Moxa Technologies THINKCORE W311 User manual

ThinkCore W311/321/341
Hardware User’s Manual
Second Edition, March 2007
www.moxa.com/product
Moxa Systems Co., Ltd.
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ThinkCore W311/321/341
Hardware User’s Manual
The software described in this manual is furnished under a license agreement and may be used only in
accordance with the terms of that agreement.
Copyright Notice
Copyright ©2007 Moxa Systems Co., Ltd.
All rights reserved.
Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
Trademarks
MOXA is a registered trademark of The MOXA Group.
All other trademarks or registered marks in this manual belong to their respective manufacturers.
Disclaimer
Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the
part of MOXA.
MOXA provides this document “as is,” without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but
not limited to, its particular purpose. MOXA reserves the right to make improvements and/or changes to this
manual, or to the products and/or the programs described in this manual, at any time.
Information provided in this manual is intended to be accurate and reliable. However, MOXA assumes no
responsibility for its use, or for any infringements on the rights of third parties that may result from its use.
This product might include unintentional technical or typographical errors. Changes are periodically made to the
information herein to correct such errors, and these changes are incorporated into new editions of the
publication.

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction..................................................................................................1-1
Overview.................................................................................................................................. 1-2
Package Checklist.................................................................................................................... 1-2
Product Features ...................................................................................................................... 1-3
Product Hardware Specifications............................................................................................. 1-3
Hardware Block Diagram........................................................................................................ 1-6
ThinkCore W311.......................................................................................................... 1-6
ThinkCore W321.......................................................................................................... 1-6
ThinkCore W341.......................................................................................................... 1-7
Chapter 2 Hardware Introduction.................................................................................2-1
Appearance .............................................................................................................................. 2-2
ThinkCore W311.......................................................................................................... 2-2
ThinkCore W321.......................................................................................................... 2-2
ThinkCore W341.......................................................................................................... 2-3
Dimensions .............................................................................................................................. 2-4
ThinkCore W311.......................................................................................................... 2-4
ThinkCore W321.......................................................................................................... 2-5
ThinkCore W341.......................................................................................................... 2-6
LED Indicators......................................................................................................................... 2-7
Reset Button............................................................................................................................. 2-7
Real Time Clock ...................................................................................................................... 2-8
Chapter 3 Hardware Connection Description .............................................................3-1
Wiring Requirements............................................................................................................... 3-2
Connecting the Power................................................................................................... 3-2
Grounding the Unit....................................................................................................... 3-2
Connecting Data Transmission Cables .................................................................................... 3-3
Connecting to the Network........................................................................................... 3-3
Connecting to the WLAN............................................................................................. 3-3
Connecting to a Serial Device ...................................................................................... 3-4
Serial Console Port....................................................................................................... 3-4
SD Slot (W321 and W341 only).............................................................................................. 3-4
USB (W341 only).................................................................................................................... 3-5
Relay Output (W341 only)....................................................................................................... 3-5
Appendix A FCC Warning Statement.............................................................................A-1
Appendix B Service Information.....................................................................................B-1
MOXA Internet Services..........................................................................................................B-2
Problem Report Form ..............................................................................................................B-3
Product Return Procedure........................................................................................................B-4

1
1
Chapter 1 Introduction
The ThinkCore W300 Series is a line of wireless RISC-based embedded computers that feature
802.11a/b/g WLAN, RS-232/422/485 serial ports, and an Ethernet port in a small, rugged chassis.
In addition, the W321 and W341 models feature an SD slot, and the W341 features two USB 2.0
hosts and one relay output channel.
As part of the W300 Series, your embedded computer is ideal for diverse, machine-to-machine
embedded applications. It enables wireless operation of traditionally wired network and serial
devices and not only provides transparent data transfer, but also numeric computing, protocol
conversion, data processing and even data encryption. You will find it easier to build embedded
systems for distributed peer-to-peer communication, turn wired devices into wireless devices, and
introduce higher mobility and more intelligence to your system. In this chapter, learn about the
capabilities of the embedded computer.
This chapter covers the following topics:
Overview
Package Checklist
Product Features
Product Hardware Specifications
Hardware Block Diagram
¾ThinkCore W311
¾ThinkCore W321
¾ThinkCore W341

ThinkCore W311/321/341 Hardware User’s Manual Introduction
Overview
The ThinkCore W300 Series wireless embedded computer is designed around the MOXA ART
ARM9 32-bit RISC processor. Unlike the X86 CPU, which uses a CISC design, the MOXA ART
ARM9 uses RISC architecture and modern semiconductor technology to provide a powerful
computing engine without generating significant heat. The processor also integrates UART and
LAN functions to provide exceptional communication performance, but without the bus bandwidth
limitations associated with general ARM-based communication products.
On-board NOR Flash ROM and SDRAM provides ample storage capacity, and for select models,
the SD slot gives applications extra room to expand. The built-in WLAN function supports the
802.11a/b/g standard, providing transmission security with WEP, WPA and WPA2. The backup
LAN port not only provides an alternative solution for networking but also supports Ethernet
clients, allowing any network device to plug in and connect to the WLAN. The built-in
RS-232/422/485 serial ports support a wide range of serial devices, making this platform suitable
for data acquisition and protocol conversion applications.
The Linux-based operating system comes pre-installed and ready to run, providing an open
platform for software development. Software written for desktop PCs can easily be ported to
W300 Series embedded computers by using a common complier, so little time is spent modifying
existing software code. In addition, the operating system, device drivers, and user-developed
software can all be stored in the built-in flash memory.
Package Checklist
The ThinkCore W300 Series includes the following models:
ThinkCore W311-LX
A small, RISC-based, ready-to-run, wireless embedded computer with WLAN, one serial ports,
Ethernet, and Linux OS
ThinkCore W321-LX
A small, RISC-based, ready-to-run, wireless embedded computer with WLAN, two serial ports,
Ethernet, SD slot, and Linux OS
ThinkCore W341-LX
A RISC-based, ready-to-run, wireless embedded computer with WLAN, four serial ports, Ethernet,
SD slot, USB port, relay output, and Linux OS
Each model is shipped with the following items:
yThinkCore W300 Series wireless embedded computer
yQuick Installation Guide
yDocumentation & Software CD
y100 cm RJ45-to-RJ45 Ethernet cross-over cable
y100 cm console port cable (CBL-4PINDB9F-100)
yUniversal Power Adaptor
yProduct Warranty Statement
Optional Accessories
y35 mm DIN-rail mounting kit (DK-35A)
NOTE: Notify your sales representative if any of the above items are missing or damaged.
1-2

ThinkCore W311/321/341 Hardware User’s Manual Introduction
Product Features
ThinkCore W300 Series computers have the following features:
yMOXAART 32-bit ARM9 industrial communication processor
y32 MB on-board RAM (64 MB for W341)
y16 MB built-in flash memory
y802.11a/b/g Wireless LAN
yWEP, WPA and WPA2 encryption
yInfrastructure mode and Ad-Hoc mode
yRS-232/422/485 serial ports with software selectable interface
yBaudrates between 50 and 921.6 Kbps; supports ANY BAUDRATE
y10/100M Ethernet for backup networking
ySD card slot for storage expansion (W321 and W341 only)
yWithstands 5G continuous vibration and 50G shock
yLED indicators for status, serial transmission, and wireless signal strength
yReady-to-run Linux platform
yInstallation on DIN-rail or wall
yFanless design for increased ruggedness
Product Hardware Specifications
System
CPU MOXA ART ARM9 32-bit RISC CPU, 192 MHz
DRAM W311: 32 MB W321: 32 MB W341: 64 MB
Flash W311: 16 MB W321: 16 MB W341: 64 MB
Storage Expansion W311: None W321: SD slot ¯1 W341: SD slot ¯1
USB W341: USB 2.0 host ¯2
Relay Output Form C, SPDT ¯1
Normal switching
capacity:
Switching power:
Switching voltage:
Switch current:
Operation time:
Initial contact resistance:
2 A @30 VDC
60 W max.
220 VDC max.
2 A max.
4 ms @20°C
100 Mohm max.
Console port RS-232 ¯1 (TxD, RxD, GND), 4-pin header output, “115200, n, 8, 1”
Button Reset button ¯1, supports “Reset to Factory Default”
Others RTC, buzzer, Watchdog Timer
OS Built-in Embedded Linux with MMU support, based on Linux
Kemel 2.6
1-3

ThinkCore W311/321/341 Hardware User’s Manual Introduction
WLAN Communication
Standard Compliance 802.11a/b/g
Radio Frequency Type DSSS, CCK, OFDM
Radio Frequency Band 802.11a: 5.15 to 5.25 GHz, 5.25 to 5.35 GHz, 5.725 to 5.825 GHz
802.11b/g: U.S., Europe and Japan product covering 2.4 to 2.484 GHz
Media Access Protocol Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA)
Modulation 802.11a/g: OFDM (64-QAM, 16-QAM, QPSK, BPSK)
802.11b: DSSS (DBPSK, DQPSK, CCK)
Transmission Power
(Typical) 5.15 to 5.35 GHz: 15 dBm @6 Mbps; 12 dBm @54 Mbps
5.725 to 5.825 GHz: 15 dBm @6 Mbps; 12 dBm @54 Mbps
2.412 to 2.483 GHz (IEEE802.11g): 17 dBm @6 Mbps;
15 dBm @54Mbps
2.412 to 2.472 GHz (IEEE802.11b): 18 dBm@ 1 to 11 Mbps
Receiver Sensitivity
(Typical) 5.15 to 5.35 GHz: 6 Mbps @ -90 dBm; 54 Mbps @ -72 dBm
5.47 to 5.725 GHz: 6 Mbps @ -90 dBm; 54 Mbps @ -72 dBm
5.725 to 5.825 GHz: 6 Mbps @ -89 dBm; 54 Mbps @ -72 dBm
2.412 to 2.472 G (IEEE802.11g): 6 Mbps @ -90 dBm;
54 Mbps @ -73 dBm
2.412 to 2.472 G (IEEE802.11b): 11 Mbps @ -87 dBm;
1 Mbps @ -94 dBm
Transmission Rate 54 Mbps with auto fallback (54, 48, 36, 24, 18, 12, 11, 9, 6, 5.5, 2, 1
Mbps)
802.11b supported rates: 1, 2, 5.5, 11 Mbps
802.11a/g supported rates: 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54 Mbps
Transmission distance 100 meters at 11 Mbps (with no obstructions)
Security WEP 64-bit/128-bit, WPA, WPA2 data encryption
Antenna Connector Reverse SMA
Antenna External 2 dBi dipole antenna
WLAN Mode Infrastructure, Ad-Hoc
Network Communication
LAN 10/100 Mbps RJ45 ¯1, auto-sensing
Protection 1.5 KV built-in magnetic isolation protection
Serial Communication
Serial Port W311: RS-232/422/485 DB9 male ¯1
W321: RS-232/422/485 DB9 male ¯2
W341: RS-232/422/485 DB9 male ¯4
Protection 15 KV built-in ESD protection for all signals
Data bits 5, 6, 7, 8
Stop bits 1, 1.5, 2
Parity None, Even, Odd, Space, Mark
Flow Control RTS/CTS, XON/XOFF, RS-485 ADDC™
Speed 50 bps to 921.6 Kbps; supports ANY BAUDRATE
1-4

ThinkCore W311/321/341 Hardware User’s Manual Introduction
LEDs
System Ready, SD activity (for W321 and W341 only)
WLAN Enable, signal strength
LAN 10 M/Link, 100 M/Link (RJ45 connector)
Serial TxD, RxD
Power Requirements
Power Input 12 to 48 V
Power Consumption W311: 400 mA @ 12 VDC
W321: 400 mA @ 12 VDC
W341: 600 mA @ 12 VDC with no USB devices attached
1.2A @ 12 VDC with USB devices on each port at max spec
500 mA @ 5 VDC
Mechanical
Dimension
(W ¯D ¯H) (without wall mount ear or antenna)
W311: 67 ¯100.4 ¯22 mm
W321: 77 ¯111 ¯26 mm
W341: 150 ¯100 ¯38 mm
Antenna 110 mm
Construction Material W311: aluminum, 1 mm
W321: aluminum, 1 mm
W341: aluminum, 1 mm / SECC, 1 mm for rear panel
Mounting DIN-rail, wall
Environmental
Operating Temperature -10 to 60°C (14 to 140°F), 5 to 95% RH
Storage Temperature -20 to 80°C (-4 to 176°F), 5 to 95% RH
Regulatory Approvals
EMC FCC, CE (Class A)
Safety TÜV, UL, cUL
Others RoHS, CRoHS, WEEE
Warranty 5 years
1-5

ThinkCore W311/321/341 Hardware User’s Manual Introduction
Hardware Block Diagram
ThinkCore W311
UART
MOXA ART CPU
32-bit ARM9
192 MHz
64MB
RAM
16MB
Flash
Power
Circuit
RTC
Watchdog
Serial
Port
LAN
MAC
PHY
Ethernet
WLAN
802.11a/b/g
UART
Console
Port
RS-232RS-232/422/485
ThinkCore W321
UART
MOXA ART CPU
32-bit ARM9
192 MHz
16MB
RAM
8MB
Flash
Power
Circuit
RTC
Watchdog
Serial
Port 1
LAN
MAC
PHY
Ethernet
UART
Serial
Port 2
WLAN
802.11a/b/g
SD
Function
UART
Console
Port
RS-232/422/485 RS-232
1-6

ThinkCore W311/321/341 Hardware User’s Manual Introduction
ThinkCore W341
MOXA ART CPU
32-bit ARM9
192 MHz
16MB
RAM
8MB
Flash
Power
Circuit
RTC
Watchdog
LAN
MAC
PHY
Ethernet
UART UARTUART UART
Serial
Port 1 Serial Port 2 Serial Port 3 Serial Port 4
Relay
Output
SD
Function
WLAN
USB 2.0
Host x 2
802.11a/b/g
UART
Console
Port
RS-232RS-232/422/485
1-7

2
2
Chapter 2 Hardware Introduction
ThinkCore W300 Series hardware is compact, well-designed, and built rugged for industrial
applications. LED indicators help you monitor the performance and identify trouble spots.
Multiple ports allow the connection of different devices for wireless operation. With the reliable
and stable hardware platform that is provided, you may devote your attention to the development
of your application. In this chapter, learn the basics about the embedded computer hardware and
its different parts.
This chapter covers the following topics:
Appearance
¾ThinkCore W311
¾ThinkCore W321
¾ThinkCore W341
Dimensions
¾ThinkCore W311
¾ThinkCore W321
¾ThinkCore W341
LED Indicators
Reset Button
Real Time Clock

ThinkCore W311/321/341 Hardware User’s Manual Hardware Introduction
Appearance
ThinkCore W311
Ethernet
(10/100BaseTx)
12 to 48 VDC
Wireless LAN
antenna
Serial
console port
Serial Port
(RS-232/422/485)
ThinkCore W321
Ethernet
(10/100BaseTx)
12 to 48 VDC
Wireless LAN
antenna
Internal SD Slot for
Storage Expansion
(remove cover to access)
Serial Port 2
(RS-232/422/485)
Serial Port 1
(RS-232/422/485)
Serial
console port
2-2

ThinkCore W311/321/341 Hardware User’s Manual Hardware Introduction
ThinkCore W341
Top View
Wireless LAN
antenna
Relay OutputReset Button Internal SD Slot for
Storage Expansion
(remove cover to access)
Reset
RELAY
12-48V
LAN
NO
COM
NC
USB
12 to 48 VDC
Ethernet
10/100BaseTX
USB 2.0 Host
Front View
Wireless LAN
antenna
Bottom View
Serial Port x 4
(RS-232/422/485)
2-3

ThinkCore W311/321/341 Hardware User’s Manual Hardware Introduction
Dimensions
ThinkCore W311
90 mm (3.54 in)
67 mm (2.64 in)
25 mm
(0.98 in)
43 mm (1.69 in)
137.5 mm (5.41 in)
100.4 mm (3.95 in)
22 mm
(0.87 in)
78 mm (3.07 in)
2-4

ThinkCore W311/321/341 Hardware User’s Manual Hardware Introduction
ThinkCore W321
100 mm (3.94 in)
77 mm (3.03 in)
25 mm
(0.98 in)
43 mm (1.69 in)
148.1 mm (5.83 in)
111 mm (4.37 in)
26 mm
(1.02 in)
88 mm (3.46 in)
2-5

ThinkCore W311/321/341 Hardware User’s Manual Hardware Introduction
ThinkCore W341
173 mm (6.81 in)
150 mm (5.91 in)
137.1 mm (5.40 in)
100 mm (3.93 in)
38 mm
(1.50 in)
40.5 mm (1.59 in)
161 mm (6.34 in)
Reset
RELAY
12-48V
LAN
NO
COM
NC
USB
25 mm
(0.98 in)
35 mm (1.38 in)
2-6

ThinkCore W311/321/341 Hardware User’s Manual Hardware Introduction
LED Indicators
Please note that the W311 does not include an SD slot, so it will not have an SD LED.
LED Name LED Color LED Function
Green Power is on and functioning normally
Ready Off Power is off or there is another power error
Green SD card is detected
SD Off No SD card is detected
ON: WLAN is ready
Green Blinking: Conflict with WLAN IP or no response from
DHCP server
WLAN
Off WLAN is not ready or function error
Green
Number of glowing LEDs indicates signal strength
5: Excellent
4: Very good
3: Good
2: Fair
1: Bad
Signal Strength
Off No signal or WLAN connection failed
Orange 10 Mbps Ethernet link
Green 100 Mbps Ethernet link
LAN Off Disconnected or short circuit
Green Serial ports P1-P4 transmitting dataTxD
P1-P4 Off Serial ports P1-P4 not transmitting data
Yellow Serial ports P1-P4 receiving dataRxD
P1-P4 Off Serial ports P1-P4 not receiving data
Reset Button
Hold the reset button down for 5 seconds to load the factory default configuration. After loading
the factory defaults, the system will reboot automatically. We recommend that you use this
function only if the software is not working properly. To reset the Linux system software, always
use the software reboot command (“reboot”) to protect the integrity of data.
The reset button is NOT designed as a hard reboot for the embedded computer.
ATTENTION
Restoring default settings preserves your data
Resetting the embedded computer to factory defaults will NOT format the user directory and will
NOT erase the user’s data. The reset button only loads a configuration file. All files in the /etc
directory will revert to their factory defaults, but all other user data will remain intact in the Flash
ROM.
Please note that if there is a problem with the /etc directory, the embedded computer may be
unable to restore the factory default settings.
2-7

ThinkCore W311/321/341 Hardware User’s Manual Hardware Introduction
Real Time Clock
The embedded computer’s real-time clock is powered by a lithium battery. We strongly
recommend that you NOT replace the lithium battery on your own. If the battery needs to be
changed, please contact the MOXARMA service team.
ATTENTION
There is a risk of explosion if the wrong type of battery is used. To avoid this potential danger,
always be sure to use the correct type of battery. Contact the MOXA RMA service team for battery
replacement.
2-8

3
3
d Chapter 3 Har ware Connection Description
ThinkCore W300 Series wireless embedded computers are equipped for multiple types of
connections. WLAN, Ethernet, and multiple serial interfaces are built into every model, including
ot for
¾Connecting the Power
ission Cables
twork
e


a serial console port for monitoring of bootup messages. Select models also include an SD sl
storage expansion, USB ports for additional device and storage options, and relay output
connections. With the open-source Linux kernel, you are free to develop custom applications for
remote, wireless operation of your device. In this chapter, learn how to connect the embedded
computer to the network and to various devices.
This chapter covers the following topics:
Wiring Requirements
¾Grounding the Unit
Connecting Data Transm
¾Connecting to the Ne
¾Connecting to the WLAN
¾Connecting to a Serial Devic
¾Serial Console Port
SD Slot (W321 and W341 only)
USB (W341 only)
Relay Output (W341 only)

ThinkCore W311/321/341 Hardware User’s Manual Hardware Connection Description
Wiring Requirements
This section describes how to connect serial devices to the embedded computer.
You should heed the following common safety precautions before proceeding with the installation
of any electronic device:
yUse separate paths to route wiring for power and devices. If power wiring and device wiring
paths must cross, make sure the wires are perpendicular at the intersection point.
NOTE: Do not run signal or communication wiring and power wiring in the same wire conduit.
To avoid interference, wires with different signal characteristics should be routed separately.
yUse the type of signal transmitted through a wire to determine which wires should be kept
separate. The rule of thumb is that wiring that shares similar electrical characteristics can be
bundled together.
yKeep input wiring and output wiring separate.
yIt is advisable to label the wiring to all devices in the system.
ATTENTION
Safety First!
Be sure to disconnect the power cord before installation and/or wiring.
Watch Electrical Current!
Calculate the maximum possible current in each power wire and common wire. Observe all
electrical codes dictating the maximum current allowable for each wire size.
If the current goes above the maximum ratings, the wiring could overheat, causing serious
damage to your equipment.
Watch Temperature!
Be careful when handling the unit. When the unit is plugged in, the internal components generate
heat, and consequently the outer casing may feel hot to the touch.
Connecting the Power
Connect the “live-wire” end of the 12-48 VDC power adapter to the embedded computer’s
terminal block. When power is properly supplied, the “Ready” LED will glow a solid green after a
25 to 30 second delay.
Grounding the Unit
Grounding and wire routing help limit the effects of noise due to electromagnetic interference
(EMI). Before connecting any devices, run a ground wire from the ground screw to the grounding
surface.
3-2