Product category:
Monitoring and sensor equipment and systems
News Release from: Eurotherm | Subject: 5000 Series data acquisition products
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 12 December 2002
Recorders get pocket PC interface
capability
Full security and traceability included to 21CFR11 standard feature data acquisition products that can be remotely monitored and controlled using an HP / Compaq IPAQ Pocket PC or PDA.
Eurotherm's market leading 5000 Series data acquisition products are now capable of being remotely monitored and controlled using an HP / Compaq IPAQ Pocket PC, or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) Using the latest 5000 Series operating system and Eurotherm's well-established Bridge 5000 remote operating software, Pocket PC users can now remotely configure instruments, and view live all the displays available - including charts, bar graphs, numerics, and plant mimics
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 22 Nov 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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Recorders get pocket PC interface capability
Data acquisition products are now capable of being remotely monitored and controlled using an HP / Compaq IPAQ Pocket PC, or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).
Data acquisition recorders meet latest standards
Eurotherm has launched a new phase of its well-established 5000 Series data acquisition recorders. They satisfy standards for digital data storage and electronic signatures.
Historical data can also be accessed via the chart displays.
Users who wish to utilise the new option will need a HP / Compaq iPAQ Model H3850 Pocket PC, with a standard 64MB RAM card and fitted with a low power Ethernet card.
This will enable it to run the Bridge 5000 remote connectivity software package.
Further reading
Batch processdata captured
As part of an ongoing programme of product improvement development, Eurotherm has launched a simple batching version of its Series 5000 Data Recorder for applications like heat treatment.
Advanced Graphic recorder is low-cost
Eurotherm has redefined its entry-level data acquisition offering by introducing an advanced new graphic recorder.
DeviceNet made a standard controller option
Eurotherm has added DeviceNet communications facilities to its main family of temperature and process controllers, making the feature a standard option.
The iPAQ H3850 is a slim, handheld pocket computer measuring just 5.3 X 3.3 X 0.62 inches (13.5 X 8.4 X 1.6 cm) overall.
Featuring a 206MHz 32-bit RISC processor running Microsoft's powerful Pocket PC 2002 operating system, it is capable of running a number of demanding applications, and is capable of wireless connectivity.
The ergonomically designed product also features 65,000 colour high resolution TFT image area measuring 2.26 X 3.02 inches (5.7 X 7.7 cm).
Connection between the iPAQ H3850 and 5000 Series instruments is either via a standard Ethernet lead with RJ45 connectors, or by wireless link to the 802.11B industry-standard protocol.
This is achieved in this case using a Cisco Aironet 350 Wireless PCMCIA Card.
The 5000 Series instrument being controlled needs to be running Eurotherm's latest Version 1.9 instrument software, which can be installed on all instruments retrospectively.
To achieve remote operation, the Pocket PC also needs to be operating Eurotherm's proprietary Bridge 5000 software, which provides a powerful, user-friendly interface via a whatever communications link is chosen.
Process managers need not be on site with the process to see what is happening: they can view real time process data remotely, without the need to leave their desk.
Full security and traceability is included within Bridge 5000 to the 21CFR11 standard, requiring users to have login accounts and access rights.
An audit trail feature records all changes, whether made locally or remotely.
The software is capable of providing live data from any 5000 Series instrument, presenting it on the Pocket PC screen in any of the commonly used forms such as vertical trend, horizontal trend, vertical bar graph, horizontal bar graph or large numeric.
Enhanced trend options are fully supported, and the product has the ability to connect multiple clients to a single data acquisition unit.
Alternatively, more than one recorder may be viewed from a single Pocket PC, by running multiple Bridges.
About the 5000 Series - launched in June 2000, Eurotherm's 5000 Series has proved to be one of the company's most successful families of graphical recorder products.
They meet a wide range of data recording functions across many industries, utilising leading edge 32-bit RISC processor technology to significantly reduce component count and reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
They feature high quality I/O, multi-function touch sensitive screens, and the ability to be networked, enabling archiving of data into plant-wide data networks.
The Series 5000 also offers an OPC server capability, utilising OLE for Process Control.
Since this defines the standard by which instrumentation can be integrated into modern automation and business systems, recorders in the Series 5000 can be incorporated into virtually any software system without having to assemble costly new drivers.
Configuration is achieved using a simple to use Windows style configurator.
Rob Rennie, Eurotherm's UK Marketing Manager, believes that the new Pocket PC control capability will enhance Series 5000 application capabilities considerably.
He comments: "Eurotherm pioneered the paper based chart recorder as we know it many years ago, and as a result our proprietary technology and product formats have now become industry standards." "Similarly, the 5000 Series has continued to break new ground since its introduction in 2000, and now offers the best performance-related features which new technology can offer.
This new Pocket PC connectivity maintains that progress, and we believe that the 5000 is now setting new standards for high integrity data recording across a wide spectrum of processes and industries.".
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