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The ibaFOB-D family

ibaFOB-D cards and ibaFOBi-o-USB adapters are available in different versions:
› ibaFOB-D cards: PCI express cards with different numbers of FO connections
› ibaFOB-io-USB adapter for connecting to USB ports

Communication protocols

All current and former ibaNet communication protocols are supported by ibaFOB-D cards. The fiber optical input/output channels of one card can detect and process all valid ibaNet protocols independently from each other: 3Mbit, 5Mbit, 32Mbit and 32Mbit Flex.

Using the ibaNet protocol 32Mbit Flex, it is possible to transmit measurement and configuration data bidirectionally via FO connections with 32 Mbit/s. In contrast to other protocols, a LAN connection for transmitting configuration data is no longer required. The size of the data telegrams is flexible and can be up to 4060 Byte per FO connection.

Ring topology with 32Mbit Flex

32Mbit Flex supports up to 15 “flex capable” devices connected in a ring topology. The size of the data telegrams is flexible, as long as the total data amount of 4060 Byte will not be exceeded.

The maximum sampling rate depends on the acquisition devices and can be selected flexibly from 1 kHz to 100 kHz. The following basically applies: The less data are transferred, the higher is the possible sampling rate.

ibaPDA offers a useful function when setting sampling rate and data amount. For a device connected to the fiber optics, you can determine in the I/O manager, the maximum data amount that can be transferred depending on the configured sampling rate. Thus, you can e.g. estimate the maximum possible number of participants in a ring topology or the amount of data needed for the I/O modules, that are to be used.

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 reading the data. This is a significant relief for the CPU load while data traffic is boosted.

Extension modules for output signals

With the extension module ibaFOB-4o-D, 4 outputs are available that can be used for 2 different functions:
› Mirroring the inputs: The optical signals of the input channels are mirrored to the output channels without delay.
› Application outputs in duplex operation: Thus, with ibaPDA the alarm outputs can be used. Hence, in ibaLogic, output resources are available.

For output signals, the ibaFOB-4i- Dexp and ibaFOB-2i-Dexp cards can be extended with up to 2 additional ibaFOB-4o-D modules. You can only connect one additional module for mirroring the inputs and outputs to the ibaFOB-io- Dexp and ibaFOB-2io-Dexp cards.

FO connection to notebooks

The ibaFOB-io-USB adapter converts the iba fiber optic connection to a USB 2.0 or USB 3.x interface for connecting notebooks to ibaNet fiber optics. The USB adapter offers an FO input and an FO output. Performance and function are the same as for an ibaFOB-io-D card. Only one ibaFOB-io-USB adapter can be used per notebook or PC.

Plug & Play Installation

For the coupling with the control systems, all cards provide a bidirectional FO connection. The cards can be used right after they have been mounted (plug & play), all component parameters are controlled by software. Enhanced system diagnostics for the cards and the communication with the control systems are available in ibaPDA.

The cards offer a fast PCI express interface and integrated DMA technology. Thus, the CPU of the PC is relieved significantly and the data traffic is boosted.

Connection to PLUSCONTROL systems

For coupling Siemens PLUSCONTROL systems to the ibaPDA Process Data Acquisition system, we offer the ibaFOB-PlusControl card and the ibaFOB-PlusControl-SFP card with SFP cage. This card allows you to transmit up to 400 analog or digital signals. The para meters are set completely using the software. You can plug up to 4 cards in one PC.

Supported operational modes with ibaFOB-TDCexp and ibaFOB-SDexp

The cards ibaFOB-TDCexp and ibaFOB-SDexp support 2 operational modes:

ibaPDA Lite

The values to be measured are programmed in the control systems. For one card, a maximum of 16 tele grams is supported with 32 analog and 32 digital signals each. ibaPDA supports a maximum of 4 cards on one PC, additionally one Technostring signal. 

ibaPDA Request

The values to be measured are configured in ibaPDA by selecting the variables from the respective engineering software. The variables can be selected in an address book, without having to change the configuration. Up to 4 cards with up to 50 processor connections as well as Technostring signal are supported. The maximum number of signals depends on the ibaPDA license.

The Reflective Memory network

Reflective Memory is a specialized memory system used in realtime computing environments. Reflective Memory systems are designed to keep data synchronized across multiple computers or devices, allowing them to share and update data in real time. This technology is crucial for applications where multiple systems need to work together seamlessly, such as in industrial automation, simulations, and other high-speed data environments.

Accessing Reflective Memory data with ibaFOB-R

The ibaFOB-R board can be used for communication with ibaPDA as well as stand-alone board for communication inside an automation system.

All the necessary information for the purpose of integration development, including a detailed description of all registers, can be found in the manual. This should enable OEMs and system integrators to implement the ibaFOB-R board in their automation system.

Advantages of the ibaFOB-R card 

• High speed, easy to use fiberoptic network (2.125 Gbaud serially)
• PCI Express interface (up to 2 active lanes over a 4x connector, speed up to Gen2)
• No host processor involvement in the operation of the network
• Up to 256 nodes
• 256 MB Reflective Memory
• Independent Direct Memory Access (DMA) channel
• Configurable PCI PIO window size (2 MB, 16 MB, 64 MB, 256 MB)
• RoHS compliant

Use of the card

The multimode SFP module is mounted on the board. The standard slot bracket can be replaced by a supplied low profile slot bracket if the board is to be installed in a low profile PCIe slot. For data acquisition via ReflectiveMemory with ibaPDA, the interface license ibaPDAInter face-Reflective-Memory (order no. 31.001220) has to be purchased separately.

Ethernet-based data acquisition

The ibaN-2E card enables ibaNet-E-capable devices to be connected to a standard or industrial computer via Ethernet with ibaPDA. Thanks to the special ibaNet-E transmission protocol, measurement data can be acquired deterministically and with high precision. ibaNet-E-capable devices from iba can be connected either via a dedicated ibaNet-E network or via a standard Ethernet network.

Fast sampling with dedicated ibaNet-E network

The ibaN-2E card can be used in conjunction with ibaM-COM and ibaM-DAQ devices to set up a dedicated ibaNet-E network, enabling deterministic and synchronous sampling at up to 1 μs20. The data throughput corresponds approximately to the total bandwidth of a network interface.

Connection via standard Ethernet

If a standard Ethernet network is used, measurement data can also be acquired from other ibaNet-E participants, such as ibaW-750. Sampling then is carried out synchronously at up to 1 ms and with a lower guaranteed data throughput.

Interfaces with switch function

The two 1 GbE network interfaces of the ibaN-2E card are designed as RJ45 (copper) and with a switch function. Up to 4 ibaN-2E cards can be inserted into a computer and synchronized with each other.