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Back to System 10
GENERAL PAGE

 

  

Data Displays

A hallmark of the Daytronic System 10 is its integral data display (or "video") capability, which has been consistently designed with the operator interface in mind.

 

System 10 video is "built-in" all the way.  NO COMPUTER PROGRAMS ARE NECESSARY for the user to compose unique, vivid, dynamic, and highly effective displays for

readout of both "live" and "historical" analog/logic data

visual annunciation of process status and alarms—
including graphic indication of bit states and process trends

prompting appropriate operator actions by means of
timely display messages

 

Video Capabilities for "A-Sized" Mainframes

Video Capabilities for "B-Sized" Mainframes

Some Mnemonic Commands for Video Setup and Operation

Video Inputs and Outputs

System 10 "V Cards"

Model 10VFO132 Formatted Output Card

Model 10VGM500 Video Graphics Memory ("Bargraph") Card

 

Video Capabilities for "A-Sized" Mainframes  [Back ]

The Model 10K2D and Model 10K4T-DA mainframes are each equipped with a front-panel 8-line, 12-channel vacuum fluorescent (VFD) display (140 x 35 mm; see the typical display shown below).  

Up to 40 individual VFD "pages" can be created and stored.  Each page can be dedicated to up to twelve user-specified data channels.  Display of system TIME and DATE is automatically included, along with per-channel limit-status indication: an ARROW following the data reading points UP for a "HI LIMIT" violation, DOWN for a "LO LIMIT" violation, and LEFT for an "OK" (no violation) value.  A four-character unit legend for each channel's "live" reading can be entered.  A simple PAGE (PAG) command calls individual pages to display.

Several multichannel VFD display options apply to System 10 "A-sized" mainframes.  Click here for details.

 

Video Capabilities for "B-Sized" Mainframes  [Back ]

All "B-sized" mainframes support multiple individually configurable large-scale data displays in vivid color, with adjustable update rates from 1 to 60 Hz.  VGA-resolution displays may be instantly composed, edited, and saved by the operator, in the field, via simple "word-processor" keyboard entries—even while the measured test or process is running.  

Creating your own large-scale display formats could not be easier . . .

1. Enter "Text Editor" mode.

2. Type in FIXED TEXT and VARIABLE DATA FIELDS.  There are 13 character sizes to choose from, ranging from "1x1" to "4x4" (see the chart below). Each display allows up to 23 lines of single-height characters per line.  You can specify a desired foreground/ background color combination for every line or portion of a line of FIXED TEXT, along with status-dependent color combinations to be exhibited by individual DATA FIELDS.

Sample Data Field
(similar fields can be established
to display BIT STATES, MESSAGES,
and VIDEO PLAYBACK CHANNELS)

Data Field with "Associated" Fixed Text
(the text will exhibit the same VISUAL EFFECTS
that apply at any time to the data field)

3. Return to "Live Data" mode.  DATA FIELD colors and visual effects continuously reflect process status.

Up to 100 unique non-scrolling page formats may be created and stored for any given mainframe.  Usable video memory is normally 157 "blocks" of 64 bytes each.  A typical page format takes 5 to 7 memory blocks, with a nominal maximum of 32.  The Model 10VGM500 Video Graphics Memory Card will increase the total memory capacity to 661 blocks.

Typical System 10 VIDEO PAGE DIRECTORY
(page numbers with white background are in optional "extended" memory
provided by the Model 10VGM500 Video Graphics Memory Card)

Typical System 10 "CONDITIONALS" DIRECTORY
(for information on system "conditional" functions, click here)

By means of standard System 10 commands, a connected host computer can quickly recompose displayed page formats, line by line, during the measurement and control process.  Formats can also be transmitted to the computer, line by line, for storage on disk.

Standard System 10 displays feature

LOGIC-BIT INDICATION via user-specified "bit designator" word pairs (HIGH/LOW, ON/OFF, OPEN/CLOSED, GO/STOP, PASS/FAIL, etc.)—an ideal feature for security-system annunciation.  Up to 32 separate word pairs can be defined.

Up to sixteen operator-entered MESSAGES to be displayed and/or printed when required by the state of the measured process

Special fields for VIDEO PLAYBACK of "historical" data recorded by a Model 10BDR64 History Card

Manually or automatically controlled VISUAL EFFECTS, including instantaneous color changes, blinking, flashing, etc.  Visual effects may be applied to any displayed data, logic-bit, message, or playback field—plus any adjacent fixed text you wish to associate with that field (see the illustration above).  Such effects may be used to highlight important data values or call attention to significant process trends, states, and alarm conditions.  Any visual effect can be automatically triggered by a user-specified internal or external logic event—such as the detection of a particular limit violation, or the setting of a given system logic bit.

UP to 80 high-speed HORIZONTAL BARGRAPHS per display, individually dedicated to selected data channels, when the Model 10VGM500 Video Graphics Memory Card is installed.  Bar types include solid bar, upward pointer, and downward pointer—each with or without graduated scale.

 

Some Mnemonic Commands for Video Setup and Operation
VID = INT
VID = EXT

Sets the VIDEO MODE to "internal" or "external," respectively

DIR

Displays video page DIRECTORY

SHO

Displays ("SHOWS") conditional directory

PAG

Returns number of video PAGE being displayed

PAG p 

Displays video PAGE p

SOP = p 

Specifies video page p as the SIGN-ON PAGE

LGO = $ 

Sets display "LOGO" (up to 27 characters)

RCL 

RECALLS the last video page to have been formatted

SAV n 

SAVES currently displayed video page in EEPROM (as Page No. n)

DEL n 

DELETES video page n from EEPROM

VLT x = s
VBT x = s
VGT x = s

Sets the VISUAL EFFECTS to be exhibited by Channel x when the channel's data reading is in the "LESS THAN", "BETWEEN", or "GREATER THAN" limit zone, respectively ("s" is the "status" code defining the desired effects)

VBC x =
s ON BIT q

Sets the VISUAL EFFECTS to be exhibited by Channel x when system Bit q is at "Logic 1" ("s" is the "status" code defining the desired effects)

BDP q = s1, TERM1:
s2, TERM2
 

Defines BIT DESIGNATOR PAIR q ("s1" and "s2" are "status" codes defining desired visual effects; "TERM1" and "TERM2" are words of up to 7 characters each)

BSD r = q 
or
BSD r = /q

Sets BIT STATE DISPLAY of Bit r by assigning Bit Designator Pair q to the "Logic 0-to-Logic 1" or "Logic 1-to-Logic 0" transition of that bit, respectively

MES m = s, $ 

Sets text and visual-effects status of MESSAGE No. m

VSS = 1 

Adds VIDEO SCAN SYMBOL ("&") to the display of any and all channels outside the current system scan range

REF = n 

Sets display REFRESH rate

VUL = p 

Initiates a VIDEO UPLOAD of video page p to a connected computer 

VDL n = $n 

Initiates a VIDEO DOWNLOAD of section "n" of the video page being transmitted to the mainframe from a connected computer 

LNE n = hw <c> $ 

Changes the format of LINE n of the video page on display, where h = line height; w = line width; c = color code; and $ = line contents

Video Inputs and Outputs

All "B-sized" mainframes are fully compatible with 640 x 480 VGA format, with a horizontal refresh rate of 31.5 kHz (special Retrofit Kits are available for users who wish to upgrade older Model 10K3(A) and 10K6(A) mainframes to VGA).

VGA OUTPUT can be transmitted directly to any monitor capable of receiving it

VGA INPUT: Models in the "10KN3/10KN6/10KN9" Mainframe Family will accept CGA/EGA/VGA input directly from any external VGA ANALOG CARD (digital video signals from CGA/EGA cards will not be accepted); the Model 10KN8A mainframe accepts VGA/SVGA input from any external VGA ANALOG CARD.  For all "B-sized" mainframes, you can toggle between the display of "internal" System 10 video page formats and externally-sourced video screens by a simple keystroke or on application of a simple mnemonic command.

 

System 10 "V Cards"  [Back ]

Except for the Model 10KN9, every System 10 "B-sized" mainframe has two internal SLOT CONNECTORS for the installation of optional "V CARDS."

Located on the mainframe's Video Backplane, these connections are immediately to the left of the "Video Signal Card," as viewed from the front of the unit (see the respective physical layout diagram).  For the Model 10KN8A mainframe and for the optional "E" version of a 10KN3 or 10KN6 mainframe, each "V Slot" corresponds to a numbered "B Slot."

 

Model 10VFO132 Formatted Output Card  [Back ]

This card provides a special RS232 printer interface port for instant hard-copy reproduction of the video page format currently on display or of any video page currently in EEPROM storage (including the system's standard "page directory").  It can also transmit to a printer, in sequence, all existing video page formats within a specified "page-number" range.

A transmitted page format will include all appropriate "live" data values, bit states, messages, and "video playbacks" (see the Model 10BDR64 History Card).  When dedicated by means of a special command to an Epson or Epson-compatible printer, the 10VFO132 lets you print video pages containing horizontal bargraphs generated by an optional Model 10VGM500 Video Graphics Memory Card.

In addition, the Model 10VFO132 permits the printing of "live" data from a single system channel, all system channels, or a selected range of channels—along with specified "HEADER" and "TAILER" texts.  These headers and tailers are separate, precomposed video pages.

Data-link protocols for the 10VFO132's printer port are as follows: baud rate selectable in standard steps from 50 to 19200 baud; 7 or 8 data bits; 1 or 2 stop bits; parity even, odd, or none.  You can specify a delay of 0.1, 0.24, 0.58, 1.4, 3.4, 8.2, or 20 milliseconds between successive character transmissions, if desired.  Via the EOL or EOP command, respectively, you can also enter up to eight standard printer control characters to be automatically transmitted at the end of each line or page of output.  Unused lines at the bottom of transmitted page formats can be suppressed, if desired.

The TEMPLATE (TMP) command lets you create a unique format "template" for the presentation of 10VFO132-transmitted channel data (see the typical formatted printouts shown below).  This template is a combination of variable data fields and one or more portions of user-entered fixed text, in any desired order.  Any data field may contain Channel Number and/or "Limit-Zone" Indicator Number ("1" indicates that channel data is currently LESS THAN both present limit values; "2," that it is BETWEEN these limits; and "3," that it is GREATER THAN both limits).  The inclusion of terminating spaces in the "template" statement allows columnar formatting of printed data.

Some Mnemonic Commands Applying to the Model 10VFO132
PBR = b, d, s, p

Sets BAUD RATE and other protocols for PRINTER output

ICD = s

Sets INTERCHARACTER DELAY time for the printer port

PRI 0

PRINTS currently displayed video page

PRI p

PRINTS video page p

CAT

Prints the mainframe's video page directory ("CATALOG")

PRT PAG h, x TO y, PAG t

PRINTS "header" Page No. h, data for all channels from x through y, and "tailer" Page No. t

DHT = h, t 

Specifies DEFAULT HEADER and TAILER pages for "PRT" output

CPL = n 

Specifies the maximum number of CHANNELS PER LINE of "PRT" output

TMP = T 

Sets TEMPLATE for "PRT" output

EOL = $ 

Sets END-OF-LINE transmission

EOP = $ 

Sets END-OF-PAGE transmission

BLS = 1 

Initiates BLANK LINE SUPPRESSION at the bottom of each printed video page

CLQ 

CLEARS the QUEUE of video pages yet to be transmitted

 

Model 10VGM500 Video Graphics Memory ("Bargraph") Card  [Back ]

Bargraph displays are a simple, vivid way to portray monitored tests or processes.  They let the operator grasp the state of an entire process at a glance.  They can be made to include virtually instantaneous alarm annunciation, along with messages that prompt the operator to take specific control actions.  All in all, they can do much to enhance user interaction with any mainframe system that incorporates a large-scale data display. With the Model 10VGM500 installed, any video page format may include up to eighty (80) individual bargraph fields.

Real-time histograms for use in SPC and trend analysis can be easily created by means of the 10VGM500.  In the display shown below, for example, each bar represents a data-register channel that automatically counts the total number of "Below Limit," "OK," or "Above Limit" parts.

There are six basic bargraph types:

solid bar with scale

solid bar without scale

upward pointer with scale

upward point without scale

downward pointer with scale

downward pointer without scale

Each 10VGM500-generated bargraph is configured through simple keyboard entries, during composition of the video page in which it is to appear.  Thus, for each bargraph you will specify its size, its position on the page, and the individual data channel it is to represent.

To specify the size of a given bargraph, you will first enter the desired height of the display line to contain the bargraph and the desired width of each character in that line.  The length of the bargraph field entered within the line must be greater than nine character spaces.  Prompted by a menu on the system display, you will then enter the bargraph's type (bar, upward pointer, downward point—with or without scale) and range ("data zero" and "data top").  If a bargraph with scale is selected, you may further indicate the desired spacing of the graduation marks for that scale.

Like that of any standard video data, bit-state, or message field, the background/foreground color combination of each bargraph will be continuously controlled by "STATUS"-defining commands entered by the user (STATUS (STS), "GREATER THAN" STATUS (VGT), "BETWEEN" STATUS (VBT), etc.).  By this means, the bargraph can be made to exhibit special event-triggered visual effects, including instant color changes, blinking, and "flashing."

When the mainframe contains an optional Model 10VFO132 Formatted Output Card, hard-copy printout of any bargraph display is possible on any Epson or Epson-compatible printer.  

The 10VGM500 increases a "B-sized" mainframe's total video memory capacity to 661 "blocks," which is usually more than enough to completely fill each of the 100 available video pages. ("Standard" video memory is 157 "blocks" of 64 bytes (or characters).  A typical page format will take 5 to 7 memory blocks, with a nominal maximum of 32).

When the mainframe contains a 10VGM500 card, its "video page directory" will distinguish between those pages in "standard" memory and those in "extended" memory, and will give you at any time the total number of "free" blocks available for page storage in both memories.

The Model 10VGM500 requires that the mainframe contain the Model 10BVS95 Graphics Video Signal Card or the Model 10BVS98 VGA Video Signal Card.  An existing System 10 that does not contain either of these cards will require exchange and/or upgrade of its Video Card Set (and possibly also its Central Processor Card) at an additional charge, to ensure compatibility with the enhancements offered by the Model 10VGM500.  Contact the factory for details.

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© 1996, 2002 Daytronic Corporation