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Industrial Enclosures House Digital I/O, ISM Wireless Transceivers

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Wireless 24-Bit Discrete I/0 Unit Is Easy to Use, Offers Flexible Connectivity for Remote Data Acquisition San Diego, Calif.--ACCES I/O Products introduced its RIO-24, a ready-to-use Digital I/O solution with 24 bits in any combination of inputs or high-current outputs. The unit is housed in a steel enclosure and interfaces to a controlling computer through a wireless link, USB converter, or an RS-232 port via an RS-485 converter. Typical applications include remote data acquisition and control of switches, relays, and more. Key Features Wireless (a range up to 7 miles), USB, RS-485 or RS-232 connectivity Unit ships complete, power supply included Optional removable screw terminals for field wiring Software includes real-time display and log-to-disk feature I/O lines are configured as inputs or outputs by software command Outputs sink up to 350 mA each, or switch between 0 and 5 V DC Lines configured as outputs read back at the connector to verify proper operation Pull-up resistors on inputs are provided to read dry-contact closures Compatible with industry-standard solid-state module racks like Opto-22 Software Support A Windows-based application is included that allows for establishing communication, and quick setup and testing of I/O. The program displays all 24 inputs and outputs simultaneously, and allows for one-click direction configuration. Full source code is provided, as well as a number of other samples in a variety of languages to demonstrate techniques for developing custom applications for logic functions, etc. The RIO-24 can also be used as a standalone controller with the help of our Firmware Development Kit. All products come with a 30-day, no-risk return policy and a three-year warranty. For further information, visit the company's Web site at www.accesio.com. Price Wireless version: $995 USB version: $495 RS-232 version: $455 Part Numbers RIO-24-W (Wireless, Including Power Supply for Remote Unit) RIO-24-U (USB Connection) RIO-24-S (RS-485 to RS-232 Connection) Availability/Delivery Now; Stock to one week ARO. For further Information, contact: Marty J. Wingett or Marc Kryjewski Regional Sales Managers ACCES 1/0 Products, Inc. 10623 Roselle Street San Diego, CA 92121 Tel: 858.550.9559 FAX: 858.550.7322 E-mail: mwingett@accesio.com           mkryjewski@accesio.com URL: www.accesio.com

This is not only a smart data-acq and control product, but is also a leading-edge wireless one, too. At the heart of Acces I/O Products' less-than-$1000 RIO-24 is an 8031 microcontroller. The chip is replete with 8 × 8 kbits of RAM, and a like-sized nonvolatile EEPROM array. Any data that are collected are stored in this RAM, and are accessed later through the host's serial port. This ensures standalone operation. Like Acces I/O's RDG-24 system, from which this NEMA-enclosed product stems, both RAM and EEPROM can also be expanded to 8 × 32 kbits. Largely due to this processing power, the unit really looks like a CMOS-based 24-bit parallel wireless digital-I/O-to-PC interface. Significantly, the RIO-24 also includes optically isolated receiver/transmitters, as well as power conditioners for local and external isolated power. These products are also rated for operation over a commercial 0 to +65°C range, although you can order an option to accommodate the industrial range spanning -40°C to +80°C. Moreover, the RIO-24's enclosure meets NEMA4 requirements. Thanks to the 8031 controller, the RIO-24 also includes a watchdog timer. It can reset if the controller inadvertently locks up, which is another feature guaranteeing operation in a standalone mode. All of this adds up to an environmentally hardened unit that should lend itself to successful installation on the factory floor or in other electrically noisy and/or environmentally hostile environments. On the RF side, the RIO-24 uses a peer-to-peer protocol, based on direct-FM frequency-hopping spread-spectrum data transmissions. This takes place in either the 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz unlicensed ISM (Industrial-Scientific-Medical) bands. According to the company's regional sales manager and wireless guru Chris Bowen, the choice of band is an option. In either case, the unit's range depends on the antenna system that you use with the RIO-24. Feet to Miles Because Acces I/O is an OEM user of credit-card-sized shielded RF transceiver modules from Maxstream, that company, in turn, can supply a number of ISM antenna options for its modules, and hence for the RIO-24. As such, the FCC-approved 100 mW modules and antenna options permit you to get ranges for the RIO-24 extending from a few hundred feet up to many miles on line-of-sight paths. Raw data rates can be as high as 19,200 bits/s. This image shows how small Maxstream's modules are. As Acces I/O's press release states, a number of versions of the RIO-24 are available. The RIO-24-W spin includes the shielded RF transceiver and a snip of wire for an antenna. The RF module connects to the main board via ribbon cabling. At a remote site, a similar unit also uses a wireless transceiver that gets wired into an I/O pod. If no AC power is available, battery power can be used. Acces I/O can supply this option. The RIO-24-U version is packaged for connection to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) system. It accesses your PC's power supply through a Molex connector, and includes a special power output cable that installs with a card-mounting bracket that has a DB-9 connector on it. Mating to the DB-9 is a fused power cable that connects +12 V to the power input of the RIO-24. Communication with the host PC is accomplished via a USB-to-RS-485 converter. For its part, the Model RIO-24-S is packaged for connection to an RS-232 port via an RS-232 to RS-485 converter. This system also uses the PC power supply through a spare Molex connector and the power cable with DB-9. In terms of performance, the RIO-24s are software-programmable. Digital-input sample rates can be set from as slow as 14 Hz to as high as 1 kHz. Inputs of up to 50 V can be read individually, or in 8-bit bytes, or in 24-bit word groups. There are also input counters on each input. Selectable edges can be counted for up to 65,535 transitions. Change-of-state flags can also be set on any enabled input bits; these can then be read via the serial port. This is useful in applications where it's necessary to detect contact closures or openings. Change-of-state detection is enabled on a bit-by-bit basis for all the bits programmed for input. On the output side, you can generate square-wave pulses from 7 Hz up to 500 Hz. Like the unit's inputs, outputs can be programmed individually, in 8-bit bytes, or in 24-bit words. These outputs can also be latched, pulsed, or set to free-run for a pre-set period. The output drivers are also open-collector type with 350 mA of drive capability and up to 50 V of compliance. If no external voltage is supplied, these digital outputs are pulled up to 5 V. The system's noise-immune serial interface is also optically isolated. Compatible with RS-485, it can handle up to 32 drivers and receivers. The common-mode voltage is 300 V (if the opto-isolators are bypassed, the range is -7 V to +12 V). The system's differential input receiver sensitivity is ± 200 mV. On the serial transmitter, the unit can deliver up to 60 mA of drive, and can withstand shorts pulling as much as 100 mA. Serial data rates are programmable from 1200 baud to 57,600 baud. Lastly, Acces I/O's press release briefly mentions the Windows operating system. Suffice it to say that most of the company's cards support Windows. Interestingly, MS-DOS is supported as well. In any case, the RIO-24 can be accessed directly under Windows using the firm's ACCES32 program. It provides register-level control in a Win32 environment. Linux support is also available. ACCES32 is a Windows DLL that provides 32-bit Windows software with access to hardware registers. The package contains six functions (InPortB, OutPortB, InPort, and OutPort, InPortL, and OutPortL) to access the RIO-24 hardware via byte-sized, word-sized, and long-sized reads and writes. Here's what a Windows screen looks like. What a straightforward way to configure digital I/O lines! click for full-size image

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