Simex’s MultiCon CMC series devices are advanced meters, controllers and recorders in one compact case and designed for both advanced and less demanding applications in industrial control engineering. They feature a colour TFT display with touch screen for a GUI that is both intuitive and comfortable. The kernel of the software is the LINUX operating system, which ensures stable operation and enables hosting of advanced software applications.
Possibilities
Operation using the touch screen is efficient and comfortable. The operation philosophy is analogous to generally known windows systems: hitting (clicking on) appropriate menu keys, sliders to move the screens, etc. However, for users that are not happy with the touch screen, a traditional keyboard and a mouse can be connected to the instrument through USB ports for simplified operation.
Despite its compact dimensions the instrument has huge application possibilities. A well-thought-out modular design allows precise adaptation of the CMC to specific needs and user requirements. Available is a wide array of input and output modules: current, voltage, universal, thermocouple, RTD, digital, counting, relay, SSR and others.
In its most expanded version, a single, compact CMC-99 instrument can include modules which provide in total up to 48 physical inputs and outputs (analogue, digital and relay). Its slightly bigger brother, CMC-141, can have 50% more inputs and outputs, configurable from the rear panel. In demanding applications where the single RS-485 interface in the standard version is not enough, users can choose the ACM (advanced communication module) with additional communication interfaces: Ethernet, USB, RS-485 and RS-232 shared with another RS-485.
Using the Modbus RTU, the MultiCon CMC can read data and control outputs of other devices in the network. External inputs/outputs are particularly useful when there is a need to control a large number of physical execution units or collect data from distant sources. The number of these inputs/outputs is counted independently of the I/O available on the built-in modules. This augments the potential of MultiCon allowing users to build an advanced network system and monitor its operation from anywhere in the world via Internet.
Each MultiCon can also work as a data recorder. Its internal memory of 1,5 GB is sufficient for over 125 million samples; meaning that even in the intensive sampling mode (every second) users can record data from 24 channels for two months.
Block internal design
The heart of the device is a powerful, 32-bit ARM9 processor to which typical peripherals are connected: flash memory with firmware, flash memory for data recorder, RAM, TFT graphic display with a touch screen, power supply systems and communication interfaces. The device system is based on Linux, which allows MultiCon to implement many independent tasks simultaneously in large multi-channel systems.
To reduce the load on the CPU and ensure fast implementation of system tasks, including immediate response of the TFT display, all optional measurement and communication modules are equipped and supported by their own RISC processors connected with the main processor via fast serial bus. Therefore, all tasks related to A/D processing, calibration and transmission frames support are performed directly on the modules. As a result, even with the maximum number of modules connected, the device ensures good accuracy and stability of measurements.
After powering on, the operating system is loaded from flash memory to RAM, followed by the application software. The specially designed bus connecting the modules, including an internal communication protocol, allows immediate detection, identification and recording of any newly installed modules. Configuration modules are activated simultaneously to ensure full implementation of the PnP function.
As a result of cooperation with end users, the software is constantly developing with interesting new solutions constantly implemented via firmware updates and available via download.
Future articles
This first article in the three part series presents only the MultiCon general features. The second article, to be published in the next (June) issue of SA Instrumentation and Control, will discuss the software potential using the TFT touch screen, results presentation in the digital data format or as analogue indicators, colour graphs displayed on the screen in real-time and bar graphs formats.
For more information contact Rodney Topham, RET Automation, +27 (0)11 453 2468, rodney.topham@retautomation.com, www.retautomation.com
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