UniOP ePAD03/ePAD04 Human Computer Interface

UniOP ePAD03/ePAD04 Human Computer Interface

In the field of industrial automation, human-machine interface serves as a bridge between operators and control systems, and its cost-effectiveness and functional richness are often the core concerns of users. Exor's ePAD03 and ePAD04 series panels have redefined the standards for entry-level HMI products and become a successful alternative to the popular MD00 series. These two products not only inherit the powerful software ecosystem of the UniOP family, but also meet diverse needs from ordinary industrial environments to extreme working conditions with compact size, rich interfaces, and optional wide temperature versions. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the technical characteristics, functional configuration, and application value of ePAD03 and ePAD04 based on the official specifications.

Product positioning and market value

EPAD03 and ePAD04 are positioned in the compact, low-cost human-machine interface market, designed specifically for cost sensitive but uncompromising application scenarios. They can be widely used in small mechanical equipment, HVAC, environmental monitoring, packaging machinery, textile machinery and other fields, replacing traditional text panels or button indicator light combinations, providing users with a graphical human-computer interaction experience.

The launch of these two products marks that entry-level HMI is no longer just a simple data display terminal, but has advanced functions such as flexible communication, customizable interface, and data recording. Especially for users who are currently using the MD00 series, the ePAD series provides a seamless upgrade path, significantly improving performance and scalability while maintaining compatibility with installation sizes.

Display and human-computer interaction design

2.1 Display Screen

Both ePAD03 and ePAD04 are equipped with monochrome LCD graphic displays with a resolution of 120 × 32 pixels, which can clearly display 4 rows by 20 columns of text information. Although the resolution is not high, it is sufficient to meet the needs of most parameter displays, status monitoring, and simple menu navigation. The effective area of the display screen is 70 × 21 millimeters, with LED backlight to ensure clear reading under various lighting conditions.

2.2 Fonts and Graphics

The product supports scalable fonts, allowing users to adjust the text size as needed and highlight key information. In addition, the system allows users to customize 256 characters, which can be used to display special symbols or company logos, enhancing the recognition of the interface. Contrast can be adjusted through software to adapt to different environmental lighting without opening the chassis.

2.3 Buttons and indicator lights

The front panel is equipped with 4 user programmable function keys, each with a sliding label slot for users to customize identification according to their application. The operation logic of these 4 buttons can be freely configured through the macro editor of Designer 6 software to achieve complex functions such as page flipping, setting, and numerical adjustment.

At the same time, there are 5 user programmable LED indicator lights on the panel, which are used to visually display device status, alarm signals, or operating modes. In addition, there are 4 system LED indicator lights used to indicate basic information such as power and communication status. This combination design of buttons and indicator lights allows operators to obtain key status information without having to stare at the screen, improving the convenience and safety of operation.

2.4 Protection level

The front panel meets the IP65 protection level and can effectively prevent dust and water spray, suitable for common humid and dusty environments in industrial sites. Attention should be paid to fitting the sealing strip during installation to ensure a tight fit with the cabinet.

Hardware architecture and interface configuration

3.1 Processor and Memory

EPAD03 and ePAD04 have built-in 512 KB flash user memory for storing application programs, recipe data, and font files. EPAD03 supports 16 KB recipe memory, while ePAD04 does not have recipe storage function, which is one of the main differences in functionality between the two.

3.2 Communication Interface

PLC ports: Both products are equipped with PLC ports that support three electrical standards: RS-232, RS-485, and RS-422. They can connect over 130 mainstream industrial devices, covering mainstream PLC brands such as Siemens, Mitsubishi, Rockwell, Omron, as well as general protocols such as Modbus.

Programming speed: ePAD03 supports programming speeds ranging from 9600 to 38400 bps, while ePAD04 is fixed at 9600 bps.

AUX Expansion Port: This is a major highlight of the ePAD series. Through optional modules, users can expand fieldbus (Profibus DP, CANopen, DeviceNet, Interbus) or Ethernet interfaces. The Ethernet module not only supports communication with on-site devices, but can also be used for remote programming from Designer software. This modular design enables the ePAD series to adapt to different industrial network environments, greatly enhancing product flexibility.