UEI Provides 32-Channel, Industrial Digital Output Boards

By DE Editors

United Electronic Industries (UEI; Walpole, MA) released the Guardian DNA/DNR-DIO-432 and -433 industrial digital output boards. The DNA models are designed for use with UEI’s Ethernet Cube family — PowerDNA, UEIPAC, UEILogger, and Modbus Cubes. The DNR models are designed for UEI’s new 12-slot rack-mounted RACKtangle I/O chassis.

Each board provides 32 channels of digital output — up to 600mA per-channel continuous current with an output voltage drop of less than 550mV. The -432 version outputs (DNA-DIO-432: $1200; DNR-DIO-432: $1350) are configured as current sources; the -433 (DNA-DIO-433: $1200; DNR-DIO-433: $1350) as current sinks. The output ports are configured as single 32-bit words, the maximum output throughput rate is 1Ksps, and the boards have an operating range of 3.3 to 36 VDC.

As part of the Guardian design, the boards offer an input mode that monitors the output voltage and current of each channel and easily detects opens, shorts, and off-normal operation.

Each channel also offers a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) “soft-start/stop” feature that applies and removes power gradually, greatly increasing the life and reliability of devices and components affected by thermal shock. A PWM output may also be used to drive a low speed, high current device or as a “dimmer” for indicating lights and similar devices.

Software for the boards is provided in the UEIDAQ Framework API, which interfaces to all popular programming languages, operating systems, and data acquisition/control application packages such as LabVIEW, MATLAB/Simulink, and DASYLab.

UEI’s “Cube” architecture is a compact (4x4x4-in. or 4x4x5.8-in.) Ethernet based I/O platform can be deployed in four configurations: Ethernet I/O systems slaved to a host PC, Standalone Data Logger/Recorder, Linux-based Programmable Automation Controller (PAC), or Modbus TCP-based I/O slave.

For more information about the Cube and the RACKtangle, go to United Electronic Industries.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.