protect the battery from hazardous conditions such as reverse charging and excessive current flows. Do not disable the safety features of the design.

1.4.4 Interfacing RabbitFlex to Other Devices

Since the RabbitFlex series of single-board computers is designed to be connected to other devices, good EMI reduction practices should be followed to ensure compliance. CE compliance is ultimately the responsibility of the integrator. Additional information, tips, and technical assistance are available from your authorized Rabbit distributor, and are also available on our Web site at: www.rabbit.com.

1.5 What to Expect

This manual describes the RabbitFLEX BL300F, its core module choices and the hardware and software components for the sample applications. Your level of experience determines which chapters to read next.

Chapter 2 - Read this chapter for instructions on connecting the hardware and installing the software you will need to develop your application. This chapter also contains contact information and some troubleshooting tips if you experience difficulty running some initial sample programs.

Chapter 3 - Read this chapter for an understanding of the physical implementation of the logical functionality of the RabbitFLEX BL300F. This chapter contains a roadmap of the RabbitFLEX board and design units that will allow you to identify the physical location of circuit components, such as specific resistors, capacitors, etc.

Chapter 4 - Read this chapter for information on the RabbitFLEX BL300F options that are available. This chapter contains circuit schematics and characterization tables for the different options.

Chapter 5 - Read this chapter for links and references for more details on the RabbitFLEX BL300F options. This chapter also contains some more in-depth discussions on selected topics.

Chapter 6 - Read this chapter to understand the software specifics needed for programming your RabbitFLEX BL300F.

Appendix A - Contains the electrical, mechanical and environmental specifications of the RabbitFLEX BL300F.

Appendix B - Contains information on power and ground.

Appendix C - Contains information on the demonstration board that comes with the RabbitFLEX BL300F Tool Kit.

Appendix D - Contains information on the RabbitFLEX Keypad/Display Kit

¹ RabbitNet is a proprietary serial protocol used with a line of peripheral devices for adding extra I/O, ADCs, DACs, relays, or an additional keypad/LCD interface. See the RabbitNet User's Manual for more information.