Application and Configuration of ADLINK ECS-8582-4S Extension System

Application and Configuration of ADLINK ECS-8582-4S Extension System

In modern testing and measurement, industrial automation, and portable data acquisition applications, engineers often face the dilemma of laptops not being able to directly use PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) boards. The ECS-8582-4S ExpressCard to PCI expansion system launched by ADLINK enables laptops equipped with ExpressCard/34 slots to remotely control up to 4 standard PCI devices through the high-speed PCI Express (PCIe) interface, with a transmission distance of up to 7 meters. This article will provide you with a complete technical guide from the aspects of system architecture, installation configuration, hardware details, jumper settings, and troubleshooting.

System Overview and Working Principle

The core goal of ECS-8582-4S is to convert the ExpressCard interface of a laptop into a standard PCI bus, thereby driving external PCI cards. It consists of three main components:

EC-8560: ExpressCard/34 size host adapter card, inserted into the ExpressCard slot of a laptop.

PCI-8565: A low profile PCI adapter card installed in the expansion chassis, responsible for converting PCIe signals to PCI bus.

RK-8005 Expansion Chassis: Equipped with a 200W power supply, a 5-slot backplane (with 1 slot for PCI-8565 and 4 slots for user PCI cards), and a cooling fan.

Working principle: EC-8560 communicates with PCI-8565 through PCIe X1 link (bidirectional 2.5Gbps). PCI-8565 has a built-in PCIe to PCI bridge chip, which is a transparent bridge. Therefore, the host operating system can recognize PCI devices inside the chassis without installing additional drivers, as if they were directly plugged into the computer motherboard. The expansion cable adopts shielded twisted pair, supporting three lengths of 1 meter, 3 meters, and 7 meters, and signal integrity is not affected by distance.

Hardware specifications and key features

Key points of component specifications

EC-8560 ExpressCard/34 size, power consumption 3.3V/210mA, compliant with PCIe 1.0a and ExpressCard 1.2 standards

PCI-8565 low profile PCI card (64mm high), power consumption 3.3V/720mA, supports 5V and 3.3V PCI buses, 32-bit/33MHz

RK-8005 chassis size 122 × 195 × 259mm, weight 3.2kg, working temperature 0~50 ℃, 85~265VAC wide voltage input

Key features:

Completely hardware and software transparent, plug and play.

Supports PCI Bus Mastering and interrupt sharing.

Built in extension cable signal equalizer ensures long-distance transmission reliability.

The chassis provides wall mounted installation kits to adapt to various deployment environments.

Installation and wiring steps

1. Preparation of installation environment

Operate on an anti-static workbench and wear an anti-static wristband.

Ensure that the power cord of the chassis is plugged in but temporarily not powered on.

2. Install EC-8560 onto the laptop

Turn off the laptop and locate the ExpressCard slot (supports/34 or/54 specifications).

Tighten the specialized connector of the 3-meter extension cable (ALC-EXPRESS-3) onto EC-8560.

Insert EC-8560 into the ExpressCard slot. If using the ExpressCard/54 slot, the accompanying "Sustaining Rack" needs to be installed, which is a metal arm that is clamped at the back of the card and locked to increase connection stability.

3. Install the PCI card into the expansion chassis

Unscrew the four screws on the top cover of the computer case and open the top cover.

Insert the user's PCI card (half height size) into any available PCI slot (PCI1~PCI4), ensuring that the golden fingers are aligned and tightly pressed, and secure the baffle screws.

Cover the computer case and tighten the screws.

4. Connect the expansion cable

Connect the other end of the expansion cable to the PCI Express serial link interface (CN1 on PCI-8565) on the back of the chassis and tighten the fixing screw.

5. Power start stop sequence (extremely important)

Power on sequence: First turn on the power switch of the expansion case (power on the case), and then start the laptop.

Power off sequence: First turn off the laptop, then turn off the power of the expansion case.

Warning: If the expansion cable is disconnected or the chassis power is turned off while the laptop is running, it may cause system crashes or data loss. If there is a misoperation, it is necessary to reconnect the cable and restart both.

Hardware details and jumper settings

1. PCI-8565 layout and jumpers

The PCI-8565 mainly focuses on two jumpers:

JP1 (Remote Power Control): A 2-pin connector used to remotely control the chassis power supply (connect JP2 on the backplane to achieve remote ATX power switch). Default not connected. If remote power on is required, it can be short circuited or connected to an external switch.

JP2 (Spread Spectrum Clock Control): A 3-pin jumper used to enable or disable spread spectrum modulation of the PCI clock.

1-2 Short circuit: Enable Spread Spectrum to reduce system EMI peak.

2-3 Short circuit: Disable spread frequency (default). It is usually recommended to maintain the default unless encountering serious electromagnetic interference issues.

LED indicator light (D1): displays the status of the serial link, which lights up when the cable is connected correctly and both the host and the chassis are powered on.