empeg car Mk.2
The Mk.2 player was born from the necessity of improving production rates by redesigning for near-100% surface mount components and introducing an automated circuit test rig. 
We couldn't bring ourselves to produce a new revision without introducing some new features, and the creeping feature creature was soon at work! The new player received an improved audio stage, 10BaseT Ethernet (we couldn't do 100Mbit due to a lack of DMA), display dimming, more memory, microphone input (for future Voice Recognition support), rotary front panel control, improved docking and a stylish new look. The tuner was moved out to an external module, partly to improve isolation from the noisy processor bus and partly to facilitate future upgrades for digital radio.
Specifications
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Processor
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220MHz StrongARM S-1100-DA
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Flash memory
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1Mb
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RAM
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12Mb 60ns FPM
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DSP
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SAA7705H
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DACs
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16 bit sign-magnitude, fourfold oversampling digital filters,
noise shaping
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Display
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128 x 32 dot matrix vacuum fluorescent display, 2 bits per pixel
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IR
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SIR IrDA I/O, Consumer IR input
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Controls
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4 pushbuttons, 1 rotary+push
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HDD ports
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ATA 2.5" HDD standard 2MM header
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HDD physical
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ATA 2.5" HDD up to 17mm, corner mounting screws
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Serial IO
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9-pin PC serial port, data rate to 230Kbits/s, also docked in-car
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USB
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12Mbit/s standard type B socket on head unit
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Ethernet
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10BaseT RJ45 socket on head unit
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Power input
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+12V on ISO connector fused at 2A with inline fuseholder
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Grounding
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Negative earth only
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Auxillary control output
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+12V @ 1A maximum on ISO connector
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Audio outputs
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4V line level front & rear stereo RCA line jacks, 1V stereo
RCA sockets on head unit
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Audio inputs
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1V line level stereo RCA line jacks
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Other features
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On board temperature sensor
Software controlled display brightness
Display night mode input
Audio mute input (for mobile phones)
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Manufacturing Pics
The empeg car was manufactured by contractors in the UK, using a state of the art automated production line. We were set to produce around 1,000 units per month with the option to increase this if necessary. In fact it was not necessary!
production floor at Hansatech, Dorset
small batch of main boards hot off the SMT line
the main board test rig - analyses over 400
signals
a partly assembled player
isolated EMC chamber in California, for FCC
approval testing
ready for disks, lid and fascia
Some More Pics
our dash mockup for exhibitions
installed in our Mercedes A140 demo car
a rendered view of the player, taken from the
fascia CAD
