Omega LCIC-WIM-BEN User Manual

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LCIC-WIM-BEN

High Speed

Load Cell Interface Card

Servicing North America:

U.S.A.: One Omega Drive, P.O. Box 4047

ISO 9001 Certified Stamford, CT 06907-0047

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It is the policy of OMEGA Engineering, Inc. to comply with all worldwide safety and EMC/EMI
regulations that apply. OMEGA is constantly pursuing certification of its products to the European New
Approach Directives. OMEGA will add the CE mark to every appropriate device upon certification.

The information contained in this document is believed to be correct, but OMEGA accepts
no liability for any errors it contains, and reserves the right to alter specifications without notice.
WARNING: These products are not designed for use in, and should not be used for, human applications.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

1.1 General Description

1.2 Typical Applications

2. Installing the board in the PC

3. Utilities

3.1 Setup & Running

3.2 The Calibration Utility

3.2.1 General

3.2.2 The Calibrations Library

3.2.3 Parameters

3.2.4 Calibration Efficiency (CE)

3.3 The Settings Utility

3.3.1 The Menu Bar

3.3.1.1 Tools / Analog Output

3.3.1.2 Tools / Baud Rate for SCI port

3.3.1.3 Tools / General Setpoints

3.3.2 Parameters

3.3.2.1 Communication

3.3.2.1.1 Port

3.3.2.1.2 Baud Rate

3.3.2.1.3 RS485 Address

3.3.2.1.4 Get results immediately

3.3.2.2 Auto Zero

3.3.2.2.1 Activate

3.3.2.2.2 Max Zero

3.3.2.2.3 Min Zero

3.3.2.2.4 Time limit

3.3.2.3 Start Fill-mode

3.3.2.3.1 Fill-mode starts automatically upon card reset

3.3.2.4 Filtering

3.3.2.5 Filling Definition

2

4. Programming your Application

4.1 Commands

4.2 Parameters

4.3 LCIC-WIM ActiveX

4.3.1 Start/Stop Communication

4.3.2 Variables

4.3.3 Filters

4.3.4 Fast Mode

4.3.5 Misc.

3

Appendices

A. I/O & the LED Display

A.1 General Notes about the I/O
A.2 Connecting External Devices to the Inputs
A.3 LCIC-WIM I/O & Analog Out
A.4 The LED Display

B. Scaling the Load Cell Input

C. Load Cell Connections

D. USB, RS232 & RS485

D.1 Communication Parameters
D.2 Baud Rate
D.3 General RS232 Terminal
D.4 Serial Communication & PC Power On/Off
D.5 RS485

E. Fill Mode

E.1 Introduction
E.2 Hardware Inputs
E.3 Hardware Outputs
E.4 Filling Parameters
E.4.1 Filling By = Weight
E.4.1.1 Filling by Weight Parameters
E.4.1.2 Auto Tare
E.4.1.3 Valid Results Limits
E.4.1.4 Stabilization Criterion (Tare & Stop)
E.4.1.5 Lazy Filling
E.4.2 Filling By = Time
E.4.2.1 Filling by Time Parameters
E.4.2.2 Stabilization Criterion (Stop)
E.4.3 Fast Speed Config
E.4.4 The Filling Configurations Library
E.5 LED Display Notations
E.6 Commands
E.7 Error Codes

F. Specifications

F.1 Load Cell Input
F.2 A/D
F.3 Digital Inputs
F.4 Digital & Analog Outputs
F.5 Standard Interfaces
F.6 Software

4

F.7 Dimensions (mm)
F.8 Misc.

G. Trouble-shooting

G.1 Card does not respond after PC power-on

H. Zero & Tare

H.1 The Zero function
H.2 The Auto-Tare function

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1. Introduction

1.1 General Description

The model LCIC-WIM is a very High Speed, Intelligent Load Cell
Interface Card with USB/RS232/RS485. Besides its basic mode – named

below as the general mode – the board includes an integral Fill Mode
supplying an independent filling control. The board is intelligent and
powerful enough for OEM customers – it is ready to accept piggy-back
modules and/or embedded applications for OEM special requirements.

1.2 Typical Applications

• Dynamic weighing – vehicles, livestock

• Dynamic force measurement

• High speed checkweighing

• High speed filling / batching

• Beltweighing

• Force measurement / Press Machines

• WIM-Monitor for analysis of dynamic systems

6

2. Installing the board in the PC

(The following description refers to Windows XP. Obviously, on
another operating system it might be different.)

1. Make sure that all installation files have been copied to your

hard disk to a new folder, say, LCIC-WIM.

2. Connect the LCIC-WIM board to your PC.

3. The ‘Found New Hardware Wizard’ appears.

Select the last option like this:

Click ‘Next’.

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4. Select the second option, click ‘Next’ and browse to the

“FTDI - VCP (Virtual COM Port) Driver” folder (under the
folder where you copied the installation files in step 1).

Click ‘Next’.

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5. After a while, you’ll have this display:

Click ‘Finish’.

Notes

1. It might occur that the wizard will return to step 3,

requiring to repeat the process. This is normal, just repeat
steps 3-5.

2. You may watch the new driver in ‘Add/Remove programs’:

9

3. Utilities

3.1 Setup & Running

1. Run the setup(s) of the LCIC-WIM utilities in the folders:

* LCIC-WIM-CALIBRATION
* LCIC-WIM-SETTINGS

2. Run a utility:

* If the utility reports that .Net Framework is not
installed, then run "dotnetfxV1.1.4322.exe" in the
"Microsoft Net Framework" folder on your CD.
* If the utility reports "LCIC driver is not installed", then refer
to the previous section (“Installing the board in the PC”).

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3.2 The Calibration Utility

3.2.1 General

The calibration utility (LCIC-WIM-CALIBRATION) enables to calibrate
the LCIC-WIM board adjusting it to your own system.
The utility is straightforward and is in the form of a Windows wizard. It
includes three main stages carried out in five steps.

The three stages are:

1. Show Data (step 1)

(Described below under ‘Step 1’.)

2. Pseudo Calibration (steps 2-3-4)

The calibration is called ‘pseudo’ as it won’t be saved in the
board unless the user confirms it in the next stage. As long
as the user did not confirm the new (pseudo) calibration, the
previous calibration remains in effect.
(The details are described below under ‘Step 2-3-4’.)

3. Save or Quit (step 5)

(Described below under ‘Step 5’.)

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The five calibration steps are:

Step 1 – Show Data
This step introduces both the parameters and the current readings, as

received from the board. The step is

passive

in the sense that it only

shows data passed by the board, but it does not make any change in the
board. Some additional parameters may be displayed in the bottom of

the “Current Board Calibration” box. Type <Ctrl>/<I> and – as shown in
the screenshot below – the additional parameters will appear, hiding the
lower original parameters (Load Cell Output, Full Load Cell(s) Capacity,
Maximum Applied Capacity and Display Resolution). In order to hide the
additional parameters and return to all the original ones, type <Ctrl>/<I>
again.

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Step 2 – Pseudo Calibration / Parameters
This step starts the calibration procedure. It enables to change calibration
parameters. Whether you changed the parameters or not, you may
proceed to the next step by pressing the ‘Next’ button.
Library issues:

1. Alternatively, you may click ‘Library’ in order to access the
library, as described in the ‘Calibrations Library’ section.
(If there are still no calibrations in the library, the ‘Library’
button will be inactive.)

2. Normally, upon confirming a new calibration it will be saved also
to the calibrations library. However, if you want to save it only
in the board, uncheck the ‘Save to Library’ box.

In the example below the user changed the Display Resolution parameter:

Notes

1.The changed parameter (Display Resolution) is displayed with
blue background.

2.The options list of the Display Resolution depends on the value
of Maximum Applied Capacity.

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Step 3 – Pseudo Calibration / Zero
This step enables to redefine the ‘zero’ level. Click ‘Skip’ if you are
satisfied with the previous definition of the ‘zero’ level. Otherwise, when
the scale is empty and stable (see note), click ‘Zero’ to sample another
‘zero’ level. Once you clicked ‘Zero’, you may either confirm the new
‘zero’ level by pressing ‘Next’, or redefine it by clicking again the ‘Zero’
button, or leave it out by clicking ‘Skip’. Please note that even if you do
confirm the new ‘zero’ level by pressing ‘Next’, its effect is limited to the
‘pseudo calibration’ stage. It will be stored in the board only if the new
calibration is confirmed in step 5.

Note
In order to know the

stability

, watch the Stability indicator above

the A/D reading (e.g., 99.977829% in the screenshot below).

In the example below the user clicked ‘Zero’:

Now the user has three options:

1. Confirm this ‘zero’ level (click ‘Next’);

2. Redefine the ‘zero’ level (click ‘Zero’ once more);

3. Leave out this new ‘zero’ level staying with the
previous ‘zero’ adjustment (click ‘Skip’).

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Step 4 – Pseudo Calibration / Weight
This step enables to redefine the ‘weight’ level. Click ‘Skip’ if the
previous ‘weight’ level was OK. Even if there was a

fixed

shift in the

weight (which you probably corrected in step 3), you don’t have to
redefine the ‘weight’ level – just click ‘Skip’. Otherwise, specify the
value of the weight, and when the weight is stable on the scale, click
‘Ready’ to sample another ‘weight’ level. Once you clicked ‘Ready’, you
may either confirm the new ‘weight’ level by pressing ‘Next’, or redefine
it by clicking again the ‘Ready’ button, or leave it out by clicking ‘Skip’.
Please note that even if you do confirm the new ‘weight’ level by
pressing ‘Next’, its effect is limited to the ‘pseudo calibration’ stage. It
will be stored in the board only if the new calibration is confirmed in step

5.

In the example below the user specified the value of the weight
(6 kg) and clicked ‘Ready’:

Now the user has three options:

1. Confirm this ‘weight’ level (click ‘Next’);

2. Redefine the ‘weight’ level (click ‘Ready’ once more);

3. Leave out this new ‘weight’ level staying with the
previous ‘weight’ adjustment (click ‘Skip’).

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Step 5 – Save or Quit
This is the final step – here you decide whether to confirm the pseudo
calibration, or leave it out. Before you decide, you may watch the current
readings examining whether they are satisfactory.

• In case you do want to confirm the new (pseudo) calibration

(overwriting the previous calibration), press the ‘Save to
Board’ button and answer ‘Yes’ to the following question
that pops up:

• Otherwise – that is, you want to stay with the previous

calibration leaving out the ‘pseudo calibration’ – click ‘Exit’
and answer ‘Yes’ to the following question that pops up:

Please note that after saving the calibration to the board you still may
remain in the utility, which will show now

board’s

response after the

calibration, which is now ‘real’ and not ‘pseudo’ any more.

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3.2.2 The Calibrations Library

Each calibration that the user applies may be saved in the ‘Calibrations
Library’. Later on, the user may use that library as a short cut in order to

restore a previous calibration quickly and reliably.
The procedure is very simple:

Save

Unless the ‘Save to Library’ box is unchecked, each calibration is
automatically saved to the library upon its saving to the board in Step 5.
Its name is the ‘Calibration Name’ parameter.

Restore

In order to restore a calibration from the library to the board, press
‘Library’ in Step 2, and select the required calibration file (e.g., IMS.Lbr
in the example below). You may watch (but not change) the selected
calibration’s parameters. Clicking ‘Save to Board and Exit’ will restore
the selected calibration to the board. Unnecessary calibration may be
erased by clicking the ‘Delete’ button.

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3.2.3 Parameters

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.

Parameter #1: Load Cell mV/V

The mV/V output of your load cell: 1, 2 or 3 mV/V. In case the actual output is none
of these values: choosing a value higher than the actual will result in loss of
resolution; choosing a lower value may result in loss of range, that is, maximum
smaller than the real one.

Refer also to Appendix B.

Parameter #2: Unit

The desired weight unit (g, kg, ton, oz or lb).

Parameter #3: Load Cells Capacity

The maximum capacity of all the load cells in the scale system, according to
manufacturer’s specifications. If the scale system has more than one load cell, e.g.
four load cells of 10 kg then type in 40.

Parameter #4: Maximum Load

Fill in the actual full scale, i.e. the maximum load you plan to put on the scale.

Note
Keep the following condition true:
Maximum load + Dead load <= Load Cells Capacity.

The known rated mV/V value of the load cell, the Maximum load and the Load Cells
Capacity – in whatever measuring units – are required in order to calculate the
optimal gain and zero thus drastically accelerating the calibration procedure.

Parameter #5: Resolution

Select the Resolution value of the displayed weight in the selected unit (1g, 0.05kg,
etc.) that fits your application.

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3.2.4 Calibration Efficiency (CE)

The potential range of A/D points is between 0 and near ±8,400,000. The
'Calibration Efficiency' specifies what portion
of this potential range is in use. The closer it is to 100%, the
better accuracy / stability you have. However, in practice ,
100% is a theoretical number and almost not reachable .
The accuracy and stability will still be excellent even if
'Calibration Efficiency' is far lower than 100%.

19

3.3 The Settings Utility

The LCIC-WIM-SETTINGS utility gives control to card’s filters, analog
output, fill mode parameters and more. The utility has three items:

• The Menu Bar

• Current Weight Display

• Parameters

The ‘Current Weight Display’ is rather obvious – it continuously shows the
actual weight. The other two items are detailed below.

3.3.1 The Menu Bar

The Menu Bar supplies some functions:

• Exit
An alternative way to quit the utility.

• Tools / Analog Output
Described below (section 3.3.1.1).

• Tools / Baud Rate for SCI port
Described below (section 3.3.1.2).

• Tools / General Setpoints
Described below (section 3.3.1.3).

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* The rate of updating the analog output is depends on the

Update Frequency parameter. For example, when Update
Frequency is 4, the analog output is updated 4 times a second.

3.3.1.1 Tools / Analog Output

The ‘Settings’ utility gives access to the analog output mechanism:
Click ‘Tools’ / ‘Analog Output’.
For ‘manual’ mode
For ‘auto’ mode

uncheck the ‘Activate Auto Mode’ box.

check the ‘Activate Auto Mode’ box.

Manual Mode
On the top of the display, specify a desired voltage in the ‘Manual Mode’
square and click ‘Send’.

Auto Mode
Specify the following parameters:

1. Voltage Max.

2. Weight Max.

3. Weight Min.

4. Update Frequency

The Auto Mode works like this:
* When the current weight = Weight Min. or less, the analog

output is set to 0.
* When the current weight = Weight Max. or more, the analog
output is set to Voltage Max.
* When the current weight is between Weight Min. and Weight
Max., the analog output is set between 0 and Voltage Max., in

the same ratio.

21

3.3.1.2 Tools /

Baud Rate for SCI port

Click ‘Tools’ / ‘Baud Rate for SCI port’ to see the current baud rate for the
RS232/RS485 serial port. It may be changed to some values between 19,200
and 115,200. (The baud rate for the USB need not be defined – usually it is

921,600.) The change will take effect only after card reset. The current
b/r used by the board for the serial communication is shown for a while on
the LED display upon card reset, prefixed by ‘Sb’ (=Serial baud rate). Do
not mix the serial b/r with the b/r shown in the Communication box – they
are not necessarily the same: The b/r in the Communication box specifies the

actual b/r in which the Settings utility is communicating with the card. If the
Settings utility communicates with the card through a serial port, the two b/r
values will indeed be the same. However, in case the Settings utility
communicates with the card through a USB port, the b/r displayed in the
Communication box will be usually 921,600, regardless of the serial b/r.

Note: Normally, the b/r in the board side will be the same as the b/r in the
PC side. However, it does happen that the communication is successful only
when the PC sets the b/r to some

other

value. (This anomaly might occur

only with the serial communication,

not

when using USB.) You may find
out the required b/r in the PC side by watching any of the supplied utilities
(Calibration, Settings or Monitor): upon the initialization they try to
communicate with the board with various values of b/r.

22

3.3.1.3 Tools / General

Setpoints

The LCIC-WIM board has four digital outputs. Each of them may be defined
– through the Tools / General Setpoints – either as a manual output, or as a
general setpoint output:

• A manual output is controlled by a user’s command sent from the PC

(or another computer). That is, the user sends – either by his own
application or by a general RS232 terminal (see section D.3) –
commands to turn an output on or off. The user – and not the card – has
the initiative to turn an output on or off.

• A general setpoint output is controlled by the card according to user

pre-defined criterion. Say, initially the user defined the setpoint as 10
kg, then the card automatically turns the output off/on when the
current weight is less/more than 10 kg. The user cannot explicitly turn
an output on or off by a command.

Note – these general setpoints are

absolutely different

from the setpoints in the

Fill mode

(section E.4). The general setpoints are inactive in the Fill mode.

In order to configure an output:

• Select output’s Mode as Manual or Setpoint.

• In case you selected ‘Mode: Setpoint’, specify the setpoint value (e.g.,

10).

• Click ‘Save to Board’ to validate your new configuration.

• You may turn each manual output on or off.

23

3.3.2 Parameters

The following sections describe the various parameters. After changing
parameter(s), click the ‘Save to Board’ button and wait a while until the
new value(s) are accepted by the board.

3.3.2.1 Communication

The Communication box refers to card’s communication port – either
serial or USB. The current Port and Baud Rate are shown. They are ‘read
only’, that is, not changeable. (About changing the Baud Rate for a serial
port, refer to section 3.3.1.2.) A third item (‘Get results immediately’) is a
parameter controlling card’s response in communication during the Fill
mode.

3.3.2.1.1 Port

Shows port’s type and number, e.g., “USB port COM4” or
“SCI port COM1” (SCI stands for ‘Serial Communications Interface”, that
is, RS232 or RS485).

3.3.2.1.2 Baud Rate

Specifies the actual Baud Rate in which the Settings utility is
communicating with the card. Refer also to section 3.3.1.2.

3.3.2.1.3 RS485 Address

Up to 64 LCIC-WIM boards may reside on one RS485 bus consuming
only one PC port. In case you do not need this feature, specify RS485
Address = 0; this will simplify the coding of your application. If you do
like to utilize this feature, specify the required RS485 Address – between 1
to 64.

 The address setting takes effect only upon board reset.

24

3.3.2.1.4 Get results immediately

Controls card’s response in communication during a special mode, such as
the Fill mode:
When checked, the card assumes that the PC (or another remote computer)
is continuously connected and listening to the communication port.
Therefore, the card takes the initiative and sends messages to the PC,
reporting the process results immediately when they are available.
However, you might prefer the PC to poll the card from time to time
drawing the results, so that the PC can handle other tasks too. In the latter
case, uncheck the ‘Get results immediately’ option. For example, in the
Fill mode, use the ‘r’ command as described in section E.6.

25