Module puts Profibus in the frame

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Jun 4, 2003

The M79 M-Module is an intelligent Profibus DP slave interface for CompactPCI, PXI or VME systems as well as for embedded single-board computers.

The M79 M-Module is an intelligent Profibus DP slave interface for CompactPCI, PXI or VME systems as well as for embedded single-board computers.

Based on a popular fieldbus standard, the new module is a flexible solution for intelligent remote I/O applications in automation and instrumentation.

The short-circuit-protected Profibus DP Slave M-Module comes with an optically isolated RS485 interface in accordance with Profibus standard DIN19245 and allows selectable transmission rates from 9.6Kbit/s up to 12Mbits/s.

The M79 has its own CPU as well as 512Kbyte of local Flash, 1Mbyte of local SRAM and 16Kbyte of shared RAM for communication with the host CPU.

The Profibus firmware consists of the complete Softing protocol stack and runs locally on the M-Module.

The CPU on the M79 reduces the level of interaction needed between the module and the host CPU.

Based on MDIS, the MEN driver interface system, Softing tool compatible drivers are provided for Windows, VxWorks, OS-9, RTX and Linux for free download from MEN's website.