Windows NT has been widely used as an operating system for the human communication interface of information and control systems. The open network has enabled seamless connection of field to management systems. With the FOCUS under development that can be connected to fieldbuses and to intelligent control centers through the Profibus, open EIC-integrated systems can be structured. As distributed control systems developed, most of measuring instruments have been built in machines and needs for temperature controllers have shifted to smaller ones with advanced functions. Environmental problems publicly noticed increase needs for pollution and dioxin analyzers.

To meet market needs for instrumentation and information systems to be global and have high value added, the IEC has been taking the lead in the international standarnational of fieldbus standards. Fuji Electric took part in the standardization by proposing an optical fieldbus standard to the IEC (internationally standardized in November 1995) and has striven for the device development. This paper introduces the system used for the field verification tests of the optical fieldbus to be performed by Shell, one of the Majors, and us from October 1997 and the features and development specification of the field devices.

The configuration of instrumentation and control systems using personal computers is desired to cover widely from small to client-server systems. Because of severe economics and sluggish investment for equipment these days, it is required to realize sophisticated monitoring and control systems at low cost. The open integrated system "FOCUS" has been developed according to the concept of right sizing and right selection. This paper introduces its basic configuration, features, and examples of application.

Measuring instruments have been required not only to improve in performance and functions but also to meet various applications and attach importance to total economical efficiency. Fuji Electric is promoting development of products to meet these needs. From among newly developed products, this paper introduces an outline of small flange transmitters, ultrasonic flowmeters, electromagnetic flowmeters, temperature controllers, ink-jet recorders, and infrared gas analyzers.

In computer systems for steel plants, it is important to secure reliability for 24-hour operation and real-time processing to maintain smooth operation. The general current of open systems has extended to steel plants, being positively introduced because of higher productivity and easier maintenance. To meet needs for open systems with these severe system requirements, Fuji Electric has offered various types of middleware including databases, human communication interfaces, and development environments. This paper describes an outline, functions, and features of the middleware for open systems.

The equipment of incineration plants has become large and compound and advanced in functions. To operate the equipment efficiently and safely, distributed control systems have been introduced. Since quick measures are required to be taken in case of operator's nonstandard operations or emergency operations in plant abnormalities, problems of training operators have been posed. This paper introduces the latest instrumentation and control system for incineration plants using Fuji Electric's distributed control system MICREX-IX and plant simulator using a workstation.

In the petroleum industry, distributed control systems and information systems for operations of equipment and off-site facilities have prevailed, and automation and labor reduction in refinery operation have been promoted. However, reduction in operator's load has not always kept pace with the system development. Grasping the plant status, inquiring into abnormality causes, and taking measures to get through on the basis of vast quantities of information depend on operator's decision. To support the operator in these personal tasks, Fuji Electric has developed an operation support system, which is introduced in this paper.

As the functions, performance and reliability of plant equipment have made advance, the contents of equipment maintenance have become complicated. For the purpose of continuous plant operation, it is necessary to make a precise decision immediately after a fault occurs in the plant. Fuji Electric has developed a multimedia mobile terminal system that incorporate a small-size, light-weight mobile information terminal and a radio system. The system is provided with patrol inspection, picture transmission, and white-board functions. This paper introduces the contents of the system and its applications.

As machinig precision and mounting density increase, the visual inspection of finished parts become impossible, and automated, high-precision, external-view inspection utilizing image processing technology becomes indispensable. Fuji Electric has developed the FAY-1000 in which a superhigh-resolution line-sensor camera is combined with grayscale and pattern matching technologies of its own. The major applications of FAY-1000 are (1) can and cap printing inspection (2) paper, film, metal sheet inspection (3) semiconductor inspection (4) flat-panel display inspection (5) curved-surface works and so on. This paper gives an outline of the system.