Abaco Systems / SBS / Greenspring IP-Octal Opto Serial IndustryPack Module

The IP-Octal Opto Serial IndustryPack Module is a double-wide mezzanine card delivering eight optically isolated serial channels for industrial control and data acquisition systems. Built around the Signetics CMOS SCC2698B Octal UART, it provides full-duplex asynchronous serial communication with integrated baud rate generation, state change detection, and four independent 16-bit counter/timers.

– Technical Specifications

• UART Core: Signetics CMOS SCC2698B Octal Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter
• Serial Channels: Eight optically isolated ports
• Interface Standards: RS-422/485 balanced differential signaling
• Programmable Baud Rates: Eighteen rates supported, up to 38.4 kbps
• Receiver FIFO: Three-character buffer per channel
• Counter/Timers: Four independent 16-bit units
• General-Purpose Inputs: Eight TTL-level input lines
• DMA Capability: Two serial channels configurable for DMA operation
• Module Format: Double-wide IndustryPack (3.6 in. × 3.9 in.)
• Bus Interface: IndustryPack mezzanine connector

– Key Features

• Optical isolation on all eight serial ports protects against electrical noise and ground loops
• RS-422/485 differential transmission (DX+, DX−) supports long-distance, noise-immune communication
• Dedicated baud rate generators eliminate host CPU overhead
• State change detection logic simplifies interrupt handling
• Configurable Strobe pin functions as clock input or output via user-installed shunts
• TTL-compatible general-purpose inputs for monitoring and control signals

– Typical Applications

• Multi-port serial concentrators in industrial automation
• Distributed data acquisition with galvanic isolation
• Real-time control systems requiring noise-immune RS-422/485 links
• Legacy IndustryPack-based measurement platforms

– Compatibility & Integration

Interfaces with any IndustryPack carrier supporting the standard mezzanine bus. RXD/TXD signaling on RS-422 channels; isolated differential pairs (DX+, DX−) for balanced transmission. Compatible with systems requiring eight independent, isolated serial channels in a compact double-wide form factor.