The ICPCON 8000 from ICP is a new family of compact, modular, intelligent and rugged, distributed I/O (input/output) systems, designed for data acquisition and control in manufacturing, research and education. This series offers a flexible, versatile, and economical solution for a wide range of applications claims the manufacturer. Examples are data acquisition, process control, test and measurement, energy and building management.
The 8000 is a modular network-based system with the capability of connecting I/O either through its own local bus or alternatively through I/O expansion or network extension. The unit comprises a main control unit with a range of standard communication interfaces, and an I/O bus. The bus is hybrid in nature and provides the facility to connect either serial or parallel I/O modules (parallel bus is used for high speed data transfer). The unit can communicate either using serial communications (RS232, RS485), Ethernet, or CANbus.
The Ethernet version of the product supports an integrated web server permitting Internet and Intranet applications The 8000 can be used as an intelligent distributed data acquisition front end connected to a Host machine running a standard SCADA package, or alternatively, it can be user-programmed as an autonomous controller running an embedded software application. Significant nonvolatile memory is available for data and program storage.
The product is made up of four basic components:
* Main Control Unit (MCU) - Each MCU comprises a central processor module (CPM), a power supply, a 4 or 8 slot backplane for either 4 or 8 parallel I/O modules. The CPM is a powerful integrated processing engine comprising a CPU, RAM and ROM, and an option of communication interfaces including RS485, Ethernet and CANbus.
* I/O Expansion Unit: These units are used to extend the number of I/O modules. Each expansion unit comprises a power supply and a backplane with either 4 or 8 Serial I/O Expansion Slot. The I/O expansion units (87K4, 87K8), are equipped with a 115,2K BPS RS-485 bus which links to expansion unit to the main control unit.
* 8000 I/O modules: There are two types of I/O modules; Parallel I/O modules which are high speed modules (can only be installed in the Parallel I/O Expansion slots) and Serial I/O Modules (can be installed in either the Parallel or Serial I/O Expansion slots.)
The main central processing module (CPM) is based on the AMD 80188/80186 microprocessors. The CPM can be considered as an integrated PC comprising up to 32 MB of Flash storage and up to 512 KB of battery-supported SRAM. The processor runs its own version of DOS optimised for realtime applications.
The main control unit of ICPCON 8000 family has an integrated control panel providing a Simple Man Machine Interface (S-MMI) to the 8000 unit. The S-MMI includes a five-digit 7-SEG display, LED indicator and four pushbuttons for selecting various configurations and modes of operation.
Great attention has been given to providing protection to embedded OEM application software. Each 8000 is supplied with a unique electronic serial number which can be checked by the application software. In addition, a uniquely programed ASICkey can be installed in the unit to protect from illegal copying.
Designed to operate in harsh, electrically noisy environments, the ICPCON 8000 family can be either DIN-rail mounted or panel mounted.
For further information contact Centurion MicroElectronics, 012 666 9066.
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