Control Engineering HMI eNewsletter for April 2003
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User conference focuses on operational reporting, efficiency, optimization
Displays drive $385 billion info-imaging industry
OLED technology receives new brand identity
Resistive touch screen technology introduced
HMI product review
HMI, Control Engineering resources
User conference focuses on operational reporting, efficiency, optimization
New features of FactorySuite A2, among other products, were the focus of Wonderware’s recent WonderWorld 2003 user conferences. The meetings are underway in various cities around the country this month; the Chicago area gathering, held April 10 and 11, drew several hundred attendees and highlighted the inner workings of Factory Suite A2, InTouch HMI software, the new Industrial Application Server, and more.
An overview session summarized the most recent product developments; breakout classes provided details and dialogue on new engineering capabilities for enhancing operational reporting, efficiency, and equipment optimization. Software solutions that can help lower the engineering costs of complying with 21 CFR Part 11 regulations also were discussed. These user conferences offer an ideal opportunity to exchange ideas and information with technical experts and with others who are applying these solutions to similar systems and operations.
For more on Wonderware, click here .
Click here for more on WonderWorld user conferences
For information on Wonderware’s training programs, click here
Displays drive $385 billion info-imaging industry
The critical role of displays in the $385 billion info-imaging industry, and the important developments in display technology and display products that are needed to support it, are among the key points James Stoffel, CTO and SVP of Eastman Kodak, is expected to cover in his upcoming keynote address at SID 2003. The Society for Information Display Annual Symposium, Seminar, and Exhibition (SID 2003) will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD, from May 18 to 23. Stoffel’s address is titled ”The Strategic Role of Displays in the Info-imaging Industry: Is There More than Meets the Eye”?
The SID symposium is a leading event in the international display industry. The exhibition is the largest display show in North America. For more on the show and conference, or to learn more about the society, visit the SID website .
OLED technology receives a new brand identity
DuPont Displays, a developer and manufacturer of organic light emitting diode (OLED) technology, is renamimg its OLED display products. DuPont Olight derives its name from ‘OLED’ and ‘light.’
Chet Pribonic, DuPont Displays vice president and general manager, says the technology reflects superior brightness and contrast ratio, for a crisp, sharp image.
OLEDs also support moving images with fast response times and offer wide viewing angles without image inversion or loss of contrast ratio, factors that contribute to front-of-screen performance superior to LCDs. Initial applications for Olight are expected in consumer, industrial and medical products.
Full color displays with video capability and eventually flexible displays on plastic substrates represent future product opportunities.
For more on the technology and its products, click here
For more information on DuPont , visit the company wesite.
Resistive touchscreen technology responds to customer demands
Touch International has added T8, 8-wire resistive touchscreen technology to its stable of products. A direct response to customer demand, T8 is designed for drop-in replacement where 8-wire technology is used. T8 offers self-calibration for sustained touch accuracy, chemically strengthened glass or polycarbonate support for improved breakage resistance, and pin-to-pin compatibility for easy drop-in replacement.
”8-wire resistive is not my first technology choice as our T6, patented 5-wire resistive technology, offers the same functionality and is certainly more durable,” says Michael Woolstrum, a 15-year touch-screen veteran. ”At the same time, customer needs are our top priority.”
Woolstrum contributes sustained 8-wire customer demand to the lagging economy: ”Many companies are keeping engineering teams lean and changing touch technology during the product lifecycle is often too costly to undertake.”
HMI product review
Rockwell Automation has released a new version of its Rockwell Software RSView Enterprise Series human machine interface (HMI) software family to help ensure system availability and ease regulatory compliance. The latest version of RSView Enterprise Series includes RSView Supervisory Edition, RSView Machine Edition and the RSView Studio PC-based development tool. It supports improved productivity through redundancy and information collaboration enabled by FactoryTalk.
RSView Enterprise Series 3.0 provides new options including support for Allen-Bradley PanelView Plus operator interface and Allen-Bradley VersaView CE industrial computers, among other improvements. Improvements are seamless to operators and can decrease downtime and operators’ interruptions.
3M Touch Systems Inc. has introduced a family of LCD touchscreen monitors developed for the kiosk and industrial markets. The ChassisTouch line of LCD touch monitors are housed in a rugged metal enclosure, offer an auto-configure display adjustment, and bulkhead mounted connections. They can be either bracket mounted or mounted to VESA-compatible devices.
A stainless steel operator interface enclosure from Rittal Corp . is designed specifically for applications where high-pressure wash downs are required. Premium Panel has an IP69K rating, providing protection against the ingress of dust and against high-pressured/jet steam cleaning. The operator enclosure is available with or without keyboard housing and in a depth of 4.72 in. or 8.66 in.
A 15-in. LCD touchmonitor from Elo TouchSystems, Inc. , includes a three-stripe, ergonomically-placed magnetic strip reader (MSR). An enhanced version of the Entuitive 1525L 15-in. LCD touchmonitor, this unit is available with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or serial connection for use with the company’s AccuTouch five-wire resistive or IntelliTouch and SecureTouch surface wave touch technologies.
Control Engineering /HMI resources
The April 2003 edition of Control Engineering offers the opportunity to learn more about HMI products and applications:
The importance of user-friendly HMIs is discussed in ” 8 Ways to Improve Control System Projects .”
” Exclusive application update: Unilever applies batch software to freshen deodorant production ” includes a look at the HMI used at a personal care products plant.
For more HMI information on the Control Engineering website:
Search for HMI and human-machine interface at Control Engineering
Search for HMI products in our Buyer’s Guide Online (registration needed)
Find a system integrator with a specific area of expertise at Automation Integrator Guide Online (registration needed)
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