Overview and Distributed Applications

National Instruments cFP-180x interfaces connect four or eight

Compact FieldPoint I/O modules to a high-speed Ethernet network or to

an RS232 serial port. With up to 100 Mb/s data communication rates and

event-driven communications, an NI cFP-180x delivers a high-performance

network connection for Compact FieldPoint that is easy to interface with

a PC or PAC-like Compact FieldPoint embedded controller. One or more

cFP-180x interfaces, connected by standard networking equipment, provide

expanded I/O that you can control with a single Compact FieldPoint

controller, see Figure 1. You can also build a PC-based distributed I/O and

control system by connecting two or more cFP-180x devices to your PC.

Hardware Architecture

A cFP-180x provides an integrated network interface (Ethernet or serial)

and a 4 or 8-slot backplane, and it works with the same modules and

connector blocks used in other Compact FieldPoint systems.

Building Ethernet-Based

Distributed I/O Systems

A cFP-180x can communicate with Compact FieldPoint real-time

embedded controllers; any Ethernet-based programmable automation

controller (PAC); and a Windows computer running LabVIEW,

LabWindows/CVI, Measurement Studio, Lookout, or your choice of OPC

client application software. Using a cFP-180x, you can rapidly build

flexible, modular distributed measurement and automation systems.

Ethernet/Serial Interfaces for Compact FieldPoint

• Distributed I/O interfaces for Ethernet

and RS232 networks

• 4 or 8-slot Compact FieldPoint distributed

Ethernet/serial network interfaces

• FieldPoint software for rapid distributed

I/O access

• Modbus Support

• OPC server included

• Intelligent diagnostics and maintenance

• Industrial specifications for

harsh environments

• 50 g shock

• 5 g vibration

• -40 to 70 °C

Operating Systems

• Windows 2000/XP

Recommended Software

• LabVIEW

• LabVIEW Datalogging and Supervisory

Control Module

Other Compatible Software

• LabWindows/CVI

• Measurement Studio

• Lookout

• VI Logger

Driver Software (included)

• Measurement & Automation Explorer

• OPC server (2.0 compliant)

NI cFP-180x

Compact FieldPoint

Real-Time Controller

NI cFP-1808 Distributed

Network Interfaces

Ethernet

Figure 1. Expansion I/O for Compact FieldPoint Embedded Controller with cFP-1808

Network Interfaces

Figure 2. cFP-1808 Mechanical Dimensions

127 mm

(5.00 in.)

441 mm

(17.36 in.)

Figure 3. cFP-1804 Mechanical Dimensions

127.0 mm

(5.00 in.)

245.9 mm (9.68 in.)