The key interfaces and expandability of industrial control all-in-one computers
Product knowledge 2026-02-16
The key interfaces and expandability of industrial control all-in-one computers are the core that distinguishes them from commercial computers.
Traditional industrial interface:
Serial communication port (COM): RS-232/422/485 interface, used for connecting traditional industrial equipment such as PLCs, frequency converters, barcode scanners, and meters. The number is usually 2 to 8.
Parallel port (LPT): Some older equipment is still in use.
Fieldbus and Industrial Ethernet:
Fieldbus: Supported through card insertion or onboard methods, such as PROFIBUS, CAN, CANopen, DeviceNet, etc.
Industrial Ethernet: Gigabit Ethernet ports are standard equipment. For critical applications, dual Ethernet ports are provided for redundancy or network separation. Support for protocols such as PROFINET, EtherCAT, Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP (usually requiring software integration or specific modules).
General and Expansion Interfaces:
USB: USB 2.0/3.0, used for connecting external devices. Some models feature anti-detachment design.
Video Output: VGA, DVI, HDMI, DP, used for expanding display.
GPIO (General Input/Output): Digital input/output interface, used for connecting switches, sensors, indicator lights, etc., to achieve simple logical control.
Expansion slots: Some models offer Mini-PCIe, PCI, and PCIe slots, which can be used to expand with acquisition cards, motion control cards, wireless communication modules (4G/5G, Wi-Fi), etc.
