This article briefly introduces the main functions and application modes of the embedded configuration software, and compares it with the standard configuration software to draw conclusions about the differences between the two.
Human-machine interface products, often referred to as "touchscreens," consist of HMI hardware and corresponding embedded configuration software. Generally, different manufacturers use different embedded configuration software for their HMI hardware, and the main type of device they connect to is a PLC.
Industrial control configuration software is a human-machine interface product. This type of configuration software can greatly shorten the time to market for embedded products, and also enables products to have rich human-machine interfaces, embedded web and control logic functions that comply with IEC61131-3. It can also store a considerable amount of historical data and partially complete the functions of a field workstation-level computer.
Here are some examples of applications in different industries:
l. Manufacturing and process control: human-machine operation panels, machine tools, motor drives, testing equipment, environmental monitoring, power transmission and distribution equipment, oil refinery equipment, remote unmanned data acquisition and monitoring stations;
2. Medical and health equipment: X-ray machine, CT scanner, medical administration management system, ward monitoring system;
3. Building automation and commercial retail outlets, commercial POS systems, and security monitoring equipment;
4. Office equipment and information appliances, set-top boxes, mobile phone embedded systems, and program-controlled telephones;
5. Networked and configurable devices.
In summary, we can outline the application models of embedded configuration software in industrial processes. The HMI component of the application software, based on Windows CE, can obtain operational and monitoring data from field controllers through network services on this platform. There are also other HMI extension components to perform specific functions (such as trend and historical data). The Internet component located within the embedded system can publish the designed HMI interface to the Internet via its embedded web service program, allowing operators to monitor it through a browser. The logic and flow control components are based on field-level controllers with real-time operating systems, utilizing IEC 61131-3 to implement embedded control functions.
Generally speaking, embedded industrial automation configuration software is an embedded application software used in embedded systems with network functionality (including Internet service functionality). An embedded system refers to a device with intelligence (i.e., a microprocessor or microcontroller) that can be embedded into a device or product and connected to a network. Embedded configuration software consists of a development system and a runtime system. The development environment of embedded configuration software generally runs on a Windows operating system with a good human-machine interface, while the runtime environment can be based on various embedded operating systems such as Windows CE, DeltaOS, NT Embedded, and LINUX and DOS, or even directly support specific CPUs. The runtime system of embedded automation configuration software is mostly a component-based scalable configuration structure, generally including: a human-machine interface (HMI) component (including optional modules such as historical data browsing and trend charts), a historical data recording component, a network communication component, an Internet component, control logic and flow control components, and a real-time kernel.
The standard version of configuration software is a general-purpose tool software product that runs on a PC hardware platform and Windows operating system. It can also be used with a PC or industrial control computer to form an HMI product. The standard version of configuration software supports a wide variety of devices, such as various PLCs, PC boards, instruments, frequency converters, modules, etc. Moreover, due to the powerful performance of the PC hardware platform (mainly reflected in speed and storage capacity), the standard version of configuration software also has much stronger functions, making it suitable for large-scale monitoring systems.
In addition, embedded configuration software is provided free of charge with the hardware (except in Europe and America), while standard configuration software is charged per I/O point.
