ConSensus DIN rail modules
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ConSensus Arcade range of DIN rail modules:

The affordable and multifunctional modules of the Arcade range are ideal for quickly building and testing a vending machine controller or a skill or gambling game or an educational object for a visitor centre or museum.

The range features modules for pushbuttons, for LED strip lighting, for smart-LED strips with every individual LED programmable in color and brightness, and for stepper motors.

Every module is equipped with a fast 32 bits ARM-cortex-M0 microprocessor. Communication between the modules is established over the industry standard and utterly reliable RS485 bus running at 230400 baud. The top left corner of each module helds a rotary switch that gives the module a unique communication address. For each type of module there can be up to seven nodes to build a large and complete system.

The communication has been designed for simplicity: communication is done with a single command that carries the all setting for the outputs and returns all status data. For example: the button-module receives a command with 15 brightness values for the lamps and returns 15 statuses of the buttons. On average, one communication cycle is performed in less than 5ms.

As for the firmware, the ARM processors can be equipped with dedicated firmware for a specific machine, but by default they are equipped with universal software to allow control from a Raspberry Pi or from an external PC. Two modules are available that can carry an optional Raspberry Pi 5: one wth just the DIN rail carrier and RS485 driver, and one with an addition of intelligent interfaces.

    Examples of applications:
  • educative and interactive objects for museums./li>
  • ice cream vending machine.
  • dexterity games.
  • working scale models for visitor centres.
  • rapid prototyping.

The Raspberry Pi 5 controller offers:

  • powerful quad-core 64 bit ARM processor with 8GB RAM.
  • 2 HMDI ports for screens and stereo audio.
  • 4 USB ports.
  • Gigabit ethernet and 802.11b/g/n/ac Wifi.
  • Bluetooth.

BTN module:

Connections for 15 illuminated switches with individually programmable brightness.
Compacte module of 53,5x107mm delivered in a DIN rail carrier.
Each switch is connected to a 4 pole MicroMatch flatcable connector with following pins:

  1. 12V for LED
  2. open collector output for LED, max 100mA
  3. 0V for switch
  4. switch input with internal 2k2 pull-up resistor to 12V
Arcade push buttons of 33 and 65mm.

LAMP module:

Connections for 6 RGBW LED strips of 6x4 lamps, with brightness control for each individual lamp.
Compacte module of 53,5x107mm delivered in a DIN rail carrier.
For each strip a 5 pole Mini CombiCon pluggable screwconnector is available, with following pins:

  1. 12V
  2. Green open collector, max 1A
  3. Red open collector, max 1A
  4. Blue open collector, max 1A
  5. White open collector, max 1A
Particularly suitable for RGBW LED strips: the indicator LEDs above the connectors are in these colors. But any type of 12V lamp can be used, as long as the maximum current of 1A per output and 10A for the module connector is considered.

Smart LED strip module:

Driver for 2 smart LED strips, allowing color and brightness control for each individual LED. Suitable for WS2815 strips (12V) or similar, to a maximum of 250 LEDs, or more with modified firmware.
Compacte module of 35x107mm delivered in a DIN rail carrier.
One 4 pole Mini CombiCon pluggable screwconnector per LED stript, with these pins:

  1. 12V max 4A
  2. DI data
  3. BI data
  4. GND
DI and BI carry the same data. BI is the backup signal that allows the strip to skip a faulty LED, maintaining most of the functionality of the strip.

Demo:

STEPPER module:

Driver for a stepper motor with 1A RMS per coil, and equipped with reference and tacho inputs.
Compacte module of 35x107mm delivered in a DIN rail carrier.
The stepper motor is connected to the 5 pole Mini CombiCon pluggable screwconnector with pins:

  1. Coil 1 (groen)
  2. Coil 1 (black)
  3. Coil 2 (red)
  4. Coil 2 (blue)
  5. GND for optional shielding
The sensor inputs use a 4 pole flatcable MicroMatch connectoren:
  1. 12V max 100mA
  2. 3,3V with 100 Ohm pull up for photo-interruptor LED.
  3. sensor input 3,3V with 4k7 pull up.
  4. GND
As tacho and reference sensor both photo-interruptors and/or Hall-effect sensors can be used.


Hall effect sensor

RPi Carrier module:

Carrier for a Raspberry Pi 5 with RS485 driver.
Module of 105x107mm delivered in a DIN rail carrier.
The RPi-5 is supplied via its USB-C power input with a Raspberry Pi 27W USB-C power supply. This yields maximum power for the RPi due to its USB Power Delivery protocol. This also supplies the RS485 driver.

RPi Controller module:

Carrier for a Raspberry Pi 5 with RS485 driver. Additionally, it features an ARM-Cortex M0 microprocessor with various interfaces.
Module of 105x107mm delivered in a DIN rail carrier.
The RPi-5 is supplied via its USB-C power input with a Raspberry Pi 27W USB-C power supply. This yields maximum power for the RPi due to its USB Power Delivery protocol. This also supplies the RS485 driver and the microprocessor.
Potmeter connector:
  1. 3,3V
  2. wiper
  3. GND
Rotary encoder connectors (three):
  1. 5V
  2. A
  3. B
  4. GND
Frequency/Touch connector:
  1. Frequency measurement (max 1kHz, 24V AC)
  2. Touch input
  3. GND
Output connector:
  1. 12V
  2. Open collector OUT1, max 3A
  3. 12V
  4. Open collector OUT2, max 3A
  5. GND
Moreover, this controller can be equipped with an air pressure sensor and has a piezo buzzer.