LaunchPad

The LaunchPad serves as the command and control center from which you may access the main program elements of InstantHMI 6.1. It allows you to design your HMI projects on Windows PC and deploy it on your target runtime platforms (Windows PC, Windows CE, Pocket PC, Palm OS and Smartphone). You may view project outline, design your screens, edit project setup including choice of runtime platforms, run your pc project, transfer and view reports including historic trends.

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Designer

he Screen Designer allows you to place widgets and other objects on the screen to view/modify application I/O data. You may also create and attach scripts to screen objects to transform and present data to your operator in convenient format. You may create macro based touch zones and buttons for switching screens, entering data, saving recipes and other functions. You may setup data sources, screen passwords, recipe control flags, data entry tab order, TCP/IP links with InstantHMI nodes, etc.

The Report Designer allows you to generate customized free-form report templates to be used for printer reports. It also allows you to generate spool record templates, which you can use with the help of the spooling capability provided, to print multiple reports to disk concurrently. This spooling capability in effect provides you with multiple (up to 100) virtual printers. You may also merge the spooled reports into a single printed report whose template is under your total control.

RunTime

InstantHMI projects may be run on any of the supported platforms. Runtime engines are available for Windows PC, Windows CE, Pocket PC, Smartphones and Palm OS. Each runtime engine (including PDA) can stand-alone or networked with other runtime engines. It utilizes a communication link and a driver DLL to link the operator with the raw data source (programmable and other I/O controllers used in the application).

. Alarm Management compatible with ANSI/ISA 18.2-2009 standards.
. InstantHMI runs on all windows platforms including Windows 7 Standard and Embedded Compact 7.
. 'Cloud Ready' for remote access from any standard browser.
. Enhanced Report Designer (RTF) for stunning Reports.
. Task scheduler (for Spooling, Printing, Script and Macro executions) makes complex reporting tasks easy.

Trending

Historic Trend utility provides you with a graphical representation of data logged by InstantHMI runtime engines. You may view selected data items over time periods of interest with or without data interpolation (Linear or Cubic Spline). This provides a powerful utility for analyzing trends and printing graphical reports. You may also view trend history in the runtime engine using the enhanced real time/historic plot object.

Database

The Tag Database stores various information items ('tags') of interest. Any tag may be assigned to one or more tag groups. Tag Manager allows you to create and edit tags. Message Database maintains text messages. Recipe Database is useful for repeatable and quick batch process setup. Configuration Parameters from one controller can be saved and transferred to other controllers. Databases can be transferred to/from Excel.

Logs

InstantHMI supports Time Based and Event Triggered data logging of selected tags. Datalogs may be viewed in trend graphs and transferred to historic trending module for analysis. PDA Datalogs may be transferred to desktop pc for viewing and analysis in Excel. Formatted Spool Reports may also be logged, incorporated in printer reports and archived. Datalogs may be saved in ODBC, SQL database and/or CSV formats.

Scripts

InstantHMI supports a simple yet powerful scripting language. Most mathematical operators and functions are supported. Other functions include: GetElapsedTime( ), GetDayOfWeek( ), Beep( ), Wait( ), Get/SetTag( ), and RecipeLoad/Save( ), etc. Scripts may be created to perform calculations (e.g. KVA/KW in power systems), scaling of variables (e.g. 4-20 mA signal), control or simulation (e.g. Ramp and Soak) and many other useful functions.

InstantHMI supports global project macros and local screen macros. Macro editor lets you create view and edit macros and save them in the macro database. Macros are available for several functions: Switch Screen, Set Data, Print, Spool, Recipe Save/Write, Execute Script, Print Screen, etc. Thus, you may create macro based touch zones and buttons for switching screens, entering data, saving recipes and other functions.

Drivers

InstantHMI provides connectivity over various communication links: wired serial or Ethernet, or wireless infrared, WiFi, and Bluetooth. Communication protocols such as EtherNet/IP, TCP/IP, ActiveX and OPC are supported. Comm Drivers are available to support many communication protocols.

Serial (RS-232, RS-422 and RS-485) links are supported.

TCP/IP is a network communication protocol that allows nodes (computers and other devices) on an Ethernet network to exchange information among them. TCP/IP can be used in a LAN (Local Area Network) or through the Internet. InstantHMI implements TCP/IP, which allows the transfer of data between InstantHMI nodes (PC, PDA or Windows CE) across the room or across the world.

EtherNet/IP is an 'Encapsulation Protocol' which carries forward the flavor of TCP/IP (and UDP/IP) very well. The EIP encapsulated message packet transmitted over the Ethernet media is embedded in a TCP/IP packet.

EtherNet/IP implementation in InstantHMI enables access to AB Logix controller tags without requiring ladder logic change. Data access includes Class and Object Attributes thus simplifying and streamlining HMI functions across your entire industrial network. Access to Legacy Controller Files (PLC5e, SLC5/05, MicroLogix etc) is supported.

ActiveX controls inherit much of their design from OLE documents, which allow applications to embed their data transparently in other applications. ActiveX Controls are COM objects with an User Interface. The InstantHMI Screen Designer and PC Runtime Engine are ActiveX containers. The Screen Designer as a container will allow you to insert ActiveX Control objects into the screen document.

OPC (OLE for Process Control) is a standard OLE/COM interface communication protocol that allows OPC Servers and OPC Clients to exchange information relevant to field devices, and process controllers. InstantHMI implements OPC Client Data Access to OPC Servers.

Bluetooth technology is built into many PDAs and provides RF (Radio Frequency) communications in the 2.45 GHz spectrum (using Frequency Hopping). Class 1 devices have a range of about 30 feet, while class2 devices have range of 300 feet. Serial Bluetooth adapters provide Bluetooth capability to serial ports on legacy controllers and this eliminates the need for a serial cable link.

WiFi and Infrared wireless links are useful when devices are inaccessible or in hazardous locations. InstantHMI is capable of communicating via Infrared (IR) or WiFi to Controllers. IR and WiFi Connectivity Kits from Software Horizons help convert almost any Controller into a wireless device.