Protocol Converter
Aftek's Protocol Converter (APC) series provide a solution for reliable conversion of standard and proprietary protocols. It helps in integrating your system with third party systems.
The Need
The system needs to be integrated with third party devices to achieve production goals. It may also be helpful in using services of existing deployed systems to increase efficiency. For example, integrating of VRF air-conditioning system with a Building Management System (BMS)
can help control and monitor the VRF system from a central location.
Devices in these systems may communicate on different communication networks and different protocols. In such cases it is impossible for devices connected across these networks to communicate directly. To achieve this kind of communication, protocol converters are used.
Solution
Aftek provides APC (Aftek's Protocol Converter) series of protocol converters that convert protocols across same or different communication channels. APC helps to integrate the existing running
system and new devices with minimum efforts. It minimizes integration time and cost. APC currently supports communication across RS-232, RS-485 and Ethernet networks. A user can configure communication parameters of APC using a simple desktop based configuration utility, which makes it easy to configure the system.
This type of integration is required for many domains.
APC supports various standard protocols
Device drivers have been developed for individual standard protocols. Apart from these standard protocols, Aftek develops drivers for proprietary protocols as per the requirements.
- Power generation
- Power transmission and distribution
- Oil and gas
- Automated meter reading (billing, monitoring and controlling)
- Remote monitoring applications
- Substation automation
- Building automation
- Process automation
APC supports various standard protocols
Device drivers have been developed for individual standard protocols. Apart from these standard protocols, Aftek develops drivers for proprietary protocols as per the requirements.
Components
A standard APC solution consists of protocol converter board, embedded software and configuration utility. The APC board has various communication interfaces; the board design can be changed as per the requirements. Embedded software, which runs on the board, uses drivers written for each protocol. As per the configuration, these drivers are selected and used at runtime.
A standard APC solution consists of protocol converter board, embedded software and configuration utility. The APC board has various communication interfaces; the board design can be changed as per the requirements. Embedded software, which runs on the board, uses drivers written for each protocol. As per the configuration, these drivers are selected and used at runtime.
Supported Protocols
- Modbus RTU
- Modbus TCP
- BACnet MSTP
- BACnet IP
- BACnet Ethernet
- LONWorks
- EtherCAT
- CAN
- Serial and other custom protocols
Use APC to integrate
- VRF air conditioning systems
- Security systems
- Building automation systems
- Building management systems
- Automated meter reading systems
- Access control systems
- Programmable logic controllers
- Data scanners / data loggers
- PID controllers
Building Management System
Aftek's Protocol Converter APC-BM-200 is used to create a bridge between Modbus protocol based VRF AC systems and BACnet based BMS....
Custom configuration
A simple desktop based configuration utility is provided to configure APC. This utility simplifies the work of the application engineer to a great extent. The application engineer can configure communication interfaces, communication protocol for each interface, and details of devices connected on each interface.
Along with these details, a user can configure map of the devices that communicate with each other.
A simple desktop based configuration utility is provided to configure APC. This utility simplifies the work of the application engineer to a great extent. The application engineer can configure communication interfaces, communication protocol for each interface, and details of devices connected on each interface.
Along with these details, a user can configure map of the devices that communicate with each other.
Custom protocol drivers
Along with drivers for standard protocols, Aftek also develops drivers for proprietary protocols to run on the APC board. As per the configuration, these drivers can be used readily for conversion among the respective protocols in any combination. For more details refer the case study.
Along with drivers for standard protocols, Aftek also develops drivers for proprietary protocols to run on the APC board. As per the configuration, these drivers can be used readily for conversion among the respective protocols in any combination. For more details refer the case study.