Cognex CON-GW212 Integration Notes

Brand: Cognex

Model: CON-GW212

Type: Integration Notes

CON-GW212: Ethernet to Serial Converter

Integration Note

Author: Samantha Frost

Product Marketing

Published: February 27 2009

Integration Note

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Introduction

Serial communication from an In-Sight vision system can be achieved using an In-Sight I/O Module, or

through an Ethernet to serial converter module. Although the I/O Module offers a direct connection to the

serial device, the In-Sight vision system and the serial device must be located in close proximity to each

other in order to communicate via RS-232. The Ethernet to serial converter module allows the serial

device to be accessed from the network, thereby increases the communication distance between the In-

Sight vision system and the end serial device. Additionally, the Ethernet to serial converter provides a

serial only option for the In-Sight vision system where additional discrete I/O is not necessary but

Ethernet and serial communication is.

This application note will describe how to use the CON-GW212 Ethernet to serial converter module as a

gateway device for communication between In-Sight and serial devices. Although this document is

targeted for In-Sight vision systems, the converter module has been used with the DataMan series to

access Ethernet devices from the serial interface on DataMan products.

Description of Product

The CON-GW212 converter module acts as a gateway between Ethernet and serial devices. The

gateway allows data to be sent over Ethernet from one device and received serially via RS-232 by

another device. The converter module supports one serial connection and one Ethernet connection to

the network.

Highlights of this device include:

• Configurable as TCP Server or TCP Client

• 24 VDC power requirement (117mA current draw)

• Flexible serial communication settings:

 Baud rate: 1200-230400bps

 Data bits: 7,8

 Flow Control: None, Hardware CTS/RTS, Software Xon/Xoff

• Easy Software setup

• Used with In-Sight vision systems and DataMan products

Setup of converter module with In-Sight vision system

There are three devices which need to be setup for this communication: CON-GW212, In-Sight vision

system, and a serial device. The setup procedure for each device is described below.

CON-GW212:

The converter module ships with a CD which contains software and a Quick Start Guide to aid in the

setup of the device.

1) Follow directions in the GW212 Quick start guide to configure the IP address of the module. Use

the Monitor.exe (included on GW212 CD) application to set the IP address of the module.

Manufacturer: Neteon, P/N: GW212

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For example: Set the IP address to 10.26.80.97

2) Once the IP address of the unit is determined, follow directions in the GW212 Installation manual

to connect and configure the TCP/IP settings and the serial port settings.

For example: Set the device as a TCP Server, listening on port 9000 with packet delimiter

of 0x0d0a (carriage return and line feed). The In-Sight vision system would need to be

set up as a TCP Client, listening on port 9000 with the same delimiter.

In-Sight:

In In-Sight Explorer, configure two functions: TCPDevice and WriteDevice; to send data via TCP/IP to

the converter module.

1) Setup the TCPDevice function parameters to match the converter modules TCP/IP parameters:

• If In-Sight is the TCP Client, then enter the IP address of the converter module in the

Host Name parameter. If In-Sight is the TCP Server, then leave the Host Name

parameter blank.

• Enter the port number the converter module is monitoring.

• Enter in the Packet Type to match the delimiter setting.

For example: The TCPDevice function is setup as a TCP Client by entering the address

of the converter module in the Host Name Parameter: 10.26.80.97. (The converter

module is setup as a TCP Server). The port the converter module is monitoring is port

9000. The packet type is the same packet delimiter as the converter module: String

CR+LF

TCPDevice parameters for this example

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2) Setup WriteDevice function to send data via the TCPDevice function.

3) Set the In-Sight vision system online.

Serial Device:

1) Configure the serial device to match the serial port settings in the converter module.

When the data in the WriteDevice is updated on the In-Sight vision system, the data will be sent to the

converter module via Ethernet. This data will be converted to serial and sent to the serial device

connected to the converter module.

Cognex CON-GW212 Integration Notes

Cognex CON-GW212 Integration Notes

Cognex CON-GW212 Integration Notes

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