This paper describes the development strategy, product structure and future subjects for Fuji Electric's programmable controllers, MICREX-F series. The points of the development lie in realizing flexible automated systems with systematized components and powerful networks and in improving environment for software development. In future, international compatibility will be needed in networks and software; for the former we have to complete products enough to meet MAP (manufacturing automation protocol), and for the latter we will develop compatible software production systems on the basis of our functional inter mediate language.

MICREX-F500 is the highest-rank series among MICREX-F controllers which has man-machine functions in addition to controller functions. Basically aiming at realizing open architecture. F500 has been developed so as to have internationally interchangeable hardware, and can offer the components which have features such as combined control and management by multiprocessors, flexible software description by introducing an intermediate language, and multiplexed system configuration. F500 will be expanded to cover basic components for total FA systems and components for control system in various fields in addition to usual plant control applications.

Along with advancement in programmable controllers (PC), various methods for program description have been put in practical use. However, they are dependent on the kind of the machine in correspondence with a machine language, and do not secure the interchangeability of the program. Recently, Fuji Electric has developed FCL (functional control language) to improve the portability of PC programs. FCL is situated between the PC programming language and machine language and has a functional structure. It enables programming and program utilization irrespective of the kind of machines or manufactures, resulting in the accumulation of programs as common property.

Along with the spread of FA, PC requires higher speed, higher reliability and flexibility in system configuration. The functions of MICREX-F200 series have been expanded to meet these requirements as follows:
(1) Development of a directly coupled PIO unit to get higher input/output response.
(2) Development of duplex systems for higher reliability.
(3) Development of P-link interface for the connection of existing systems and F-Series.

MICREX-F120 series is a complement to existing F100 and F200 series, and is a medium-scale high-speed, high-performance PC with an enlarged memory and additional instructions, and further,r testing and duplex functions. It contains FPK120, FPK125, and FPU120, which are normally equipped with a T-link interface function. In addition, FPK125 has a P-link interface function and FPU120 has direct PIO bus interface function.

MICREX-F80/F81 series are the lower-rank processors under F100 series, the medium-rank in MICREX-F series, They contain FPU80 and FPU81 each with an incorporated PIO module and independent distributed FPK81, which are all provided with built-in application memories and T-link interfaces for various PIO connections. They are most suitable for controlling the lines automated mainly in sequence control because of their high speed due to the special LSI and decreased wiring due to the remote PIO.

Programmable controller (PC) MICREX-F series have gained public favor because they can efficiently meet distributed control and hierarchical configuration in FA and FMS. MICREX-F30/F50 series are the lower-rank processors among F series, having been developed and put on the market with an design concept and architecture in common. They are small-scale, general-purpose PCs of high cost performance, which have succeeded to the features of the upper-rank processors, such as high-speed processing, high performance, network configuration, etc. This paper introduces their features, specifications and others mainly of F30 series.

The PIO of MICREX-F series has a capsule type for connection to the T link of F-series networks (F-Net) and a module type for mounting in quantities on the baseboard. It has been favorably commented upon because it can economically satisfy multifunction control and independently distributed control.
Further, in order to meet the diversified and sophisticated requirements and to apply to various uses, many developments have been achieved in the improvement of the existing PIO and in the addition of multipoint DIO, AIO, high-speed counter and pulse-input functions to the series, etc.

Programmable controllers (PC) were developed and put to practical use more than ten years ago. Since then, the functions have been improved and the applications have greatly increased in various fields. Today PCs are predominant key components in control systems, and they are evaluated from the viewpoint of reliability as well as of performance. Generally, multiplex system configuration is used for high-reliability systems. The paper introduces the configuration example of multiplex systems composed of MICREX-F series, Fuji Electric's new generation PCs.

Recently, the functions of D20 have been added widely to meet various user's needs observed after D20 was put on the market as a high-performance loader for MICREX-F series.
The additions in hardware are the expansion of system memories and improvement in liquid crystal display functions; those in software are range designation in documentation, displaying used word memories, high-speed printing, listing used contacts, double writing check, saving date areas, application to F120, etc.

As PCs have widely utilized in FA and FMS lines, designing and drawing of PC programs have come to form a larger percentage of the whole work PC-CAD is an efficient, labor-saving system developed for designing and drawing under these circumstances.
With this system, KANA and KANJI (Japanese characters) can be used, and PC programs can be easily designed with its abundant functions such as powerful editing functions, conversational programming, program input to MICREX-F, drawing by plotter, etc.