PLC I/O Module Front-End Controller Using a Tiva C Series ARM Cortex-M4 MCU

This TI Design implements the Tiva™ C Series MCU as a front-end controller for TI's suite of Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) analog and digital I/O module reference design boards. The design includes sockets for interfacing and simultaneously controlling two TI Designs I/O reference design boards. It allows maximum versatility whereby the I/O boards can be any combination of analog or digital: input or output modules. The controller system automatically identifies and configures each I/O board appropriately: setting any required compensation of the analog circuitry. On-board power supplies are included to power the controller board as well as providing isolated power to both I/O boards: eliminating the need for multiple external power supplies. Additional circuitry is provided that optimizes the I/O signal aquisition and data throughput: enabling full 1-MSPS data acqusition and 20-MHz SPI bus performance. This design also performs as an evaluation platform for each of the I/O boards: analyzing the performance of several key parameters and relaying the results to a PC via an onboard USB 2.0 connector. Included in the design is an easy-to-use Graphical User Interface that runs a LabView™-based analysis program facilitating comprehensive evaluation of the I/O reference designs. The GUI provides many options for configuration of the test parameters as well as filtering and set up options that allow for comprehensive analysis of the individual I/O module boards. Full documentation and design files of the platform are provided.

32-bit: 80MHz Tiva™ C Series ARM® Cortex™-M4 MCUModular plug-in design: two identical interface sockets for simultaneously controlling and analyzing TI's suite of PLC I/O module reference design boardsCircuitry for enhanced throughput enabling full 1-MSPS data acquisition and 20-MHz SPI performanceEMC-compliant isolated RS485 interface for fieldbus connectivity and EMC-compliant USB 2.0 interface for PC connectivityHigh-efficiency: isolated power supply for both I/O boards using LM5017 Flybuck™ topologyPower supply protection circtry for safeguarding against reverse polarity: transient/surge: and in-rush currentLabView™-based GUI for functional testing and performance analysis