TFCOMPANION AND SOFTWARE INTEGRATION
Integration with external software, without the use of TFCompanion desktop user interface, is frequently required in OEM and production applications. TFCompanion is a desktop application with rich GUI that controls MProbe hardware and performes thin-film data analysis of the measured data. TFCompanion has options to work in the server mode and has libraries and communication interfaces for integration with external software. In the server mode, TFCompanion is sharing the same core libraries as a desktop software. This means that setup of the system, spectrometers configuration, testing of filmstacks/recipes can be done in the desktop mode and smoothly transitioned to the server mode.
There are two integration options available:
1. TCP/PLC server integration
2. Modbus server integration. Since Ver. 3 Modbus client can also access TCP/PLC server functionality
Modbus TCP server accept TCP-IP commands from the external Nodbus client. External client in C/C++,C#, etc. can use SDK/ dll library to communicate with Modbus client that communicates with the server. Java external client can directly communicate with the Modbus library without a need for the dll .
Modbus integration approach gives user detailed control of the measurement process. Modbus is a transactional Request/ Response protocol, so every single measurement needs to be requested. This can be an advantage or a drawback, depending on the application requirement. The advantage is a tight control of the timing of the measurement, so it can be synchronized with other actions. Disadvantage is a relatively slow rate of the measurement because of the overhead of the roundtrip for each measurement/transaction.
Modbus server integration using SDK and dll library
Modbus server integration using Java client.
TCP/PLC server directly accepts TCP connection from the external client. The external software (client) communicates with the server over TCP-IP using a set of specified commands (API). In contrast to the Modbus server – TCP/PLC server has a much looser integration: client can send a “start measurement” command and measurements will continue until stopped. Typically, measurements are done and results are send as fast as possible. There is a properties file that allows to configure the time between the measurement and different adaptive filtering options. Results can be send in analog form (via DAC) to a PLC receiver or in digital form to a TCP data server. In both case, a data streaming interface allows fastest measurement rate. The main drawback of the TCP/PLC server is that exact timing of the measurements cannot be controlled. The main advantage is the fast rate of measurement.
This integration option geared toward continuous measurement, where control and timing of individual measurements is not required. TCP/PLC server has three main processes: Measurement, Calculation (Data analysis) and, finally, a Data sender. These processes are loosely integrated and exchange data through the buffers. The processes are monitored to prevent overflow of the buffers. If measurement data buffer starts to grow and the calculation process cannot catch up – measurement speed is throttled.
TCP server configured with analog output to PLC
TCP server configured with output to the TCP data server
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Thin film measurement system. Practically, any transluscent film can be measured quickly and reliably.
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