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Introduction

NetX USB FTDI driver installation: USB FTDI driver installation for the COMX-EB evaluation board and Hilscher hardware containing the FTDI USB converter netXSPMUSB DLL for Windows Windows function DLL including the CIFX-API interface. Hilscher's unique selling point is a comprehensive portfolio of solutions for fieldbuses and Real-Time Ethernet and IO-Link, offering a one-stop shop for hardware and software protocol stacks. Hilscher offers netX technology for device manufacturers, including development services and customized module manufacturing. To work with a Hilscher device make sure that you have the recommended driver installed, newest SYCON.net, and firmware prepared. Profinet requirements are written down in HilscherChannelOpenProfinet documentation.

To work with a Hilscher device make sure that you have the recommended driver installed, newest SYCON.net, and firmware prepared. Profinet requirements are written down in Hilscher_Channel_Open_Profinet documentation.

The easiest way to install firmware to the cifX Driver is using the cifX Driver Setup software - the Windows Search in the start menu should find this tool, otherwise it is located in C:Program Files cifX Device Driver directory. In the cifX Driver Setup Utility select the channel you want to configure (usually channel 0 - CH#0) and remove preexisting firmware by clicking 'Clear'. To add a new firmware file click 'Add', navigate to the downloaded profinet slave firmware and click 'Open'. Finally, click 'Apply' - the button should turn disabled.

Generating channel configuration files

Channel configuration files are generated in SYCON.net software. Firstly, pick a proper slave device using a PCI card, here we use the Profinet Stand-Alone Slave, and drag it to the gray bus on the 'Network View'.

To open card configuration, double click on its icon and select the 'Configuration/Modules' category in the Navigation Area on the left side of the dialog. In the main window you can add individual modules. Remember that in Profinet, Slot configuration must match the configuration from your master device, otherwise the connection will not work. For boolean indicators we recommend '1 Byte Output' or '1 Byte Input'.

You can see the final address table (addresses on the Hilscher device where input or output data will be available) in the 'Configuration/Address table' category. If you plan to use IORead and IOWrite filters, for example Hilscher_Channel_IORead_SInt8, note the addresses. You can switch the display mode to decimal, as Adaptive Vision Studio accepts decimal addressing, not hexadecimal. Adaptive Vision Studio implementation of Profinet checks whether the address and data size match. In the sample configuration below, writing a byte to address 0x002 would not work, because that module address starts at 0x001 and spans 2 bytes. Moreover, Adaptive Vision Studio prohibits writing with a SlotWrite filter to input areas, and reading with a SlotRead filter from output areas. Click 'OK' when you have finished the proper configuration.

The final step is to generate configuration files for Adaptive Vision Studio. You can to this by right clicking on the device icon, then navigating to 'Additional Functions->Export->DBM/nxd...', entering your configuration name and clicking 'Save'. You can now close SYCON.net for this example, remember to save your project before, so that it is easier to add new slots.

Filters in Adaptive Vision Studio

At the beginning of every program where you want to use filters intended for communication over a Hilscher card you need to add Hilscher_Channel_Open_Profinet filter. The configuration files generated in the previous step are now required in inConfig (xxx.nxd) and inNwid (xxx_nwid.nxd) properties of that filter. These files are used when there is no connection between a card and a Profinet master. In that case Adaptive Vision Studio updates the card configuration and starts the communication. For IO, we recommend SlotRead and SlotWrite filters, as they are more convenient. For example, the Hilscher_Channel_SlotWrite_SInt8 filter writes 8 bytes of signed data to the selected slot. Slot numbers match those in the 'Configuration/Modules' category of card configuration in SYCON.net program.

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Hilscher is a technology provider within the industrial communication technology sector. As communications are being developed all the time, we are always on the look-out for students who want to develop new technologies or add new features to existing products.

You will not be on your own at our company but will work as part of a team of experienced engineers who will support you in your tasks. We currently employ a total of 15 students in various departments. In addition, we work very closely with the Rhein-Main University, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences and Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, enabling us always to tailor the work of our students at Hilscher to meet the current course requirements.

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Are you currently studying for a degree in one of the following fields of study? Then, you are in exactly the right place at our company.

Electronics
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Information technology
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Mechatronics

As we pass on considerable knowledge to our students while they are still studying for their degrees, provide them with an in-depth insight into our technologies, and generally invest considerable time in their development, we place a great deal of importance on offering our students a secure job once they have completed their studies.

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We offer interesting assignments in a variety of disciplines.

Hardware design

Our products are created in our in-house hardware development department. Our employees create the design and put together the circuit board layout. Prototypes are produced, thoroughly tested and then handed over to series production in co-operation with our in-house production.

Topics: circuit design, board layout, test hardware development, power supply, high frequency circuitry and memory interface

Embedded systems

Sensors, actuators, controls and IPCs can be equipped with Hilscher’s own network controllers with embedded ARM Cortex with the help of Industrial Ethernet and fieldbus protocols. We are working on new functions for communication, monitoring, diagnostics and on applications, such as controls or regulation. This means that considerable development is carried out on the platform itself and combined with a great many working fields.

Programming languages: C/C++, Python

OS / Drivers / Tools

Tools must be developed for programming and suitable drivers developed for operating systems to enable our hardware to be used. This also includes developing operating systems with real-time capability. Hilscher also develops opportunities for network diagnostics and monitoring. This results in diversity while also offering significant challenges.

Topics: eclipse derivative 'netX Studio', driver development, build tool development, use of different Linux distributions and cross compiling

Programming languages: C/C++, C#/.NET, JavaScript, HTML

Web Front- and Backend

Alongside communication interfaces, our devices also offer web-based graphic user interfaces. These enable diagnostics data of the industrial communication infrastructure to be monitored. Therefore, the backend as well as the frontend have to be programmed, to enable network data to be prepared and supplied to the user.

Topics: web, front and backend development, databases, links to the cloud, app development, edge computing and container development.

Programming lan

Hilscher Driver