THE MPC-1600
The MicroFirst MPC-1600 is our third-generation multi-port microcontroller system, designed to provide multiple, addressable serial communications ports for use in real-time command and control environments. The unit provides 15, RS-232 or RS-485 compatible serial ports at serial speeds up to 38.4 KBaud. One of these serial ports can be designated as a standard linear time code input port (see page 11). The unit has an integral Ethernet port, and can reside on standard network infrastructure.
The real beauty of the MPC-1600 is its “intelligent communications platform” design and its ability to accept complex user applications, via front-panel input or serially from other data sources. It represents a level of real-time automation control and interface equipment that redefines the term “programmable!” There are no EPROMs to change or additional programming languages to learn. You develop your control or protocol-conversion application on a Windows NT platform, using standard WIN32 API calls, debug on the same PC platform, then download a cross compiled version of the application to the MPC-1600 microcontroller, over either 10BaseT Ethernet or standard serial connection. Where earlier MPC versions were primarily ROM-programmable multi-protocol converters, the MPC-1600 can also execute downloaded event schedules, providing a truly distributed-control automation environment.
The MPC-1600 has a real-time, multi-tasking, preemptive, operating system that perfectly mimics Windows NT WIN32 API calls. Our WinMOS is the product of a long line of real-time operating kernels developed by MicroFirst over the past years, and provides the additional abstraction layer to allow your existing WIN32 programming skills to be immediately useful on this newly developed hardware platform. There are even onboard input and control facilities, with a 2-line by 24-character back-lit LCD display and a 15-key sealed-membrane keypad.
The unit is supplied in a 1-RU, 19” rack-mount case, (1.75”h, 16.25”w, 11.25”d) with a full range of LED indicators on the screened-printed faceplate overlay. It is wired for 90-240-volt AC environments, is U.L, CE and F.C.C. tested and approved, and provides 16 RJ-45 connectors for serial connections and an additional RJ-45 100BaseT connection on the rear of the unit. It also includes a replaceable 3-volt Lithium battery for static memory.
MicroFirst also provides serial-to-GPI hardware, to provide intelligent duplex interface solutions for contact-based legacy equipment.
Additional questions should be directed to: info@microfirst.com.