Category: Industry Trends

User Features

The PACSystems* RSTi-EP EPSCPE100. is an enhanced performance standalone 1GHz programmable controller equipped with 1MB of user memory and four Ethernet ports to run real time deterministic control applications. LAN1 is dedicated to highspeed Ethernet and LAN2 comprised of 3 switched ports configurable as either an embedded Ethernet controller or an embedded PROFINET controller, which provides the PROFINET functionality and supports only simplex mode of operation. It is a standalone PLC that supports distributed I/O. From now on in rest of the document this controller will be referred to as CPE100.

The CPE100 is programmed and configured over Ethernet via GE’s Proficy Machine Edition (PME) software. It can control/process up to 2K I/O points.

Highlights include:

 A built-in PACSystems RSTi-EP PLC CPU

o User may program in Ladder Diagram, Structured Text, Function Block Diagram.

o Contains 1Mbytes of configurable data and program memory.

o Supports auto-located Symbolic Variables that can use any amount of user memory.

o Reference table sizes include 2k bits for discrete %I and %Q and up to 2k words each for analog %AI and %AQ. Bulk memory (%W) also supported for data exchanges.

o Supports up to 512 program blocks. Maximum block size is 128KB.

The PACSystems* RX3i Redundancy CPU can be used to 

perform real time control of machines, processes, and 

material handling systems. The CPU communicates with the 

programmer and HMI devices via a serial port using SNP 

Slave protocol. It communicates with I/O and smart option 

modules over a dual backplane bus that provides: 

▪ High-speed PCI backplane for fast throughput of new advanced I/O. 

▪ Serial backplane for easy migration of existing Series 90*-30 I/O. 

Features 

▪ Hot standby (HSB) redundancy. Two redundant units 

make up a redundancy system. Each unit requires one 

Redundancy CPU (IC695CRU320) and a redundancy 

Memory Xchange module (IC695RMX128/228) configured as a redundancy link. 

▪ Contains 64 Mbytes of battery-backed user memory and 

64 Mbytes of non-volatile flash user memory. 

▪ Provides access to bulk memory via reference table %W. 

▪ Configurable data and program memory. 

▪ Programming in Ladder Diagram, Structured Text, 

Function Block Diagram, and C. Refer to PACSystems RX7i 

& RX3i CPU Programmer’s Reference Manual, GFK-2950. 

▪ Supports auto-located Symbolic Variables that can use 

any amount of user memory. 

▪ Reference table sizes include 32Kbits for discrete %I and 

%Q and up to 32K words each for analog %AI and %AQ. 

▪ Supports most Series 90-30 modules and expansion 

racks. For a list of supported I/O, Communications, 

Motion, and Intelligent modules, refer to the PACSystems 

Functions

The Programmable Coprocessor Module (PCM) is a

Coprocessor to the PLC CPU.  It can be programmed

to perform operator interface, real time computations,

data storage, data acquisition and data communica

tions functions.  It communicates with the PLC CPU

over the backplane and can access user and system

data using extensions to the powerful MegaBasic lan

guage.  No application program support is required in

the PLC CPU.

Many PCMs can be supported in a single IC697 PLC

system and each can accommodate an optional ex

pansion memory up to 512 Kbytes.

Dual tasking allows running a MegaBasic program at

the same time the PCM is used as a communications

interface.  Operation of the module may be initialized

by a pushbutton or by an attached PCM development

system.  The status of the PCM is indicated by three

green LEDs on the front of the module.

Installation

• Installation should not be attempted without refer

ring to the applicable Programmable Controller

Installation Manual (see reference 5).

• Make sure rack power is off.

• Install expansion memory if required.

• Connect the battery to either of the battery con

nectors on the module. (See figure 2)

• Install in the rack. (See figure 1)

• Turn on power.

The module should power up and blink the top LED.

When the diagnostics have completed successfully the

top LED stays on.

Features

• Single slot Coprocessor

• Dual Tasking

• MegaBasic

• CCM2 Protocol

• 12 Mhz, 80C186 microprocessor

• 90% of an IBM AT performance

• Up to 96 Kbytes battery-backed CMOS logic and

data memory on board

• Supports up to 512 Kbytes optional expansion memory

• Programmed by IC647. IC640 or IBM-compatible

Personal Computer

• Two RS-422/RS-485 or RS-232 serial ports

• High performance access to PLC memory

• Real time calendar clock synchronized to PLC

• Reset pushbutton

• Three Status LEDs

• Soft Configuration (No dip switches or jumpers)

with MS-DOS or Windows based programming

software configuration function

• Simultaneous communications on both ports at up

to 9.6 Kbaud, or up to 19.2 Kbaud individually.

Expansion Memory

The PCM can operate with or without an expansion

memory daughter board.  The base memory on the

PCM board has up to 95 Kbytes user memory.  The ex

pansion memory daughter board permits expansion of

program/data memory by 64. 128. 256 or 512 Kbytes.

The battery which supports this memory is located on

the base board housing as shown in figure 2.

Features

Available in 64. 128. 256 and 512 Kbytes

For expansion of CPU 771. CPU 772. or PCM

Memory retained by battery on CPU or PCM

Does not require additional slot

Configurable for data and program storage

Error checking by CPU checksum routine

No tools required for installation

Field Installable

Functions

This CMOS Expansion Memory is available in four

versions; 64. 128. 256 and 512 Kbytes. This memory

may be used to expand logic and data memory in ei

ther the CPU 771 (IC697CPU771) and CPU 772

(IC697CPU772) modules, or the Programmable Co

processor Module (IC697PCM711).  It is installed as a

daughter board and resides in the same slot as the

module it serves.  Memory on this board supplements

memory available on the base board.

CMOS Expansion Memory

Memory is retained in the event of power loss by the

battery on the base board housing.

Logic program memory is continually error-checked

by the PLC CPU as a background task.

The PCM error checks storage memory when power

is  cycled and on hard or soft resets.

•Expander Modules

Up to seven Expander modules can be daisy

chained off the Base Converter module to in

crease the number of inputs of the total subsys

tem up to a maximum of 120.

The Base Converter module accepts any mix of

the two Expander module types.

A common user scaling factor applies to all in

puts on each Expander module, however each

Expander module may be individually scaled as required.

•Current Input Expander module – catalog number

IC697ALG440

The Current Expander module has 16 current

inputs each accepting up to Ç 20 mA.

•Voltage Input Expander module – catalog number

IC697ALG441

The Voltage Expander module has 16 differen

tial voltage inputs each accepting up to Ç 10V signals.

High Level Analog Input System Modules

Three module types are included in the High Level

Analog Input subsystem: a Base Converter module, a

Current Expander module, and a Voltage Expander

module.  A typical subsystem will use a Base Convert

er module and (if required) one or more expander modules.

•Base Converter module – catalog number

IC697ALG230

This module has eight differential inputs and

an expansion port.  Each input can be individu

ally configured for either voltage or current.

Each of the input channels also has individual

user scaling.

On-board load resistors are included for normal

input current ranges up to Ç 40 mA.  If other

current ranges or different resolution is re

quired, external resistors may be used.

Standard system configurations for Ç 10 volts

and 4 to 20 mA are available.  These, and other

lower input ranges, can be scaled to engineer

ing units with the user scaling feature.

Features

•Complete Analog subsystem includes Base Converter

and Expander modules

•Base Converter module has eight differential inputs

individually configurable for voltage or current

•Accepts unipolar or bipolar Analog Inputs up to ” 10

volts full scale

•Accepts 4 to 20 milliamp current loop signals

•Individual user scaling on each input channel on Base

•Converter module; scaling on a per module basis for

•Expander modules

•Fast update rate for Base Converter module

•Voltage and current Expander modules, each with 16

inputs, provides for additional inputs at a lower cost

per point

•Complete subsystem can accept up to 120 inputs

•No jumpers or DIP switches to configure

•Easy configuration with MS-DOS or Windows

programming software configuration function.

Configuration

The IC697 CPU and I/O system is configured with

MS-DOS or Windows based programming software.

There are no DIP switches or jumpers used to

configure the system. The CPU verifies the actual

module and rack configuration at power-up and

periodically during operation. The actual

configuration must be the same as the programmed

configuration.  Deviations are reported to the CPU

alarm processor function for configured fault

response.  Consult Reference 1 for a description of

configuration functions.

Battery

A lithium battery (IC697ACC701) is installed as shown

in Figure 2.  This battery maintains program and data

memory when power is removed and operates the

calendar clock.  Be sure to install the new battery

before removing the old battery.  If during power-up

diagnostics a low battery is detected, the MODULE

OK LED (top LED) will not stay on.  Specific

indication of a low battery state is detailed in

Reference 2.

Removing a Module

The instructions below should be followed when

removing a module from its slot in a rack.

Grasp the board firmly at the top and bottom of

the board cover with your thumbs on the front of

the cover and your fingers on the plastic clips on

the back of the cover.

Squeeze the rack clips on the back of the cover

with your fingers to disengage the clip from the

rack rail and pull the board firmly to remove it

from the backplane connector.

Slide the board along the card guide and remove

it from the rack.

Serial Port

The 15-pin D-connector provides the connection to an

RS-485 compatible serial port on the CPU (see Figure 3).

This port provides a serial connection to a Work Station

Interface board installed in the programming computer.

The serial connection can also be made from the serial

port on the CPU to the serial port on the programming

computer, or other serial device, through the

RS-422/RS-485 to RS-232 Converter (IC690ACC900) or

RS-232 to RS-422 Miniconverter (IC690ACC901).  This

connection can be made with available cables or you

may build cables to fit the needs of your particular

application.  See reference 3  for more information on

serial communications.

For more detailed information on configuration of TMR

systems and communications between PLCs in the

system, refer to the Modular Redundancy Flexible Triple

Modular Redundant (TMR) System User’s Manual.

Programmer Connection, Ethernet TCP/IP

Connecting your programmer via an Ethernet TCP/IP

network requires installation of an Ethernet Interface

module in the PLC.  This can be either the Ethernet

Controller, IC697CMM741. or Ethernet Interface (Type

2), IC697CMM742.  Before connecting your

programmer and PLC to the Ethernet TCP/IP network

you must set the IP address in the Ethernet Interface.

After setting the IP address, connect the PLC and the

programmer running Windows software to the

Ethernet Interface.