Basic understanding about human-machine user interface(HMI)

Human-machine interface items are composed of 2 parts: hardware and software. The hardware part consists of a processor, display unit, input system, interaction user interface, information storage unit, and so on. HMI software application is typically divided into two parts, the system software application running in HMI hardware and the screen configuration software running under the PC Windows operating system. The primary functions of HMI are: information input and display; real-time info screen of the operating status of the system or equipment; setting touch controls on the HMI can use the HMI as an operating panel for control operations; alarm processing and printing; in addition, a new generation of industry human-machine interface also has intelligent control functions such as easy programming, processing of input information, data logging and solutions.

Basic functions and selection of signs of human-machine interface items.

Standard functions:

Equipment working status display screen, such as sign lights, buttons, text, graphics, curves, etc.

• Data and text input operation, print output;
• Production formula storage, devices production information record;
• Simple reasoning and mathematical operations;
• Can be connected to a variety of industrial control devices networking.

Selection index:

• Display size and color, resolution;
• HMI processor speed efficiency;
• Input mode-touch screen or membrane keyboard;
• Photo storage capacity-whether the capacity unit is byte orbit;
• Type and quantity of interaction ports, whether it supports the printing function, and so on.

Item category:

• Main item: membrane essential input type, the display size is generally less than six inches.
• Intermediate items: touch screen input type, the display size is typically larger than six inches.
• Advanced items: computer input type, show size normally larger than 10 inches.

The routine uses steps of the human-machine interface.

1. Clarify the requirements of keeping an eye on tasks and choose ideal HMI products;.
2. Modify the "job file" with the screen setup software application on the PC;
3. Test and save the edited "task file";.
4. Link the PC to the HMI hardware and download the "task file" to the HMI;.
5. Connect HMI and industrial controller (such as PLC, instrument, and so on) to understand human-computer interaction.

What is the difference between the human-machine interface and the "touch screen" that individuals typically state?

Strictly speaking, the two are basically various. Since the "touch screen" is only the hardware part that may be used in human-machine interface items, it is an input device that replaces the mouse and keyboard functions and is installed in the front of the display screen.

A human-machine user interface product is a human-computer interaction gadget that includes software and hardware. In the market, people typically call human-machine user interface items with touch input functions "touch screens", but this is unscientific.

What is the distinction between the human-machine interface and configuration software?

Human-machine interface products, often called "touch screens", include HMI hardware and matching devoted screen setup software application. Generally, HMI hardware of various manufacturers utilizes various screen setup software, and the main type of connected devices is PLC.

The setup software application is a general tool software working on the PC hardware platform and windows running system. It can also form an HMI product together with a PC or commercial computer system; the general setup software application supports many kinds of devices, such as PLC, PC boards, meters, inverters, modules, and other equipment, and because of the effective efficiency of the PC hardware platform (generally shown in the speed and storage capability), the basic setup software is also much more powerful, ideal for large-scale monitoring systems in.

Is there an os in the human-machine interface item?

Any human-machine interface product has a system software part. The system software application runs on the HMI processor and supports multitasking. The processor needs a little os to manage the running of the system software. In high-performance human-machine interface items based upon tablet computers, general-purpose ingrained os such as WinCE and Linux are generally utilized.

Can the man-machine user interface only be linked to PLC?

No. Human-machine interface items are developed to solve the human-computer interaction problem of PLC, however with the development of computer technology and digital circuit innovation, much industrial control equipment have serial interaction abilities, so just commercial control devices with serial communication abilities, Such as inverters, DC speed regulators, temperature control instruments, information acquisition modules, and so on, can be linked to human-machine interface items to understand human-computer interaction.

Can the human-machine user interface just be linked to other gadgets through a basic serial interaction port?

No. Nevertheless, with the development of computer systems and digital circuit technology, the user interface abilities of human-machine interface items are getting more powerful and stronger. In addition to the traditional serial (RS232, RS422/RS485) communication interfaces, numerous human-machine user interface items currently have information user interfaces such as network ports, parallel ports, and USB ports. They can be used with commercial user interfaces that have network ports, parallel ports, and USB ports. The control devices are connected to realize the human-machine interaction of the equipment.

Will the equipment with interaction function have the ability to connect with human-machine user interface items?

It needs to be like this. Since the general human-machine user interface products offer a large number of common gadget communication motorists for selection; in general, as long as the interaction chauffeur corresponding to the linked gadget is picked in the screen configuration software application of the human-machine interface, It can finish the interaction connection in between HMI and devices. If there is no communication chauffeur for the gadget to be connected in the configuration software application of the chosen HMI item, the user can notify the maker of the HMI product of the communication port type and protocol material of the gadget to be connected, and the HMI producer can put together the interaction chauffeur for the device.

Can the PC and the display screen interact straight with the PLC to finish the HMI function?

Of course, can. Nevertheless, the PC needs to assemble the matching configuration software to make the PC a genuine HMI item.

What is the future development pattern of the human-machine user interface?

With the advancement of digital circuits and computer technology, the division of high, medium, and low functions in future human-machine user interface items will end up being less and less obvious, and the functions of HMI will become more and more plentiful; HMI products above 5.7 inches will be color displays, and the screen life will be longer.

Due to the reduction of computer hardware expenses, HMI products will be based upon high-end items with tablet PC computers as HMI hardware, because this high-end product is in regards to processor speed, storage capability, communication interface types and amounts, networking capabilities, and software application resource sharing All of the above have terrific advantages, which is the future advancement instructions of HMI items. Obviously, small-sized HMI products, due to their benefits in size and cost, will be extensively utilized in human-computer interaction applications of little mechanical devices as their functions are even more boosted (such as adding IO functions).

Some machinery markets, such as maker tools, fabric equipment, electronic devices, and other industries, have been developed in China for decades. Fairly speaking, they are relatively mature markets. However, in the long run, there is still a requirement for device upgrades in these markets. In this procedure of upgrading, some small makers that have been utilizing fairly low-end items will certainly be removed. But there are also lots of companies that rearrange their requirements during the equipment upgrade procedure to find device suppliers that can meet their advancement plans and help them enhance their performance.

In view of this demand, future modifications in the human-machine interface will alter in shape, principle, application events, and so on, which will produce modifications in the core technology of industrial PC. Normally speaking, the future advancement trend of the human-machine user interface is 6 modernizations: platform embedding, brand nationalization, devices intelligence, interface fashion, communication network, and energy-saving, and environmental management.