Cytron Technologies IFC-CI00 User manual

IFC-CI00
Interface Free Controller
Computer Interface
User’s Manual
V1.0
March 2010
Information contained in this publication regarding device applications and the like is intended through suggestion only and may
be superseded by updates. It is your responsibility to ensure that your application meets with your specifications. No
representation or warranty is given and no liability is assumed by Cytron Technologies Incorporated with respect to the accuracy
or use of such information, or infringement of patents or other intellectual property rights arising from such use or otherwise. Use
of Cytron Technologies’ products as critical components in life support systems is not authorized except with express written
approval by Cytron Technologies. No licenses are conveyed, implicitly or otherwise, under any intellectual property rights.

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Index
1. Introduction and Overview
1.1 Introduction of Interface Free Controller
1.2 System Overview
2. PackagingList
3. Product Specification
3.1 Programming Tool
3.2 Input and Output device
3.3 Operating voltage
3.4 Batteries Status LEDs
3.5 USB Status LEDs
4. Board or Product Layout
5. Installation(Hardware)
6. Installation(Software)
7. Getting Started
7.1 Basic Setup (IFC-PC00 + IFC-CI00)
7.2 Basic Setup with Control Panel (IFC-PC00 + IFC-CI00 + IFC-CP04)
7.3 Setup for IFC System
8.Warranty

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1. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
1.0 Introduction of Interface Free Controller
IFC (Interface Free Controller) offer a new concept of developing microcontroller embedded
system and also robotics system. With IFC, no more frustration in determine hardware
interface and configuring peripheral in software. Checking few hundreds pages of data sheet
can be waved. With the concept of interfacing card, user may stack as many as 64 cards in a
system to get infinite combination of peripherals. The design aim is to offer 3 simple steps in
microcontroller system development – Configure card’s address, Stack IFC cards, Write
Program and Run!
Furthermore, with functions based software library, user save valuable time during software
development by concentrating on algorithm development. No more flipping or scrolling PIC
data sheet looking for ADCON0, T1CON or even TRISA. With just a programming hand
book, user may simply copy the header file, call comprehensive functions and it’s ready to
rock.
Computer Interface Card (IFC-CI00) is another main card for IFC system and may replace
IFC-MB00. It is designed for advance user to interface the IFC system and computer where
computer will become main controller. As computer is able to interface with powerful
sensors such as laser range finder and video camera, integrating with IFC will offer low level
control to motors, solenoid, relay, etc. It will become a virtual Com Port through USB
connection. User is free to send the command (refer to Card Library Function) to the IFC
system. This card has been designed with capabilities and features of:
•Industrial grade PCB.
•Every component is soldered properly and tested before board is shipped.
•1 Reset button
•4 Output LEDs
•Power, busy and error LED
•USB Status LEDs
•Battery Status LEDs
•1 buzzer
•5V operation
•Dimension 11.1cm x 6.9cm
•Sample source code is provided for Microsoft Visual C# 2008
This document explains the usage of IFC-CI00 (Computer Interface).
Caution: High current inductance load such as brush motor, may affect the USB signal of
this card. User is advised not to drive high current (above 5A) motor or inductance load
with IFC-CI00 as bridge to computer.

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1.1 System Overview
With serial communication perception, IFC offer million of possibilities to develop
embedded system creatively and easily. In IFC, several cards are stacked to get a complete
embedded system. The minimum card requires is Power Card and Main Board or Computer
Interface Card.
Newly designed in IFC systems is Computer Interface card (IFC-CI00). IFC-CI00 is
designed to replace IFC-MB00 to let computer as the main processor in IFC System. Some
advance sensors like Laser Range Finder and webcam is difficult to access by using
microcontroller therefore IFC-CI00 was designed to cover the limitation and that we call
unlimited potential of IFC system. Just plug a USB cable from computer to IFC-CI00 card
and a virtual COM Port will be created on your computer. Besides, user can plug more than
one IFC-CI00 cards in one computer.
Encoder, digital sensor
Com
p
uter Interface
Power car
d
Brush Motor Card
(
15A
)
Dual Brush Motor Car
d
Brushless Motor Car
d
Out
p
ut Car
d
Di
g
ital In
p
ut Car
d
Control Panel Car
d
More cards More devices
Rela
y
s
,
etc
Brushless motors
2 Brush motors
Brush motor
Analo
g
In
p
ut Car
d
Pla
y
station 2 Controller car
d
Analog sensor
RC Servo Car
d
RC Servo
PS2 Controller
Power and communication

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More than one IFC-CI00 can be plugged to a computer as shown as above. USB hub can be
used to expand your USB port if needed. Please do remind that each IFC slave card MUST
has a UNIQUE address in every system (except IFC-CP04) but the address can be repeated or
same for other slave card which placed in another system as shown as above. It is NOT allow
more than one IFC-CI00 card in a system. Please refer to chapter 7.3 for software setting for
the cards’ address.
To IFC-CI00
To IFC-CI00To IFC-CI00
Virtual COM port 1
Virtual COM port 2
Virtual COM port 3
And more
USB Cable
System 1
System 2
System 3
System 4, 5, 6…
Computer

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2. PACKAGING LIST
Please check the parts and components according to the packing list. If there are any parts
missing, please contact us at [email protected] immediately.
1. 1 x IFC-CI00 with:
•1 x 2510H
•2 x 2510H Iron Pin
•1 x USB Cable (B Type)
•1 x CD which contained 3 folders. The folders are Documentation (consist of IFC-
CI00 User’s Manual, IFC Library Functions card for VCS & VB), Installer (consist of
Visual Studio software), sample source codes for IFC-CI00).

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3. PRODUCT SPECIFICATION
3.1 Programming Tool
No programming tool used in IFC-CI00. User may control IFC system easily by plug a USB
cable from PC/laptop to IFC-CI00 card.
3.2 Input and Output device
The input and output device on CI00 are as below:
•3 status indicator LEDs: Power and busy LED:
-Power LED (PWR) will turn ON when power is supplied to BH02.
-Busy LED (Busy) will turn ON or blinking when IFC slave card is
communicating with IFC-CI00.
-Error LED (Error) will turn ON if the one or more IFC slave cards’
address is not compatible to the program.
•4 programmable indicator LEDs
•2 battery status LEDs
•2 USB status LEDs
•1 buzzer
3.3 Operation Voltage
The operation voltage of IFC-CI00 is 12V. User need to stack a Power Card, IFC-PC00, and
connect a 12V battery on Power Card to supply 12V to the Computer Interface card. If 24V is
needed, 2 x 12V batteries are connected on Power Card to supply 24V.
3.4 Batteries Status LEDs
‘Batt1’ and ‘Batt2’ is representing Battery 1’s status and Battery 2’s status respectively. The
information of the status is printed on IFC-CI00 card as shown on table below. Please do
remind that this indicator only valid for 12V battery. Do not let the LED reaches to fast blink
status, please charge the battery if one of the LEDs is blinking to save your battery’s life
time. Battery Status
LED On : >11V
Slow Blink : <11V
Blink : <10V
Fast Blink : <9V
LED Off : No Battery
3.5 USB Status LEDs
These two LEDs are used to indicate the USB status. If IFC-CI00 first plugs in a new USB
port, the given IFC-CI00’s driver should be installed. Only LED 2 will blink and LED 1 off
(Address State) when installation until the driver is successfully installed. After the driver is
installed properly, these two LEDs will alternate blink at the time (Configured State), ready
to use! Both LEDs will blink at the same time in USB Suspend State. Both LEDs will off if
IFC-CI00 does not connect to computer.

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4. BOARD OR PRODUCT LAYOUT
A– USB connector type-B which connected to PC or laptop
B– Explanation for two batteries’ status using two LEDs which labeled in ‘H’. Each LED
represents each battery’s status.
C– This reset extension connector is used for extending the reset button out of the IFC
system.
D– The orientation marking on IFC-CI00. Every IFC card will have this orientation marking,
this is to help user in ensuring the cards are stack correctly.
E– 28 pin PIC microcontroller which used as controller for this card.
F– This side connector is used for card stacking and communication between cards.
Label Function Label Function
A USB connector type-B H Batteries status LED indicator
B Battery status table I USB status LED indicator
C Reset extension connector J Output LED
D Orientation marking K Reset button
E 28 pin PIC microcontroller L Status indicator LED
F Side connector M Manufacturing Test Points
G Buzzer N Arrow
A
BC
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
F
M
N

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G– Active High 5V buzzer.
H– ‘Batt1’ and ‘Batt2’ is representing Battery 1’s status and Battery 2’s status respectively.
The information of the status is printed on IFC-CI00 card as shown on table below. Please do
remind that this indicator only valid for 12V battery. Do not let the LED reaches to fast blink
status, please charge the battery if one of the LEDs is blinking to save your battery’s life
time. Battery Status
LED On : >11V
Slow Blink : <11V
Blink : <10V
Fast Blink : <9V
LED Off : No Battery
I– These two LEDs are used to indicate the USB status. If IFC-CI00 first plugs in a new
USB port, the given IFC-CI00’s driver should be installed. Only LED 2 will blink and LED 1
off (Address State) when installation until the driver is successfully installed. After the driver
is installed properly, these two LEDs will alternate blink at the time (Configured State), ready
to use! Both LEDs will blink at the same time in USB Suspend State. Both LEDs will off if
IFC-CI00 does not connect to computer.
J– 4 active High LEDs
K– This reset button is used for resetting all IFC slave cards but it would NOT reset IFC-
CI00 itself.
L – 3 status indicator LEDs to indicate status for power ON (PWR), busy in communication
with other cards (Busy) and program error (Error). PWR LED will ON when power supplied
to the board. Busy LED will ON when the card is busy in communication with other slave
card like Output Card, Control Panel and Digital Input card. Error LED will ON when the
address set on slave card did not match with the address in main program.
M – Reserved for Manufacturing Test Point. Please DO NOT short or connect wire to any of
these pins.
N– An arrow mark to help user in ensuring the cards are stack correctly. Every IFC card will
have this arrow mark; user needs to ensure that the arrow points to the same direction when
IFC cards are stack together.

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5. INSTALLATION (HARDWARE)
For the hardware installation of IFC-CI00, user will first need the Power Card (IFC-PC00)
and Computer Interface (IFC-CI00) of IFC system. IFC-CI00 is replacing IFC-MB00 in IFC
system. IFC-CI00 and IFC-MB00 cannot be used together in same system. The details about
IFC-PC00 card are available in IFC-MB00A User's Manual.
Main power supply:
•1 x 12V battery.
•If 24V is needed, 2 x 12V batteries must be connected to Power card to provide 24V.
1. Stack IFC-PC00 and IFC-CI00 card together.
2. Connect battery to Power Card, IFC-PC00.
Connect 1 x 12V battery
to supply operating
voltage to IFC. Ensure
the polarity is correct.

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3. Ensure every card is being stack properly in correct orientation.
Ensure the arrow points to the
same direction. Ensure the orientation
marking at the same side.
Cautions: Please ensure that all card pins are not shifted when stacking. IFC system
will NOT function if the pins are shifted.
If 24V is needed in the
system, connect 2 x 12V
batteries to PC00.
Ensure the polarity is
correct.

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4. Besides stack every card in correct orientation, user must also require to ensure all card
pins are not shifted when stacking. Figures show the example of stacking cards in proper
location and example of stacking cards with shifted pins.
5. Connect USB cable (B type) to IFC-CI00 USB socket as shown in following figure,
another end (A type) to PC/laptop.
Ensure that all card pins
are not shifted when
stacking. Examples of stacking
cards with shifted pins.
Please AVOID this!
Connect to PC or
laptop
Connect to batter
y

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6. Computer will detect “Found New Hardware” when the first time user connects USB
cable from IFC-CI00 USB socket to PC/laptop. Only USB status LED 2 will blink and
LED 1 off until the driver is installed then both LEDs will alternate blink (ready to use).
To ensure the COM Port connect to IFC-CI00, go to My Computer> right click and select
Properties or while holding the windows key, press the Pause / Break key then click
Hardware>Device Manager. Device Manager Window appears and user can see IFC-
CI00 Computer Interface Card at the Ports (COM & LPT).
7. Yellow mark at IFC-CI00 Computer Interface port is because the driver is not installed
yet. Window Found New Hardware Wizard will launch when it detect new hardware plug
into PC or laptop.

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8. Select “Yes, this time only” from the options available and then click “Next” to proceed
with the installation.
9. Select “Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)” as shown below and then click
“Next”.

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10. Select “Search for the best driver in these locations” and click browse button to browse
the location. Location is a location for folder where users copy the IFC-CI00 installation
Driver. Click next to proceed.
11. Wait while the wizard search IFC-CI00 hardware.

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12. If following screen displayed, click on “Continue Anyway” to continue with the
installation.
13. Windows will display a message that the installation was successful. Click “Finish” to
complete the installation. Both USB status LEDs will alternate blink at this time (device
ready to use).

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14. After installation is complete, IFC-CI00 is ready to use. At device manager, user will see
the COM Port for IFC-CI00. From the example below, COM Port for IFC-CI00 is
COM14.
15. Turn ON the power on Power Card by pushing the toggle switch to “ON” label, the PWR
LED of IFC-CI00 and IFC-PC00 will turn ON as shown in Figure.
PWR LED on
IFC - CI00
12V LED on
IFC - PC00

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To open the cards, user can use the IFC card’s opener to open the stacked cards. Figure
shows the method to open cards with the opener. Please ensure the power is OFF before
inserting or removing IFC card.
Caution: Please use the opener to open IFC cards to avoid damage to pins or cards.
12
3

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6. INSTALLATION (SOFTWARE)
Visual Studio C # 2008 Express Editions is required to be installed in order for user to
create graphical user interface and write program. Visual C# (C Sharp) is a relatively new
language introduced by Microsoft along with Visual Studio. C# is fully object-oriented,
compatible with many other languages using the .NET Framework. C# is designed to allow
the programmer to develop applications that run under Windows and/or in a Web browser
without the complexity generally associated with programming. With very little effort, the
programmer can design a screen that holds standard elements such as buttons, check boxes,
radio buttons, text boxes, and list boxes.
6.1 Visual C# Installations
If user have already purchased and installed Visual Studio 2008 and C#, user can skip
this section. If users haven’t installed C#, this section will explain the method to install these
software and next section will briefly discuss on method to use it. User can get Visual C#
software from CD which is come together with IFC-CI00 card.
1. Click the executable file that was supplied. (The file was named Setup HTML
Application)

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2. Click Visual C # 2008 Express Editions to install that software.
3. Setup will copy required resources to user temp directory.