Kithara Software, specialist for PC-based real time, has announced the support for the communication interface Thunderbolt. In conjunction with Kithara RealTime Suite, this way, all devices in a system connected via Thunderbolt can be registered and controlled in real time.
RealTime Suite is a comprehensive system library for hardware-dependent programming, communication, automation and machine vision.
Real-time capabilities for Thunderbolt allow for immediate communication of components that are connected to the interface with the least possible delay. This Thunderbolt implementation also includes the usage of appropriate hardware extensions in real time, such as for connecting PCIe plug-in cards to laptops. With this, the Berlin-based company also responds to the increasing demand for improved mobility of software-based real-time solutions, for example when testing or measuring on-site and directly at the machine.
“Many of our customers work in vehicle or special engineering and thus are often dependent on the mobility of a laptop. This however does not mean that one has to forgo real-time capabilities or interface connectivity via PCIe plug-in cards, such as for Ethernet or CAN. With real-time support for Thunderbolt we want to underline the basic idea—Kithara real time is wherever the user needs it”, Uwe Jesgarz, managing director of Kithara Software GmbH, explained.
Based on Displayport and PCI Express, Thunderbolt is mainly used for connecting computers with external peripheral devices. Since Thunderbolt 3 and the utilization of USB-C connectors, the interface has become relevant for PC users as well, due to data rates of up to 40 Gbit/s, USB Power Delivery as well as support for PCIe and Displayport.
Thanks to the expertise of Kithara Software regarding real-time USB connection, the recently announced USB 4, which itself will be based on Thunderbolt, is given special emphasis in future developments of the company.
