M3LPA / M3LPA2 PC CONFIGURATOR SOFTWARE

Transcription

1 Space-saving Signal Conditioner M3LPA / M3LPA2 PC CONFIGURATOR SOFTWARE Model: M3LPACFG Users Manual 1

2 Contents 1. GETTING STARTED HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS INSTALLING THE M3LPACFG STARTING UP THE M3LPACFG M3LPA / M3LPA2 WITH OPTIONS /A and /B M3LPACFG S AVAILABLE MODEL TYPE OPERATING THE M3LPACFG PC CONFIGURATOR CONNECTING THE DEVICE (M3LPA) MONITORING TRENDS INPUT CONFIGURATION DETAILED INFORMATION ANALOG OUTPUT ONE STEP CALIBRATION DAC TRIMMING CUT-OUT THRESHOLD DIAGNOSTICS LINEARIZATION TABLE SETTING FILE MANAGEMENT LANGUAGE

3 1. GETTING STARTED 1.1 HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS The following PC performance is required for adequate operation of the M3LPACFG. PC IBM PC compatible OS Windows XP Service Pack 3 Windows Vista (32 bit) Service Pack 1 Windows 7 (32 bit, 64 bit) The software may not operate adequately in certain conditions. CPU/Memory Hard disk Must meet the relevant Windows requirements. 10MB minimum free space One of the dedicated cables as listed below is also required to connect the transmitter device to the PC. Port USB RS-232C PC Configurator Cable Model No. COP-US MCN-CON 1.2 INSTALLING THE M3LPACFG (1) Start up Windows. (2) Insert M3LPACFG Setup CD-ROM into the CD drive on your PC. The Setup program automatically starts and shows the setup dialog box on the screen. If the program does not automatically start, install manually by starting up Disk:\Setup.msi. (3) Choose M3LPACFG. > Windows starts the installation program for M3LPACFG software. Follow instructions on the screen and click Next. > Click Finish and exit the installation program. (4) Click Exit. Now the M3LPACFG program has been installed. 1.3 STARTING UP THE M3LPACFG Connect the model M3LPA Frequency Transmitter to the PC via the PC configurator cable. Press Start on the task bar and choose M3CFG > M3LPACFG from the Program menu. 3

4 1.4 M3LPA / M3LPA2 WITH OPTIONS /A and /B The M3LPA with Option /B is not designed for PC configuration, while the Option /A version is fully programmable on the PC. When you connect the Option /B version to the PC and start up the M3LPACFG program, you can confirm the current setting but these buttons and fields used for configuring the module are greyed out and thus unavailable. The M3LPACFG features available for the Option /B version are: Monitoring, One Step Calibration, DAC Trimming, Fixed Output and ADC Conversion Rate Setting. Additional features available for the Option /A version are: Sensor Type, Frequency Range and Pulse Amplitude, Linearization Table (PV Transfer Function), Threshold, Moving Average Filter, Prescaling, Excitation and Waveform Polarity, and Cutout Frequency. When the Option /A version is set to PC Configuration Mode, it ignores DIP SW settings and operates with the configuration stored in the nonvolatile memory. 1.5 M3LPACFG S AVAILABLE MODEL TYPE M3LPACFG enables various configuration for model M3LPA and M3LPA2. When using M3LPA2, refer to the same users manual by replacing M3LPA with M3LPA2, only the settings in [Freq. Range] (Sec.2.3) and [Moving Ave.] (Sec.2.4) for M3LPA2 are different from the ones for M3LPA. Refer to the related sections for the detailed information. 4

5 2. OPERATING THE M3LPACFG PC CONFIGURATOR Figure 1 shows the initial view of the M3LPACFG PC Configurator window. In order to enable the tools shown on the screen, the model M3LPA Frequency Transmitter must be connected to the PC via the PC configurator cable. Figure 1. Initial View 5

6 2.1 CONNECTING THE DEVICE (M3LPA) On the initial view, click [Connect] and the Device Connection menu appears on the screen. Figure 2. Device Connection [COM port] [Connect Device] [Disconnect Device] Choose COM port that connects to the M3LPA. Connects the device. Once the connection is established, the program uploads the device s configuration information and automatically calls up the Sensor Information view. The Device Information view is the base for various operations to configure the M3LPA. Disconnects the currently connected device. [Close Device Connection] Quits the Device Connection view. 6

7 2.2 MONITORING TRENDS Once the device is connected, the Sensor Information menu and the trend monitors appears on the screen. The user can configure various parameters of the M3LPA. Figure 3. Sensor Information Device Mode Device Mode summarizes the device s current operation status and communications status with the PC by lamps. [COM] lamp Blinks with the normal communications condition. [DIP] or [PC] lamp Shows the device s configuration mode. For the Option /B version, only [DIP] lamp is available. [Z/S] lamp [IRG] lamp [ORG] lamp [CFG] lamp Device Status Red light turns on when the device is in the DAC Trimming mode. Red light turns on when the device is in the Input One Step Calibration mode. Red light turns on when the device is in the Output One Step Calibration mode. Red light turns on when data changes have been done on the configuration software since it was stored the last time. It turns off once the data has been stored into the nonvolatile memory. Device Status summarizes the current device status by lamps. [AFX] lamp [AOS] lamp [PV] lamp Red light turns on when the analog output entered in Fixed Output mode. The light turns on during output loop testing and fine zero/span adjustments. It turns off when the output tracks input signals. Green light turns on when the analog output is diagnosed to be normal. Red light turns on when the output is saturated upscale or downscale. Red light turns on during output loop testing and fine zero/span adjustments. It turns off when the output tracks input signals. Green light turns on when the sensor input is in the specified range. Red light turns on when it is out of the range. 7

8 2.2.3 Bargraph & Trend Graph Four bargraphs indicating PV in mhz, Hz or khz, PV in % of the selected range, AO in % (may be nonlinear to the PV % by the PV Transfer Fnc) and analog output in engineering unit are available. The graph scales for the PV % can be modified unlike the PV in engineering unit, AO % and analog output of which the scales are automatically determined and fixed according to the selected range. At the bottom of each bargraph is [Graph] button which opens a trend graph for the item. The example below shows the trend graph for [PV Graph]. Use [Start] and [Stop] buttons to activate/deactivate trending, and click [Close Trend Graph] to quit the graph view. Figure 4. Trend Graph 8

9 2.3 INPUT CONFIGURATION In Figure 3, the Sensor Information menu on the left shows the basic configuration information of the connected sensor. When you need to change configurations, click the left button for the required item to modify the setting. [Sensor type] [Freq. range] [Input Vp-p] Selects the sensor type. (DIP SW2-1 and 2-2 in DIP switch configuration mode) Selects the frequency range. (DIP SW2-3, -4, -5 in DIP switch configuration mode) The table below shows the difference of the frequency range between M3LPA and M3LPA2. M3LPA 0 10 Hz 0 10 Hz Hz Hz 0 1 khz 0 1 khz 0 10 khz 0 10 khz M3LPA khz khz 0 10 mhz mhz 0 1 Hz Selects the input amplitude. (DIP SW2-6, -7, -8 in DIP switch configuration mode) [Cut-out] Specifies the lowest frequency input value below which the transmitter outputs 0%. [PV unit] [PV range] Shows mhz, Hz or khz according to the range selected in [Freq. range] Specifies the input range. The range can be also changed in One-Step Calibration. [PV upper/lower limit] and [PV minimum span] [PV minimum span] Show the usable range (frequency) information for the selected type of sensor. Shows the minimum specifiable span within the selected type of sensor. [PV transfer fnc] Enables/disables the Transfer Function, specifying either the output should be linear to the input signal or linearized to a custom curve data. The curve data can be specified in [Special Curve] view. Changing the curve data while this function is enabled is unavailable. Reset the function to Linear, change the curve data and then return the setting to Special Curve. 9

10 2.4 DETAILED INFORMATION In Figure 3, clicking [Detailed Info] on the right control panel opens the [Detailed Information] menu as shown in Figure 5. Figure 5. Detailed Information [Threshold] [Moving ave.] [Sampling time] [Excitation] [Polarity] [Tag No.] Specifies the detecting level of the input pulse in 0.1V increments. If you select Bipolar for the [Polarity] setting, the threshold is fixed to 0V. Specifies the number of pulses to be sampled before one state (ON or OFF) is counted as true. If you have a setting m, the transmitter, sampling the input pulses, judges as ON when the input voltage exceeds the threshold for m number of times in row, and as OFF when the input is below the threshold for m number of times in row. Selectable from 1 to 8. This setting is not available for model M3LPA2. Selects the input pulse sampling rate in seconds. Selectable between 0.05 sec. and 100 sec. for M3LPA, between 0.00 sec. and 100 sec. for M3LPA2. Specifies the excitation voltage (V). (DIP SW3-4, -5 in DIP switch configuration mode) Selects the polarity of the input waveform between Bipolar and Unipolar. When Bipolar is selected, the [Threshold] setting is automatically set to 0V. With Unipolar, the threshold is set to 2V as default. (DIP SW3-6 in DIP switch configuration mode) You can enter a tag name using up to 16 alphanumerical characters and symbols. [Serial number], [Hardware revision] and [Software revision] are automatically displayed. [Close Detailed Information] Quits the view. 10

11 2.5 ANALOG OUTPUT In Figure 3, clicking [Analog Output] on the right control panel opens the [Analog Output] menu as shown in Figure 6. Figure 6. Analog Output The Analog Output menu on the left shows the output type and ranges. When you need to change configurations, click the left button for the required item to modify the setting. [AO type] [SW1 position] [AO mode] [AO unit] [Range] Specifies either current or voltage type. Shows the DIP SW configuration (hardware setting) required for the selected output type. Confirm the actual setting. Shows the output mode. Normal AO is usually displayed. Shows the engineering unit for the output signal. Specifies the output range. [Upper/Lower limit] and [Minimum span] [Set AO for current PV output] [Set AO for specified value] [Exit Fixed AO mode] [Close Analog Output] Show the usable range information for the selected output type. The output current is held at the current value. You can set a specific value to fix the output. This can be used for loop testing. Cancel the fixed output mode to return the device into normal output mode. Quits the view. 11

12 2.6 ONE STEP CALIBRATION In Figure 3, clicking [One Step Cal] on the right control panel opens the One Step Calibration menu as shown in Figure 7. M-System s One Step Calibration technique realizes automatic input and output ranging with a signal simulator connected to the module s input terminals. Figure 7. One Step Calibration Input Calibration Mode Connect the M3LPA to a simulator and a multimeter as described in the M3LPA instruction manual. Click [Enter PV calibration mode] in order to turn the module into the Input Calibration Mode. The Red [IRG] lamp in [Device Mode] panel at the top turns ON while the module is in this mode. Apply desired 0% and 100% signal levels and click [Lower Cal] and [Upper Cal] buttons respectively so that the input range is automatically set. Click [Exit PV calibration mode] when the calibration is complete. Output Calibration Mode Click [Enter AO calibration mode] in order to turn the module into the Input Calibration Mode. The Red [ORG] lamp in [Device Mode] panel at the top turns ON while the module is in this mode. Increase or decrease the simulated input until the output multimeter shows desired 0% and 100% signal levels and click [Lower Cal] and [Upper Cal] buttons respectively so that the output range is automatically set. Click [Exit AO calibration mode] when the calibration is complete. [Close One Step Calibration] Quits the view. 12

13 2.7 DAC TRIMMING Click [Trim DAC] button to open the Trim DAC view as shown in Figure 8. Figure 8. Trim DAC Lower Range DAC Trimming (1) Click [Enter Lower Range Trim mode]. The device outputs a fixed lower range signal level. (2) Measure the actual output signal at the receiving instrument to which the device output should be matched. (3) Click [Trim by actual measured value] to set the measured value. (4) Repeat setting [Trim by actual measured value] until the measured output shows the desired level. Alternately, use [Up] or [Down] buttons. [+], [++] and [+++] have different increments. Deviation from the default value is shown in [Zero offset] Upper Range DAC Trimming (1) Click [Enter Upper Range Trim mode]. The device outputs a fixed upper range signal level. (2) Measure the actual output current at the receiving instrument to which the device output should be matched. (3) Click [Trim by actual measured value] to set the measured value. (4) Repeat setting [Trim by actual measured value] until the measured output shows the desired level. Alternately, use [Up] or [Down] buttons. [+], [++] and [+++] have different increments. Deviation from the default value is shown in [Span gain] Resetting to the Default Click [Clear Trim DAC data] to return the device to the factory default trimming values. [Close Trim DAC] Quits the view. 13

14 2.8 CUT-OUT Click [Cut-out] button to open the Cut-out view as shown in Figure 9. The cut-out value can be set within 0% to 100% in 0.01% increments. The function itself can be disabled. Output characteristics for setting to 0% and disabling the cut-out are different when the lower range frequency is with an offset. For example, with 5 10 khz input range, the output remains to 0% for the input below 5 khz with the 0% setting, while the output tracks proportionally to the input down to -15% of the full-scale range for the same input below 5 khz with the disable setting. Figure 9. Cut-out [Cut-out] [Set by Value] [Disable Cut-out] Shows the current cut-out setting in % and in mhz, Hz or khz. With the cutout function disabled, [Disable] is shown instead of [Setting by Value]. Specifies the cut-out %. Entered value is rounded to two decimal places. If you press this button while the cut-out is disabled, the function is automatically enabled. Disables the cut-out function. Alternately, use [Up] or [Down] buttons and -1.0 increases/decreases the value in 1.0% increments, +0.1 and -0.1 in 0.1% increments, and and in 0.01% increments respectively. [Close Cut-out] Quits the view. 14

15 2.9 THRESHOLD Click [Threshold] button to open the Threshold view as shown in Figure 10. This view is available for setting when the Polarity is set to Unipolar. When it is set to Bipolar the threshold is fixed to 0V, thus no setting is available. Selectable threshold range depends upon the specified input amplitude (Input Vp-p). The input frequency may not be recognized correctly if the setting is inappropriate. Furthermore, the most appropriate setting in the middle of the maximum and minimum threshold values can be easily found and set by using the actual input signal. Figure 10. Threshold [Threshold] [Set by Voltage Value] [Set Default Threshold] Shows the current threshold value in V. The green area on the bargraph on the right shows the maximum and minimum suitable range as threshold. Specifies the threshold in voltage, in 0.1V increments. Reset the setting to the system s default. Alternately, use [Up] or [Down] buttons and -0.1 increases/decreases the value in 0.1V increments, +0.5 and -0.5 in 0.5V increments, and +1.0 and -1.0 in 1.0V increments respectively. In order to find the most suitable value using the actual input signal, proceed as follows: (1) Apply the most appropriate input signal to detect a threshold. (2) Set the maximum selectable threshold value in [Set Max] (e.g. 4.0V in Figure 10). (3) Press [Down] button to the level where the PV value is detected correctly. Press [Get Max] button to store the maximum suitable value. Red zone on the bargraph shows the unsuitable range (e.g. 2.5V in Figure 10). (4) Set the minimum selectable threshold value in [Set Min] (e.g. -2.0V in Figure 10). (5) Press [Up] button to the level where the PV value is detected correctly. Press [Get Min] button to store the minimum suitable value. Red zone on the bargraph shows the unsuitable range. (6) Now the green zone on the bargraph shows the suitable range for a threshold (e.g. From 0.5V to 2.5V on in Figure 10). Press [Set by Min-Max] button to set the middle value (1.5V) as threshold between the maximum (2.5V) and the minimum (0.5V) suitable values. [Close Threshold] Quits the view. 15

16 2.10 DIAGNOSTICS Click [Diagnostics] button to open the Diagnostics view as shown in Figure 11. Figure 11. Diagnostics [Execute diagnostics] [Read additional status] [Master reset device] [Close Diagnostics] Activates the diagnostics program and the results are displayed under the Additional Status. The Additional Status section shows each Additional Status item and its status: green in normal status, while red in error. Calls up the current contents of Additional Status. Reset and restart the device without actually turning OFF/ON the power supply. Quits the view. 16

17 2.11 LINEARIZATION TABLE SETTING The M3LPA supports the user-specific linearization table function (PV Transfer Fnc). In order to use this function, the data in text format must be defined and registered. General procedure is as follows: (1) Create a linearization table file. (2) Set [PV Transfer Fnc] on the Sensor Information view to Linear. Changing the curve data while this is set to Special Curve is unavailable. (3) Open Special Curve view. (4) Click [Read table from file] to read the linearization table. Special Curve Table Contents shows general information about the data. Click Display Special Curve graph in order to visually confirm the curve data. (5) Click [Write table to device] to write the linearization table. (6) Set [PV transfer fnc] on the Sensor Information view to Special Table to enable the function. The linearization table file format is as follows: Describe the characteristics data within { }. Sets of X and Y values must be entered in %. Up to 101 points can be specified. /********************************************************* /* Linearization Table (Special Curve) Definition /* Yi=f(Xi) (0<=i<Size) /* -15<=X,Y<=115 /* Xi<Xi+1 /* 2<=Size<=101 /********************************************************* { , < The minimum X and Y values : , < The maximum X and Y values } 17

18 Once the data file is ready, register the file on the M3LPACFG. Click [Special Curve] button to open the Special Curve as shown in Figure 12. Figure 12. Special curve [Read table from File] [Display graph of Special Table] [Write table to File] [Write table to Device] [Read table from Device] [Close Special Table] The program uploads a file stored in the PC. When uploaded, the file contents summery is indicated under Special Curve Table Contents. The I/O characteristics data can be shown in a graph (Figure 13). The program saves the currently displayed I/O characteristics data to a file. The program downloads the currently displayed I/O characteristics to the M3LPA. Then the option Special Curve become available to choose among the PV Transfer Fnc selections. If Special Curve has been already selected before this setting is done, you can not download a particular data file. The program uploads the I/O characteristics table registered in the M3LPA. Quits the view. 18

19 Figure 13. Display Graph of Special Table 2.12 FILE MANAGEMENT The M3LPA s configurations can be saved in a file and then read out to be downloaded to multiple modules. Click [File] button to open the File Management view as shown in Figure 14. While this view is active, the device connection is severed, therefore the M3LPA device can be connected and disconnected freely except during Upload or Download operations. The view is separated in two areas: File Configuration and Device Configuration. File Configuration shows data transfer (Read or Write) between the PC Configurator and the PC, while Device Configuration shows data transfer (Upload or Download) between the configurator and the M3LPA device. The M3LPACFG s File Management views consist of two pages. Click [Page] button to switch between pages. The second page appears as follows (Figure 15). Click [Exit] to complete the file management operations. The device will remain disconnected and must be Connected to start monitoring. Note: The validity of the selected range values is not verified in this view. Please make sure to set them according to the described specifications. Linearization Table data is not handled in this view but in its specific function view. With the Option /B version, Download is unavailable. However, Upload is possible to save a configuration file, or to compare with other configurations. You can enter a memo in Description field of File Configuration area stored when you save a configuration file. The contents are not uploaded to the device. The Description field of Device Configuration area is filled with a serial number of the device when uploaded. Cut out is set as percentage of the range. The cutout frequency is calculated from the frequency range. If there is no range setting, no cutout frequency display is available. In order to disable the cut out function, set to -15%. No Threshold setting is available when the Polarity is set to Bipolor. 19

20 Figure 14. File Management, 1st Page Figure 15. File Management, 2nd Page 20

21 MODIFYING PARAMETERS Click [CHG] button at the left of each field to modify the parameter. The field in which the parameter has been changed will be highlighted in light yellow background color. [CHG] buttons placed across multiple fields indicate that these parameters can be modified in single sequence. When one parameter has been changed, related fields are also affected. Parameters can be copied between File Configuration and Device Configuration using [ < ] and [ >] buttons. Copied fields will be highlighted in light yellow background color (Figure 16). Using [ All Copy << ] or [ All Copy >> ] buttons enables transferring all parameters between the areas. Copied fields will be highlighted in light yellow background color. Figure 16. Parameters Modified 21

22 TRANSFERRING DATA TO/FROM DEVICE Click [Upload] button to connect to the M3LPA device, to read out its configuration data and to show it in Device Configuration area on the screen (Figure 17). All background colors are back to the initial state. Description indicates the serial number of the product, which cannot be modified or copied from File Configuration area. Click [Download] button to connect and write the configuration data in Device Configuration area to the M3LPA device. If an error occurs and downloading is stopped during the process, erred data field is highlighted in med pale red background color. When the downloading is successfully complete, the configuration data is automatically uploaded and the background color returns to the initial state. Figure 17. Data Uplorded 22

23 READING/WRITING FILES Click [Read File] button to read the configuration data from a specified file and to show it in File Configuration area on the screen (Figure 18). All background colors are back to the initial state. Click [Write File] button to write the configuration data in File Configuration area to a specified file. You can write down some reference to the specific information in Description field using up to 64 alphanumerical characters and symbols. Figure 18. File Read Out 23

24 COMPARING FILE DEVICE You can compare the configuration data in File Configuration area and Device Configuration area. Click [Compare] button in Device Configuration area to compare its data to those in File Configuration area. Deviations will be highlighted in med pale red background color. Click [Compare] button in File Configuration area to compare its data to those in Device Configuration area. Deviations will be highlighted in med pale red background color. Figure 19. Parameters Compared 24

25 2.13 LANGUAGE Click [Language] button to open the Language view as shown in Figure 20. The user can select the display language of the M3LPA. Figure 20. Language Click [Select language] to select the available language. The selected language is shown in the display immediately. English is available in each language version of Windows, while Windows in your PC must support other language in order to display it. [Close Language] Quits the view. 25