HMI firmware

Omron Electronics has released firmware version 8 for its NS series HMIs. NS firmware v8 provides a host of features, including web serving, PictBridge and EtherNet/IP. The new CJ2H PLCs are now also supported, as are new drivers for Modbus-RTU and devices from other vendors.

Web serving allows remote computers to display the same data shown on the HMI screen. Computers can be connected via their ethernet ports or indirectly via the internet. The NS series provide security by requiring a username and password to be entered prior to access. It also provides a read-only mode, where data can be seen but user input is blocked.

As well as being a popular, high-speed network, EtherNet/IP gives the added advantage of connectivity to any third-party device, without the need for specialised drivers. This is useful for HMIs, as they can now display data from any device on the network. The use of multi-casting means data throughput is unaffected by the number of HMIs or the number of points monitored.

The PictBridge interface allows HMIs to connect to a printer for hardcopy output. PictBridge is a standard interface used by digital cameras for direct connection to the printer. Many commercially available printers now support PictBridge.