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Embedded Computers for Instruments and Automation Catalog

The EtherSmart WildcardTM

This Ethernet Wildcard Provides an On-Ramp to Local Area Networks and the World Wide Web

The device Ethernet-enables any of Mosaic’s embedded controllers, single-board computers, and operator interfaces

The EtherSmart Wildcard makes it easy to put your instrument online. Simply plug a standard Ethernet cable into the RJ-45 jack on the Wildcard, and your instrument can communicate with other computers on a Local Area Network (LAN). Your application program can send emails to alert other computers on the network when significant events occur. You can even "browse into" your instrument using a browser running on an online PC to monitor the status of your instrument.

This tiny 2" by 2.5" board is a member of the Wildcard series that connects to Mosaic controllers. You can plug it into any QCard, QScreen, PDQBoard, PDQScreen, or Mosaic Handheld system to deliver the benefits of Ethernet connectivity to your application.

Specifications

Ethernet Port: Standard RJ45 jack hosts 10/100 Mbit Ethernet (autosending speed detection)
Protocols: HTTP, SMTP, TCP, DHCP, ICMP, ARP
Send Email: Deliver email with program-controlled content to a specified LAN IP address
Exchange Data: Open or accept a TCP/IP connection to send and receive binary or ASCII data
Browsable: Accepts connections from your web browser, serving out dynamic web pages as specified by your program
Drivers: Precoded software opens connections, exchanges data, sends email, and serves out web pages

Internet Protocol Support

The EtherSmart Wildcard implements the following protocols to establish and manage communications:

  • TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) for reliable data transmission with no lost data.
  • ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) allows the device to send and return "ping" packets which are useful for network debugging.
  • ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) establishes the correspondence between the 48-bit Ethernet (MAC) addresses and the 32-bit IP (Internet Protocol) address that identifies the parties on a network.

IP addresses can be assigned using a web configuration screen, via a telnet configuration session, or by calling an easy-to-use driver function from the application program. The simplest and most standard IP assignment method is to allow the host computer on the LAN to automatically assign an IP address to the EtherSmart Wildcard using DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) which is fully supported by the Wildcard.

Capable Hardware

The EtherSmart Wildcard is based on the Lantronix XPortTM that combines an x86 processor, flash memory, Ethernet network interface controller, and RJ45 jack into a single component. The XPort can support one Ethernet connection at a time. An on-board UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter) chip provides the interface between the Wildcard bus and the XPort. The 3.3V supply that runs the XPort can be shut down while the interface is not in use to conserve power.

Software for Data Exchange, Email and Web Service

Precoded software lets you open and close connections, exchange binary or ASCII data with the remote computer, send emails, and respond to sessions initiated by a web browser. By coding web content into your application, you can enable remote monitoring and control of your instrument from your web-connected PC.

Documentation