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enIntroduction
The role of Satellite boards is to provide functions that are used in large numbers on miniature layouts:
- Train detection;
- The operation of the points and mechanical signaling;
- Traffic lights.
As many Satellites as necessary are installed to control the necessary functions on the layout. Communication with the ECU that hosts the control software is provided by a CAN bus.
The V2 satellite board is an evolution of the V1 satellite board. The objectives are:
- to reduce specialization;
- increase flexibility so that the board can be adapted to a greater number of situations;
- to increase hardware modularity;
- to respond to a lack of V1, i. e. the absence of inputs for the end stop contacts of the points.
No electronics specific to a type of detection are installed on the board. The board alone is therefore cheaper than Satellite V1, which integrated current consumption detection electronics.
The Satellite V1 board associated an Arduino pin with a function exclusively. This is not the case with Satellite V2 where a pin is shared between several functions. Of course when a Satellite V2 is configured one of the functions and only one is chosen.
The Satellite V2 board implements an extension board system that allows you to add electronics such as consumption-based detection for example.
An input for end-stop detection has been added for each servo driven by the Satellite V2 card
The Satellite V2 card allows you to connect:
- Up to 6 servomotors with and without end-stop detection;
- Up to 15 LEDs for signalling;
- Up to 8 detectors;
- Up to 4 expansion cards.
Of course, it is not possible to have 6 servomotors, 15 LEDs and 8 detectors simultaneously.
The Satellite V2 card integrates a Microchip MC2517FD SPI CAN controller.