PSI System Controls and Diagnostics
F3200E User Manual
F3200E_UM_180726 Page 30 of 107
10.6 Communication to the host computer
The F3200E provides three alternative communications interfaces to the host computer. You
must work with a suitable host computer and software to set up acquisitions on the F3200E and
read back and display the results.
The most commonly-used is the standard 100/10BaseT Ethernet interface which supports TCP/IP
and UDP protocols. The F3200E can serve multiple clients on the network.
There is also a 10 Mbps serial fiber optic channel which provides compatibility with the Pyramid
Technical Consultants, Inc. loop controllers, and thus the complete range of Pyramid products.
Finally, a serial interface which can be operated with RS-232 or RS-485 levels provides a simple
interface for applications where high data rates are not needed or diagnostic work.
As well as being a slave device on a fiber optic loop, the F3200E can also act as a loop
controller. This allows other Pyramid devices to connect to a host computer through the F3200E,
therefore avoiding the need for a dedicated loop controller in some cases.
The F3200E supports the Ethernet, fiber optic interface as a loop controller and serial interface.
Support for use of the F3200E as a slave device on a fiber optic loop may be added in a future
software release according to customer need.
10.7 Embedded software
The F3200E runs an embedded version of the Linux operating system on NIOS processors
implemented in the FPGAs. Four firmware files make up a full release, and you can update with
a single zip file which integrates all the releases, and thus ensures that you have compatible
versions.
