The intelligent Ethernet I/O modules

Writing your own applications
With the Development Mode of the intelligent Ethernet I/O modules

The intelligent Ethernet I/O modules from Addi-Data are now available with a Development Mode. This makes it possible for you to develop your own measuring, controlling and regulating applications and to save these directly to the module. Thanks to its own intelligence (onboard ARM9 processor), the module then runs the applications independently as a stand-alone system, i.e. without the impact of external computers. With the Development Mode it is possible, for example, to save algorithms for calculations, to adapt the SOAP interfaces to external hardware or to write commands for external hardware. The Ethernet I/O modules thus relieve the load on the central system.

In order to guarantee the stability of the system, the Development Mode was designed in such a way that the vital functions of the MSX-E modules are protected. The mode is activated and managed via the website of the Ethernet I/O modules. A cross compiler for the ARM processor is supplied for the compiling of the applications. The applications can be written in the languages C and Script Shell, and then uploaded to the flash memory of the Ethernet I/O modules via the file manager. Afterwards, the Development Mode can be deactivated again in order to block access by third parties to the application that has been written.

The Ethernet I/O modules are available with the following functions: digital I/O, counter (also sin/cos inputs), analog I/O and length measurement. The Ethernet switch is used for cascading several I/O modules. As the synchronisation signal is carried to the outside of the Ethernet network, the user can synchronize several modules in the µs range. In this way measurement systems can be combined freely.

The Ethernet I/O modules can be used in the extended temperature range from -40°C to +85°C and correspond to protection class IP 65. With these properties, the modules normally manage without the protection of switch cabinets. This saves money and space in the measuring room or in the production hall. Furthermore, the modules are equipped with numerous protective circuits. These include optical isolation up to 1,000 V, short-circuit protection and reverse voltage protection.

Numerous free drivers and samples belong to the module. The module can be called from a PC by a direct TCP/IP access or via a DLL driver. Via direct access, the user can connect the I/O modules via Ethernet with PCs on which operating systems are installed which support the standard transmission protocols SOAP and Socket TCP/IP. The Ethernet I/O modules also support the protocol MODBUS-TCP. These include Windows (Vista 64 bit included) and Linux. DLL drivers are principally used because of the compatibility with the universal drivers of Addi-Data (ADDIPACK) delivered with the PC boards. To simplify commissioning and programming, samples are supplied for Visual C 6.0, C#, .net2005 for Windows 32-bit operating systems. In terms of DLL drivers, Windows XP and 2000 are supplied with samples for Visual C, Borland C, Delphi and Visual Basic. The software tool SET MSX-Exxxx provides the user with information like serial number, firmware version and IP address. The latter can be changed in the web server.
 

Whitepaper-Download (1.18 MB)