Serial device server adds seamless networking

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Nov 29, 2002

When National Optronics was asked to add Ethernet and Internet functionality to its serial-port-equipped 4T frame tracer, it found the solution was simple to apply.

National Optronics is a leading manufacturer of precision lens processing equipment used in the optical industry.

In 2000, the company introduced its leading product - the 4T frame tracer - which became popular instantly among opticians around the country.

4T frame tracer is a fully loaded, computerised, three-dimensional frame tracer that includes a trace and frame geometry display at the tracer, dual eye tracing, automatic stylus placement, and an easy user interface.

In general, users store the data in 4T frame tracer's buffer.

When the buffer is full, data can be transferred to a PC or data storage device via 4T frame tracer's two serial ports.

But most opticians' offices around the USA want to share their data over a network to improve productivity.

In fact, a well-known resale chain based in the USA posed this problem to National Optronics's engineers.

The type of network connectivity they sought would require a large financial investment on National Optronics' part to rewire their equipment to transparently convert data between the serial and Ethernet interfaces.

But National Optronics discovered that ready-made, embedded serial-to-Ethernet devices were already available on the market, and after carrying out a careful and stringent product testing procedure, the company chose the Moxa NPort Express Module DE-311M as the best solution for integrating with 4T frame tracer, thus providing the product with instant Ethernet capability.

Because of its compact size and state of the art firmware, the Moxa DE-311M is a perfect fit for the 4T frame tracer.

After adding DE-311M to the frame tracer, the product can easily convert data between serial and Ethernet.

Moreover, users can now save data over a network instead of in the machine's limited buffer space, and they can remotely access the 4T frame tracer over the company's intranet, or even over the Internet, by assigning a public IP address.

The Moxa NPort Express Module DE-311M supports a wide range of protocols, including TCP/IP, UDP, Telnet, Rtelnet, and DHCP, and most importantly, provides drivers supporting Windows real COM ports and Linux tty ports.

National Optronics did not need to write extra software to accommodate the Moxa DE-311M, and customers do not need to update their original serial application software.

With Moxa's flexible and reliable firmware, National Optronics was able to implement the project faster and easier.

"Moxa DE-311M serial device server provides us with an easy and instant solution to let our 4T frame tracer acquire Ethernet capability.

4T frame tracer now meets most of our customers' needs, both for the Ethernet and serial interfaces", said National Optronics' product engineer.

"After adding Moxa DE-311M to our 4T frame tracer, sales increased by 300%, and we anticipate selling 1000 units of 4T frame tracer this year compared with the 200 to 300 units sold last year".