The IC697BEM731 is a Genius Bus Controller Module that is part of the GE Fanuc Series 90-70 family of Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). This module is primarily used to interface up to Thirty (30) devices and transfers data by passing a token among all the configured devices on the same bus.

The IC697BEM731 has One (1) channel for interfacing with devices residing on the same bus, One (1) Hand-Held Monitor (HHM) port for downloading of configuration to the module using MS DOS or Windows programming software configurator function.

Upon delivery of the IC697BEM731, it is provided with no defined bus address. The configuration software sets a default address of 153.6 Kbaud standard and bus address of 31. This default address may be revised by downloading a valid configuration to the CPU. The maximum allowable distance of the communication bus is 2000 ft when configured for 153.6 Kbaud (standard); 3500 ft when configured for 153.6 KBaud (extended); 4500 ft when configured for 76.8 KBaud, 7500 ft when configured for 38.4 KBaud. It is necessary that all devices residing on the same bus or network are configured with the same baud rate otherwise, communication cannot be established or unstable communication may be experienced.

Physical communication cable used for establishing the network is Belden 9182 type cable with GE catalog number of IC660BLC001, 15-inch, qty. 3 and IC660BLC003 with 36-inch, qty. 1. Bus Terminator plugs must be installed at both ends of the bus with catalog number of IC660BLM506 150 ohm, qty. 4 and IC660BLM508, 75 ohm, qty. 4 resistors.

The IC697BEM731 Bus controller supports the transmission of global data between CPUs via a Windows-based software configuration, and it can be augmented with the IC697 PLC alarm system for reporting time-stamped faults on the processor’s data table. There is a hand-held monitor port on the rear-end of this bus controller module for connecting to hand-held monitor devices, and a connector for establishing IC66 Bus connections. The IC697BEM731 Bus controller is configured with Windows-based or MS-DOS configurator functions. By default, the Windows-based configurator function sets the baud rate to 153.5 Kilo-Bauds and the serial Bus address to 31. Other baud rates and serial bus addresses can be assigned by using the configurator function. The IC697BEM731 Bus controller performs self-diagnostics upon installation, and it has LED light indicators that show operation and communication status updates.