optris^® PI NetBox is a miniature PC for the PI series of infrared cameras. It upgrades the optris PI products to stand-alone solutions or acts as USB to Ethernet adapter.  This permits to implement longer distances between the process proper (PI camera) and the process monitoring system (PC). The superiority of this concept stands out specifically in high-temperature applications: fitted with a cooling jacket the PI camera can be installed local to the process and connected to the NetBox via a 20m-long temperature resistant USB cable. The NetBox is thus located outside the hot zone and acts as connector for an Ethernet cable that may be up to 100 metres in length. Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Kienitz, Optris GmbH’s general manager, summarizes the advantages of stand-alone operation as follows: “Thanks to its intelligent self-monitoring features the optris^® PI NetBox offers an excellent level of operational reliability in process automation applications.”

Users can also integrate their own software for customized optimisation of their process monitoring needs. The system is based on a COM-Express mini embedded board with Intel ^® Atom^TM Z530 processor, 2 GB SSD and 512 MB RAM. Various ports are available: 3 x USB 2.0, 1 x Mini USB in slave mode, VGA/video, Gigabit Ethernet, micro SD card (up to 32 GB). It supports a wide range of supply voltages between 8 and 48 VDC and comes with the operating system Windows XP Professional. Power over Ethernet (PoE) is also possible. The optris^® PI NetBox supports frame rates up to 120 Hz (PI 160) and is available with an optional IP65 enclosure. This makes it ideally suited for monitoring of automated processes and for OEMs.