UC series universal embedded software and hardware platform

　　With the development of embedded technology in recent years, embedded products are increasingly widely used. However, embedded product development requires a lot of investment. It is necessary to build various software and hardware platforms to develop suitable embedded products. The construction of embedded software and hardware platforms is undoubtedly the most important, basic and difficult thing in the entire embedded product. With many years of software and hardware R&D experience, Moxa has entered the field of embedded applications and provides a universal embedded software and hardware platform product UC (Universal Communicators) for embedded applications.

1 UC Products

(1) UC7400 Series

　　◇ Intel Xscale IXP-422 266 MHz Processor;
　　◇ Built-in 128 MB RAM, 32 MB Flash Disk; 
　　◇ Dual 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports; 
　　◇ 8 RS232/422/485 three-in-one serial ports (software option); 
　　◇ PCMCIA/CompactFlash/Wireless LAN expansion options available; 
　　◇ Human-machine interface (HMI) with LCM display and buttons; 
　　◇ Built-in MontaVista embedded Linux 2.4.18; 
　　◇ Rugged, fanless design.

Figure 1

(2) UC 7100 Series

　　◇ 32-bit ARM9 RISC microcontroller (Samsung S3C2500); 
　　◇ 16 MB RAM (approximately 12 MB of programmable space); 
　　◇ 8 MB Flash ROM (approximately 4 MB of programmable space); 
　　◇ Dual 10/100 Mbps auto-sensing Ethernet ports; 
　　◇ 2 software-selectable RS-232/422/485 serial ports; 
　　◇ RS485 with ADDC (automatic data direction control); 
　　◇ Built-in RTC, Buzzer; 
　　◇ Built-in μClinux (V2.4.22). [page]

2 UC provides the best platform for multiple purposes

　　UC provides a multi-purpose optimal platform as shown in Figure 1.

3 UC provides an open Linux environment that facilitates development

　　The open Linux environment provided by UC is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2

　　The pre-installed Linux operating system provides an open software operating system for customer development. This means that software written for the PC can be easily ported to the UC-7400 platform through the GNU Cross Compiler without modifying the source code. The UC is pre-installed with some device drivers, such as the PCMCIA wireless network module, buttons, LCM and buzzer control modules. By connecting the PC and UC through Telnet or console, you can enter the pre-installed Linux system of the UC from the PC and use the PC's display and keyboard to develop software on the UC.

　　Although UC is a Linux operating system, development does not have to be done under Linux. Moxa also provides development tools under Windows, which can completely simulate the Linux development environment under the Windows platform.

　　UC-7400 has built-in Apache monitoring process, which allows you to easily set up your own Web service. You can use some common Web development tools to develop your Web application, and then download it to UC-7400. From the outside, you can directly access UC-7400 through a browser.

4 How to develop your own application

　　The application development process is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3

(1) Establishing a development environment

　　Install Linux (Red Hat 7.2 or higher) and UC toolkit (Compiler, GLIBC, GDB) on the PC, and set parameters such as IP address and network mask.

(2) Writing code and debugging

　　Develop application programs (C/C++) on the PC. Use the development environment (tool chain) provided by Moxa UC to compile and debug the written programs.

(3) Operation

　　Download the compiled and debugged program to UC via FTP. This is equivalent to installing your application and running it.
　　In short, Moxa's UC series embedded computers allow you to easily develop embedded system solutions based on your own special applications.