In the field of automation, the ability to communicate is already among basic functions of each device. But these requirements far outstrip the RS-232 interface used up to now with the company's own protocol. In their place, open fieldbus interfaces oriented to the customer and market are promoted. Short development times and high costs, in which the efforts for the configuration tool and the software maintenance must be taken into account, have led to the development of our own COM module.

COM modules are a simple and economical solution for implementing a fieldbus interface. As compact plug-in cards with identical dimensions they are interchangeable. The same firmware runs on them as on the communication interfaces or on the embedded controller EC1, so that the same application interface permits transparent integration.

The COM-C module is a compact communication module. The connector for the fieldbus connection already exists.

Firmware and configuration are saved in a Flash-EPROM in a non-resetting on voltage failure manner. In this way an extension of the function is ensured even in devices that have already been delivered.

The configuration is carried out direct via the dual-port memory or via the serial diagnostic interface. For the more complex master modules it is possible to carry out the configuration with the aid of our SyCon® system configurator, while for slaves modules it is more simple to carry out the configuration directly from the application.

The Slave modules possess plenty of computing power for the implementation of customer-specific functions.

The start into the COM technology is done with an evaluation kit. It contains beside the documentation with sample program, a complete fieldbus system consisting of a COM module on a PC carrier card, fieldbus cable, partner station and system configurator SyCon®. The one day training with our system specialists is also part of the evaluation kit and makes sure that no question remains open.