
Project
Support of custom protocol
CODESYS Control extension to support a customized serial protocol
CPU
ARM
Manufacturer
NXP
OS
Linux
Skills
Linux
Real-time programming
CODESYS driver development
C
RS-485
Request/problem:
The customer developed a PLC based on Linux. The device is based on a System-On-Module (EXOR Embedded SOM). The device is delivered along with the BSP which supports RS-485 (accessed via tty). I/O devices connected to the PLC must be integrated in both the CODESYS IDE and CODESYS Control runtime system.
Solution:
Firstly, we developed, in XML, the device description files representing the I/O devices in CODESYS. The description contains the list of configuration parameters and I/O channels (updated cyclically).
The CODESYS component handles the I/O configuration downloaded from the IDE into the PLC and communicates to the I/O device cyclically. As serial communication was to be performed in 9 bits mode, which is not supported by default by Linux, several extensions were done in the BSP together with the SOM vendor.
Architecture:

Results:
After development and an extensive Quality Assurance process, we delivered the project on time.