PC/104
PC/104 (or PC104) is an embedded computer standard controlled by the PC/104 Consortium which defines both a form factor and computer bus. PC/104 is intended for specialized embedded computing environments where applications depend on reliable data acquisition despite an often extreme environment. The form factor is often sold by COTS vendors, which benefits many consumers who want a customized rugged system, without months of design and paper work.[1] The PC/104 form factor was originally devised by Ampro Computers in 1987[2], and later standardized by the PC/104 Consortium in 1992.[3] An IEEE standard corresponding to PC/104 was drafted as IEEE P996.1, but never ratified.[4] Unlike the popular ATX form factor which utilizes the PCI bus and is currently used for most PCs, the PC/104 form factor has no backplane, and instead allows modules to stack together like building blocks. The stacking of buses is more rugged than typical bus connections in PCs.
