KIT386EXR

KIT386EXR is a small single-board computer designed as a multi-purpose control unit to be used in industrial control systems, machines, devices, controllers, or data collection systems. Its design includes partial PC-AT/DOS compatibility. The unit is based on the INTEL 386EX processor. Beside the 32-bit CPU, this highly integrated static processor includes a number of peripheral circuits, such as an interruption controller, a refresh controller, a DMA controller, a reader/timer, synchronous and asynchronous communication channels. Application programs can use the SRAM, FLASH and EPROM types of memory. The maximum memory capacity is indicated in the table. Depending on the memory size required by your applications you can select the appropriate size of each memory type and the way you want to use it - for the operating memory, solid state disk, flash file system, system management mode, etc.

To provide for peripheral devices connection, the KIT386EXR control unit contains the IO bus, the P bus, and the COM bus, known from the KITV40 module kit, and the PC/104 bus to connect PC/104 extension modules (such as video cards, PMCIA card adapter, disk controllers...).

A number of digital and analogue extension modules are manufactured to be used with the interfaces stated above, enhancing the basic hardware of the KIT386EXR control unit and allowing to connect a number of various devices. Analogue A/D and D/A converters are used to monitor and control pressure, temperature and revolution speed. Digital inputs and outputs can be monitored and controlled by switches of various types. Power components (230/380V) can be directly controlled by additional output modules. You can also select additional modules to create a configuration best suited to the given application. The user may also connect his own modules.

Basic Technical Specifications:

Extension Modules

For a brief list of the SofCon extension boards and the KIT modules, click here.

• IO modules The IO bus allows to connect as many as 8 I/O boards. These boards contain analogue and digital inputs and outputs, counter inputs, communication channels, etc. SofCon also develops customer boards, if they are manufactured in series. For a detailed list of IO-boards, click here.
• COM modules The COM bus allows to connect COM modules that transfer the TTL level of the COM bus to the RS232, RS485 levels, etc.
• P modules P modules contain power components, such as transistors, relays, solid state relays. You connect these modules either to P-bus or to galvanic-insulated inputs or outputs, for example, to the IODIO01, IODOO01, IODXO01 boards. The standard control for output modules is 24V, on demand also 5V or 12V. For a detailed list of P modules, click here.
• Terminal boards Terminal boards are used as interface between the control system and its environment. From one side, there is a flat cable connection using cutting connectors, on the other side, there are cabling clamps. Terminal boards can be placed in mounting frames to be directly fitted onto the DIN/EN TS 32 and TS 35 anchoring bars. For a detailed list of terminal boards, click here.
• PC104 modules The PC104 bus is designed to connect third-party PC104 standard extension modules. PC104-VGA is the most popular module used to connect a VGA monitor.

Programming

To program SofCon control systems, you can use the two following platforms.

The first platform is Borland Pascal Development Environment / ReTOS o.s. This environment allows you to fully utilize all SW and HW features and to program all types of control tasks that require very fast responses. To achieve this, write the application directly in the Borland Pascal programming language and use a large number of the SofCon libraries. This platform requires professional programming skills

The other platform is KIT-Builder Development environment. This environment provides easy programming of simple control tasks that do not require very fast responses. You write your application in the KIT-Basic language that is partly compiled and partly interpreted while the program is running. This platform does not require professional programming skills. You can use the graphic support to design terminal screens.

Conclusion

We believe that with its high performance, low power supply and small size, the KIT386 microcomputer kit will satisfy a wide range of applications and find customers working in areas of regulation, automations and control.

Within a short time period and on demand, SofCon Ltd. is capable to design, manufacture and supply both hardware and software for any given application, or to participate as a consultant in solving specific tasks