The fast introduction to the Powerlink worldFebruary 7, 2007 - The new Powerlink Starter Kit from IXXAT contains a Controlled Node, which consists of a basic board with a Phytec microcontroller module and a Powerlink FPGA module, a Managing Node PC card as well as all necessary software packages and drivers for the implementation of a Powerlink system.The Powerlink FPGA module serves as a universal Powerlink interface for the microcontroller module, on which a corresponding host application can be developed. The host API for controlling the Powerlink FPGA module is included in the scope of supply in C-source code.Device vendors can integrate the Powerlink module from IXXAT or the hardware design instead of the plug-in module directly in their own circuit.
Customers’ own applications can thus already be developed before availability of the actual target hardware based on various evaluation modules from Phytec (microcontroller) or Spectrum Digital (TI DSPs) using the Powerlink host API.In addition, the Powerlink Starter Kit includes a PCI card via which a managing node can be implemented. Based on the Windows driver API provided, own Windows-based applications for data exchange with the Powerlink module and the embedded application can be created.
