Display products roundup

Gary A. Mintchell, CONTROL ENGINEERING -- Control Engineering, 8/1/2000

Windows CE bundled HMI
Ann Arbor, Mich.-'panelLink' Windows CE platform bundles hardware from Ann Arbor Technologies and software from Intellution (Norwood, Mass.) into a complete HMI solution. The product features a 200 MHz Hitachi SH4 processor with 32 MB on-board SDRAM and 16 MB flash ROM. Other features include built in Ethernet port, RS-232 port, external alarm, remote reset, watch dog timer, and analog touch screen. Display options include 10.4- and 12.1-in. TFT panel and 6-in. dual scan panel. Part of the bundle is Intellutions's 'iVisualize' HMI package. Ann Arbor Technologies

Display family adds 10' member
Preston, Wash.-LS10 features a 10.4-in. flat panel display yielding up to 800 x 600 resolution, 16-bit color, wide viewing angles, and direct compatibility with any standard analog video signal. The product line is available in a variety of mounting and touchscreen configurations. Prices start at under $2,000. Christensen Display Products

Sunlight-readable, 18.1' display
Greenville, S.C.-Clarity 18UHB flat panel monitor accepts analog, digital, and interlaced NTSC input all on the same video controller board. At 900 nits 'Ultra-High Brightness,' the product is suitable for outdoor and high-ambient light applications. The 18.1-in. diagonal size includes SXGA (1,290 x 1,024) resolution, 16.7 million colors, and 160 degree viewing angle. The monitor can take lower resolution video and cleanly expand it to fill the screen. A front-mount plate and bezel give NEMA 4 protection to the front surface. Computer Dynamics

Intelligent operator interface station
Healdsburg, Calif.-Model 2750 programmable logic and motion control workstation includes analog, digital, and motion control local I/O, as well as serial, Ethernet, and DeviceNet connectivity. The NEMA 4/12 panel mounted unit is also CE rated and requires no external cooling. Operator entry is performed via keypad or optional touchscreen with pop-up dialog boxes. Eason's WinBuild 2000 software enables configuration and programming including graphics, control code, tag tables, recipes, and alarms. Eason Technology

Bundled PC control and HMI from GE Fanuc
Charlottesville, Va.-ControlStation combines development and runtime PC control software with industrial computer and graphic operator interface in one bundled package. The product features Windows NT or CE operating system and FrameworX development environment. The NT version includes color displays from 10.4- to 18.1-in., Ethernet port, two serial ports, and expansion slots. The CE version includes displays from 6- to 10.5-in., NEMA 4 box, as well as Ethernet, serial, and paralel ports. It also supports Profibus, DeviceNet, and GE Fanuc Series 90-30 PLCs. FrameworX development environment supports relay ladder diagram and sequential function chart control programming and OPC, COM/DCOM, and ActiveX. GE Fanuc Automation

Low power color displays
Kent, O.-Cholesteric LCD technology allows Kent Displays' color display modules to use lower power than conventional LCDs. These bi-stable displays use power only when a new image is displayed. Once displayed, the image remains visible for days, months, even years without requiring power. This technology also has high contrast, wide viewing angles, and the reflective nature does not require a light source. The display measures 6.25-in. diagonal with 640 x 480 VGA format and 127 dpi resolution. Kent Displays Inc.

OIT family expands by three
Everett, Wash.-HMI500 graphics terminal family expands by three models offering RS-232 and -485 serial interfaces to PLCs. Displays include 7.7-in. DSTN or 10.4-in. DSTN or TFT providing 256 colors and 640 x 480 resolution. Products come with analog resistive touchscreens. The 1 MB flash memory can store over 200 user-defined screens. Ezware-500 configuration software provides features such as online simulation mode and over 500 predefined graphics. Maple Systems

Digital flat panel monitor
Ann Arbor, Mich.-Digital input allows higher picture clarity than provided by conventional analog inputs. Nematron's line, said to be the first digital offering, includes packaging depth of less than 3.75-in with display sizes of 12-in. SVGA, 15-in. XGA, and 18-in. SXGA. Digital interface allows monitor mounting up to 10 meters from the computer without degraded image. The monitors are self-adjusting, anti-glare, and available with optional touchscreen. A patent-pending dual-hinge mechanism enables quick and easy maintenance and backlight replacement. Nematron Corp.

Modify PLC directly from console
Schaumburg, Ill.-Omron's NT631/NT31 series monochrome electroluminescent and color operator interface touchscreens communicate with Allen-Bradley SLC500 and GE Fanuc 90-20 and 90-30 PLC, as well as Omron's line. The color version sports a 11.3-in. display, while the unit's depth is just 1.8-in. Flash memory allows downloading to remote sites. An embedded PLC programming console eliminates the need for a handheld tool, enabling users to modify an Omron PLC directly from the console. Omron Electronics

Flat screen images from CRT
Duluth, Ga.-Users who demand high quality images with a CRT monitor now have the 19-in. RAC6157 monitor from Rockwell Automation. Available in panel or rack mount configurations, the monitor offers slightly larger display size than traditional CRT monitors. It is NEMA 1 for rack mount configurations and NEMA 4/4X/12 for panel mount. Additional certifications include UL 1950 Recognized component, C-UL 950, CE, Australian C-Tick, FCC Class A, and DHHS X-ray emission. Resolutions from 640 x 480 to 1,600 x 1,200 are supported with touchscreen options of resistive, capacitive, or surface acoustic wave. Rockwell Automation

Magelis family has common development package
Palatine, Ill.-Magelis XBT provides one development and operation package for the entire line of products. The family includes alphanumeric and text displays, graphical keypads and touchscreens. Features include data logging, recipe and alarm handling, alarm logging, recipe storage, trending, printing, shared database between PL7 and Concept software. Special mounting clips provide a one-miinute 'Quick Mount' scheme. Color version provides 256 colors. Schneider Electric

Compact Windows CE touchpanel
Alpharetta, Ga.-Simatic TP170A Windows CE-based touch panel display features 6-in. touch screen in an IP65 package. The device-specific version of Windows CE provides deterministic behavior with instant on functionality. Its standard Profibus interface allows connection to Simatic S7 controllers. ProTool configuration tool enables users to create pushbuttons, indicators, status buttons, graphics, and input and output fields, as well as message texts. Siemens Energy & Automation

Touch panel displays extend remote mounting
Rochester Hills, Mich.-Firestorm flat panel displays are specifically designed for OEM machine tool builders using CNCs, PLCs, industrial process controls, and robots. Model 121D has a 12.1-in. screen with a maximum resolution of 800 x 600 pixels, while Model 151D has a 15-in. display with maximum resolution of 1,024 x 768. The displays have built in touchscreen and are rated NEMA 4/12 (IP65). VGA extension cables are available in 4, 10, and 20 meter lengths. Trellis Software & Controls Inc.