Two new products have been introduced for the Rockwell Software RSView32TM human-machine interface software package: RSView32 GEMTool and RSView32 SECSHost.
Complete automation leader Rockwell Automation introduces two new products for the Rockwell Software RSView32TM human-machine interface software package: RSView32 GEMTool and RSView32 SECSHost. GEMTool is an off-the-shelf GEM/SECS-to-PLC driver that gives any PLC- based semiconductor equipment a fully GEM-capable interface. SECSHost is an ActiveX control that gives an application the ability to communicate with any SECS-compliant equipment.

The two products provide a complete solution for those in the semiconductor industry looking for a way to implement the SEMI standards.

'With RSView32 GEMTool, our semiconductor customers can now implement the GEM standard on any PLC-based equipment,' says Chris Haines, UK business manager, Rockwell Software.

'This will significantly decrease development time from months to weeks since developers no longer need to invent custom SECS interfaces for each type of equipment.

And with RSView32 SECSHost, they can easily write a single business application that communicates with any GEM- compliant equipment.' Both GEMTool and SECSHost support the SECS protocol and HSMS messaging service, allowing semiconductor equipment to communicate with any other computer via an RS-232 or TCP/IP connection.

GEMTool users do not need to write any custom code for their equipment to support SECS messaging.

Users simply need to configure their equipment data (such as streams and functions, alarms, events or status variables) to their corresponding data items in the SECS messages.

The remaining GEM-required functionality is handled automatically by GEMTooI.

'Since the software is configured rather than coded, users have the flexibility to implement GEM capabilities on an as-needed basis', says Haines.

'Users can quickly deploy their systems by setting up only the basic GEM requirements like event notification and alarm messages, then they can add the remaining capabilities when needed.' In addition, the GEMTool software produces a unique, custom-generated characterisation file that can be read by the Host, thus eliminating the need for manual and time-consuming communications configuration.

RSView32 SECSHost reduces the need for custom code.

It offers an easy- to-use object model that fully exposes all SECS-II messages and handles the transmission and reception of those messages to and from the users equipment.

Since SECSHost implements the complete SECS-I and HSMS standards, and manages all SECS-II messaging, developers can concentrate on creating a solid application rather than getting side-tracked by low- level details of message protocols and formats.

When installed, GEMTool works seamlessly within RSView32 as one of its many powerful Editors.

In addition, the RSView32 SECSHost ActiveX control can be used in RSView32, Visual Basic, Visual C++ or any other compatible ActiveX container serving as the Host system.

Such flexible and robust programming environments simplify interface design, speed development, and ease integration with third-party tools and applications.

Making GEM-compliant equipment and SECS-enabled applications has never been easier.