ibaFOB-io-ExpressCard Manual
Issue 1.2
7
5
Description
5.1
Properties
ExpressCard with 2 fiber optic connections for laptop computers
Fast data transfer between card and computer’s memory by DMA technology
(CPU load relieving)
Support for all ibaNet communication protocols (2 Mbit/s, 3.3 Mbit/s, 5 Mbit/s,
32 Mbit/s and 32Mbit Flex)
Up to 512 analog and 512 digital signals to be sent/received over the fiber optic
link
Sampling time between 10 µs and 2 ms
Replacement for ibaCom-PCMCIA-F with FO-adapter ibaCom-FO-A
Suitable for ExpressCard slots with 34 mm or 54 mm
Plug and Play
5.2
Usage
The card is a member of the ibaFOB-D card family and should be used with mobile
computers for measurement purposes. It can be used for connecting a notebook com-
puter with iba field devices like ibaPADU analog-digital converter units, ibaNet750 de-
vices, ibaLink system couplings and iba bus monitors.
The ibaFOB-io-ExpressCard with its integrated fiber optic adapter provides for higher
data transmission rates (up to 32 Mbit/s) compared with the former ibaPCMCIA-F card
and shows a performance like the ibaFOB-io-D card.
Considered this, a measurement with mobile computers can be of the same quality le-
vel like with stationary systems.
ibaPDA-V6, version 6.24 or higher is required for operation of this card.
5.3
Communication protocols
All current and former ibaNet communication protocols are supported. Thus, data from
an old ibaPADU device (S/N < 1000) as well as from an ibaPADU-S-IT of the new gen-
eration can be processed by this card.
Furthermore, the ibaNet protocol 5 Mbit/s for fast data acquisition (25 kHz) over de-
vices ibaPADU-8-ICP, ibaPADU-8-M or -16-M is supported.
The valid ibaNet protocol of the fiber optic input data stream is detected automatically
by the card. The 32Mbit Flex protocol is supported with firmware version V2.00 (build
172 (C2)) or higher.
5.4
Fast data processing with reduced CPU load
Due to the DMA technology (DMA = Direct Memory Access) measured data are written
directly into the computer’s memory which is used by the software application for read-
ing the data. It is a significant relief for the CPU load while data traffic is boosted.
