ADLINK SP2-EHL Fanless Tablet Selection and Configuration Guide



ADLINK SP2-EHL series fanless tablet selection and deployment guide

In application scenarios such as industrial automation, machine vision, intelligent logistics, and human-machine interface (HMI), traditional commercial tablets are often unable to cope with harsh dust, vibration, and wide temperature environments. ADLINK SP2-EHL series open panel computer, based on Intel Atom ®  The x6000E series processor (Elkhart Lake) provides a variety of sizes from 7 inches to 21.5 inches, fan free design, wide voltage input (9-36V optional), high ESD tolerance and flexible function module expansion, providing a reliable and economical integrated solution for industrial edge computing and device control. This article is aimed at system integration and equipment maintenance engineers, and elaborates on the key points of application deployment for the SP2-EHL series from dimensions such as model analysis, hardware selection, key interface configuration, functional module expansion, power and PoE deployment, and system software support.

Product Series Overview and Model Analysis

The SP2-EHL series is a new generation of fanless industrial tablets launched by ADLINK, featuring an open frame design that facilitates integration into various cabinets, devices, or self-service terminals. Its core advantages lie in:

Processor platform: Intel Atom ®  The x6000E series (Elkhart Lake) offers a multi-level selection from dual core to quad core (J6412, x6211E, x6413E, x6425E), balancing performance and power consumption.

Display size: Covering 7 inches (1024 × 600), 10.1 inches (1280 × 800), 15.6 inches (1920 × 1080), and 21.5 inches (1920 × 1080), suitable for different visual distances and space requirements.

Fanless cooling: The entire series of fanless designs rely on natural convection of cooling fins to prevent dust inhalation and improve MTBF (mean time between failures).

Functional module design: Reserved functional module slots on the front panel, which can quickly expand USB, serial port, GPIO and other I/O without disassembling the device.

Wide voltage power supply: default 12V DC, optional 9-36V wide voltage input, suitable for unstable power supply environments such as vehicles, ships, engineering machinery, etc.

Optional PoE power supply: Supports 60W PoE (Power over Ethernet) power supply through an external module, and only requires one Ethernet cable to achieve power supply and data transmission, simplifying wiring.

Model Naming Rules

Taking "SP2-10WP-EHL-J6412" as an example:

SP2: Product series code.

10: Screen size (10.1 inches).

WP: Wide Panel.

EHL: Elkhart Lake platform.

J6412: Processor model.

Order part number correspondence table (core models):

Model Processor Memory Screen Size

SP2-10WP-EHL-J6412 Intel Atom ®  J6412 (4C/4T, 2.0~2.6GHz) 4GB 10.1"

SP2-15WP-EHL-J6412 Intel Atom ®  J6412 4GB 15.6"

SP2-21WP-EHL-J6412 Intel Atom ®  J6412 4GB 21.5"

SP2-10WP-EHL-x6413E Intel Atom ®  x6413E (4C/4T, 1.5~3.0GHz) 4GB 10.1"

SP2-15WP-EHL-x6413E Intel Atom ®  x6413E 4GB 15.6"

SP2-21WP-EHL-x6413E Intel Atom ®  x6413E 4GB 21.5"

Recommendation for processor selection:

J6412: Economical, suitable for conventional HMI, data acquisition, and lightweight SCADA.

X6413E: Industrial grade enhanced type, supports wide temperature range (-40 ° C~85 ° C, actual system heat dissipation capacity needs to be confirmed), suitable for outdoor or harsh environments.

X6425E (higher end): Integrated with higher performance UHD Graphics (32EU), suitable for lightweight machine vision or image processing.

Hardware configuration and key interfaces

2.1 Storage and Memory

Memory: 1 SODIMM slot, supports DDR4 3200MHz, maximum 32GB. It is recommended to choose 4GB/8GB/16GB according to the system load.

Storage: Provides two storage interfaces:

M. 2280 M key: Supports SATA SSD or NVMe SSD (PCIe x2), NVMe is recommended to improve system response.

2.5-inch SATA hard drive/SSD: SATA 6Gbps interface, suitable for high-capacity storage needs (such as historical data recording).

TPM: Optional TPM 2.0, used to enhance system security (such as BitLocker encryption, secure boot).

2.2 External I/O interface (front panel/side panel)

Ethernet: Dual Gigabit Ethernet ports (Intel I226), default 1Gbps, optional 2.5Gbps, supports WOL (Wake on LAN).

USB：

2 USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type-A, 5Gbps), overcurrent protection (OCP).

2 USB 2.0 (Type-A), OCP.

1 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C (optional), supports DP Alt Mode video output.

Display: 1 DisplayPort (DP++), supporting up to 4096 x 2160@60Hz External monitor; If Type-C is selected, it can also output videos. The whole machine supports up to 3 displays (built-in panel+DP+Type-C).

Serial port: Two RS-232/422/485 programmable serial ports are provided internally (via wire to board connectors), supporting hardware automatic flow control. COM port cables (part number 30-21862-0000-A0) need to be purchased.

2.3 Internal Expansion and Functional Modules

MPCIe: 1 full-size mPCIe slot, expandable for Wi Fi/Bluetooth modules, industrial fieldbus (such as PROFIBUS), 4G/5G modules, etc.

M. 2230 E key: Dedicated to wireless modules (Wi Fi/Bluetooth), recommended Intel AC9260 kit (part number 91-95266-0020).

GPIO: One 8-bit GPIO interface (line to board) that can be used to control indicator lights and read sensor status.

I ² C interface: 2 I ² C client interfaces, compatible with I ² C sensors or expansion devices.

LED control: Supports status display of 10 LEDs, programmable to indicate device operating status.

Audio: Optional stereo speakers (2W), microphone input/line output, buzzer (Buzzer).

2.4 Function Module

Special slots are reserved on the front panel of SP2-EHL, which can accommodate three types of functional modules without the need for disassembly and plug and play:

SP-FM (Basic Function Module): Provides additional I/O expansion.

Titan FM: Enhanced module that may include more serial ports or isolated I/O (specific specifications to be referenced).

USB-FM'SD_Lull function: Extend USB interface or function combination.

The specific selection needs to refer to the functional module data manual, but this design greatly simplifies the on-site adaptation work.

Display and touch screen specifications

Size resolution, brightness (cd/m ²), contrast, viewing angle (U/D/L/R), touch point count, touch type

7 "1024 × 600 600 600:1 85/85/85/85 5-point capacitive (standard)

10.1 "1280 × 800 400 800:1 89/89/89/89 10 point capacitive type (standard)

15.6 "1920 × 1080 420 1000:1 89/89/89/89 10 point capacitive (standard)

21.5 "1920 × 1080 400 1000:1 89/89/89/89 10 point capacitive (standard)

Surface hardness: 7H (scratch resistant).

Surface treatment: Clear is standard, and Anti Fingerprint is optional.

Touch optional: The standard is capacitive touch (Glass/Glass), and a resistive touch screen can be selected (suitable for glove operation or scenes that require more precise clicks, but BOM customization is required).

Power Supply and PoE Power Supply Solution

4.1 Power Input

Default: DC 12V ± 5%, connected through a 6-pin power connector, requires the use of the included AC-DC adapter (12V/7A, part number 31-62157-0000-A0) and power cord (part number 30-21863-0000-A0).

Optional wide voltage: 9-36V DC input, suitable for unstable power supply environments in vehicles (12V/24V systems) or industrial sites. The wide voltage version comes with built-in OVP (overvoltage protection) and UVP (undervoltage protection).

Backup battery: Optional UPS kit (connected through Wafer interface) can maintain system operation for a short period of time to save data and avoid data damage caused by abnormal shutdown in case of sudden power failure from the external power source.

4.2 PoE (Power over Ethernet) power supply

For scenarios that require minimal wiring, SP2-EHL can optionally support 60W PoE (PD, power receiving device) through external modules. At this point, only one standard Ethernet cable is needed to transmit data and power simultaneously, without the need to lay separate power cords. Especially suitable for:

Remote monitoring points (such as highway toll stations).

Smart terminals installed on the ceiling.

Mobile testing trolley (reduces cable constraints).

Note: PoE function is optional and needs to be specified in the BOM stage; When using PoE power supply, it is necessary to ensure that the switch or power supply supports the IEEE 802.3bt standard (60W level).

Operating System and Software Support

SP2-EHL provides comprehensive software ecosystem support:

Windows: Windows 10 IoT Enterprise (long-term support version) and Windows 11 IoT Enterprise, suitable for running mature industrial configuration software or customized C #/C++applications.

Linux：Ubuntu 22.04.2 LTS， It is suitable for open source frameworks, Python development, ROS (robot operating system) or containerized edge computing.

Driver support: ADLINK provides a complete API library for chipsets, graphics cards, network cards, serial ports, touch drivers, and functional modules. When pre installing the Windows system, it is recommended to install all official drivers first to ensure that touch calibration, dual display output, GPIO control, and other functions are functioning properly.

Installation accessories and expansion cables

6.1 Panel Installation

Install Clips: Choose the corresponding clip kit according to the screen size:

91-9537-00010:21.5 "installation buckle

91-95337-1010:15.6 "installation buckle

91-95337-2010: 10.1 "installation buckle

During installation, rectangular holes need to be opened on the cabinet panel, and the equipment should be embedded and fixed from the back with buckles.

6.2 Rear Cover

If the device needs to be used independently (non embedded), a back cover protective PCB can be selected:

91-95354-000E: 21.5 "back cover

91-95354-100E: 10.1 "/15.6" back cover (universal)

6.3 Key cables (internal interface leads)

The following cables are used to lead the internal Wafer connector out to the external standard interface and need to be purchased in advance:

COM port cable (30-21862-0000-A0): DB9 female head, L=300mm， Used for RS-232/422/485 output.

GPIO cable (30-21352-0000-A0): Leads out 8-bit GPIO.

I ² C cable (30-21353-0000-A0).

USB 2.0 cable (30-21401-0000-A0): Connect the internal USB to the standard USB A-type interface.

Power/Reset/LED Cable (30-21350-0000-A0): Includes power button, reset button, LED indicator light, suitable for cabinet integration that does not directly operate the front panel.

Typical application scenarios and deployment recommendations

Equipment status monitoring HMI:

Select 10.1 "or 15.6", J6412 processor, 4GB memory, 64GB SSD (NVMe).

Use dual gigabit Ethernet ports to connect PLC (Profinet/EtherNet/IP) and upper level MES system respectively.

Built in COM port (RS-422) connects to the frequency converter to collect operating parameters.

Optional PoE power supply simplifies on-site wiring.

Machine vision inspection terminal:

Choose a 21.5-inch FHD display screen, x6413E or x6425E processor (stronger GPU), 8GB memory.

Connect an industrial camera via USB 3.0 and connect a second monitor externally to the Display Port.

Function module expands GPIO to control light sources and alarm lights.

Ubuntu 22.04+OpenCV or Halcon for developing visual algorithms.

Car or mobile devices:

Select 7 "or 10.1" (high brightness 600cd/m ²), wide voltage 9-36V power supply, suitable for vehicle batteries.

Install GPS module (via mPCIe) and 4G module (via M.2 2230) to achieve remote positioning and communication.

Choose an anti fingerprint touch screen to reduce glare under direct sunlight.

Edge AI reasoning:

The selection supports Intel OpenVINO toolkit, utilizing Atom x6000E series integrated GPU and AI acceleration instructions (VNNI) to run lightweight inference models (such as TensorFlow Lite).

Optional backup battery to prevent data loss caused by unexpected power outages.

Maintenance and Precautions

Fanless heat dissipation relies on good heat dissipation convection: Ensure sufficient space around the device during installation (leaving at least 20mm air gap) and avoid covering the heat dissipation fins.

Anti static: When operating internal connection wires (such as installing M.2 SSDs and memory), an anti-static wrist strap must be worn.

Power supply stability: If using a wide voltage version, it is necessary to ensure that the input voltage fluctuation does not exceed 36V (peak), otherwise OVP protection may be triggered.

Touch calibration: After the first startup, it is necessary to perform touch screen calibration within the operating system (especially for the resistive version) to ensure click accuracy.

BIOS update: If you encounter compatibility issues with peripherals, you can try updating the BIOS (obtained from the ADLINK official website), and be sure to backup the configuration before updating.