Data acquisition links with Pocket PC

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Nov 14, 2002

Eurotherm's 5000 Series data acquisition products can now be remotely monitored and controlled using an HP/Compaq IPAQ Pocket PC or PDA.

Eurotherm's 5000 Series data acquisition products can now be remotely monitored and controlled using an HP/Compaq IPAQ Pocket PC, or PDA.

Using the latest 5000 Series operating system and Eurotherm's 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.

Historical data can also be accessed via the chart displays.

Users who wish to use the new option will need an HP/Compaq iPAQ Model H3850 Pocket PC, with a standard 64Mbyte RAM card and fitted with a low power Ethernet card.

This will enable it to run the Bridge 5000 remote connectivity software package.

The iPAQ H3850 is a slim, handheld pocket computer measuring just 135 x 84 x 16mm overall.

Featuring a 206MHz 32bit 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 57 x 77mm.

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.

The 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, using leading edge 32bit RISC processor technology to significantly reduce component count and reduce total cost of ownership (TCO).

They feature high quality I/O, multifunction 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, using OLE for Process Control.

As 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".