74401 Echelon PCLTA-20 PCI LonTalk Adapter - TP/FT-10A

The 7440x Series PCLTA-20 PCI LonTalk Adapters are high-performance LonWorks interfaces for personal computers equipped with a 32-bit Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) interface and a compatible operating system. Designed for use in LonWorks control networks that require a PC to monitor, manage, or diagnose the network, the PCLTA-20 adapter is ideal for industrial control, building automation, and process control applications. The PCLTA-20 adapter features either an integral twisted pair transceiver or an SMX transceiver interface, downloadable memory, a network management interface, and plug-and-play capability with Microsoft Windows 95/98/2000 and Windows NT.

The PCLTA-20 adapters provide both LNS network services interface (NSI) functionality for use with LNS tools, and Microprocessor Interface Program (MIP)-compatible network interface functionality for use with LonManager API-based tools.

Installation software for the PCLTA-20 adapters are provided with the LonMaker Integration Tool, LNS DDE Server, and LNS Aplication Kit software distributions, or may be downloaded from the developer's tool box section of the Echelon website. They include a software-based control panel and a software driver for Microsoft Windows 95/98/2000 and Windows NT. The control panel provides a convenient means of setting and modifying installation parameters, diagnosing card operation, and displaying error messages. The adapters support plug-and-play operation, simplifying installation.

The LNS network operating system allows any number of installation, maintenance, monitoring, and control devices to exist in a system and to adapt to network configuration changes automatically. Users can reconfigure the system from any user interfacing device anywhere on the network and ensure that all monitoring and control stations are always up-to-date with respect to the system's configuration. When used with the appropriate software, the LNS network services interface (NSI) functionality of the PCLTA-20 adapter allows the attached host to run LNS applications.

In both NSI mode and MIP modes, the adapters also permit the host PC to act as a LonWorks application device, running application-specific programs while the adapters handle lower layer functions such as media access control, collision avoidance, message validation, authentication, and priority processing. The host application, including its network variables, can be changed at any time without modifying the adapters. The PCLTA-20 adapters, combined with the host PC, can also be used with applications that require more processing power, memory, input/output capability, or network variable connections than are provided by the Neuron Chip alone.

Firmware for the adapters are downloaded from the host PC. This allows the adapters to be updated as new versions of the software and firmware are released, without modifying or physically accessing the PCLTA-20 adapters. This feature extends the useful service life of the adapters, and minimizes the cost and time associated with software and firmware updates.