Proceedings of the 20th Annual Meeting of Particle Accelerator Society of Japan
August 29 - September 1, 2023, Funabashi

PASJ2023 THP11

EVALUATION OF A LAN-DIO (DIGITAL-IO TO LAN) CONVERTERMin Yang†, Norihiko Kamikubota, KEK/J-PARC, Japan
Takayuki Tomaru, NAOJ, JapanKAGRA Collaboration
Abstract
In J-PARC, digital-IO signals are often handled by PLC
D-IO modules. Even when number of signals is less than 8,
a PLC CPU module is necessary. This fact results inslightly high cost. A commercial digital-IO to LAN (LANDIO) converter, FutureNet XIO-100, has been tested as analternate low-cost solution. The converter has 8 digital inputs and 8 digital outputs, which can be monitored/controlled through Ethernet or a serial line. The remote communication is based on Modbus protocol. An EPICS support for the converter was developed using Stream Device.
In March 2023, a converter was demonstrated at KAGRA.
The remote monitoring of KAGRA vacuum devices (twogate valves, a roots pump and an ion pump) was realized
successfully. The details of the converter, development of
EPICS support, and the evaluation at KAGRA will be described.

INTRODUCTION
J-PARC (Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex)
is a high-intensity proton accelerator complex. It consistsof three accelerators: a 400-MeV Linac (LI), a 3-GeV
Rapid Cycling Synchrotron (RCS), and a 30-GeV slow cycling Main Ring Synchrotron (MR) [1, 2]. Since the initial
beam in 2006, J-PARC has been improving beam power.
Concerning MR, new power-supply system for the main
magnet started operation since Jan. 2023. A high-power
trail of MR achieved 753-kw in Apr. 2023 [3].
In J-PARC, PLC is a standard form factor for controlsystem [4, 5]. The PLC digital-in and digital-out (D-IO)
modules are widely used for controlling and monitoring accelerator components. However, to use a PLC D-IO module, a PLC CPU module must be accompanied, even there
are fewer than 8 signals. This fact leads to a high cost.
Therefore, we want a cheaper solution when number of signals is fewer than 8.
In FY2022, we surveyed commercial digital-IO to LAN(LAN-DIO) modules. Among candidates, we finally selected FutureNet XIO-100.
At first, this paper shows LAN-DIO candidates in themarket, and reasons why we chose XIO-100. Then, the paper describes the initial configuration of the module, development of EPICS support using StreamDevice, demonstration with vacuum devices in the KAGRA tunnel in March2023.

___________________________________________† yangmin@post.kek.jp

LAN-DIO CONVERTER
There are many possible products of LAN-DIO converter in the market, here we showed four of them.
(1) ioLogik E1212 module [6]: it is produced byMOXA company (Taiwan), which has 8 digital input (DI) channels and 8 configurable digital input
output (DIO) channels. Many protocols are supported, such as Modbus and Ethernet/IP. It is widelyused in control system field, e.g., RIBF/RIKEN uses
the module to control and read “Open”, “Close”,
and “Status” of the electromagnetic valve [7]. The
module costs around 50,000 yen.
(2) ADAM-4055 [8]: It is produced by Advantech company (Taiwan), which has 8 isolated DI channels
and 8 isolated DO channels. It costs around 32,000yen.
(3) LA-485R-P [9]: It is produced by a Japanese company, Line Eye. The module has 2 DI channels and2 DO channels. The channels can be controlled ormonitored by Ethernet. It costs about 43,000 yen.
(4) FutureNet XIO-100 [10]: It is also made by a Japanese company, Century Systems. It has 8 DI channels and 8 DO channels, which can be controlled ormonitored through Ethernet or a serial line. The
module costs about 50,000 yen.
In FY2022, we found that the ioLogik E1212 module
was out of stock in Japan, and the ADAM-4055 module
was also difficult to be delivered to Japan because ofCOVID-19. Therefore, we prefer to buy a domestic product. Between LA-485R-P and FutureNet XIO-100, we tried
to contact company’s salespersons. Finally, we decided touse FutureNet XIO-100 because of its better technical support. In addition, Century Systems company guaranteedthat the product could be delivered before the end ofFY2022.

FUTURENET XIO-100 AND EPICS
FutureNet XIO-100Fig. 1 shows the picture of the FutureNet XIO-100 module. There are 8 channels for DI and 8 channels for DO
signals, respectively. We can choose two different signal
types on demand: DC 24V type or Relay type. The module
can be configured by an Ethernet port or a RS232 serialline at the bottom side. For remote monitoring or control,
the same Ethernet port or a RS485 line is used.
A disadvantage of the module: as shown in Fig. 1, theDI/DO signal-cable connection ports are too small to plug

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Proceedings of the 20th Annual Meeting of Particle Accelerator Society of Japan
August 29 - September 1, 2023, Funabashi

PASJ2023 THP11in. Careful treatment of signal cables is required to avoid
cable loosening.

Configuration
At first, we need to configure the IP address. With a crossnetwork cable, we can configure the module by various setting commands after “telnet” connection (default IP address: 192.168.254.252). For example, the IP address canbe changed using “ip lan address IP/MASK” command.
The commands and examples are given in the manual [11].

module based on StreamDevice [14]. The protocol file andpart of EPICS db file are shown in Fig. 3. We use “mbbiDirect” record to get a combined value of the status of 8channels, then, the received data is separated into 8 Process
Variables (PVs) according to the bit order, which indicate
the status of 8 channels.

Figure 2: Request and response of the communicationcommand to get 8 DI status.

Figure 1: Picture of FutureNet XIO-100 module.

Modbus Protocol and EPICS StreamDevice
To realize remote monitoring and control of the module,
we selected the Ethernet port and Modbus/TCP protocol.
The communication commands based on Modbus/TCP
protocol follow the format: transaction identifier (2 bytes),
protocol identifier (2 bytes), length field (2 bytes), unit
identifier (1 byte), Modbus function code (1 byte), followed by data as needed [12].
To get the status of 8 DI channels, the command is asfollowing. The transaction identifier is 0. The protocolidentifier is 0. The length field means the number of bytes
following, 6 in this case. The unit identifier is used when
there are many XIO-100 modules, thus, 0 in our case. TheModbus function 2 is used, which means “Read input discrete”. Finally, the command for monitoring 8 DI channels
is: “00 00 00 00 00 06 00 02 00 00 00 08”.
The request and response of the command is shown inFig. 2. The response “c2” is “1100 0010” in binary, whichmeans ch1, ch6, and ch7 are in “on” status, other channels
are in “off” status. The observed communication throughput is about 0.1 second.
Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System(EPICS)-based systems are widely used in accelerator control field [13]. We developed EPICS support of XIO-100

Figure 3: EPICS protocol file and part of database file.

IMPLIMENTATION AT KAGRA
KAGRA is a gravitational wave detector, which is a 3km x 3-km laser interferometer located at Kamioka, Gifu,
Japan [15]. In March 2023, the XIO-100 module was introduced at KAGRA. It was used for remote monitoring ofvacuum devices in the KAGRA tunnel [16].
The Fig. 4 shows a signal interface box with an XIO-100module. The DI channels of XIO-100 are connected to two
Gate Valves (GV), a Roots Pump, and an Agilent Ion Pump.
Former four DI channels are configured to DC 24V type tomonitor the Open/Close status of two GVs. Latter four DIchannels are set to use Relay type to monitor pump status.

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PASJ2023 THP11

one base unit (a base with 16 slots is available for Yokogawa FAM3 series [17]). But it costs about 150,000 yen forour case, including a CPU module, power supply module,
a base and two I/O modules.
Compared with the PLC D-IO, the LAN-DIO module isa cheaper substitute. But there is one disadvantage: if number of signals is more than 8, another XIO-100 module
should be prepared, which will cost another 50,000 yen.

CONCLUSION

Figure 4: A signal interface box with an XIO-100 module.
The remote monitoring GUI of KAGRA vacuum devices
is shown as Fig. 5. The status of two GVs, one Roots Pump
and one Ion Pump was monitored successfully.

A LAN-DIO converter, FutureNet XIO-100, is evaluatedas a cheaper substitute of PLC D-IO modules. The module
was implemented at KAGRA in March 2023, and demonstrated to monitor KAGRA’s vacuum devices. Comparedwith the PLC D-IO modules, it worked with a cheaper price.
The result shows that a LAN-DIO converter can be apossible cheaper solution for monitoring DI/DO signals ofany accelerator or experimental facility, when the numberof digital signals is less than 8.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We express our best thanks to J-PARC MR staff members and company (KIS) members for their encouragement
and suggestions during system development.
Special thanks go to Dr. Noboru Yamamoto for helping
in Modbus-EPICS communication.
Thanks also to Mr. Koji Nakagaki from ICRR for cablings of signal cables for gate valves, pumps and gauges
at KAGRA.

REFERENCES[1] J-PARC website: http://j-parc.jp/index-e.html[2] S. Nagamiya, “Introduction to J-PARC”, Prog. Theor. Exp.
Phys., vol. 2012, p. 02B001, 2012.
doi: 10.1093/ptep/pts025

Figure 5: Picture of the GUI of KAGRA vacuum monitoring system.

DISCUSSION
The implementation of XIO-100 at KAGRA demonstrated the good enough performance of the module. Table
1 shows the comparison between the PLC D-IO and theLAN-DIO.
Table 1: Comparison Between LAN-DIO and PLC D-IO
PLC D-IO
LAN-DIO(SP71, XD08,(XIO-100)
YC08, etc.)
Experience
WealthInexperienced
Price~150,000 yen/set~50,000/module
Yes
NoExtension(max. 15 IO mod(DI channel x8,ules/ unit)
DO channel x8)
The PLC D-IO has advantages: much experience in JPARC and KEK, scalable for maximum 15 I/O modules at[3] Y. Sato et al., “The beam operation of J-PARC main ringafter the first step of the high repetition upgrade”, The 20th
Annual Meeting of Particle Accelerator Society of Japan(PASJ2023), Funabashi, Japan, Aug.29-Sept.1, 2023,
WEOB4, this meeting.
[4] J.Odagiri et al., “Application of EPICS F3RP61 to Accelerator Control”, Proc. ICALEPCS 2009, Kobe, Japan, Oct.
2009, pp.916-918.
[5] N. Kamikubota et al., “J-PARC control toward future reliable operation”, in Proc. ICALEPCS 2011, Grenoble, France,
Oct. 2011, pp.378-381.
[6] MOXA ioLogik E1212:
https://www.moxa.com/jp/products/industrial-edge-connectivity/controllers-and-ios/universal-controllers-and-i-os/iologike1200-series/iologik-e1212[7] Application of MOXA ioLogik E1212 at RIKEN:

https://ribf.riken.jp/sisetu-kyoyo/Tips/AyLV/MoxaCTRL.html[8] ADAM-4055:

https://www.advantech.com/ja-jp/products/gf-5vwk/adam4055/mod_fd19e628-4ea5-4c16-915c-5ceeef2fb65c[9] LA-485R-P:

https://www.lineeye.co.jp/html/product_LA-485R-P.html[10] FutureNet XIO-100:- 701 -

https://www.centurysys.co.jp/products/protocol/xio100.html

Proceedings of the 20th Annual Meeting of Particle Accelerator Society of Japan
August 29 - September 1, 2023, Funabashi

PASJ2023 THP11[11] FutureNet XIO-100 users’ manual.

https://www.centurysys.co.jp/downloads/archive/xio100/xio100_manual_v2.1.0.pdf[12] OPEN MODBUS/TCP SPECIFICATION.

https://wingpath.co.uk/docs/modbus_tcp_specification.pdf[13] EPICS introduction:

https://epics-controls.org[14] StreamDevice introduction:[15] KAGRA website: https://gwcenter.icrr.u-tokyo.ac.jp[16] N. Kamikubota et al., “Introduction of accelerator knowhows to KAGRA's vacuum system II”, The 20th Annual
Meeting of Particle Accelerator Society of Japan(PASJ2023), Funabashi, Japan, Aug.29-Sept.1, 2023,
THP13, this meeting.
[17] Yokogwa PLC:
https://www.yokogawa.co.jp/solutions/products-and-services/control/control-devices/programmable-logic-controller/

http://epics.web.psi.ch/software/streamdevice/- 702 -