The Windows real-time extension »RealTime Suite« of the Berlin company Kithara Software enables with its new CAN module the development of automation solutions where a CAN communication in real-time is required. It focuses especially on users who need a time-critical handling of CAN messages, for instance machine builders and computer control companies.

In this areas a safe and timely equidistant data exchange is usually needed as well as a fast reaction on external events. Here, the standard Windows drivers delivered with CAN boards fail, because they are only usable from within the application context.

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By Dr. Martin Merkel, Christian Schlegel, IXXAT Automation GmbH

Already in the early days of CAN, Philips Medical Systems noticed the advantages of CAN and decided to use this network protocol as communication network for interconnecting various components such as collimators, generators, and patient tables in their x-ray systems. To achieve a modular and open approach, a group within Philips Medical Systems, managed by Tom Suters, developed the first higher layer protocol for CAN, the CAN Message Specification – CMS, which was presented to the public in 1992.
CMS provided the framework for the first official CAN based communication protocol specified by CAN in Automation, the CAN Application Layer (CAL). One of the reasons that may have lead to the limited market penetration was that CAL did not provide the functionality necessary for a straight-forward description of generic device or application profiles…

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IXXAT Automation GmbH, a leading supplier of products and services for the data communication in industrial and mobile systems, has announced the release of an IntervalZero RTX driver for one of its CAN boards, and said it will soon release RTX drivers for other CAN boards.
IXXAT’s communication solutions like CAN Boards, CANopen software and tools are used by companies worldwide in applications such as machine control, elevator technology, marine automation, commercial vehicles, military and medical technology.

The first RTX driver will be available for the intelligent CAN board iPC-I 320/PCI as this board is very interesting for hard real-time solutions. The next boards that will be supported are the high-end board series iPC-I XC16 and the USB-to-CAN.

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With the new iPC-I XC16/PCIe IXXAT offers soon a new CAN board for PCIexpress systems.

The new iPC-I XC16/PCIe is a powerful and economic solution for an active CAN board with two CAN channels. The interface is state-of-the-art, supports PCI express, and can be easily installed by Plug & Play. Some of the features offered by the on-board microcontroller include filtering, pre-processing, transmission and time-stamped storage of the CAN messages.
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