Eternity Sales - KepserverEX User-Configurable Driver

U-CON OPC Server

The User-CONfigurable (U-CON) driver for KEPServerEX allows you to quickly and easily create your device driver for those Serial and Ethernet devices where there is no off the shelf driver. The U-CON driver's intuitive interface was designed for the non programmer. All you need is a basic knowledge of protocols, the protocol manual, and the device. OPC and other proprietary client interface technologies are handled within KEPServerEX making client side communications a non issue. The U-CON driver also supports all feature sets available within KEPServerEX. Typical devices U-CON is used for include barcode readers, weigh scales, various sensors, and RTU's to name a few.

U-CON Features Include:

Function Block Support
Solicited and Unsolicited Modes (Master/Slave)
Global, Scratch and Initialization Buffer Support
Event Counter support to automatically keep track of how many times it is executed.
Multi-threaded design ensures optimum performance
Scalable, with support for up to 100 concurrent serial port and network interface card (NIC) configurations
Built-in Ethernet Encapsulation for device/terminal server connections
Error recovery, adjustable timeouts, write optimizations
Robust communication diagnostics system w/ protocol display
Runs as a service under Windows NT/XP/2000/2003
Full Time On-line operation allows on the fly changes
Dialup modem features for serial device connections
Supports direct scaling of device data which allows raw device data to be converted to engineering units for OPC client applications

Part Number	List Price	Purchase
EX5-UCOND-NA00 with Software Key	$895.00
Hardware Key - In addition to Suite price	$150.00
Support with Purchase - IND-UCOND-SA20	$179.00
Support extension of current contract - EXT-UCOND-SA20	$179.00
Support after purchase - NEW-SUPRT-SA50	$448.00
Quantity Discounts and Bundled Product Discounts Available - Contact ESI for more Information

Available Protocol Transaction Commands:

Plug-in Driver Features:

With each of these transaction commands, U-CON provides a wide range of formatting options allowing data to be sent and received in packed binary, ASCII, ASCII Hex, and simple text formats.

Write Character
Write Device ID
Write String
Write Checksum
Write Tag Data
Transmit Message
Read Message
Test Byte
Test Device ID
Test Checksum
Jump to Step
Update Tag

Function Block Support
Solicited and Unsolicited Modes (Master/Slave)
Global, Scratch and Initialization Buffer Support
Event Counter support to automatically keep track of how many times it is executed.
Multi-threaded design ensures optimum performance
Scalable, with support for up to 100 concurrent serial port and network interface card (NIC) configurations
Built-in Ethernet Encapsulation for device/terminal server connections
Error recovery, adjustable timeouts, write optimizations
Robust communication diagnostics system w/ protocol display
Runs as a service under Windows NT/XP/2000/2003
Full Time On-line operation allows on the fly changes
Dialup modem features for serial device connections
Supports direct scaling of device data which allows raw device data to be converted to engineering units for OPC client applications

Protocol Requirements:

In order to create a profile you must obtain protocol documentation from the device manufacturer. Many hardware vendors will provide the protocol documentation with the device or will post it as a .pdf on their website. Be sure to have the device model no. and determine whether your device has either a serial or Ethernet option.

The U-CON's transaction editor uses a menu driven interface, which allows the configuration of read & write transactions (data packets) to establish runtime communications with the device. After you create these transactions upload them as Tags in our reliable and field proven OPC/DDE server.

U-CON Support and Profile Development:

Kepware will provide basic assistance with your U-CON project and can review the device protocol to determine if a profile can be created. Kepware Developers and U-CON Certified Developers are available for consultation and profile development for a fee.

Creating Read / Write Transactions:

The development of a custom communication profile begins by defining the tags or data that needs to be read from or written to a serial device. After the tags have been defined the next step is to define the transactions needed to communicate with the device. The transaction editor provides a wide range of tools and actions that can be used to build the messages that will be sent to a device. Additional actions allow the responses from the device to be processed and turned into tag data available to your OPC client applications.

Step 1: Defining Tags

The first step is to define the tags required by your OPC application.

Step 2: Defining the Transactions

The next step is to define the transactions that read or write data from your tags.

Step 3: Testing your Profile

Finally use the diagnostic view and OPC Quick Client to test your driver profile.

Downloads:

Software Download - (Redirected)
More Information
U-CON Users Manual (1.4MB pdf)
U-CON Driver for KEPServerEX Brochure (1.5MB pdf)

U-CON Typical Applications

The creation and proven success of the OPC client/server architecture has made it possible for client vendors (HMIs, SCADAs, Historians, etc.) to add OPC client capabilities to their products, thus allowing them to focus on their core competencies instead of driver development.

Analysis Equipment

Analysis equipment covers a broad range of RS485 and TCP/IP enabled devices used extensively in process and laboratory automation. A brief list of common analytical devices/applications include: gas analyzers, particle counters & monitors, emissions monitors, spectrometers, chemical and fluid monitors, leak detection devices, torque tools, vibration analysis equipment, and surface analysis. Kepware's U-CON driver solution is the best way to connect analysis devices into a data collection or automation system. U-CON easily installs on the same computer as your client application and does not require expensive hardware gateways, or availability of a PLC with expansion slots. Complete U-CON licenses have no device or tag limitiations and can connect to RS232, RS422, RS485, and TCP/IP enabled devices, so you can connect to other sensors, instruments, and devices not just your initial piece of equipment.

Using U-CON with an RS485 enabled controller by MVE BioMedical

Andon Boards & Digital Displays

Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma quality programs have helped many manufacturers focus on continual productivity improvements. Visual displays have played a key role in improved productivity as well as cost savings by displaying Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for production. Most Andon Boards and Digital Displays for use in automation include support for RS485 and or TCP/IP based communications.

You can Connect to a live Digital Display! Using U-CON with an Alpha LED display sold by Entech Signs

Barcode Scanners

For years Barcode scanners have been integrated into automation and manufacturing systems to make data collection easier, faster, more accurate, more reliable, and more efficient. Manufacturers and their supply chain need to continually streamline operations, reduce labor costs, and improve traceability. Most Bar code scanners and devices for use in automation include support for RS485 and or TCP/IP based communications. Unfortunately, most of the connectivity solutions available are often customized or lack the full functionality required for automation applications. Engineers have been using Kepware's U-CON driver solution since 2001 to connect barcode scanners into a wide variety of automation and data collection systems. U-CON supports serial and Ethernet connections, is scalable, and connects easily to automation systems via OPC, DDE, ODBC as well as native interfaces.

You can Connect via RS232 to a barcode scanner! Using U-CON with an Zebex bar code scanner.

Gravimetric Blenders (injection molding)

Many applications where gravimetric blenders are used (such as injection molding) need to adhere to tight requirements around the use of material, accuracy, repeatability, and reliability. Manufacturers can see huge ROI on control system and data collection applications when they can use less material to make the correct number of widgets with the least amount of waste. Most blender controllers include support for some type of serial (RS232/RS485) or TCP/IP based communications. Even if your controller supports a common protocol like Modbus, you may still want to use U-CON to bring other sensors and devices into the control system of your blending application.

You can Connect via MLAN protocol to Maguire Controller/Blenders! Using U-CON to communicate with Weigh Scale Blenders sold by Maguire

Coding – Marking - Printing

Laser and inkjet coding and printing solutions are used in automation to help reduce cost, improve productivity, and improve inventory management for everyone in the supply chain. Variable data such as bar codes and traceability codes are printed on products in food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries and provide an important step in regulatory compliance.

To help owners integrate equipment into the production line, most manufacturers of industrial Coders/Markers/Printers provide RS-232, RS-422, RS-485, or Ethernet communication built in to their devices. RS-485 (Recommended Standard 485 now EIA-485 for Electronic Industries Alliance) complies to electrical standards for the physical layer of the OSI model, but the protocol (how the device "talks" to other systems) traveling over this physical layer is typically proprietary. U-CON to the rescue! Use the device manufacturer's provided protocol information to produce reliable messages or transactions to the device. Then serve the resulting data up to any OPC or DDE compliant application.

GPS & Navigation & NMEA data

Industrial adopters of GPS do not want to rely on human operators or manual data entry to make use of and act upon positioning information. For an automated and more reliable solution based in open standards, look to Kepware's U-CON product to connect your GPS and navigation system data to your OPC enabled control or data logging system. To do this GPS and NMEA enabled systems chosen for industrial applications will require the capability for RS485 and or TCP/IP based communications.

You can Connect to a GPS Simulator! Using U-CON with a GPS Simulator by Sailsoft

Ethernet I/O, RS485 I/O, Remote I/O

Stand alone or remote I/O modules are used extensively in automation applications. Scalability, modularity, reliability, and non-invasive installation are just a few of the benefits of choosing intelligent I/O for data acquisition. Whenever I/O modules do not provide a common industrial protocol like Modbus please look to U-CON as your driver solution. If you use a mixture of Modbus and proprietary protocols, remember that Kepware's Modbus and U-CON drivers plug-in to the KEPServerEX OPC server architecture to provide seamless connectivity to your HMI, control, or data collection system.

You can Connect to Advantech's ADAM I/O! Using U-CON with an RS485 Analog I/O module by Advantech

RFID Readers

Are you using RFID in your automation application yet? It is safe to say that adoption of RFID technology is not growing at the pace once expected but it is a technology that makes good business sense for many applications. RFID may be the most efficient and cost-effective way to: track raw materials throughout your facility, monitor equipment and tool usage for preventitive maintenance, trace production and assembly of complex products throughout the process, and improve safety as well as security in your automation environment. To further leverage the benefits of RFID, innovative engineers will connect their RFID solution to their control system. Kepware's User-Configurable Protocol Server can be the RS485 and TCP/IP enabled RFID driver for many brands of RFID readers. U-CON's proven OPC, DDE, and Native Interfaces make it easy to connect your RFID reader hardware to all the leading HMIs and control systems.

Sensors and Instruments

In many automation applications sensors and measurement devices are connected to the control system via hardwired analog or digital connections. However there are often times where it is not cost effective to hardware sensors and measurement devices. Possibly you need to enhance an existing system control system and you need a less intrusive and more cost-effective way to incorporate new sensor data into your application; or you may want to collect measurement data via a methodology that is completely separate from the existing sytem. For these reasons most sensors and measurement devices used in automation and industrial applications support some type of serial or Ethernet communications. When an open protocol like Modbus is not available, Kepware's User-Configurable driver solution can be the most effective and efficient way to connect to your sensor or device.

Vision Systems

Vision systems are used in a variety of industries such as general manufacturing, automotive, food & beverage, and pharmaceutical. They are used as a means to quickly and accurately do things like: inspect for flaws, detect differentiation, measuring dimensions, measuring deformities, counting components, and positioning. While U-CON is not designed to read complex image data from cameras, it can serve up an array of important vision data from the leading vision systems. Most vision systems for use in automation include support for RS485 and or TCP/IP based communications. Send us protocol information for your vision system and we'll help you determine how U-CON can enhance your application.

You can Connect to Keyence CV3002 controllers!

Weigh Scales

Do you need to incorporate scale data into your automation application? Are cost, open-standards, and scalability important factors in the solution you choose? Kepware's U-CON driver can connect to your scales and serve that data to multiple applications like RSView, Intouch, iFix, LabVIEW, custom VB apps, Excel, and ODBC compliant databases like MSSQL, MySQL, and Access. U-CON easily installs on the same computer as your client application and does not require expensive hardware gateways, or availability of a PLC with expansion slots. Complete U-CON licenses have no device or tag limitiations and can connect to RS232, RS422, RS485, and TCP/IP enabled devices, so you can connect to other sensors, instruments, and devices not just your scale.

You can Connect to a Weigh Scale!Using U-CON with an IND780 scale terminal made by Mettler Toledo

Benefits of using U-CON for Your Application:

Cost-effective: better than custom code, toolkits, or proprietary integration.
Leverages Proven Technologies: U-CON "plugs in" to Kepware's OPC/DDE server architecture.
Seamlessly Connectivity: to the vast majority of HMI, Historian, SCADA, ERP, MES, and control systems in the automation market.
Consistent & Maintainable: additional drivers are available for common protocols for Allen-Bradley, GE, Modbus, Mitsubishi, Siemens, Yokogawa and more.
Powerful: one license includes Serial and TCP/IP connections.
Scalability: No device or tag/point limits with complete licenses.
Complete: License includes support and full documentation.

U-CON data acquisition software is an OPC and driver solution for serial and Ethernet enabled coding, marking, and printing devices. Add real-time and reliable connectivity to your inkjet marking or laser coding solution, download U-CON today!

Quantity Discounts and Bundled Product Discounts Available - Contact ESI for more Information

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U-CON OPC Server