IC697BEM741 GE Fanuc Series 90-70 FIP Bus Controller

Product Overview

The IC697BEM741 is a high-reliability FIP / WorldFIP (EN50170) Fieldbus Controller module designed for the GE Fanuc Series 90-70 programmable logic controller (PLC) platform. Operating as a single-slot Bus Expansion Module, this interface card establishes a deterministic network gateway capable of managing up to 128 connected field devices at a data communication speed of 1.0 Megabits per second (Mbps). Weighing approximately 4.0 pounds (1.81 kg), it provides heavy-duty central processing units with decentralized remote input/output capability, maximizing network reach across large industrial automation plants.

Core Technical Advantages

• Detailed Suffix Logic Breakdown:
  • IC697: Confirms native form-factor integration with the GE Fanuc Series 90-70 VME backplane ecosystem.
  • BEM: Designates a dedicated Bus Expansion Module engineered for specialized network communication.
  • 741: Specifies the operational hardware variant for the standard FIP/WorldFIP Fieldbus architecture.
• Dual-Channel Physical Layers: Features two discrete 9-pin FIP Bus connection ports (Channel 1 and Channel 2), providing robust physical line routing options for distributed device drops.
• Optimized Power Footprint: Draws a steady 1.3 Amps from the local backplane at a tight 5.0 VDC ($\pm$0.1 VDC) supply tolerance, keeping maximum power consumption below 6.5 Watts.
• High Device Concentration: Addresses and scans up to 128 individual field devices, including Series 90-30 PLCs, remote I/O scanner racks, and computer terminals over a network loop spanning up to 1000 meters.

Technical Specifications

Installation & Maintenance Guide

Chassis Mounting & Slot Seating

Turn off all input power to the automation rack before beginning. Slide the IC697BEM741 card directly into an open physical slot of an IC697CHS782 or IC697CHS783 VME style chassis. Seat the rear card-edge contacts fully into the backplane connectors and firmly hand-tighten the integrated faceplate screws to provide solid grounding.

FIP Bus Line & Segment Routing

Connect network trunk segments to the twin 9-pin FIP bus ports. Ensure high-quality shielded twisted-pair cabling is utilized to maintain the 1.0 Mbps transmission speed over longer spans. Keep total unrepeated copper cable lengths below 1000 meters, accounting for signal attenuation factors and proper end-of-line termination resistors.

Hardware Reset & Maintenance

The faceplate features a rugged manual mechanical pushbutton that triggers an immediate local hardware reset. This allows system engineers to clear minor communication lockups or re-initialize the onboard network chips instantly at the panel door without requiring software overrides or resetting the master PLC controller.

Engineering Advantages

• Deterministic I/O Scanning: Refreshes and synchronizes data maps from all 128 remote stations systematically during every continuous bus cycle, preventing critical real-time variable skew.
• Local Configuration Retention: Features non-volatile configuration memory storage that securely holds complex network mapping variables and address settings through total facility power outages.
• At-a-Glance Diagnostics: Integrates a 6-LED physical display, featuring MODULE OK and RUN indicators at the top, supplemented by 4 channel-specific LEDs for real-time serial traffic and error tracing.
• Dedicated Firmware Uplink: Includes an independent 15-pin RS-232 serial interface port exclusively allocated for field-level firmware upgrades, insulating operational code from network data paths.

Technical FAQs

Q1: What software is required to configure the network maps on this module?
A1: The communication parameters and remote device maps are fully configured and managed using standard Logicmaster 90-70 (Windows variant) or CIMPLICITY Control 90 engineering software packages.

Q2: Can this controller operate on standard RS-485 serial networks?
A2: No. The IC697BEM741 is purpose-built to execute the specific FIP/WorldFIP fieldbus protocols (EN50170). It cannot interface directly with traditional Modbus RTU or generic RS-485 industrial lines without an inline protocol converter.

Q3: What causes the network scan interval to shift between 5 ms and 50 ms?
A3: The overall cycle time depends directly on the total number of live fieldbus nodes active on the network and the volume of cyclic data points requested. Fewer drops will drive the system toward the fast 5 ms benchmark, while a maxed-out 128-device bus triggers longer scan times.