Surmounting Toslink Trouble: Finally A Switch That's Reliable
Maybe I’m going prematurely senile. Or maybe EDN and Google’s search engines are failing me…along with a content search of my blog post archive via Windows. Nah…probably senile… I could have sworn that a while back, I complained about the pestilence that is the mechanical optical S/PDIF (i.e. Toslink) switch, in the context of a writeup extolling any of you looking for a project opportunity to consider designing a more robust alternative. If I didn’t, I should have. Because these things are a royal pain in the rump: Three digital audio inputs, one output. Inside, if you take one apart (hmmm…maybe I’ll do a Prying Eyes showcase…), all you’ll find is a length of optical fiber extending from the ...>>>

New OpenSAFETY Protocol
With openSAFETY, the Ethernet POWERLINK Standardization Group (EPSG) believes it has laid the foundation for the first completely open, safety-related data communication protocol for all areas of automation.
With communication cycles in the microsecond range, the TÃœV Rhineland certified protocol guarantees fast response times and a high level of machine safety suitable for use in systems rated up to SIL 3. ... >>>