Gas Delivery System

Architecture & Product Development

A multi-product project, eInfochips developed the complete system architecture for Matheson Electronics, a subsidiary of Nippon Sanso.

First, eInfochips defined an NT-based internet server that would collect critical and relevant information about the controllers over an Ethernet-based LAN. Next, we defined HTTP protocol based intranet web server that would serve any user on the net. For faster response and real-time update, we implemented all the user-interactive functionality using Java applets. Using CGI scripts and htmL based design, we developed a SCADA product that allows a user to obtain real-time information and control the controllers remotely using a standard browser such as Netscape.

Second, we also defined and implemented embedded TCP/IP and embedded DOS based software for next generation controllers; including GUI for the local panel of the controller. For an economical solution, a GUI library with built-in menu system was developed which is ideal for real-time, embedded small screen based applications. For future extensibility, provision was made to maintain several connections between several Ethernet nodes simultaneously. A highly efficient, performance-oriented protocol was defined that allowed real-time update of the server node periodically. It also allowed configurational changes of any controller across the network without compromising the integrity of the databases.

Third, we developed a software package that configures a given controller from scratch by accessing its non-volatile memory. This allows the use of the same hardware platform for a variety of models, resulting in simpler engineering, manufacturing and field maintenance. Further, we built remote diagnostics capabilities in this package as well as the controller. Thus, a technician can remotely diagnose potential problems over a dial-up modem or even the Internet or Intranet.