GE GFK-0825F Field Control in a Genius System

GFK-0825F Chapter 1 Introduction 1-7
1
Field Control in a Genius System
Using Field Control modules on a Genius bus combines the low cost, small size, and flexibility of
Field Control with the versatility, power, and communications features of the Genius system.
The Genius bus is an industrially-hardened Local Area Network (LAN). It passes I/O (control)
data and background information (datagrams) between the Bus Interface Unit and a Genius bus
controller. A Genius bus can support up to 32 devices. Each Bus Interface Unit station counts as
one device on the bus, regar dless of the number or type of modul es p r esent in the station.
Other devices on the same bus c an be Field Contr ol stations, r emote drops, I/ O blocks, Bus
Controllers and Hand-held Monitors. Typical busses reserve one location for a Bus Controller and
one for a Hand-held Monitor, leaving 30 for additional devices. The illustration below shows a
Series 90-70 PLC connected to a Genius bus with I/O blocks and two Field Control stations.
Hand-held
Monitor
Series 90-70 PLC
Genius Bus
The Host CPU
The Genius Bus Interface Unit is ideally suited for use with a Series 90-70 or Series 90-30 PLC.
However, any type of PLC or comp u t er capable of controllin g a Genius bus can be used as the host.
Possible hosts include Series Six PLCs, Series Five PLCs, and computers equipped with a PCIM
(Personal Computer Interface Module), QBIM (Q-Bus Interface Module), or a third-party GENI-
based interface module, including several in DCS systems.