The GPFC project has been initiated by DESY (the MKS-2 group) and IHEP (the OEA division) in the end of 1996.
Both parties realized that there is a need in a compact intelligent device to control CAN, Profibus and other fieldbuses, which are widely using in accelerator controls. The two basic application classes were drawn, embedded and standalone. This implies implementing the controller as a separate board which can be easily mounted in the controlled equipment. When provided with a power supply and a covering box, the controller becomes a standalone device. The controller should be small sized to enable space limited applications and should allow to exploit it without the forced air cooling. Also, the controller should be an inexpensive device to justify its usage for potentially low cost fieldbus communications.
The controller's architecture has to be modular and scalable, supporting the fieldbus connection via pluggable modules and providing an incremental range of configurations. The controller has to run VxWorks real-time operating system (or equivalent) in order to provide a powerful operating and software development environment. Its CPU/memory resources have to be comparable with ones of VME based single board computers to allow it to run (locally) non-trivial applications.
When drawing the first GPFC sketch, we considered many commercially available solutions but failed to find the one having all desired features. So then, the in-home design has been started. The first complete architectural proposal has been formulated in February, 1997, and the first GPFC prototype came into being in October, 1997. It has been successfully tested under VxWorks, including the network (Ethernet) support.
The GPFC hardware design has been performed at DESY, using the MENTOR electronic CAD system from Mentor Graphics . Prototype boards were produced in industry and then mounted (soldered) at the DESY electronic workshop.
From the experience with the first GPFC prototype several enchancements have followed and the board has been redesigned in December, 1997. A small pilot series is expected to be produced in the beginning of 1998. Large series production is under consideration.
The work on further software development is in progress: CAN driver port is already started and Profibus is on the way. See "What's new" for the current project status.
The most of work on the GPFC design was done by a small team of two, but more people contributed to the project at different stages and in various aspects.