Yokogawa launches digital indicating controller

Yokogawa Electric Corporation has released UTAdvanced: a digital indicating controller with a sequence control function based on the ladder logic programming language.

Replacing Yokogawa's Green-series UT420, UT450, UT520, UT550 and UT551 controllers, UTAdvanced offers improved measurement, display, operation, control and networking functions that enhance the efficiency of user design and save money by eliminating the need for peripheral devices and associated wiring.

Indicating controllers are embedded instruments that measure and display various types of data such as temperature, pressure and flow rate, as well as data on equipment operation.

They control the operation of comparatively small-scale standalone devices, such as industrial furnaces and semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

Devices and panels with indicating controllers typically also have a data-acquisition unit, a programmable logic controller (PLC) and single-functional peripheral devices such as a switch or timer, resulting in a complex system configuration.

Conventional indicating controllers can simplify this system configuration by using a calculation function, but programming tends to take longer because the languages used by manufacturers are incompatible.

In addition, the indicating controllers, PLCs and data-acquisition units have different communication protocols, forcing engineers to connect these devices via a converter and to write a dedicated program to network the devices.

Yokogawa claims that it developed the UTAdvanced digital indicating controller in response to these challenges.

The UTAdvanced controller comes standard with a sequence control function based on the ladder logic programming language.

Built-in switch, relay, lamp and timer functions are provided by a ladder sequence function, eliminating the need for peripheral devices and wiring to these devices.

The use of the ladder logic programming language also helps engineers carry out their design tasks with greater efficiency, according to the company.

There are two models in the UTAdvanced series: the Model UT55A in a 1/4-width DNA format and the Model UT52A in a 1/8-width case.

The units incorporate a colour LCD display, which is said to be easier to read than conventional displays, along with guidance screens and navigation keys that speed up the design process and help prevent operator errors.

UTAdvanced adopts an open system architecture.

It complies with the Ethernet protocol and will soon also comply with the Profibus DP protocol, according to Yokogawa.

In addition to eliminating the need for dedicated communication programs and converters for connecting to devices such as a data-acquisition unit or a PLC, this facilitates the development of optimal multi-vendor systems for users.

Target markets include machining facilities in the semiconductor, automobile, electrical equipment, machinery, chemical and food industries, as well as in-plant equipment such as air conditioners and power supplies.

Applications include the measurement, display and control of temperature, pressure and flow rate in research, development and manufacturing operations, such as heat treatment, washing and sterilising processes.

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