Device Drivers for PC Cards

PC cards for industrial communication tasks are designed for the integration of PC-based systems into automated environments. These cards support a wide range of industrial Ethernet and fieldbus protocols, allowing PCs to communicate with various industrial devices and systems. Their device drivers are essential components as they provide the necessary software interface between the PC-based system and the industrial communication systems. 

They play a crucial role in industrial automation and communication systems, as they enable the seamless integration of various peripheral devices into a computer system. These device drivers serve as intermediary software between the hardware of the PC card and the operating system of the computer. They enable the operating system to communicate effectively with the PC card so that it functions correctly within the system environment.

Device drivers for PC cards allow the operating system to communicate with specific hardware devices. They are designed to provide a layer of abstraction between the hardware and the software, shielding the operating system from the complexities of hardware-specific interactions. They fulfill various tasks: 

Hardware integration 

Device drivers provide the necessary initialization and access functions for the operating system to recognize and interact with the components of the PC Card. This includes communication interfaces such as fieldbus ports, Ethernet ports and specialized industrial protocols like Modbus, PROFIBUS or EtherNet/IP. 

Functionality support 

Device drivers enable the implementation of specific functionalities offered by the PC Card, such as initialization and configuration, communication establishment and monitoring of connection status as well as reliable cyclic and acyclic data exchange. These functionalities are crucial for tasks ranging from sensor data collection to real-time control in industrial automation systems. 

Compatibility and stability

Device drivers ensure compatibility between the PC Card and the operating system, as well as the overall stability of the system. They are designed to handle various hardware configurations and software environments and minimizing compatibility issues. 

Performance optimization

Efficient device drivers optimize the performance of the PC Card by implementing algorithms for data processing, buffering, and resource management. This optimization is essential for meeting the demanding requirements of industrial automation and communication applications, which often involve high-speed data transfer and real-time processing. 

Security and reliability 

Device drivers play a crucial role in ensuring the security and reliability of industrial automation and communication systems. They implement mechanisms for data integrity, access control, and error handling to prevent unauthorized access, data corruption, or system failures. 

Device drivers for PC Cards are indispensable components in PC-based automation systems, enabling seamless integration, efficient operation, and reliable performance of various peripherals and devices within the system environment. 

Depending on the application, various operating systems are used for PC-based systems in automated environments, which need to be integrated into the industrial communication networks via device drivers. Some of the most important are: 

Linux is an open source operating system known for its stability, security and flexibility, making it a popular choice for industrial automation systems. Its customizability allows for specific software and hardware requirements that are critical in various industrial applications. Linux supports a wide range of server functions such as web, database and file servers, which are essential for industrial environments. 

QNX is a commercial, Unix-like real-time operating system (RTOS) that is primarily tailored to embedded systems. It uses a microkernel architecture in which the essential operating system services run in kernel mode and other functions are executed as processes in user mode. This design improves the reliability and scalability of the system. In particular, the microkernel's isolation mechanisms minimise downtime and vulnerability to cyberattacks. In industrial automation, QNX is characterised by its robust real-time capabilities. It supports the seamless migration of POSIX-based systems and simplifies the development of functionally reliable automation devices. Specific use cases include medical devices, automotive systems and robotics that offer high reliability and performance. 

INtime Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) is a specialized OS designed for deterministic, hard real-time control, capable of functioning alongside standard Windows systems without additional hardware. Built on an asymmetric multi-processing architecture, INtime assigns dedicated resources like CPUs, RAM, and I/O to ensure microsecond-precise timing. The applications of INtime in industrial automation are vast and diverse. In automotive systems and industrial control, it supports operations that demand precise timing and high reliability. In the medical technology sector, INtime's deterministic capabilities are crucial for devices such as pacemakers, which require real-time data processing. Furthermore, its use extends to network and telecommunications devices where reliable and timely responses are critical. Aerospace industry applications benefit from INtime due to its scalability and precision, which are essential for mission-critical operations. 

VxWorks is a high-performance real-time operating system (RTOS) designed for mission-critical embedded systems. Due to its reliability and deterministic performance, it is widely used in industries such as aerospace, defence, automotive and industrial automation. Key features include memory protection, support for multi-core processing and various file systems such as DOS, Network File System and High-Reliability File System. The benefits of VxWorks include high performance, scalability, faster time-to-market and compliance with stringent security certifications. Its real-time capabilities enable predictable and responsive runtime environments, which is critical for applications that require precise timing. In industrial automation, VxWorks is used in robotics, manufacturing equipment and control systems. It supports the use of AI/ML models for tasks such as optimising production efficiency and predictive maintenance. Compared to other RTOS such as QNX, VxWorks uniquely supports OCI containers and Kubernetes, facilitating automated software pipelines. 

The IntervalZero RTX and RTX64 real-time operating systems (RTOS) are advanced extensions that transform Microsoft Windows into a robust RTOS. They are used in various industrial and technological fields such as industrial automation, digital audio/video, aerospace, medical devices and power generation. RTX/RTX64 are critical for applications that require precise timing and high reliability. These systems utilize x86 multicore processing and symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) to increase performance and reduce reliance on proprietary hardware. The RTX64 RTOS platform is known for its integration with Windows 10, providing highly accurate real-time capabilities while benefiting from the ease of use and IoT capabilities of Windows. In addition, RTX64 supports determinism, multi-core scheduling and interrupt handling in real-time environments. This integration ensures the efficient execution of high-precision tasks found in machine controllers with real-time networks such as TSN or EtherCAT. 

These are just a few examples tailored to specific operating systems. Depending on the target environment and application requirements, developers may need to choose or develop drivers compatible with other operating systems such as Windows, WinAC, VxWorks, or other specialized real-time operating systems for embedded systems. These device drivers play a crucial role in enabling communication between the PC card and the host system, allowing for the exchange of data and control signals. They are essential for the proper functioning of PC based systems in various applications, including industrial automation, communication, and control systems.

Hilscher is a company known for its expertise in industrial communication technology, particularly for providing multiprotocol-capable network interfaces. Their range of products and services includes communication controllers, embedded modules, gateways, and protocol firmware for industrial automation. 

Hilscher also has a broad portfolio of PC cards in various form factors - from PCI and PCI Express to the ultra-compact M.2 format - which can communicate via all common fieldbus, Real-Time Ethernet and IIoT communication technologies. These include OPC UA, MQTT, PROFINET, DeviceNet and Sercos. These PC cards are used for communication at field level between controllers such as PLCs and field devices such as sensors or actuators. They enable seamless integration into industrial automation environments and reliable data exchange between the various components. 

Hilscher sees itself as a one-stop store for industrial communication and therefore offers ready-made device drivers for all its products based on the netX communication controllers, e.g: Windows, Linux, VxWorks, INtime, IntervalZero, QNX or WinAC. 

All Hilscher drivers have a standardized user interface (CIFX API) and are based on a C toolkit that can also be used to develop your own device drivers. The drivers take over the complete management of the communication assemblies, including the loading of firmware and configuration files. The user interface contains all the functions required for initializing, parameterizing, exchanging data and reading status information. The drivers contribute to a significant reduction in development effort and time-to-market, thus minimizing the risks for users.