B2B Products

What is an OPC Server?

An OPC server is a software application that acts as an Application Programming Interface, also known as API, or protocol converter. OPC was designed to provide a common bridge for Windows based software applications and process control hardware. Standards define consistent methods of accessing field data from plant floor devices.  An OPC server for one hardware device provides the same methods for an OPC Client to access its data as any and every other OPC server for that same and any other hardware device.  The server will connect to a device or a data source such as a database or User interface, and translate the data into a standard-based OPC format.  Once an OPC server is written for a particular device, it can be reused by any application that is able to act as an OPC client.

This method remains the same regardless of the type and source of data. The aim was to reduce the amount of duplicated effort required from hardware manufacturers and their software partners, and from the SCADA and other HMI producers in order to interface the two. In fact, the OPC is all about Open Productivity & Connectivity in industrial automation and the enterprise systems that support industry. There are currently seven standards specifications completed or in development, and all of the OPC servers provide information that is valuable to the enterprise.  Once if the information is improperly updated, it could have significant consequences to plant processes.

OPC servers provide a method for many different software packages to access data from a process control device, such as a PLC or DCS. Traditionally, any time a package needed access to data from a device, a custom interface, or driver, had to be written. The purpose of OPC is to define a common interface that is written once and then reused by any business, SCADA, HMI, or custom software packages.  The value of OPC is that it is an open standard, which means lower costs for manufacturers and more options for users. Hardware manufacturers need only provide a single OPC server for their devices to communicate with any OPC client. Software vendors simply include OPC client capabilities in their products and they become instantly compatible with thousands of hardware devices, and users can choose any OPC client software they need, resting assured that it will communicate seamlessly with their OPC-enabled hardware.

 

Indoor and Outdoor Digital Signage

With the thriving of the digitalize life style, things in our daily life are related to technology in a certain way.  One of the most popular digital products is the digital signage.  Generally, it can be divided into two types, indoor and outdoor.  The indoor digital signage is usually used in welcome areas, restaurants as digital menu boards and schools where need to provide information to students.  On the other hand, the outdoor digital signage is usually applied to LCD displays, media player or LCD TV enclosure.  

The outdoor type can benefit the users in many ways, as one of the advantages is the efficient information updating.  But at the same time, there are some challenges, too.   Since the digital signage is displayed outdoor, the problems mostly come from the weather.  It should be in a good weather protection, temperature control as well as other protection from vandalism.  And in order to protect the screen well enough, it is highly recommended to use the two-fold type.  The reason why it should be chosen is because the hardware is protected from the elements, and a screen placed in a good spot for outdoor advertising will be accomplished.  

The LCD enclosure is the top choice for you to choose as the protection for your outdoor digital signage.  The size of the LCD enclosures are various, and it will not only provide the weather proofing to run a screen outdoors, shielding it from rain but also maintain a steady temperature inside to ensure the screen is in good condition.  

 

Simple History of Access Control System

Nowadays, the access control system is everywhere.  The development of the system is clearly changed with the improvement of the technology.  The idea of access control is to enable an authority for accessing to the object areas.  The basic mode of the system is physically controlled.  It is usually controlled by people who can allow the passing by payment, identification or tickets.  Some of the places have signs build up by ropes and safety hooks, and you will be allowed to get in to the place after the doorman checked your identification.  This is widely used at bars to keeps away from teenagers, or sometimes private parties to prevent some strangers to get in. 

With the improving technology, the ways of access control are getting more convenient as long as you have installed an access control system.  There are some essential components in the system, for example, the control point can be a door, gate or some granting-made barriers.  When you set the control point at the door, you might need digital card readers to takeover the permission jobs from human beings.  Some of the highly technique companies or buildings will use special ways to give the authorization, such as eye-ball scanning, fingerprint or palm prints permissions.  But before we enjoy the convenience of the access control system, we have to do some pre-works like data collections.  As long as you get enough information can your system recognize the incomers and give permission properly.

 

How Does An Access Control System Work?

The access control system is namely a system used to control the access.  Usually it is used to permit or deny the access from outside.  Except for the software control, there are several ways to control the entrance.  For example, payment, authorization or the traditional ways like a border guard, a doorman, a ticket checker or turnstile.  

Nowadays, more and more people or companies like to use the access control system software to make the whole security control easier.  And most of the access control systems provide the essential services of identification and authentication, authorization and accountability.  That means, the identification and authentication determine the person who can log on to the system while the association of users with the software subjects can log in.  Separately, the authorization determines what a subject can do and at the same time the accountability identifies what a subject did.

 

Brief Introduction to the Machine Vision

Machine vision is a system for the use of measuring dimensions or inspecting parts accurately.  The industry of manufacturing now is widely applied this technology to their business like pharmaceuticals, packaging, medical devices, automotive and consumer goods.  The machine vision works in the process of applying a range of technologies to provide the inspection for industrial applications.  In history, the machine vision has been the most successful in applications to the production process.  

Since the wide application in the industry, it is not easy for people to ignore the promising future the system will bring to our life.  Many manufacturers now consider machine vision as a mature for manufacturing automation. 

 

Waterproof USB Connector Makes Life Easier

The USB is one of the most convenient technology gadgets in our life, and the interface of choice for appliances like printers, cameras and some portable storage devices are very common.  With so many applications, there must be different types of connectors.  Connectors play an important role in the whole USB concept.  The reason is that it was designed to support the USB’s underlying goals and reflect lessons from the menagerie of connectors in the computer industry. 

There are many types of USB connectors like waterproof USB connector, Standard A plug, Standard B plug and Micro B plug, etc.  Among all kinds of USB connectors, the waterproof USB connector is the one that makes your working environment much safer.  With the layer of the waterproof design, the USB connectors are protected from the unnecessary accidents from liquid, since we know that liquid is one of the most fatal elements to this technology product.  When using the waterproof USB connector, you will feel more relieve even when you are having some water activities like sailing. 

 

Enjoy the Fun with Advertising Player

The advertising player is basically designed for playing the digital signage.  A complete digital signage includes one or more display screens and a content management server.  Usually, one content management server may support multiple media players and one media player may support multiple screens.  The advertising player may be LCD screens, plasma screens, projection screens or interactive surfaces.  The price used to be high and seldom of the group of people is able to purchase it.  However, the price is now more acceptable for most of the consumer and therefore, increases the highly installation for the digital signage system.  Not only benefits the people who purchase it in small use, some large business is likely to install the digital signage as a token of hi-tech company.  

Besides, the digital signage can have other applications.  For example, it can interact with mobile phones.  Some networks are increasing the interactivity of the audiences.  The users can use the SMS messages to post information on the displays.  At the same time, the Bluetooth allows users to interact with the things show up on the screen.  You can also send the messages via Twitter or Flickr.

 

 

What Is Home Theatre PC

The home theatre PC is also known as HTPC, an entertainment device with new technology.  In other word, this is a system that makes your home like a theatre with the help of personal computer.  Generally, the personal computer works with a software application that supports the video, music, photo and digital video recorder.  As for the home theatre PC system, it requires a remote control and the software interface so that the users can use it comfortably at typical distance for television.  

Usually a set of HTPC can be formed in two ways when you purchase: one is pre-configured with the required hardware and software that are needed to add the television programming to the personal computer, and the other is pieced together out of discrete components as is commonly done with software based HTPC setups.  The media of the HTPC can be stored and received by terrestrial, satellite or cable broadcasting or streamed from the Internet.  A local hard driver or wireless network attached storage can help keeping the stored media.

 

Life with Computer

In decades, the most influential element that change the way we live is undoubtedly computers.  Along with the improving technology, the computer gradually escalates our standard of living.  By the introducing of digital technology, we can not ignore the related products in our life.

With the innovation of digital signage, life is much easier than before.  The digital signage is namely to transform the information you want to convey into digital way.  One of the advantages of doing this is that you don’t have to change every single information sheet when you have to.  Moreover, you can make your information more clearly for people to read.  All you need to do is install digital signage software to assist the work.  And of course, you can not play the signage without a digital signage player!  That’s why you have to pay attention to the related digital products.  When they are all set, you can play all the information to others without any trouble.

 

The Fun of Being Personalized

With the popularity of computer, the use of memory sticks is getting wilder than the old times.  We used to use the floppy disks, a square shaped data storage with great limitaion.  It’s not difficult to carry around but you have to catagorize your data by noting things on it.  Look in a long term, you will have to prepare for a place to place all the disks.  Thanks to the invention of memory sticks and USB, we can now enjoy the fun of using these technology gadgets.  Interestingly enough, the lastest fun of using the device is personalized usb  flash while the original one looked like a piece of gum.  

   There are many suppliers create this market for people to make their own custom memory sticks.  Once you personalized your USB driver, you don’t have to worry about confusing with someone else’s USB drive.  Moreover, you can design a special one as gifts usb.  Enjoy the fun of creation and taste the joy of being unique!