Remote process control management

Device server technology from Lantronix gave Texas Instruments the ability to access and manage their process control equipment remotely over the Internet.

Texas Instruments is a world leader in digital signal processing and analog technologies that drive semiconductor engines in our electronic age.

The company is also a leader in the real-time technologies that help people communicate.

It develops semiconductor solutions for large markets such as wireless and broadband access, as well as for consumer applications such as digital cameras and digital audio equipment.

The company's process for measuring and reading the concentration of contaminants in a water sample was originally quite complicated and involved transferring a signal from a water analyser to a programmable logic controller to an HMI (human/machine interface).

When reading this information, the opportunity for error was high as the signal passed through each separate device, and the measurements were so small that any degree of error could be detrimental.

Texas Instruments Facility Control centre operated process control equipment on a legacy network that was independent of their local area network (LAN).

To network-enable all of the process control equipment at the Support centre would have required over 1500 feet of wiring and conduit spanning multiple buildings, creating a costly and time-intensive project.

Texas Instruments implemented a device server solution from Lantronix on multiple key pieces of equipment, including airflow, water, and gas detectors at its fabrication factory in Dallas, Texas.

With the help of device networking technology, the Support centre now is able to remotely monitor and control elements of the fabrication factory including airflow, water treatment and gas detection - critical elements in the production of the company's semiconductor products in an adjacent fabrication facility.

Integrating Lantronix device server technology allowed Texas Instruments to Ethernet-enable all of the equipment in its Support centre.

This resulted in a tremendous time-savings, as more than 500 PCs in the Support centre now have access to real-time information as it is generated by the process control equipment.

This eliminated the need for a technician to patrol the floor and monitor each device individually and greatly improved the response time whenever a failure occurred.

Using Lantronix device server technology, Texas Instruments can measure contaminants directly at the source of the water sample.

Network-enabling their existing equipment to communicate directly with the HMI reduced the risk for errors and provided information on the process in real time.

Texas Instruments also used device server technology to network-enable the airflow control process into its fabrication facilities.

Device servers connect to fans outside the factory and are used to monitor circulation and airflow.

"Lantronix Device Servers are integral to our operating process," said Texas Instruments Technical Specialist Todd Petty.

"Real-time access to information generated from around the facility saves us time and money while and reducing the risk of errors and facility downtime".

The Lantronix Device Server Advantages include:.

* Reduced Costs - Enables minimal engineering effort to connect multiple devices with a single network connection.

Lantronix device servers allow the ability to remotely control, monitor, diagnose and troubleshoot equipment over a network or the Internet, enabling a company to preserve its investment in present equipment.

* Highest Security - AES encryption for secure communications which satisfy patient privacy requirements.

* Scalability - Lantronix device servers can effectively network-enable multiple devices.

* Time Savings - To both the system designer as well as the end customer.

System designers are able to concentrate on their core competencies.

Remote management of devices eliminates the need to manage and monitor devices independently.

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