netX 90 – as a ready-to-use PC Card

Hilscher’s netX 90 SoC does not only serve as a stand-alone solution but is also offered along with a powerful communication interface in the form of a ready-to-use PC-card. The PC-cards, called cifX, provide you with both the benefits of Hilscher’s netX chip technology as well as the advantages of an easy and manually mountable ready to use PC card – with netX 90 even in the small M.2 format. Thereby, helping you to equip your compact products fast and simply with industrial network connectivity.

Relying on a ready-designed PC-card reduces your hardware development efforts to a minimum and ensures a fast time to market. You only need to mount the PC-card within your devices and merge your application with the cifX network functionalities – your product is ready to connect to numerous industrial networks in no time. A comprehensive package with all the necessary hard- and software components is included in the scope of delivery.

Learn more about Hilscher's netX 90-based PC cards!

Key Features

  • Space-saving and energy-efficient

    The unique technical features of Hilscher’s netX 90 chip enables you to design innovative, compact and energy-efficient devices with a PC-card in the M.2 format with a size of only 22x30 mm
  • Multi-Protocol

    One hardware platform supports various Real-Time Ethernet and Fieldbus networks with a unified cifX application interface
  • Multi-Platform

    Various device drivers for all common OS such as Windows, Linux, INtime, RTX, QNX and a C-Toolkit are available

Not sure if cifX fits your needs? Our experts are glad to support the commissioning of your product, just get in touch with us!

Contact one of our experts!

Typical Applications

netX 90 based PC-Cards are capable of providing industrial network connectivity to any PC-based system that has a PCI Express M.2 socket. The possible applications of PC-based automation in factory automation are countless. Typical areas of use are for example:

  • Industrial PCs (IPC)
  • Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) and mobile devices
  • Optical inspection systems
  • Robotics

With more than 35 years of experience, VITRONIC Dr.-Ing. Stein Bildverarbeitungssysteme GmbH is a global player for industrial machine vision systems. When it comes to developing one of the world's most advanced optical systems for automated weld seam inspection, the Wiesbaden-based company relies, among other things, on Hilscher's cifX PC cards in a M.2 format.

User Story - Vitronic

Minimum effort – Maximum profit for you

Hilscher is offering you a comprehensive hard- and software package with its cifX PC-cards. They are ready-to-mount and can be put directly into operation by you. The hardware design is maintained over the product’s entire lifecycle, so you do not have to worry about outdated or improper components. Just rely on Hilscher’s many years of experience in industrial communication!

One hardware fits all – cifX PC-cards are compatible to all common RTE and fieldbus protocols. All you need to do is to load the corresponding firmware for your protocols onto the PC card. Besides the firmware for various industrial communication protocols, Hilscher also delivers device drivers for numerous operating systems such as Windows, Linux or Intime.

From small to large, from master to slave – cifX PC-cards cover almost all requirements of industrial communication while simultaneously offering a uniform configuration interface. Hence you can draw upon familiar technology if the hardware requirements in your application change.

Learn more about Hilscher's cifX portfolio!

Find out more about Hilscher's netX90-based PC Cards

Listen to Hilscher's cifX product manager Tim Pauls presenting the M.2 at the SPS trade fair

Hilscher Blog

Please also have a look at our blog. There you will learn everything about current developments, product launches as well as news and trends regarding industrial communication technology and factory automation.

Hilscher releases cifX PC-card in M.2 format.

With the new cifX in M.2 2230 format Hilscher introduces the smallest multiprotocol PC-card on the automation market. A comprehensive package including all necessary hard- and software components is provided in the scope of delivery. Customers only have to mount, install and connect their application and network connection.

Multiprotocol PC cards for compact systems such as box IPCs or vision systems.

Hilscher also offers a mini PCIe halfsize format of its netX-based PC-cards, designed for integration into small and compact applications such as Box IPCs, HMI panels or vision systems. Find out more in this blog article!