Design Pad G3 is a third-generation graphical design tool used to program
and configure Fairmount Automation’s family of hybrid Programmable
Automation Controllers (PAC). It is a Windows-based software package that
relies on intuitive drag-and-drop, undo-redo, and cut-copy-paste
functionality to enable the rapid development of sophisticated control
strategies and automation schemes. It sharply reduces development time by
combining the design, testing, and documentation cycle into a single
integrated process.
Programming in the Design Pad G3 environment simply involves creating
familiar function block and state-transition diagrams in graphic form. The
resulting control programs—called schemas—can be compiled into
machine-executable form and downloaded into the desired devices over a
wireless link or network connection with just a click of the mouse. Future
schemas will also incorporate structured text programming (in the standard C
language) and ladder-logic diagrams. They will allow all of these languages
and constructs to be freely intermixed to suit application needs.
Design
Pad G3 provides a comprehensive set of field-proven function
blocks, including:
It places no
restrictions on the number of blocks that a program can contain or the
manner in which the blocks are interconnected. The links between function
blocks can be made by softwire connection or by using signal reference tag
names. Once all connections are made, Design Pad automatically determines
the execution order of the function blocks, further reducing development
time.
The state-diagramming
features allow design engineers to define operational states; to specify
what the device should do when it enters, exits, or remains in each state;
and to define events that cause transitions from one state to another. The
device behavior in each state is programmed in a sub-schema—itself a
function block or state-transition diagram. The event definitions that lead
to state transitions can be as simple as a digital input signal turning on
or can involve a complex set of pre-conditions. The use of state diagrams
inherently leads to more robust designs by forcing the segregation of
automation tasks into manageable subsystems. Engineers can then focus their
design effort on the specific functionality required by each subsystem
without the distraction of the system at large. In addition, state diagrams
provide a convenient mechanism to encode sequencing operations (they can be
structured much like flowchart representations).
Promotes Program Reuse
Design Pad
emphasizes program reuse by clearly separating the target hardware
platform from the control schemas they are to execute. The same
schema program can run in any controller module or in any
arrangement of modules (provided that the hardware resources
referenced by each program are available in the module set).
Moreover, the same schema can execute in multiple modules at the
same time, yet reference the same or different hardware resources.
This hardware independence is made possible by dividing control
algorithm development from device configuration. The control
programs reference generic hardware function blocks (e.g., analog
input signal) that are subsequently bound to specific hardware
resources (e.g., analog input channel 1 in the module labeled
“Pump C1”).
Device configuration in Design Pad is a fast and easy process that
involves selecting the particular hardware platform that will
execute each schema program, specifying the characteristics of the
physical connections that will be made to the device (e.g., type E
thermocouple on analog input 4), and establishing device networks
and network signal associations. The hardware platform can be a
standalone controller (e.g., FAC2000) or a combination of integrated
modules (e.g., Chameleon PAC family).
Integrated
Debugging
Design Pad G3 provides
integrated debugging features that enable program testing as part of
the design process, well before a schema ever needs to be exported
to a physical device. Its simulation environment includes the very
same core run-time code (firmware) that executes in corresponding
controller hardware. This assures that if your program works in the
virtual world, it will work in the real world. During a device
simulation, you can pause, resume, and single-step program
execution. You can also manually adjust any input signal that is
read by a soft-PAC or monitor any of their output signal states.
And, you can interact with virtual user-interfaces that are updated
in real-time (e.g., click on front-panel push buttons, verify
correct operation of indicators and user text messages, etc.). In
addition, you can incorporate soft probes into your schemas to track
any internal signal as a simulation evolves. Probed signals can also
be streamed to disk for subsequent analysis.
Design Pad G3 is
capable of simulating complete controller networks, including
concurrent simulations of each device on the network and all the
network message traffic between devices. This feature considerably
eases one of the most difficult tasks in deploying modern control
systems: troubleshooting the coordinated operation of distributed
devices.
Fairmount Part Number
Description
92007-000
Design Pad G3 Programming
Software
01004-102
Chameleon
Programming Cable: USB to RS232
to
IrDA with Holder
