Those who
want to implement automation systems based on PCs can now site the PC and the operator
station at separate locations on the machine or in the plant. The PC can be located in the
control cabinet, while the Control Panel can be given an appropriate location on the
machine, thanks to Beckhoff’s new connectivity via DVI and USB interfaces, providing
an economical alternative to CP-Link technology. DVI and USB are the interfaces of choice
for users who do not have the need to communicate over distances greater than 5 m. DVI
transmits the image data to the Control Panel, while USB transports the keyboard, touch
screen and floppy drive signals.Beckhoff Control Panels use economical DVI and USB standards
Separate display and computer mounting provides flexibility
DVI/USB as an alternative to CP-Link
A new option available from Beckhoff is the connection of the PC and the Control Panel
using the DVI and USB interfaces. This provides an economical alternative to connection
via CP-Link technology. The USB interface has long been popular in the office environment,
and is now being increasingly adopted on the factory floor. Image data is transferred via
DVI, while the keyboard, touch screen, and floppy drive signals are handled by the USB
interface. The DVI/USB Control Panel CP78xx can, however, only be used at a distance of
five metres from the PC. In many applications, where large distances do not have to be
covered, this version offers an alternative to CP-Link technology.
Users who require operation over larger distances will continue to make use
of CP-Link technology. Beckhoff CP-Link connects the Control Panel to the PC over
distances of up to 100 m via two coaxial cables. CP-Link transmits the data from the
display, keyboard, two serial interfaces and floppy drive in the form of a digital signal
in the gigabit range. Power is also supplied to the Control Panel via the two coaxial
cables. Inside the PC, the CP-Link interface is implemented as an ISA or PCI plug-in card.
The CP-Link card can be fitted into any PC equipped with a graphics card providing an LCD
interface. The PC interfaces for the LCD, keyboard, COM ports and floppy drive are
converted by the CP-Link plug-in card into a high-frequency digital, serial signal, and
are transmitted via the coaxial cable to the Control Panel. The CP-Link interface in the
Control Panel then converts the serial signal back to the form required by the PC
interfaces. The Control Panel components are connected to these interfaces, but at a
distance of up to 100 m from the PC. Two coaxial cables are required to provide a CP-Link
Channel for each communication direction between the Control Panel and the PC. Up to three
Control Panels can be connected to one PC, with a separate CP-Link card installed in the
PC for each Control Panel. All displays show the same image, but the keyboard, touch
screen and display of each Control Panel can be switched off, so that conflicts do not
arise if more than one user attempts to exercise control.
A wide range of products
Beckhoff Control Panel housings are cut from a solid aluminium block, and the variations
available for the panel configuration are virtually unlimited. Few Control Panels are
alike, and yet Beckhoff is able to produce large numbers of units very quickly.
High-quality TFT displays with even illumination, long service life and a range of
resolutions are available for the Control Panel. The 10-inch version features a resolution
of 640 x 480 pixels, the 12-inch version offers 800 x 600 pixels, while the 15-inch
display provides 1024 x 786 pixels. The Control Panel can incorporate a touch screen or
touch pad, as well as keyboards, which are available in an enormous variety of
configurations. Aluminium construction offers the advantages of low weight, high quality,
and superior strength, and anodising prevents corrosion in aggressive environments.
Additionally, aluminium, a single chemical element, can be completely recycled – a
point of growing importance for the future.
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