IS420UCSCH1B-E-V0.1-A GE Mark VIe, Quad Core Controller

Description:

Functional Description
The IS420UCSCH1B-E-V0.1-A is a Quad Core Controller designed and manufactured by General Electric. It is part of the Mark VIe Series used in GE's Distributed Control Systems. This version of the quad-core controller operates with the QNX Neutrino operating system and supports TMR, Simplex, and Dual redundancy configurations. The QNX operating system is utilized in high-speed, highly reliable industrial applications. Additionally, this controller features Embedded Field Agent (EMA) technology, which enables Predix cloud-based applications and potentially web applications to be implemented over a stable connection, facilitating real-time data delivery to connected controllers.

IS420UCSCH1B-E-V0.1-A Features
This controller is equipped with 4 GB of DDR3-1333 SDRAM, a type of memory commonly used in computers and other digital devices for rapid data storage. It includes 5 Ethernet ports that facilitate connections to other devices and networks for data transfer and communication. The Human-Machine Interface (HMI) for this controller is ControlST, a software application used for interacting with and controlling the device.
The Mark VIe quad-core controller leverages real-time hypervisor technology and QNX Neutrino, a real-time, multi-tasking operating system, to run high-speed, high-reliability industrial applications. PredixTM cloud-based apps and/or locally hosted web applications are applied through a secure connection and deliver real-time data using embedded field agent (EFA) technology.
A tailored software package for the UCSCH1x controller's use is preloaded. It utilizes IONet interfaces as a turbine or balance of plant (BoP) controller and runs Mark VIe firmware and applications. Only supporting Mark controls I/O packs and controllers, IONet is a private special-purpose Ethernet. To synchronize the clocks of the I/O modules and controllers within 100 microseconds, the IEEE 1588 protocol is employed via the IONet interfaces.
IONet connections are used to transmit external data to and from the controller's control system database, as well as process inputs and outputs to the I/O modules. Unlike conventional controllers that host application I/O on a backplane, the UCSC controller lacks any application I/O.

Operation
Operating the system involves several key steps including the installation of the ToolboxST application, configuring the UDH network communication, and establishing the necessary IP address for communication with site HMIs. Here is an expanded explanation of these operations:
ToolboxST Application Installation: The ToolboxST application is typically installed on a minimum 4 GB unencrypted flash drive to facilitate configuration and management tasks. This flash drive acts as the storage medium for the application and contains the necessary files and settings. The ToolboxST application provides a user-friendly interface for configuring various aspects of the system, including network communication.
UDH Network Configuration: The UDH (User Datagram Header) network is used for system communication. During the configuration process, the ToolboxST application defines the communication parameters for the UDH network, setting up network addresses, ports, protocols, and other relevant settings. This ensures the control module can establish reliable and secure communication with other devices and systems within the network.
Default IP Address: By default, the control module is assigned the IP address 192.168.101.111. This serves as the initial configuration for the module's network connectivity. However, it may need to be modified to match specific site or network requirements.
Configuring Relevant UDH IP Address: For effective communication with site HMIs (Human-Machine Interfaces), the control module must be configured with the relevant UDH IP address. This IP address allows seamless communication between the control module and site HMIs. Through the ToolboxST application, the control module's IP address can be customized to align with the network configuration and addressing scheme of the site.

Ethernet Ports/Controller Communications Support
The controller features 3 IONet ports (R/S/T) for I/O module communications, supporting simplex, dual, TMR, and Shared I/O configurations.
ENET 1 - EGD/UDH communications to ToolboxST PC, HMIs, UCSCS2A Safety controller, and GE PACSystems products.
Modbus TCP Slave, Read/Write.
ENET 2 - Secondary UDH communications, Modbus TCP Slave, and OPC UA.
IICS Cloud port for Embedded Field Agent (EFA).

Frequently Asked Questions:

1.What are the specific applications of the RJ45 connector and 10Base-TX/100Base-TX twisted pairing in different redundancy scenarios for the IS420UCSCH1B-E-V0.1-A controller?
The IS420UCSCH1B controller has a variety of different ports used for Ethernet Interfacing, there are three of the ports which are each used for different redundancy applications.  When being used in a TMR redundant applications all three ports will be used, whereas in dual redundant applications only the S/SL2 and R/SL1 ports will be used.  The RJ45 connector and 10Base-TX/100Vase-TX twisted pairing are used with the ports in any redundancy application.

2.What's IS420UCSCH1B-E-V0.1-A voltage range?
Voltage Range: 18 - 32 VDC - The system operates within a voltage range of 18 to 32 volts direct current (VDC). This indicates that the system is designed to function properly within this voltage range.

3.How many Ethernet ports does IS420UCSCH1B-E-V0.1-A have?
IS220PDOAH1B/IS220PDOAH1BE/IS220PDOAH1BCNumber of Ethernet Ports: 6 - The system is equipped with six Ethernet ports. Ethernet ports are used for connecting the system to a network, allowing for communication with other devices or systems.

Datasheet Link:

IS420UCSCH1B-E-V0.1-A GE Mark VIe, Quad Core Controller PDF Datasheet