Ethernet/Serial Interfaces for Compact FieldPoint
NI cFP-180x
• Distributed I/O interfaces for Ethernet
and RS232 networks
Operating Systems
• Windows 2000/XP
• 4 or 8-slot Compact FieldPoint distributed
Ethernet/serial network interfaces
• FieldPoint software for rapid distributed
I/O access
Recommended Software
• LabVIEW
• LabVIEW Datalogging and Supervisory
Control Module
• Modbus Support
• OPC server included
• Intelligent diagnostics and maintenance
• Industrial specifications for
harsh environments
• 50 g shock
Other Compatible Software
• LabWindows/CVI
• Measurement Studio
• Lookout
• VI Logger
• 5 g vibration
Driver Software (included)
• Measurement & Automation Explorer
• OPC server (2.0 compliant)
• -40 to 70 °C
Overview and Distributed Applications
Hardware Architecture
National Instruments cFP-180x interfaces connect four or eight
A cFP-180x provides an integrated network interface (Ethernet or serial)
and a 4 or 8-slot backplane, and it works with the same modules and
connector blocks used in other Compact FieldPoint systems.
Compact FieldPoint I/O modules to a high-speed Ethernet network or to
an RS232 serial port. With up to 100 Mb/s data communication rates and
event-driven communications, an NI cFP-180x delivers a high-performance
network connection for Compact FieldPoint that is easy to interface with
a PC or PAC-like Compact FieldPoint embedded controller. One or more
cFP-180x interfaces, connected by standard networking equipment, provide
expanded I/O that you can control with a single Compact FieldPoint
controller, see Figure 1. You can also build a PC-based distributed I/O and
control system by connecting two or more cFP-180x devices to your PC.
127 mm
(5.00 in.)
441 mm
(17.36 in.)
Figure 2. cFP-1808 Mechanical Dimensions
Compact FieldPoint
Real-Time Controller
127.0 mm
(5.00 in.)
Ethernet
245.9 mm (9.68 in.)
Figure 3. cFP-1804 Mechanical Dimensions
NI cFP-1808 Distributed
Network Interfaces
Building Ethernet-Based
Distributed I/O Systems
A cFP-180x can communicate with Compact FieldPoint real-time
embedded controllers; any Ethernet-based programmable automation
controller (PAC); and a Windows computer running LabVIEW,
LabWindows/CVI, Measurement Studio, Lookout, or your choice of OPC
client application software. Using a cFP-180x, you can rapidly build
flexible, modular distributed measurement and automation systems.
Figure 1. Expansion I/O for Compact FieldPoint Embedded Controller with cFP-1808
Network Interfaces