The new UNO-1110 DIN-rail controller, with the latest Texas Instruments (TI) 600MHz RISC processor, has been designed to give customers enhanced flexibility by providing four programmable LED warning lights in addition to the pre-configured power, COM, SD, four digital input and four digital output LEDs. The four programmable lights allow users to quickly and easily determine the various states of connected equipment.

Space is at a premium in many locations, so in order to save space, and cost, the UNO-1110 features isolated digital IO ports so that customers no longer require extra signal convertors to go from the serial ports.

The isolated RS-232/422/485 ports prevent damage from electricity spikes and stop customers having to add additional equipment that not only takes up extra space but also costs more money.

The UNO-1110 features a TI Cortex A8 AM3505 600 MHz RISC processor, 256 MB DDR2 RAM, VGA connector with a resolution of up to 1024 x 768, one RS-485, four RS-232/422/485 ports, two SD card slots, two LAN ports, four USB 2.0 ports, an operating temperature of -10~70oC and is IP40 certified.

Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces that it has developed a multi-protocol wireless adaptor that enables wired field instruments or analytical sensors to be used as ISA100 Wireless™* devices, and will release models in May and July that support communications based on the HART® and RS485 Modbus standards. To facilitate the introduction of field wireless systems in plants, Yokogawa plans to release additional models that will cover other standards.

Development Background:

Field wireless systems enable the field devices and the host-level monitoring, control, and other systems in a plant to communicate wirelessly with each other. They have numerous advantages such as allowing the placement of field instruments or analytical sensors in difficult to wire locations, eliminating the need for cables to connect devices, and costing less to install. In accordance with its Wireless Anywhere concept, Yokogawa is seeking to promote the plant-wide use of field wireless systems by developing ISA100 Wireless devices such as this multi-protocol wireless adaptor.

Product Features:

When the multi-protocol wireless adaptor is mounted on a wired field instrument or analytical sensor, the instrument or sensor is able to function as an ISA100 Wireless device. It may be used with any type of wired field instrument or analytical sensor commonly used in plants, including those used to monitor temperature, pressure, liquid level, or vibration, or to detect gas and is compatible with both Yokogawa devices and devices from other vendors. By giving customers a greater range of field instruments and analytical sensors to choose from, Yokogawa expects that this multi-protocol wireless adaptor will greatly facilitate the introduction of field wireless systems.

• Support of multiple standards
• Battery power source for field instruments and analytical sensors
• Environmental resistance

With the Logo! 8 series of logic modules for smaller automation solutions in industry and building systems, the Siemens Industry Automation Division is launching a completely new generation of devices. Logo! 8 replaces the two current series 6 and 7 and is characterized by simplified handling, reduced space requirements with more digital and analog outputs, as well as an improved price-performance ratio. All new Logo! 8 basic units now offer Ethernet communication, additional functions for remote operation and remote access, as well as simpler configuring of the communication functions. The Logo! 8 series in revised design comprises eight new basic units that are equipped with Ethernet interface and Web server and, with four subunits, again feature the same compact design as before.

Four of the new Logo! 8 basic units for different voltage types have a display with six lines of 16 characters each, and three adjustable background colors. Thanks to the display's distinct signal colors, clear operator information and fewer abbreviations, message texts and status information are more visible and easier to read than before.

A wide range of add-on components (also new) supplement the basic units of the Logo! 8 series. These include a six-line text display with 20 characters to each line and four function keys, a module as Ethernet 4-port switch, as well as seven digital modules, three analog modules, and diverse power modules for power supply. The new module for communication via SMS and GPS is used for position detection, alarms and remote control via mobile phone, or time synchronization.

Logo! 8 connections are compatible with previous versions and programs can also be transferred. The new devices are configured using the new Logo! software Soft Comfort V8. The software helps to create and implement programs quickly and simply; for example, the communication functions of up to 16 network nodes are defined simply by dragging and dropping.

With the integral Web server, Logo! 8 is easy to use via WLAN and the Internet for monitoring and controlling. The Web server is designed for all commercially available Web browsers on PCs, smartphones and tablet PCs – from Chrome, FireFox, and Internet Explorer to Opera – regardless of the operating system. Web pages with a view of the logic module and external text display can be shown immediately. Users do not require any knowledge of HTML programming.

These logic modules, launched by Siemens in the mid-1990s as a new class of devices, close the gap between contactors, auxiliary relays, time switches, and programmable logic controllers. The Logo! logic modules can be used universally in industry and building systems. The numerous different applications range from simple machines to building automation. This includes mill presses, conveyor belts, sorting systems, infeed systems, automatic handling systems, car wash installations, access controls, light/door/gate controls, aquaria and terraria, expansions to heating controls, saunas, whirlpools and swimming pools, feeding systems in fish farming and livestock raising, all the way to booster stations and pump stations.

Rockwell Automation announces the new Allen-Bradley Micro820 programmable logic controller (PLC), a new addition to the Allen-Bradley Micro800 PLC family. The 20-point Micro820 controller features embedded Ethernet and serial ports, and a microSD slot. Pulse-width modulation (PWM) output and recipe management makes it ideal for small machines, such as stretch wrappers and compressor control. Datalogging, analog and thermistor temperature inputs are essential for remote automation applications, including water-pump control and air-handling units.

“We will continue to develop the Micro800 platform to give small-machine builders the flexibility to customize designs according to their application needs,” said Melkote Srinivasan, senior business manager, Rockwell Automation. “The new Micro820 controller, LCD display, plug-in modules and Connected Components Workbench software Release 6.0 have the features and options that help them differentiate their offerings and be more competitive.”

Connected Components Workbench software simplifies the configuration, design and maintenance of the Micro820 controller. The latest version of the software adds support for additional machine devices, like the new Allen-Bradley Guardmaster 440C-CR30 configurable safety relay and Allen-Bradley Kinetix 3 component servo drive. This release also provides password protection for application code, and improved investment protection via a friendly controller upgrade tool and multiple project sessions to collaborate between them. For those new to building machines, the software is a free download and offers built-in tutorials, manuals and user assistance.

Micro800 remote 3.5-inch LCD display. An essential accessory to the Micro820 controller, the Micro800 LCD display supports up to eight lines of ASCII text with a four-color backlight, has a keypad with programmable function keys, and is rated IP65 for mounting through a cabinet door when used as a simple operator interface. The display shows customized application-diagnostics messages and text. Its system menu is available in several languages and allows machine builders to directly view and edit program variables, and set the controller’s Ethernet address. The embedded USB port serves as a programming port to the controller.

Micro800 DeviceNet scanner plug-in module. The new Micro800 DeviceNet scanner plug-in option for the Micro800 family of controllers supports up to 20 nodes of Allen-Bradley PowerFlex AC drives or Allen-Bradley CompactBlock LDX I/O. This reduces the costs of wiring and installation inside the cabinet for standalone machine applications, and outside the cabinet for conveyor applications with drives and I/O distributed over longer distances. Auto-scan and device-specific function blocks simplify programming and configuration, and make network diagnostics easier.

Micro800 motion high-speed counter plug-in module. The new Micro800 motion high-speed counter plug-in option allows machine builders to cost-effectively add high-speed counters to Micro800 controllers. Used with the Allen-Bradley Micro830 or Micro850 controller’s PTO axis, the plug-in provides position feedback from the servo drive for position verification or with an encoder for position and velocity monitoring. It supports both 5V differential line driver input up to 250 kHz and 24V DC input up to 100 kHz.