All the standard functions of a PC on a DIN rail

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Nov 9, 2000

Now available from PEP Modular Computers is the Rotec VisionCompact range of cost effective PCs mounted on a DIN rail, which integrate all the standard functions of a PC including fieldbus interfaces

Now available from PEP Modular Computers is the Rotec VisionCompact range of cost effective PCs mounted on a DIN rail.

Although small and compact these modules integrate all the standard functions of a PC including fieldbus interfaces for local and remote extensions.

The VisionCompact PC along with the powerful VisionControl software is the ideal solution for automation tasks including communication, visualisation and control.

VisionCompact PCs are based on either the 5x86-P75 processor or the Pentium processors with MMX technology and are available at speeds of 133MHz and higher.

Energy saving low voltage technology ensures low power dissipation, the use of industry standard chip sets guarantee 100% PC compatibility and an open hardware architecture allows easy future migration to versions with the Pentium II processor.

Real-time software support is provided for these DIN rail mounted PCs, as is support for various popular operating systems including Windows NT, Windows95, Windows98 and VxWorks.

The real-time kernels in the VisionCompact PCs utilise the special NMI and timers provided, programmable time slicing down to 0.1ms and fast handling of interrupts to enable hard real-time operation under Windows.

A direct port enables I/O terminals to be mounted on the DIN rail next to the VisionCompact.

There is a second configurable fieldbus port in the form of a standard 9-pin D-Sub connector for the connection of various fieldbus interfaces.

Intelligent CAN, non-intelligent CAN, Interbus-S Master and PROFIBUS-DP Master are all supported.

A non-intelligent SJA1000 CAN controller is provided on-board along with one or two PC/104 or PC/104-Plus slots depending on variant selected.

LCDs can be connected up to a distance of 10 metres away via the high-speed LVDS digital data link interface.

The graphics controller supports LCDs with a resolution up to 1280 x 1024 and a maximum of 16.7 million colours can be displayed.

Simultaneously to the LCD, an analogue CRT monitor can be operated.

The main memory has a capacity up to 128MB while hard disks with more than 2GB are used for mass storage.

Alternatively, compatible silicon disks from 4MB up to 140MB can be used.

A battery-backed 256KB SRAM fast access data memory with access times below 1 microsecond enables real-time storage of data that is being scanned at high speed.

For service and diagnostic tasks external floppy disk drives can be connected via the front panel interface.

An ULTRA SCSI interface enables the connection of external hard disks, CD-ROM drives, scanners and cameras.

The PC card slot of the VisionCompact II allows live insertion of PCMCIA card types I, II and III.

For network communication an Ethernet controller is incorporated conforming to the IEEE802.3 standard, connections for 10Base2 Cheapernet and 10BaseT twisted pair are provided.

There are eight status display LEDs for power supply, watchdog, network activity, hard disk and fan.

Up to five of these LEDs can be freely programmed.

The compact casing of the VisionCompact is mounted on 35mm DIN rail and all input and output ports and interfaces are mounted on the front panel for ease of cabling.

A 60W 24V power supply and fan are incorporated.

Up to five standard ISA bus cards can be added via an optional extension box.