Datasheet

PC Engines GmbH CF adapter
IDE to CompactFlash adapter
The IDE to CompactFlash adapter enables OEMs
to replace hard disk drives with economical, rugged
CompactFlash cards.
Benefits
• Low power (less than 0.5W)
• Fast startup time – no spinup.
• Fast read access time.
• Higher transfer rate than DOC.
• Not sensitive to shock and vibration.
• Suitable for extended temperature range
(depending on card)
• Small capacity cards are less expensive than hard
disk drives. Cards are available at competitive
prices from many suppliers.
• Compatible with IDE hard drives, no special
drivers required.
• No acoustic noise.
Applications
• Network appliances such as firewalls or routers.
• Industrial control, robotics
• Point of Sales
• Functional test fixtures for system boards or
adapter cards (faster boot time, no spinup delay)
Easy to use
• Just connect power and IDE cable, and plug in
card.
• Due to limitations in the CompactFlash spec
and operating system software, hot insertion is
not supported.
• Install the jumper to run as master device, or
remove for slave (CFDISK.1x models only).
• CompactFlash cards sold for digital camera use
sometimes have strange partition sectors, and
may require rewriting (FDISK /MBR) to make
them bootable.
• To most BIOSes and operating systems, the
CompactFlash card will look just like an IDE
hard disk drive.
Power
The adapter is passive, and does not draw any
power by itself. Typical CompactFlash cards draw
less than 100mA from the +5V rail. +12V is not
needed.
Compliance
PCB is rated UL 94V-0. The adapter is designed for
use inside a chassis. Power to the CompactFlash
card is not fused. As EMI depends greatly on
enclosure design, the adapter has not been tested
for EMI or susceptibility.
Custom designs
Special configurations and custom designs are
available – please ask for a quotation.
PC Engines GmbH
Germaniastr. 68
CH-8006 Zürich
Switzerland
[phone]
[phone] FAX
[e-mail]
Rev. 9 (C)2005 PC Engines GmbH. All rights reserved. PC Engines is a trademark of PC Engines GmbH. Other marks are the property of their respective owners.