BECKHOFF DK9322-0809-0002 - Manual

TwinCAT
TwinCAT Supplement “Virtual Serial COM Driver”
Application Note DK9322-0809-0002
Keywords
Virtual Serial COM Driver
TwinCAT
supplement
serial interface
EtherCAT
EL6001
EL6021
Virtual Serial COM Driver
By using a software supplement under TwinCAT in conjunction with an EL60x1 EtherCAT Terminal a serial
interface can be positioned in the I/O field of a system at a significantly further distance from the controller
than would be possible with a cable-based physical layer (RS232/RS422/RS485).
Basic Principles
The TwinCAT Supplement Virtual Serial COM Driver in combination with a serial EL6001 (RS232) or EL6021 (RS422/RS485)
interface terminal for the EtherCAT I/O system enables virtual COM interfaces to be generated that can be used by Windows
applications just like normal serial interfaces. The actual connection point for devices with serial interface can be anywhere in
the field (see Fig. 1). In order to use such third-party devices with serial connection in the field, in the past a PC with a suitable
interface had to be installed in the field or a connection between the interface and the central controller had to be established
using a suitably long cable. A PC generates additional costs for acquisition and system integration. The cable length is limited
by the corresponding physical layer. A Windows-compliant serial interface can be set up in the PC by using the EL60x1
EtherCAT Terminal and the TwinCAT Virtual Serial COM Driver.
New Automation Technology Beckhoff 
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