Ethernet to Serial Interface remotely controls Modbus RTUs.
Press Release Summary:
Model 8099 allows temperature chambers and other Modbus-controlled devices to be controlled as VXI-11.3 or LXI instrument over Internet or company network. By providing Modbus RTU packet communication to adapt Modbus slave devices to TCP/IP (Ethernet) network, solution lets user send simple read-write messages over network to control and query slave Modbus devices. Unit is has RS-232 and RS-485 interfaces, performs all Modbus RTU packet formatting, and handles response packets.
Original Press Release:
Model 8099 Ethernet to Modbus Interface Board Announced by ICS Electronics
PLEASANTON, CA, January 3, 2008. Today ICS Electronics announced a new Ethernet to Modbus Interface for controlling Modbus RTU devices over a company network or over the Internet. Called the Model 8099, this new Interface allows Temperature Chambers and other modbus controlled devices to be controlled like a VXI-11.3 or LXI instrument. Typical applications for the 8099 are interfacing Temperature Chambers, Temperature Plates or other modbus controlled devices so that they can be controlled from standard test programs.
ICS's Model 8099 Ethernet-to-Modbus Interface is an specialized Ethernet to Serial Interface that provides Modbus RTU packet communication to adapt Modbus slave devices to an TCP/IP (Ethernet) Network. The 8099 lets the user send simple read-write messages over the network to control and query slave Modbus devices. The 8099 does all of the Modbus RTU packet formatting and handles the response packets. The 8099 has both RS-232 and RS-485 interfaces so it can be connected directly to a single Modbus slave device or it can be connected to multiple Modbus devices via an RS-485 network.
The Model 8099 is a VXI-11.3 compliant Instrument. VXI-11 is a communication standard developed by the VISA consortium in 1995 in conjunction with the VISA Specification. VXI-11.3 is a sub-standard that covers TCP/IP-to-Instrument servers like the 8099. The 8099 generally complies with the LXI Specification for Class C instruments except for auto-IP and exceeds the LXI Specification by being VXI-11.3 and IEEE-488.2 compliant.
The 8099's VXI-11 compliance means that it can be easily controlled from virtually any computer. On WIN32 computers, the 8099 can be easily controlled through a industry standard VISA layer and integrated into a LabVIEW, VEE, C language, Visual Basic or VB.NET test program. On computers with Linux, Unix or similar operating systems, the user can control the 8099 with RPC (Remote Procedure Call) calls. The VXI-11 Specification provides the RPCL information necessary for any Unix/Linux programmer to develop the RPC calls.
The 8099 is easily modifiable by an OEM user to be part of his system. The OEM can store a custom IDN message and other interface parameters in the 8099's Flash memory. The user can also alter the appearance of the HTML pages used by the 8099's WebServer to include the user's company name, logo and even modify the HTML page layout. The 8099's WebServer also includes two prototype HTML control pages that allow a user to control a Temperature-Humidity Chamber with a Watlow F4 and a Temperature Plate with a Watlow EZ Zone Controller. The OEM user can easily convert the prototype HTML control pages into custom pages specific for his products.
The Model 8099 ships with ICS's VXI-11 Keyboard utility program and Configuration Utility. The Configuration Utility lets the user set the 8099's IP Address mode, its IP Address, COMM Timeout, KeepAlive, and Interface Name. The VXI-11 Keyboard lets a user interactively control the 8099 and any Modbus devices that are connected to it. Both utility programs run in a WIN32 PC.
The 8099 is RoHS compliant and is housed in ICS's small Minibox case that can be rack mounted in a 1 U high space. Pricing for the Model 8099 is $495.00 each is quantities of 1 to 4 units, FOB Pleasanton, California. Delivery is 1 to 4 weeks ARO.
ICS Electronics is a pioneer and leader in the design and development of IEEE 488/GPIB, Serial and VXI-11 products. The 8099 is the first of ICS's Modbus Interfaces to be converted to a VXI-11 Interface.
ICS Electronics is headquartered at 7034 Commerce Circle, Pleasanton, CA 94588. Phone (925) 416-1000. Contact Jerry Mercola, Marketing Manager for more information. Datasheet URL is http://www.icselect.com/pdfs/8099_ds.pdf
Trademarks: LabView is a trademark of National Instruments, Austin TX.
VEE is a trademark of Agilent, Palo Alto, CA.
GPIBAnyWhere is a trademark of ICS Electronics, Pleasanton, CA.
