PROGRAMME-LESS FRONT END I/O SYSTEMS FOR HMIS

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PROGRAMME-LESS FRONT END I/O SYSTEMS FOR HMIS
16 April 2003 - Omniflex

A new set of Maxiflex CPUs from Omniflex are programme-less, requiring no user programmes when used for any data acquisition or telemetry application: simply plug in, connect field wiring and power up.

All I/O is scanned automatically and I/O status assembled into a Data Interchange Table. For digital inputs and standard analogues the input status requires no configuration at all, however temperature inputs like thermocouple and RTD require the sensor type to be configured providing input values in engineering units of degrees C or F.

Scaled analogue inputs can also be catered for eliminating the need for the HMI to do any scaling to engineering units for 4-20mA loops from the field. Adding I/O to the system has never been easier simply plug in the new modules (hot plug-in, ie plug in while system is live) and plug-in the detachable wire terminals from the field.
The new field I/O status is added to the DIT automatically.

Configuration is easily made using a free Windows based software package called 'OmniSet', and a serial cable available from Omniflex. Simple selection of pull down options allows the user to configure the CPU completely.

This configuration includes the ability to create multi-drop telemetry systems using the Omniflex Conet Local Area Network up to 10km on twisted pair cable. Configuration can also be done via the HMI if so desired making a neatly integrated system controlled exclusively from the HMI stations.

The HMI is simply connected to the Maxiflex T1 or T2 CPU via its auxiliary serial port which can be set to communicate using Modbus Protocol, one of the standard protocols on every HMI.

The HMI now has access to any of the DIT registers on the CPU. In fact if a Conet Local Area Network is used any data from the network is also accessible to the HMI - not just the local node. Multiple HMIs can also be connected to the network in the same fashion reading the same or different data from the network.

Outputs may also be generated from the HMI to activate plant devices. Maxiflex provides a very cost effective solution to HMI front ends and simplifies the field I/O systems by eliminating the need to write time-consuming application programs for data acquisition or telemetry. Maxiflex I/O systems cover analogue inputs, voltage, current, thermocouple, RTD and digital inputs, potential free and voltages up to 200Vdc, series contact chains, pulse inputs up to 50kHz.

Interfacing to third party RS232 or RS485 devices is a specialty with analytical devices like gas chromatographs, gas analysers, intelligent circuit breakers or sub-station energy metering equipment. Given the communication protocol Maxiflex will communicate with any of these devices. The Conet Network Topology can be used as a bus, star or mixed configuration allowing complex networks to be configured all on low grade plant cables.

http://www.omniflex.com

About: Omniflex
OMNIFLEX designs and manufactures electronic products and systems for the automation and control industry worldwide, specialising in industrial networking, remote I/O systems, process automation systems, signal conditioning, and alarm and event management.

The company was founded in 1965 in South Africa and was originally named CONLOG, developing expertise in systems integration and product development for the process control and instrumentation market.

The company's products are now sold on 5 continents and include such well known brands as OMNI16 alarm annunciators, MAXIFLEX process automation and remote I/O systems, and OMNITERM signal conditioning and RTU systems.

History.

Over the early years the company, under the CONLOG brand, grew to become the largest manufacturer of instrumentation for the process control industry in Africa and became a well respected designer and manufacturer of innovative products and systems of superior quality.

In 1997 the CONLOG industrial products business was acquired by the present owners and the name of the company changed to OMNIFLEX.

OMNIFLEX owns all of the intellectual property rights for the entire range of industrial products sold under the CONLOG brand and provides full technical and service support for all these products sold over the past 38 years.

OMNIFLEX continues to market these products under the OMNIFLEX brand and continues to invest in research and development to maintain its state-of-the-art technology base.

Mission.

OMNIFLEX has as its core business, the design and manufacture of industrial automation electronic products and systems.

OMNIFLEX has as its strategy the ongoing investment in research and development of electronic products for the control and instrumentation market globally.

As a world-wide supplier of automation products, OMNIFLEX provides technical training, backup and application engineering support to a variety of locally based distributors and value adding re-sellers in order to provide superior levels of technical assistance to system integrators and end users in their own environment.

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