Harmony Controllers

A BRC-100 Harmony Bridge Controller and IMMFP11 and IMMFP12 Multifunction Processors are rack-mounted controllers. Each controller occupies one slot in a MMU. These controllers support the function code environment necessary to configure and operate Harmony rack I/O devices. Additionally, the bridge controller supports Hnet communication protocol and device labeling necessary to operate the Harmony I/O system (I/O blocks). Hnet (Harmony I/O communications network) is the network over which Harmony controllers and Harmony I/O blocks communicate. The bridge controller can communicate with Harmony rack I/O devices and Harmony I/O blocks simultaneously.

Like the bridge controller, the Harmony area controller supports the communications protocol and configuration environment necessary to operate both Harmony rack I/O devices and Harmony I/O blocks. It collects process I/O data, performs control algorithms, and outputs control signals to final control elements through either or both types of I/O devices. The area controller offers enhanced communications and process interface abilities.

All Harmony rack I/O configuration is performed through the controller using function codes. Function codes are predefined, fixed function algorithms. The controller supports numerous function codes for building the control configuration. The functions they perform range from computing (function generator, square root, etc.) to control (PID, pulse positioner, etc.) to I/O interface (analog input, digital output, etc.). The Harmony bridge controller and Harmony area controller allow using both rack I/O function codes and I/O block function codes concurrently to communicate with both types of devices simultaneously. The controllers are fully compatible with existing configurations.