Product category:
Networking Hardware
News Release from: Contec Microelectronics | Subject: EAD(LPCI)SF and EAD(CB)SF
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 19 August 2004
StarFabric cards extend the reach of
PCIbus
A new series of PCIbus extension systems uses the high-speed serial transmission and a PCI bridge to enable PCI boards to be used at a distance of up to 12m from the PC.
A new series of PCIbus extension systems uses the high-speed serial transmission and a PCI bridge to enable PCI boards to be used at a distance of up to 12m from the PC This new series of PCI slot expansion units can extend a PCIbus using Cat5 cable
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 21 Dec 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Link server interrogates Melsec-Q PLC series
Contec Microelectronics Europe has introduced a PLC link server that allows a networked computer to obtain and update internal register information of Mitsubishi Melsec-Q PLC series.
USB interface takes charge of GPIB systems
A low-cost USB/GPIB interface makes it easy to add standard IEEE488.1 and IEEE488.2 bus control to any PC.
The units use StarFabric technology to provide a fully compatible PCIbus bridge with high-speed serial transmission over a 5Gbit/s full duplex link (2.5Gbit/s for both send and receive).
This enables PCI boards to be used in a PCIbus expansion chassis located up to 12m from the PC.
The PCI boards can be installed in the same way as on the main chassis of the PC and no special device drivers are required.
Further reading
Multifunction acquisition runs via PCI or Cardbus
The ADA16-32-2 series features two multifunction 16bit/500kHz data acquisition devices: the ADA16-32-2(PCI)F for a PCIbus and the ADA16-32-2(CB)F for a Cardbus interface.
Measurement software helps nontechnical DAQ users
A new set of measurement software tools aims to help nontechnical DAQ users to make the very precise, often complex electrical measurements associated with Contec DAQ.
USB-based DAQ interfaces are all-in-one solution
Contec reckons its new family of USB-based data acquisition interfaces are the perfect alternative to a PCI or ISA DAQ board.
Another important feature is that the power supply of the PCIbus expansion chassis can be turned on or off automatically in conjunction with the PC power with no additional cabling other than the Cat5 cable.
Uses for the new expansion units are not just limited to the obvious cases where cabling issues meant that the cable length (1m) provided by the previous bus expansion method (PCI to PCI bridge) was inadequate.
Instead, the ability to use the wide range of available PCI cards at locations separate from the PC represents a new platform structure whereby the PC ("brain") used to operate a piece of equipment can be separate from the equipment itself.
This has applications in many areas such as semiconductor manufacturing equipment, robotics and motor control, high-speed remote I/O, and CTI.
The expansion adapter and PCIbus expansion chassis are sold separately and the optimum combination of PC expansion slot specification, number of PCI slots, and board size for the system can be selected from the 12 different options available.
The PCIbus expansion chassis is available in two forms: a stylish and compact black chassis with an AC adapter, and a robust steel chassis with an internal power supply (industrial model).
Together with the different slot number and board size options, a total of seven different versions are available.
The expansion adapter also comes in two types: the EAD(LPCI)SF for both standard PCI and low-profile PCI slots, and the EAD(CB)SF for PC card (CardBus) slots.
A 12m length of category 5e STP cable is included in both cases, but commercially available category 5e cable can also be used to make a cable to the desired length.
These new products incorporate a chip from StarGen (Massachusetts, USA), and are the first example of a StarFabric expansion unit with PC card (CardBus) slots to be released anywhere in the world.
Tim Miller, CEO of StarGen, had the following to say about the announcement: "StarGen is excited by the news that Contec has announced a suite of StarFabric products".
"The EAD(CB)SF, the world's first PCMCIA card to provide a StarFabric link, is particularly innovative, allowing an engineer to use a laptop computer with an internal 32bit/33MHz bus to connect into a StarFabric system through a Cat5e UTP cable".
"Together with Contec's newly announced PCI-StarFabric peripheral card and PCI expansion chassis, this provides a complete StarFabric PCI expansion solution".
• Contec Microelectronics: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Electronicstalk email newsletter
• Electronicstalk Home Page
