UniOP BKDR-16 human-machine interface

At the same time, 10 user programmable LED indicator lights are integrated on the front panel of the device. These LEDs can directly map the position status in the PLC (such as motor operation, valve opening in place, fault alarm), and can also serve as backlight for operation guidance. Compared to drawing an indicator light occupying the display area on the screen, physical LEDs have faster recognition speed and do not consume visual resources.

Detailed explanation of communication ports and network capabilities

The configuration of communication interfaces in BKDR-16 is considered rich among similar products, which is also an important reason why it can adapt to various PLC brands and old systems. Its ports are divided into the following parts:

PC/printer dedicated RS-232 port: used to connect to the upper computer for downloading projects, online debugging, or directly output alarms/data records to the serial port micro printer. This port uses a standard DB9 male header and supports a maximum baud rate of 115200 bps.

PLC communication port (multiple physical layer multiplexing):

The same physical interface can operate in RS-232, RS-485, or CL 20 mA current loop mode (suffix -0045) through dip switches or software configuration.

The RS-232 mode is suitable for point-to-point short distance connections (such as PPI ports with Siemens S7-200 and programming ports with Mitsubishi FX series).

RS-485 mode supports multi-point bus and can mount up to 32 nodes, suitable for Modbus RTU master station or communication with multiple frequency converters and instruments.

The 20 mA current loop is an extremely ancient industrial communication method (commonly found in European CNC systems and PLCs in the 1970s and 1980s, such as early Siemens S5, AEG, etc.). BKDR-16 retains this interface, which means it can directly replace old operation panels on production lines that are still running antique controllers without the need for expensive protocol converters.

Aux auxiliary port: This port is a special expansion interface in the UniOP product line that can be connected to an external keyboard, barcode scanner, or a second HMI as a mirror slave. During on-site debugging, engineers often use the Aux port to temporarily attach a debugging keyboard without the need for frequent plugging and unplugging of the main communication cable.

UniNET Network: BKDR-16 supports the UniNET protocol and can serve as both a SERVER (providing data to other UniOP panels) and a CLIENT (reading data from other panels or gateways). This feature makes it highly flexible in distributed monitoring scenarios - for example, in a large batching workshop, multiple BKDR-16s are installed on operation columns on different floors, forming a UniNET network through RS-485 bus. Any one can display key data of the entire system without the need to configure PLC communication for each device separately.

In depth analysis of software functions

The engineering configuration of BKDR-16 is completed through UniOP's dedicated Designer software (early versions were UniOP Workshop). Although the operating logic of this software differs from modern HMI software such as TIA Portal and GP Pro EX, its functional density is not inferior.

4.1 Alarm System

The device supports up to 1024 alarm messages, each alarm can be associated with a specific bit address (from PLC or internal flag), and can individually define the display text, priority, confirmation method, and historical record behavior when triggered. The alarm information page is automatically generated by the system, without the need for users to manually layout it one by one. When an alarm occurs, BKDR-16 can respond in one or more of the following ways:

Highlight on the alarm page;

Trigger buzzer (internal buzzer);

Flashing LED prompts through function keys;

Output alarm content to the printer.

The capacity of 1024 is sufficient to cover the abnormal monitoring of all key process points in a medium-sized workshop.

4.2 Variables and Visual Logic

There is no upper limit to the number of variables that can be displayed on each screen (page), only limited by screen size and refresh performance. The maximum page size is 32 lines (text lines), which means that a considerable number of data fields can be arranged in one screen. Variable types support common industrial formats such as bit, byte, word, doubleword, floating-point number, and BCD code. When designing complex recipe input screens or parameter lists, the capacity of 32 rows can even exceed the single page display capability of some 10 inch color HMIs.

4.3 Macro Editor

The macro engine built into BKDR-16 allows users to execute script logic in events such as button presses, screen opens, and timer overflows. The macro instruction set includes mathematical operations, comparisons, jumps, serial port sending, bit operations, etc. A typical application scenario: Without the involvement of a PLC, directly calculate the difference between two data registers within the HMI and determine if it exceeds the limit, then control a function key LED to flash and alert the operator. This edge computing capability greatly reduces the logic burden of small PLCs.