The »RealTime Suite«, a real-time extension for the Windows operating system, has been used for high-performance solutions for Windows throughout the years by numerous manufacturers of test stands, as well as in machinery, automation and robotics. Now the integration of industrial image processing solutions in the real-time application is also possible.

Despite the extended usage of industrial image processing and efficient tools, there is currently no real-time solution for image acquisition and processing under the Windows operating system. Yet, it is required in mechanical engineering for immediate response to product defects, in order to assure quality.

The new module of the Kithara »RealTime Suite« supports industrial cameras with GigE Vision® interfaces and allows immediate controlling reaction at the end of the image acquisition and by arrival of images on the PC. The widespread image processing library HALCON, from company MVTec of Munich, is suitable for further processing of the image data in real-time.

The real-time interface for GigE Vision® cameras can be operated on up to approximately 120 Mbyte/s per port and so it is reaching far beyond data rates normally achievable under Windows. The system reacts on arriving images within a few microseconds in a real-time context. Thereby new solutions can be implemented.

The interface supports all current Windows operating systems, including Windows 7 (with 32- or 64-bits). The real-time programming is done in C/C++ or Delphi. The application can also be embedded in C#.

The Berlin company Kithara Software announces their familiar Windows real-time extension »RealTime Suite« now in a special64-bit version, in order to stay abreast of this modern trend. All the benefits of the 64-bit world are now suitable for real-time under Windows as well.

The manager of Kithara Software, Uwe Jesgarz is sure: “Over the long-term development of the »RealTime Suite«, no topic has ever been more demanded by users than the real-time extension for the 64-bit version of Windows 7.” Existing previously boundary of 32-bit systems, namely the address space limitation of 4 GBytes, has now been overcome. “This allows users in automation, robotics, image processing as well as builders of test benches and special machines to implement powerful solutions very efficiently.”, continues Uwe Jesgarz. 

All major existing function modules are source-compatible for 64-bit compilers and development environments. These include real-time multi-tasking and timer, which are not inferior to stand-alone real-time systems, though much easier to use due to the Windows integration of the »RealTime Suite«. Additionally, communication mechanisms such as Ethernet sockets with UDP or TCP with hard real-time capabilities are part of the software.

After accomplishing diligent efforts, the Berlin-based company sets up a special operating mode named “Kithara-32-in-64” (or short “KiK64”), so as to be able to perform 32-bit real-time software on 64-bit systems, which was formerly only possible by normal application programs. Uwe Jesgarz says: “Initially, KiK64 is offering investment protection for previous software, which cannot be created as a native 64-bit application. Furthermore, this approach allows compatibility with all current Windows operating systems with just one application.”

As before, widely utilized programming languages and development systems can be used, as for example C/C++ or Delphi. By moving the time-critical program parts into a DLL the .NET-languages like C# are appropriable as well.

PC-based automation provides diverse benefits, which are not only lie in the fact, that the visualization of a machine or equipment can be comfortably implemented—especially using Windows as the operating system. Automation, robotics, industrial image processing and test benches in most cases need complex calculations and therefore a powerful PC. For historical reasons, in many machines and test benches even today more than one computer is used, although this is not necessary anymore due to the increased performance of today’s PCs.

The »RealTime Suite« 2011 allows for the execution of all automation tasks on one single PC by assigning them to the different CPU cores. Unused processor time of every core remains free for Windows usage. Additionally, in a future version some cores can be assigned to real-time tasks only.

The development of applications takes place comfortably in C/C++ or Delphi. When the time-critical program parts are outhoused into a DLL, developers can also use .NET languages like C#.

This approach not only saves considerable amount of development effort due to the simpler communication between the application and the real-time part, but it also benefits the aspect of sparing resources, because only one computer is necessary for one facility. This allows for “Green Automation” even for special machines and test benches.

The Berlin-based company Kithara Software GmbH announces the CANopen Master as a new extension of their »RealTime Suite«. This way it is possible to implement CANopen control solutions in real-time under Windows the same way as with EtherCAT or Profibus.

The CANopen automation protocol is very reliable and provides a cost effective feasibility for controlling of sensors and actuators. This is the main reason of being in demand in factory automation, for machinery controls and test benches. Especially the cost aspect continues to give CANopen an advantage, even in the time of increased Ethernet-based communication solutions.

When using Windows as an operating system, however, the biggest disadvantage with previous solutions is that the master software itself is implemented on an intelligent CANopen master hardware with its own controlller. Though the application software runs in the normal Windows user context and so there are no real-time conditions.

In the Windows real-time extension »RealTime Suite« of Kithara, the automation part of the application is executed in a real-time context. This enables to use low-cost passive CAN cards as well of different vendors, where currently interfaces of esd, EMS, IXXAT, Kvaser and PEAK Systems are supported.

The CANopen Master of Kithara sends and receives PDOs event-driven, in a synchronized manner as well as on request by the master. SDO exchange can be done with unlimited data length. Additional features are timers, receiving Emergency objects and several Network Management Services (NMT), for example “Node Guarding” or “Heartbeat”.

The real-time application can be implemented in all programming languages which generate native code, for example C/C++ or Delphi. For C#, it is possible to transfer the time-critical parts of the control application into a DLL. Because of the integration of the CANopen Master into the »RealTime Suite«, it is achievable to use different combinations of protocols, like EtherCAT or Profibus.

Test rigs and facilities in those fields are the premium products in the test bench area. The demands placed on such facilities often move at the limits of technological feasibility, referring to the high end of the measurement and drive technology.

Already in 2003, the leading engineers of Renk decided to use the »RealTime Suite« of Kithara Software as the basis for real-time control of test systems. The customized software is characterized by a high degree of flexibility, variability and by its simple handling. It allows—using direct hardware access—to address the I/O interfaces and Profibus or CAN sensors and actors in real-time. In future systems, Renk will prefer EtherCAT-based solutions, which are based on the EtherCAT Master of Kithara.

Renk’s own control software RDDS takes over the control and regulation of the entire system, as well as the visualization and operation of the test bench on a Windows PC. Using a customized assembly of the »RealTime Suite«, tailored individually to the needs of RDDS, the necessary real-time requirements of the control are met.

Kithara Software provides once again its ability to satisfy highest standards in the field of industrial automation.

More information can be found at the SPS / IPC / Drives from 23. to 25.11.2010 in Hall 6 at the booth by the EtherCAT Technology Group (Booth 208).

Besides high-precision timers with multitasking, the real-time ex-tension also includes functions to communicate over Ethernet controllers in real-time. The data communication up to Gigabit speed is processed Ethernet controllers by Intel and Realtek. This allows to implement fast measurement acquisition or industrial image processing, e.g. with GigE Vision. Furthermore, TCP and UDP are provided with real-time characteristics.

The network controllers are accessed directly using specific real-time drivers, in which any copy operations are avoided. Thereby highest possible transfer rates and shortest response times are reached. In addition, functions for the CRC calculation and byte-order conversion are provided.

As usual with Kithara the socket application can be programmed comfortably within the application in C/C++ or Delphi. C# is supported as well in form of an embedded DLL.

For the last 25 years – with the beginning of CAN – the Swedish company Kvaser is dealing with solutions for the CAN technology. Kvaser provides different types of CAN interface cards. Kithara supports now a series of the cards with their »RealTime Suite« for Windows.

CAN interfaces of Kvaser are used in the automotive section predominantly and time-critical requirements based on Windows presuppose a real-time extension. Now, the developer can use the CAN-interfaces of Kvaser and high precision timer with priority-based preemptive multitasking up to 255 priority levels. The processing of CAN messages within the Kithara kernel driver allows a secure and time equidistant CAN communication as well as a quick real-time response on external events.

The data is being transferred over 2- or 4-port interfaces (e.g. the Kvaser PCIcan) and the caches buffer the CAN messages while sending and receiving over a simple to use and intuitional API. Special real-time message filters can be installed as well as error-handling routines for specific bus scenarios. A listen-only mode is also available. For ease of diagnose, the Kithara "Kernel Tracer" which you can use to tape-record the complete CAN-data transfer in micro-second resolution, was enhanced.

The users are happy about the manufacturer-independent API, because Kithara supports real-time boards of other manufacturers similarly. You can find a trial version with a full functional range and demonstration codes in our Download Center.

The Windows real-time environment »RealTime Suite« of the Berlin company Kithara Software now supports time-critical applications with Profibus, too. Therewith this proved and widely-used fieldbus system can be used in future with Windows in real time.

Despite of the undeniable trend to Ethernet-based automation protocols, Profibus is currently the system with the most widely-use and furthermore high growth. However, with Windows it was only useable out of closed systems or without real-time characteristics. The »RealTime Suite« of Kithara is a function library and offers a flexible approach for the user. Powerful real-time solutions can be implemented with Profibus (DP) in a similar comfortable manner like the successfully used Kithara EtherCAT Master.

In order to gain a flexible and efficient solution, Kithara Software is co-operating intensively with the company Hilscher Systemautomation and supports the Profibus extension card CIFX 50-DP by Hilscher. The result was a real-time capable Profibus DP V1 Class 1 Master, which can be a part of a multi-master topology and supports up to 125 slaves.

Because of the graphical definition of the Profibus system, the developer can comfortably configure the Profibus Master. An easy parameterization of the Master, Slaves and Profibus parameters saves time and provides for a user-friendly creation of needed configuration files for the real-time mode.

The coding is performed as usual at Kithara with the familar programming languages and development environments, which includes C/C++ and Delphi. Using a DLL, C# is also supported. Kithara Software provides further information on the Hannover Fair in hall 11, booth A62.

The Berlin company Kithara Software is co-exhibitor on the Hannover Fair 2010 and presents the completely revised EtherCAT Master from the »RealTime Suite« product line, which supports the new operating system Windows 7. PC-based implementation of industrial control applications is an enormous simplification of automation technology. Windows operating systems, though, are not able to deliver hard realtime offhand. This is addressed by a product range of Kithara, which is also containing the EtherCAT Master.

The modular function library provides a slim demand oriented code which can be integrated fast and easy into the own application with the help of the detailed documentation. Thusly, all needed mechanisms are provided to implement cost-effective flexible control applications based on EtherCAT. It is not necessary anymore for programmers to manage and transmit data telegrams by their own. Advantages are a high usability, a small practicing effort and therefore the reduction of time and costs.

The EtherCAT Master supports a very fast process data exchange and additionally mailbox communication, EoE and FoE and Distributed Clocks and is hot-plug compliant and is optionally equipped with cable redundancy. The master will be complemented with the »Master Monitor«, which makes the configuration and inspection of the connected EtherCAT topology more comfortable.

The software of the »RealTime Suite« provides users additionally for highly precise timers and the necessary real-time network drivers as well as further mechanisms, such as hardware access to PCI cards or USB devices, serial interfaces or the connection to CAN-cards in real time. The user can program his real-time control application in the usual and well-known development environment in C/C++ or Delphi.

On the face of it the advanced performance of recent PCs allow time critical applications. The managing director Uwe Jesgarz says : “Windows without a real-time-extention is just a “nice weather real-time”. However unfailing functions in every situation are required. In industrial standards enything els can not be tolerated and could lead to fatal consequences. Kithara Software offers a hard real-time solutions which keep its balance.”

Adverse to its origins over 10 years ago, the »Real Time Suite« now contains not only timer functions but a priority based preemptive real-time multitasking, such as professional developers would expect from a RTOS. Tasks with up to 255 priority steps make sure that only the task with the highest priority will be achived in real-time.

Uwe Jesgarz emphasises: “The provided capable functions, enable the conversion of application, which can only be phrased through a complex modell of operational sequences.” The offered capable means, permit the conversion of applications which can only be phrased through a complex modell of application.”

The solutions offered by Kithara Software are used for communication by EtherCAT-Master, Real-time CAN or ethernet. They are running on etablished operating systems of Windows and now even on Windows 7.

The real-time support is available by programming language like C/C++ and Delphi and by using DLLs, C#  is  also available.

More and more industrial enterprises rebuild their control technology and change their conventional field bus systems into innovative realtime-ethernet-solutions like for example EtherCAT. In order to reconvert the system Kithara Software supplies essential function libaries with highly precision time stamps. The developer benefit from a slender, demand-oriented programming. They can master it down to the last detail and make modifications themselves, not like a black box.

The precision lies in the area of several kilohertz and the ethernet-communication will be supportet for fast- and gigabit- transfer rates and also supports UDP TCP. The preemptive MultiTasking ensures that the PC-based EtherCAT-Master operates at highly precedence rating. For this reason the Software is the ideal tool for all developers who realize realtime-ethernet or rather EtherCAT-solutions.

Just like the development engineers of Hans Hundegger Maschinenbau GmbH, the world market leader concerning fully automated, computer-operated machines.

Through long-time positive experiences with the realtime-timer-functions of the »RealTime Suite« Hundegger Maschinenbau GmbH still relies on the innovative technologies of Kithara and has converted the control units for EtherCAT. The high flexible machinery is sawing, milling, drilling, planing and transporting fully automated and is producing at the same time almost variable prefabricated parts from the substance wood. The whole connection for these complex and high-precision manufacture is processed over the realtime-ethernet-access time-critical in the control system computer and the Paket Gigabit Module assume the actually IP-data communication.

Kithara Software shows with this example, that the »RealTime Suite« complies highest requirements on innovative technology, flexibility and solidity in the area of the industrial automation.

The new CAN Module as part of the Windows real-time extension »RealTime Suite« of the Berlin company Kithara Software makes diverse automation solutions possible, where a CAN communication in real-time is necessary. It focuses especially on users who need a time-critical handling of CAN messages, for instance machine builder and computer control companies.

On this area a safe and timely equidistant data exchange is usually needed as well as a fast reaction on external events. Here, the standard Windows drivers delivered with CAN boards fail, because they are only usable from within the application context. And hence, they don't make a real-time reaction possible. The CAN Module now closes this gap by supporting CAN communication in real-time.

For the highest possible flexibility when choosing the right CAN board for the application, users can choose from real-time drivers for many popular CAN board families from different well-known vendors. The common API provides hardware-independent programming. Currently CAN boards with 1, 2 or 4 ports/channels from the German companies EMS, Peak and Ixxat are supported.

Data pipes are buffering the CAN messages for sending and receiving over a simple and intuitive API. User specific real-time message filters can be installed as well as handler routines for error handling on certain critical bus situations. A listen-only mode is also possible. For comfortable diagnostic purposes, the Kithara »Kernel Tracer« has been extended, which allows capturing the complete CAN traffic in micro second resolution.

The programming languages C/C++ or Delphi can be used. Even the .NET environment using e.g. C# is supported, as long as a DLL, programmed in native C++, is embedded into C#.

Kithara Software GmbH

The company Kithara Software GmbH located in Berlin was founded in 1996 and has become a specialist for hardware dependent programming, real-time, multi-tasking and communication solutions for the Windows operating systems. Simply applicable tools allow programmers to realize PCI and USB hardware access as well as the development of real-time solutions using Ethernet, automation with EtherCAT and CAN.

Meet us at Hannover Fair in Hall 9, Booth F19!

The new version of the Kithara »RealTime Suite« 2009 iscrammed full of useful tools to realise real-time applications, hardwaredependent driver development and preemptive multi-tasking too, TCP/UDP in real-time and a stand-alone EtherCAT Master with different extensions.

Using the Kithara »RealTime Suite« 2009 the hearts of programmers are beating faster: enhanced real-time capabilities with highly precise timers with a jitter in a range of only a ffeq microseconds, preemptive multi-tasking with up to 255 priorities, UDP and TCP communication in real-time supplements the well-known functions for hardware-dependent programming with support of user and kernel level for I/O ports and physical memory, interrupts, serial interfaces and USB devices.

The EtherCAT Master has been enhanced by the new Master Monitor. This software program serves as a visualization tool for the connected EtherCAT topologies and simplifies and catalyzes their management. This is an important requirement, because using the functional enhancements process and service data communication (PDO/SDO), CANopen over EtherCAT (CoE), Ethernet over EtherCAT (EoE), File over EtherCAT (FoE) and Distributed Clock (DC) the software is used in more complex solutions and drives automation processes in the industry.

Users are getting great possibilities to extend their applications by means of an openly implemented modular function library. Companies are saving therefore time for self-development while reasonable costs. Basic principle of the product range is moving the usual program code to the kernel-level, where it is executed in realtime. the programmierer stays in his usual development environment, like C/C or Delphi. In order to evaluate the software with all functions, it can be requested for download on the home page of Kithara.

The Kithara "RealTime Suite" - an innovation product of the year 2008 - has been medalled with the title Best Product Award 2008 in december by a well-known technical journal.

Kithara Software GmbH

The company Kithara Software GmbH located in Berlin was founded in 1996 and has become a specialist for hardware dependent programming, real-time, multi-tasking and communication solutions for the Windows operating systems. Simply applicable tools allow programmers to realize PCI and USB hardware access as well as the development of real-time solutions using Ethernet and automation with EtherCAT.

The "Master Monitor" - a graphical Windows application of the Berlin company Kithara Software - allows the visualization and management of EtherCAT topologies. The software works hand in hand with the EtherCAT Master, which was also developed by Kithara Software and is part of the product range »RealTime Suite«.

By means of the Master Monitor the user obtains an intuitive environment to visualize EtherCAT topologies attached to an EtherCAT Master down to every single data variable in order to uncover their secrets. It is possible to save the scanned structure of attached slave devices in a special XML file, to be able to automatically validate the actual structure for accordance with the file later. Likewise, it is possible to build up the file manually from discrete building blocks.

The configuration of the several EtherCAT slaves can be viewed and changed by the user directly with the Master Monitor. It is also possible to fully access slaves in a "live" run and to read and write their variable values. The time for setting up the application reduces tremendously and developers do not have to search for important parameters.

The more complex automation applications are evolving, the more difficult it is for developers to coordinate and to order the different tasks for safety monitoring and control by their needed precedence. This is the point the new MultiTasking Module of Kithara lounches into.

The Berlin company Kithara Software recently extended the current product range "RealTime Suite 2008" with multi-tasking capabilities, which copes with well-established real-time operating systems. It involves a priority based and preemptive-which means superseding-multi-tasking, which makes automatically sure, that the task the user classifies as the most important one is executed as appropriate.

The system provides up to 255 tasks, which can be designated to a different priority level. Common to all tasks is, that they are executed prior to every other Windows activity. This way, by the extension of the product range »RealTime Suite 2008« the user gains the possibility to realize complex real-time systems with an accuracy around only a few microseconds. Multiple timers can be programmed both cyclically and one-shot with frequencies of more than 10 kilohertz.

Using a "suspend/resume" mechanism the software provides functions to block distinct tasks temporarily. This way users even gain the option to transfer "endless loops" from bygone days into forward-looking solutions. This was often an important obstacle, when former DOS-based control and automation systems had to be converted to modern Windows operating systems.

The multi-tasking application can be created by the developer as he used to do-comfortably within the application development environment, which can be programmed in C/C or Delphi or embedded into a C#.NET application using a DLL.

The Berlin company Kithara Software announces the new Socket Module as part of the product range »RealTime Suite« 2008, which is capable to realize industrial communication based on the protocols TCP and UDP in real-time. The software thereby surpasses the possibilites of the Windows operating systems, which are often not suitable to solve industrial demands because of their limited real-time capabilities.

Even when the Packet Module was announced as part of the product range »RealTime Suite«, it was easily possible to communicate in real-time over selected Ethernet controllers. Yet the protocol was either limited to raw Ethernet or the user had to realize the appropriate higher protocol by himself. This limitation is not valid anymore using the Socket Module.

"Communication over sockets is easily applicable and familiar to almost every programmer" opines Uwe Jesgarz, managing director of Kithara Software, and he further states: "Using the Socket Module from Kithara TCP and UDP can be realized in real-time under Windows. This is among others required in industrial automation and the control and drive engineering."

The Socket Module provides real-time data communication over selected Fast Ethernet cards (IntelPro/100 and RealTek 8139) as well as network cards with Gigabit Ethernet controllers (IntelPro/1000), so that even fast measurement aquirement or industrial image processing are feasible.

In order to achieve real-time capabilities, the network controllers are directly controlled. This offers the entire bandwidth of the connection and the immediate reaction on incoming data packages in real-time.

The socket application can be created by the developer as he used to do - comfortably within the application development environment, which can be programmed in C/C++ or Delphi or embedded into a C#.NET application using a DLL.

For about more than 11 years Kithara Software successfully support system programmers in the developement of device drivers and hardware-dependant industrial applications as well as real-time and communication solutions under Windows. The new version 2008 of the »RealTime Suite« addresses even the field of automation in more strength.

By extending the product range with new modules for multi-tasking, real-time Ethernet with TCP and UDP as well as the automation protocol EtherCAT, users are fitted with all necessary mechanisms, in order to realize even complex control applications for production automation, machinery building and test rigs fast and cost-effective.

Users still remain in their usual development environment, like C/C or Delphi, while the program code of the user is executed in real-time on the kernel-level. New platforms, like C# and .NET are supported by moving the time-critical parts into a DLL. Such project files are part of the software.

The real-time timers of the »RealTime Suite« 2008 are now supported on portable computers with a dynamic adjustment of the CPU clock as well. In a special mode frequencies of a 100 kilohertz and above are possible, while gaining the highest accuracy.

The new support of preemptive real-time multitasking allows to coordinate all tasks with distinctive priorities. This way developers keep the red thread even in complex applications.

With the announcement of the »EtherCAT-Master« the company Kithara Software now provides developers with a PC-based real-time Ethernet control solution. Kithara Software concentrates on a significantly simplified handling. This enables developers to realize their individual applications fast and efficiently. So the software allows for example the standardization of automation applications and the realization of innovative control concepts in the mechanical and plant engineering.

Compared to conventional solutions the Kithara »EtherCAT Master« is not a closed building block like a Soft-PLC-instead it allows a free programming of applications out of the common development environments for C/C and Delphi. In form of a simply usable function library all required functions are provided in order to create real-time EtherCAT control applications under Windows. For example they can be realized with frequencies of several kilohertz.

The integration of the »EtherCAT Master« in the product range »RealTime Suite« of Kithara Software makes it possible to simply add further mechanisms, e.g. for accessing PCI or USB hardware or doing serial communication in real-time, even via Gigabit Ethernet adapters.

With only a few C/C or Delphi function calls the EtherCAT topology can be scanned and initialized and the cyclic process data exchange can be activated. The developer gets the EtherCAT topology being mapped into variables and structures of the appropriate programming language in a comfortable way. Compared to other EtherCAT master solutions the procedure in the Kithara »EtherCAT-Master« represents a significant simplification of handling.

So the software is a particulary suitable tool for all developers who realize real-time Ethernet resp. EtherCAT solutions under the Windows operating systems and for those who expect a very good cost/performance ratio