{"id":802,"count":4,"description":"
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NI USB Industrial Communication Interfaces<\/h2>\r\n\r\n
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NI USB industrial communication interfaces connect a PC to industrial equipment, vehicles, electronic control units, instruments and distributed networks. They are used for monitoring, logging, simulation, diagnostics, automated test and software-based control through protocols such as CAN, CAN FD, LIN, serial and other supported communication standards.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Select an interface by the required protocol and physical layer, not simply by the USB connector. Confirm the connected device, bus topology, data rate, electrical isolation, termination, port count, cable requirements, timestamping and driver compatibility before purchasing hardware.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n

USB Industrial Communication Interface Types<\/h3>\r\n\r\n
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Interface Type<\/th>\r\n Typical Standard<\/th>\r\n Primary Use<\/th>\r\n Key Selection Considerations<\/th>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n <\/thead>\r\n
CAN and CAN FD<\/td>\r\n Controller Area Network<\/td>\r\n Vehicle networks, battery systems, industrial machinery and ECU communication<\/td>\r\n Classic CAN or CAN FD support, bit rate, termination, isolation and channel count<\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n
LIN<\/td>\r\n Local Interconnect Network<\/td>\r\n Automotive body electronics, subnetwork monitoring and simulation<\/td>\r\n Master or slave role, schedule requirements, signal database and wiring<\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n
FlexRay<\/td>\r\n Deterministic automotive network<\/td>\r\n Vehicle development, validation and network simulation<\/td>\r\n Topology, channel configuration, timing and software support<\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n
Serial Communication<\/td>\r\n RS-232, RS-422 or RS-485<\/td>\r\n PLCs, drives, instruments, sensors and legacy industrial equipment<\/td>\r\n Electrical standard, port quantity, isolation, wiring and duplex mode<\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n
Industrial Ethernet and Network Interfaces<\/td>\r\n Ethernet-based communication, where supported<\/td>\r\n Network-connected instruments, controllers and distributed test equipment<\/td>\r\n Protocol support, network architecture, addressing and host integration<\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n
Instrument Communication<\/td>\r\n Supported instrument-bus and legacy interfaces<\/td>\r\n Automated test systems and laboratory instrument control<\/td>\r\n Instrument protocol, driver support, cable type and software API<\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n <\/tbody>\r\n <\/table>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n

How to Select a USB Industrial Communication Interface<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

1. Identify the Required Protocol<\/h4>\r\n\r\n

Start with the connected device documentation. Determine whether the device communicates through CAN, CAN FD, LIN, FlexRay, RS-232, RS-422, RS-485, Ethernet or another supported interface.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Protocol names alone are not sufficient. Confirm the physical electrical standard, connector type, cable requirements, network topology and device communication role before selecting hardware.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

2. Confirm the Electrical Physical Layer<\/h4>\r\n\r\n

Communication interfaces that appear similar can use different electrical signaling methods. RS-232, RS-422 and RS-485 are not interchangeable, and CAN, LIN and FlexRay each require their own compatible network interface.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Review logic voltage, common reference, cable length, shield connection, connector pinout and expected electrical environment. Long industrial cables and vehicle installations can introduce noise and ground-potential differences.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

3. Determine Port Count and Bus Topology<\/h4>\r\n\r\n

Count the number of independent buses or serial ports needed. Each separate CAN network, serial device group or isolated subsystem may require its own communication channel.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

For RS-485 networks, determine whether the installation uses two-wire or four-wire wiring, half-duplex or full-duplex communication, and multidrop connections. For vehicle networks, identify the network segments that must be logged, simulated or controlled simultaneously.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

4. Verify Data Rate and Bus Loading<\/h4>\r\n\r\n

Confirm the required baud rate, message frequency, frame format and expected traffic load. The selected interface must support not only nominal communication speed but also the full monitoring, transmission, timestamping and logging workload.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

CAN FD applications should verify classic CAN compatibility, arbitration-phase requirements and data-phase requirements. High bus traffic can also increase host-computer processing and file-storage demands during long recordings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

5. Evaluate Isolation and Grounding<\/h4>\r\n\r\n

Electrical isolation can help protect the computer and interface from ground-potential differences, noise and transient conditions. It is particularly important when connecting to industrial machinery, external power systems, long cable runs or vehicle electrical networks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Isolation does not eliminate the need for correct grounding, shielding and cable routing. Confirm the complete installed wiring arrangement before connecting a USB interface to powered equipment.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

6. Plan Termination and Cabling<\/h4>\r\n\r\n

CAN networks normally require termination at the two physical ends of the bus. Incorrect termination, poor cable selection, long stubs or unsuitable wiring can create intermittent communication faults.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Serial and Ethernet connections also require correct cable type, connector pinout, shielding and network configuration. Confirm whether the required cable, breakout accessory, terminal adapter or termination component is included in the system plan.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

CAN, CAN FD, LIN and FlexRay Applications<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

CAN and CAN FD<\/h4>\r\n\r\n

CAN is widely used in vehicles, battery systems, industrial equipment and machinery. CAN FD extends classic CAN with larger payload capability and, in supported networks, a faster data phase. Confirm whether the application requires classic CAN only or CAN FD support.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Typical applications include passive bus monitoring, message logging, ECU validation, diagnostic development, hardware-in-the-loop testing and network simulation. Determine whether the interface must only receive data or also transmit and simulate network traffic.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

LIN<\/h4>\r\n\r\n

LIN is commonly used for lower-cost automotive subnets and body-electronics functions. Applications should define the required master or slave behavior, schedule timing, network database and intended role of the connected PC.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

FlexRay<\/h4>\r\n\r\n

FlexRay is a deterministic vehicle-network technology used in selected automotive applications. Confirm network topology, synchronization, channel requirements and software support before selecting an interface.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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A USB communication interface provides access to a network. It does not automatically include ECU definitions, message databases, diagnostic files, simulation models or the correct vehicle harness.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n

Serial and Industrial Equipment Communication<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

\u0420\u0421-232<\/h4>\r\n\r\n

RS-232 is commonly used for point-to-point communication with instruments, controllers and legacy devices. Confirm connector pinout, baud rate, handshake signals, cable length and device command protocol.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

RS-422 and RS-485<\/h4>\r\n\r\n

RS-422 and RS-485 use differential signaling and are commonly selected for longer distances or electrically noisy industrial environments. RS-485 can support multidrop networks when the wiring, termination and communication direction are configured correctly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Host Software Integration<\/h4>\r\n\r\n

Communication hardware is only one part of the system. Confirm the command set, message format, device protocol documentation and required software API. Legacy equipment may use manufacturer-specific commands that must be implemented by the application.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Software, Timestamping and Data Logging<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

Supported NI USB communication interfaces use the applicable NI driver and software stack for device recognition, configuration, transmission, reception, logging and analysis. Automotive network interfaces commonly use NI-XNET for supported CAN, LIN and FlexRay applications, while serial devices typically use the relevant NI serial or VISA software environment.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Network logs often need timestamps so communication traffic can be correlated with sensor data, digital events, test commands or fault conditions. Define whether the application needs approximate software timestamps, hardware timestamps or synchronized timing with another measurement system.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

For long-duration logging, estimate message traffic, record format, storage capacity and host-computer workload. File writing, display updates and data decoding should not interfere with the communication task when continuous logging is required.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\u0422\u0438\u043f\u0438\u0447\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0435\u043d\u0438\u044f<\/h3>\r\n\r\n