Press Releases January/February 2009

Meilhaus Electronic software support

Driver support for DAQ boards with Linux and Windows

ME-iDS is the new intelligent driver system for the DAQ and control boards designed by Meilhaus Electronic. In addition to Windows, Meilhaus Electronic increasingly counts on the potential of Linux. Two very popular software development environments for Linux are ANSI-C and LabVIEW for Linux. Moreover, the driver system ME-iDS also supports the programming language Python which works across the two system platforms. On the Windows side C/C++, C#, Visual Basic, Delphi, Python, VEE Pro and LabVIEW are supported.

The ME-iDS simplifies and standardizes the programming of all supported ME boards and devices. The driver system offers a consistent programming interface across all ME devices and operating systems or programming environments. The Meilhaus Electronic DAQ and control boards can be used with Linux or Windows as well as with all the supported bus platforms: No matter whether PCI, PCI-Express, CompactPCI/PXI or even remote ethernet devices are used – the driver software stays the same. The programmer doesn't have to make a difference between the bus platforms or the operating system. In simplified terms the concept of the ME-iDS is an "interplay" of questions and answers between software and hardware. The software can query all supported devices about their components and properties. In a next step this information is used to access certain functional groups of the hardware ("subdevices"). These subdevices are "analog acquisition", "analog output", "digital I/O" or "external interrupt" and others. A variety of programming examples demonstrates how to use the driver system with the supported environments.

The hardware offered by Meilhaus Electronic and supported by the ME-iDS includes DAQ and control boards for PCI, PCI-Express, 3 U CompactPCI/PXI as well as solutions converted to ethernet/LAN and USB. The boards with analog inputs can measure voltages, currents, sensor signals etc. The analog outputs control analog actuators or simulate signals for example in test stands. The digital channels are used for switching, to control PLCs, acquire or output digital signals. Many models have full galvanic isolation that increases the reliability and security in industrial environments. The interrupt control ability of many boards allows event-based operation (eg. interrupt on defective device under test) in contrast to the cycle-based operation of many PLCs.

Driver system ME-iDS

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Meilhaus Electronic expands embedded PC/104 card line

Serial and digital interfaces for embedded PC/104 and PC/104-Plus

Even in its original, ISA-based version, the PC/104 form factor still plays a decisive role in embedded applications. The cards have a very compact size of about 90 mm x 96 mm and can be stacked without using a backplane. PC/104-Plus is the PCI-bus-based version of the standard, but also has a connector for the ISA bus (which is simply connected through) whereas PCI/104 is the "pure" PCI version. Recently a new PCI-Express-based alternative has also been included into the standard.

Meilhaus Electronic offers interface cards in the classic ISA-based PC/104 format as well as the PC/104-Plus format. The ME-90 is a serial 8-port interface card. The ports can either be RS232, or RS422/RS485, or a mix of half RS232 and half RS422/485. RS422 or RS485 is selectable via jumpers. Two flat ribbon cables with 4x 9-pin D-sub male connectors each are included. The data transmission rates are up to 1 MBaud (UART data, in practice depending on system performance). RS422/RS485 termination is jumper-selectable. RS485 transmission control can use RTS or DTR half-duplex or auto switch. All RS232 handshake lines are available at the connector. With an extended operating temperature range of –40...+85°C, ESD protection, an additional external interrupt input and a 5 V voltage output pin per port, the ME-90 is the ideal solution for point-of-sales, retail and industrial datacom applications. The PC/104 versions have a wide address range. The base address is selectable via jumpers. The cards can work as standard COM ports with Windows, Linux and other operating systems – no special driver is required. In the PC/104-Plus format the card supports the PCI Plug'n'Play technique. Drivers are available for Windows Vista/XP/2000 and Linux.

The PC/104-sized ME-24 has 24 TTL digital I/O channels. They are grouped in three 8-bit-wide port. Each port can be programmed to be input or output. The ME-24 also has a wide address range, an extended operating temperature range of –40...+85°C and an additional external interrupt input.

ME PC/104
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