The SCPC system is a powerful and expandable PC compatible STEbus computer, allowing the huge range of STEbus peripherals to be accessed from a PC software environment. This benefits the many programmers who are familiar with the PC, giving users access to the vast library of PC software and literature.
The SCPC system contains the processor board, a disk controller board, an EGA compatible graphics board and a printer/RS232 communications board. An advantage over single-board PCs is that target systems may be minimised by removing unnecessary boards. For instance, the disk controller and display may not be needed once a control system has been fully developed. This means that SCPC88 processor boards can provide the heart of the lowest cost PC compatible target systems.
The STEbus was designed as a low-cost, high reliability computer bus for industrial and scientific control systems. This is reflected in the range of STE peripherals which allow the SCPC system to be used in a wide range of applications such as:
A general purpose development system running PC software, an EPROM programmer, and disk drives.
Laboratory instrumentation control talking to intelligent instruments via the IEEE 488 General Purpose Interface Bus.
An intelligent control system, measuring thermocouples, isolated voltages, 4-20mA loops, and manipulating the real world using motor controllers, solenoid drivers, and solid state relays. Such a system might be networked as part of a larger, distributed control system.
There are also the more common computer peripherals such as serial, parallel, analogue and digital I/O, SCSI interface, non-volatile memory and real-time clocks.
Except where a standard connector is already specified, all of our signal conditioning boards (SCBs) have well thought out and standardised connection schemes. This makes it easy to connect I/O boards and SCBs (using 50-way ribbon cable), plant cabling, and to mix equipment from different manufacturers.
The software used will almost always be a high-level language or application program, and the user will not be concerned with low-level details of the PC, which are handled by the operating system. Low level programmers upgrading from a PC will already be familiar with these details, hence PC-compatible information is only briefly described here. For those who have not used a PC before, a great many books about the PC, MS-DOS and PC-DOS have been published.
These manuals are intended to provide the circuit diagrams, STEbus interface, connections and new information unique to this implementation of a PC environment.