NAI’s SSI Encoder Controller Integrates Timing or Positional Sensor Interfaces for Embedded Sensor Systems

North Atlantic Industries (NAI) has released a Counter, Quadrature and SSI Encoder Controller interface module, also called the E7, for use in its broad range of PCI, OpenVPX, cPCI, VME multifunction boards.

The module has four completely isolated and independent channels. All channels can be programmed as a general purpose counter, a quadrature encoder counter, an incremental encoder reader, an SSI “Listen Only” mode receiver or a SSI interface controller. The latest galvanic isolation used by the module is better than substitute opto-coupler devices, thereby obviating issues relating to doubtful non-linear transfer functions, indefinite current transfer ratios, and effects of lifetime/temperature degradation.

Lino Massafra, NAI’s VP of Marketing and Sales, informed that the E7 integrates timing or positional sensor interfaces for test and embedded sensor systems. Massafra explained that the encoder counter provides extra capability to NAI’s existing vast I/O function library for its multifunction boards.

Multifunction boards obviate the need for single function, dedicated boards by offering a range of I/O and communication functions in a single card. The specialized board architecture helps users in mixing and matching a range of functions for meeting their particular requirements.

Such a multifunctional approach results in reduced board count, reduced heat dissipation, increased functional density, and increased system dependability. Other functions of the E7 include Reference Generator and Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTD), Discrete I/O, A/D, D/A, Synchronous/Asynchronous RS232/422/485, MIL-STD-1553, Synchro/Resolver/LVDT/RVDT Simulation and Measurement, CANBus, ARINC429/575, Differential Transceiver, and TTL/CMOS.

Every NAI multifunction board is provided with a software support kit like Linux, VxWorks,  Windows 7/NT/XP/2000), and other RTOS (Windows CE, LynxOS).