PC Interfaces
Optibit Interface: Our high-speed interfaces provide communication between your PC and System 3, zBus-based, hardware components. Designed for users requiring real-time control of System 3 devices, each consists of a PCI or PCI Express card for your computer and one or more interface modules that mount in zBus device caddies. These interfaces features fiber optic data transmission and improved throughput and provides automatic device identification, system initialization and a single clock that phase-locks all devices across all caddies. This design minimizes the potential for communication errors caused by electromagnetic interference and allows lossless data transmission over longer distances.
Part numbers:
PO5e PCI Express Interface Card w/optics
PO5 PCI Interface Card w/optics
FO5 PO5/PO5e-to-zBus Interface module w/optics
Technical specifications:
| Standard cable length: |
5 meters (longer cables available on request) |
| Computer interface: |
PCIe or 2.2 compliant PCI card |
| Transfer rates depend on system module accessed. |
IMPORTANT NOTE: The PCI slot cannot be PCI-X or 64-bit PCI slot. The PCI Express card is a x1 sized slot. Standard PCI requires a 2.2 compliant PCI slot. We recommend that you purchase an off the shelf system as opposed to custom configurations.
LO5 ExpressCard to zBus Interface: Provides a means of controlling System 3 devices from a laptop (or any computer with an ExpressCard slot) and offers performance comparable to the Optibit system (Optical Gigabit).
The entire interface system consists of a 34mm (26 pin) ExpressCard that is attached with a cable to a free standing fiber optic interface module. The module can then connect to the zBus optic port on any RZ device or via an FO5 housed in a zBus chassis. When connecting to a multiple device system, devices are daisy-chained together with multiple fiber optic cables.
The LO5 module requires AC power.
Part Numbers:
LO5 – ExpressCard to zBus Interface module (includes express card)
Technical specifications:
| Standard cable length: |
5 meters (longer cables available on request) |
| Computer interface: |
The ExpressCard must be installed in a 34mm (26 pin) slot. |
| Transfer rates depend on system module accessed. |
Interface Performance Comparison
The table below illustrates typical transfer rates for the UZ2, Optibit, and Gigabit interfaces:
| Interface |
Transfer Type |
RP Devices |
RX Devices |
RZ Devices |
| PO5/PO5e/FO5/LO5 |
Read |
1.5 |
10 |
20.0 |
| |
Write |
1.5 |
2.5 |
20.0 |
Transfer rates are in MB/s.
NS – Not supported
RZ UDP Interface: An optional interface available to all RZ processor devices, the RZ UDP Ethernet interface is designed to transfer up to 200 data values at low rates to or from a PC. This PC may be directly connected through a dedicated Ethernet card located elsewhere on the user’s network, or even in a remote location connected via the Internet. The RZ UDP interface is located on the back panel of the RZ processor and accepts a standard ethernet cable.
 
Part numbers:
RZ-UDP UDP Ethernet Interface Card
Technical specifications:
| Cable Interface: |
Standard Ethernet cable (for direct connections to a PC an Ethernet crossover cable is required) |
| Speed: |
10Mbps |
| Supported Network Protocols: |
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), UDP, HTTP (for configuration) |
| Transfer rates depend on data packet size. |
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