The ModBlox7 specification will describe a compact, modular Box PC that can be flexibly configured and mounted on a wall, DIN rail, or integrated into a 19" subframe. The height and depth are fixed; the width is variable in 7HP increments. The maximum length is 84HP. The modular Box PC designs will be highly robust, support passive conductive cooling, and be used in applications such as rail, avionics, mobile machinery and autonomous mobility, as well as machinery in discrete manufacturing and controls in critical infrastructure for the process industry. The committee's work will result in a core specification describing the housing mechanics, modular functional units, and electrical interconnection of the units. The standard will ensure interoperability for manufacturers and interoperability for Box PC users, combining the advantages of modular systems with highly integrated, cost-effective Box PC solutions.
The open specification will contain the following requirements or functions. Specified features:
- Cost-effective design with minimal mechanical effort. No additional motherboard or heatsink is required. Coplanar board-to-board connectors connect each unit to its neighbor and route the defined I/O interfaces (PCIe and USB) to the next board.
- Modular, functionally encapsulated plug-in units in multiples of 7HP in width. The units form functional assemblies such as the power supply, CPU, switch, and I/O. The units can be multiples of 7HP, for example, to implement more interfaces or functionalities in a single set of building blocks.
This results in a wide range of device combinations in a modular design in 7HP increments (21HP, 28HP, 42HP to 84HP), making it cost-effective even in small quantities.
Each modular computing unit can house a stack of 1, 2, or 3 PCBs, depending on the complexity. Spacing is typically determined by the front-end I/O and the power and communication requirements between the host unit and its expansion units.
"Flexible mounting with a minimum of accessory components for wall, DIN rail, and 19" subrack installations.
" "For end users in industry, the advantages of an open Box PC standard lie in the cost-effective design of dedicated systems and the flexible interchangeability of components to adapt the platform to specific tasks. Manufacturers also benefit, as interoperability between units reinforces their core competencies, and they do not have to develop each unit and its integrated components, such as cables and mechanical parts, themselves." “For VARs and system integrators, the new ecosystem will offer faster configuration options with components from multiple vendors,” says Mathias Beer, product manager at Ci4Rail.
According to Markets and Markets, the global industrial PC market is estimated to reach $6.1 billion by 2026, up from $4.6 billion in 2021, representing a growth of 5.8%. Market growth is driven by increasing demand for industrial IoT, a steady shift from traditional manufacturing to digitized manufacturing, growing awareness of resource optimization in manufacturing industries, and stringent regulatory compliance.
The goal is to have the specification ratified by the end of 2022. The team has elected Bernd Kleeberg of EKF Elektronik as committee chair. Manfred Schmitz of Ci4Rail is the technical editor, and Johann Klamer of ELTEC Elektronik serves as secretary.
This initiative has more than Fifteen active member companies include: ADLINK, Ci4Rail, EKF Elektronik, Elma Electronic, ELTEC Elektronik, Embeck, ept, General Micro Systems, HEITEC, Hirose Electric, Intel, Kontron, nVent, Schroff, Samtec, Sealevel Systems, and TEWS TECHNOLOGIES. Other suppliers are invited to join the committee to actively develop the new open modular Box PC standard.
