Open Systems - Controllers to HMIs

摘要

WE TALKED ABOUT open systems between controllers and I/O in this column late last year. This month, let's examine open systems at the next level up, between controllers and HMIs. Ethernet has been a prime mover in standardizing connections between controllers and I/O. A similar situation occurs at the next level up with the interface from controllers to HMIs. Vendors that make just HMI products love open systems, as they need and want one industry-wide interface between all controllers and their HMIs. But some vendors that make a wide range of automation products would rather see proprietary interfaces.