(Click here for a larger picture of the QuickPanel View)The QuickPanel View devices are all-in-one panel computers that offer monochrome or color LCD screens, ranging in size from 6 to 15 inches. GE Fanuc touts the devices as being more affordable than most alternatives, thanks to the use of Windows CE instead of a more resource-hungry OS (such as Windows XP Embedded).
The devices offer communications via serial, Ethernet, and several industrial "field buses," the latter based on adding GE Fanuc Genius, DeviceNet, and Profibus expansion cards. The units are also said to include built-in Web servers, for remote access to data using any Web browser.
According to the company, the QuickPanel View devices can communicate with a particularly wide range of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) used in automation. Compatible PLCs are said to include those made by Allen-Bradley, Automation Direct, GE Fanuc, Mitsubishi, Modicon, Omron, Siemens, and Square D.
GE Fanuc says the devices can share tags with other applications developed using the company's "Proficy Machine Edition," eliminating the need to enter data more than once. Proficy Machine Edition is described as an IDE (integrated development environment) for deploying HMI, motion, and multi-target control applications, with drag-and-drop editing and a rich set of development tools.
QuickPanel View features and specifications vary according to model. Those listed by the company for the top model, the IC754VSF15CTD, include:
- Processor -- unspecified
- Memory -- 64 MB DRAM, expandable to 128 MB
- Display -- 15-inch color TFT, 1024 x 768 pixel resolution
- Networking -- 2 x 10/100 Ethernet
- Other I/O:
- USB
- 2 x serial (one each RS-232 and RS-232/RS-485)
- GE Fanuc Genius
- DeviceNet slave
- PROFIBUS slave
- Expansion -- CompactFlash Type II
- Dimensions -- 14.9 x 12 x 2.8 (cutout), 15.7 x 12.7 x .4 (front of panel)
- Power -- 12 or 24 VDC, less than 60 watts
- Environmental -- operating temperature 0 to 50 deg. C (32 to 122 deg. F), storage temperature -20 to 60 deg. C (-4 to 140 deg. F)
In addition to its application-specific functionality, the IC754VSF15CTD includes Microsoft file viewers and Remote Desktop services.
The QuickPanel View systems appear to be available now, though pricing was not disclosed.
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