Using Fairmount Automation’s intuitive and easy-to-use graphical programming package (Design Pad) you can develop sophisticated control schemes for the PCM-1 in a matter of hours—even without any prior programming experience.  Programming the device entails “drawing” a desired control scheme using a vast array of configurable function blocks.  These function blocks are wired together to indicate the signal flows from device inputs to device outputs.  Once complete, configuration programs are downloaded to the unit via a wireless IRDA interface. 

The PCM-1 provides a versatile I/O suite configurable in software.  Its analog inputs can read a variety of signals, including voltage, current, resistance, and RTD.  Its analog outputs can drive voltage and current loads.  Its digital inputs can be used separately as switches, pulse counters, and frequency counters, or they can be used together for event timing and quadrature decoding.  Its digital outputs can generate on/off, variable frequency square wave, and pulse-width modulated (PWM) signals.  In addition, multiple PCM-1 units can be attached to each other and configured to provide redundant power and I/O connections (both inputs and outputs) – the redundant output capability is built-in hardware and requires no external hardware.   PCM-1 units are also hot swappable: should the need arise to replace one, simply swap the front panel (with attached processing board) and the unit is back online—there is no need to shut off the power.

Each PCM-1 unit also provides a rich set of prominent displays, including four four-digit numeric displays and eight status-indication LEDs.  Each display set has an associated tag holder that you can use to label signals.