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Interfaces specifications
Overview
The ELLIPSE features up to five serial interfaces (Port A to Port E) which provide all the main features of the ELLIPSE: Configuration, data input, data output.
In addition, the Ellipse supports CAN 2.0A/B connectivity to output log messages. Due to the CAN implementation and limitations (payload limited to 8 bytes), the CAN interface is not handled like the other interfaces.
Due to the limited number of pins inside the Ellipse connectors, some pins provide different functions which are multiplexed and cannot be used at the same time.
Interfaces availability and multiplexing
The following table provides more details about each port specificity in terms of availability, and capabilities:
Box units
| Port | Available models | Package | Function | RS-232/422 configuration Cable / software defined | Other functions / multiplexing | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | E | N | D | B1 | B2 | ||||
| PORT A | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | Tx/Rx | Cable | RS-422 available on B1 (non CAN) units only |
| PORT B | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | Rx | RS-232 only | Multiplexed with Sync IN B and ODO A | |
| PORT C | ● | ● | ● | Tx/Rx | Software defined RS-232/422 | ||||
| PORT D | ● | ● | ● | Rx | RS-232 only | ||||
| PORT E | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | Tx/Rx | RS-232 only | Only available when PORT A is in RS-232 | |
| CAN | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | Tx/Rx | - | ||
| SYNC IN A | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | Input | - | Multiplexed with ODO B |
| SYNC IN B | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | Input | - | Multiplexed with PORT B and ODO A |
| SYNC IN C | ● | ● | ● | Input | - | ||||
| SYNC IN D | ● | ● | ● | Input | - | ||||
| SYNC OUT A | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | Output | - | |
| SYNC OUT B | ● | ● | ● | Output | - | ||||
| ODO A | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | Input | - | Multiplexed with SYNC IN B and PORT B | |
| ODO B | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | Input | - | Multiplexed with SYNC IN A | |
OEM units
| Port | Available models | Function | Other functions / multiplexing | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | E | N | D | |||
| PORT A | ● | ● | ● | ● | LvTTL Tx/Rx | |
| PORT B | ● | ● | ● | LvTTL Rx | Multiplexed with Sync IN B and ODO A | |
| PORT C | ● | LvTTL Tx/Rx | ||||
| PORT D | ● | LvTTL Tx/Rx | ||||
| PORT E | ● | ● | ● | ● | LvTTL Tx/Rx | |
| CAN | ● | ● | ● | ● | LvTTL Tx/Rx | |
| SYNC IN A | ● | ● | ● | ● | LvTTL Input | Multiplexed with ODO B |
| SYNC IN B | ● | ● | ● | ● | LvTTL Input | Multiplexed with PORT B and ODO A |
| SYNC IN C | ● | LvTTL Input | ||||
| SYNC IN D | ● | ● | ● | LvTTL Input | ||
| SYNC OUT A | ● | ● | ● | ● | LvTTL Output | |
| SYNC OUT B | ● | LvTTL Output | ||||
| ODO A | ● | ● | ● | LvTTL Input | Multiplexed with SYNC IN B and PORT B | |
| ODO B | ● | ● | ● | LvTTL Input | Multiplexed with SYNC IN A | |
Serial interfaces
The ELLIPSE box units feature up to 3 physical RS-232/RS-422 serial connections (PORT A, B, and E) on ELLIPSE-A, ELLIPSE-N and ELLIPSE-D models and up to 5 (PORT A, B, C, D and E) for Ellipse-E model. These serial ports have different uses as described in the next sections.
The Ellipse Serial interfaces support the standard baudrates:
- 4 800 bps.
- 9 600 bps.
- 19 200 bps.
- 38 400 bps.
- 57 600 bps.
- 115 200 bps.
- 230 400 bps.
- 460 800 bps.
- 921 600 bps.
- 1 000 000 bps.
- 1 500 000 bps.
- 2 000 000 bps.
The ELLIPSE automatically limits the serial signals slew-rate to minimize EMI and reduce communication error when the baud rate is below 230 400 bps.
Supported protocols
The ELLIPSE has been designed to be connected to a large range of aiding equipment and materials. In addition to the native sbgECom binary protocol, other third party or standard protocols are also supported such as NMEA, RTCM, TSS1, Ublox Binary protocol and others.
Ports functions Mapping
Due to the specificity of the internal GNSS embedded inside the ELLIPSE N and D versions, and also due to the number of available pins in the different sensor configurations, there are some variations in the different ports capabilities from one product to another.
The following tables provide more details about which functions are available on which port for each Ellipse model.
Please keep in mind that the PORT E is only available on B1 units (box) and on O1 units (OEM).
ELLIPSE-A
| PORT A | PORT E | |
|---|---|---|
| Binary commands (sbgECom) | ● | |
Regular outputs (sbgECom, NMEA or third party output) | ● | ● |
ELLIPSE-E
| PORT A | PORT B | PORT C | PORT D | PORT E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binary commands (sbgECom) | ● | ||||
Regular outputs (sbgECom, NMEA or third party output) | ● | ● | ● | ||
| GNSS input | ● | ● | ● | ● |
ELLIPSE-N and ELLIPSE-D
| PORT A | PORT B | PORT E | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binary commands (sbgECom) | ● | ||
Regular outputs (sbgECom, NMEA or third party output) | ● | ● | |
| RTCM Input | ● | ● | ● |
| GNSS Input (for external GNSS) | ● | ● |
CAN 2.0 A/B interface
The main port contains a CAN 2.0 A/B interface that supports transfer rate at up to 1 Mbits/s. This CAN interface is mainly used to output log messages. By default, the CAN interface is disabled.
The CAN bus implementation and especially timing settings complies with the CAN in Automation (CiA) DS-102 standard.
More over to help software development dbc file is provided in the SDK.
The Ellipse supports the following standard CAN bus bitrates:
- 1 000 kBit/s.
- 500 kBit/s.
- 250 kBit/s.
- 125 kBit/s.
- 100 kBit/s.
- 50 kBit/s.
- 20 kBit/s.
- 10 kBit/s.
The ELLIPSE does not include any termination resistor. It is the user's responsibility to ensure that the CAN bus is properly configured with the necessary termination resistors to avoid communication issues.