Overview and Applications

Compact FieldPoint is a programmable automation controller (PAC)

designed for industrial control applications performing advanced

embedded control, data logging, headless operation, and Ethernet

connectivity. It combines the packaging, specifications, and

reliability of a PLC with the software, flexibility, connectivity, and

functionality of a PC. Compact FieldPoint is our most rugged and

reliable platform and is designed for industrial and mobile

environments with high shock, vibration, and temperature extremes.

Compact FieldPoint banks run LabVIEW Real-Time, providing the

functionality, connectivity, and flexibility of LabVIEW on a small,

rugged, industrial platform. The modular I/O architecture with

built-in signal conditioning and isolation provides direct

connectivity to industrial sensors such as analog voltage, 4 to 20 mA

current, thermocouple, RTD, pressure, strain, flow, pulse width

modulation (PWM), and 24 V digital I/O.

Engineers and scientists use the National Instruments cFP-20xx

controllers in intelligent distributed applications requiring

industrial-grade reliability, such as process and discrete control

systems, to open and close valves, run control loops, log data,

perform real-time simulation and analysis, and communicate over

serial, phone, and Ethernet.

System Configurations

A single NI cFP-20xx controller manages a bank of up to eight

Compact FieldPoint analog and digital I/O modules, which

constitutes a node. The network module securely mounts on a

metal backplane that provides a solid mounting surface for the

Compact FieldPoint bank and forms the communication bus

between the controller module and the I/O modules. You choose the

I/O modules and connector block or cabling option that is best

suited for your application.

For more details on configuring a Compact FieldPoint system,

see page 517.

Highly Productive Software

When your application requires powerful functionality and rapid

development, the key is flexible software that integrates seamlessly

with hardware. LabVIEW is an industry-standard graphical

development environment that provides all the tools necessary to

create advanced and full-featured measurement and control

applications. LabVIEW makes it easy to construct simple or

complex applications using an extensive palette of functions and

tools – from simple analog PID process control loops to high-

channel-count hybrid control systems that combine both analog

and digital components.

Controller Overview

•Real-time LabVIEW embedded

controllers for intelligent

industrial I/O

•Stand-alone embedded real-time

controller or PC-based distributed

I/O Ethernet interface

•Industrial-grade reliability

I/O modules

• RS-232 and RS-485 serial

ports for local device control

•Removable CompactFlash

for data logging

•Class I Div 2 Rated

for Hazardous Environments

Operating Systems

•Windows 2000/NT/XP

•Real-time performance

with LabVIEW (page 134)

Recommended Software

• LabVIEW

• LabVIEW Real-Time Module

• LabVIEW Datalogging and

Supervisory Control Module

Other Compatible Software

• LabWindows/CVI

•Measurement Studio

•Lookout

•VI Logger

Driver Software (included)

•Measurement &

Automation Explorer

• OPC server (2.0 compliant)

NI cFP-2020, NI cFP-2010, NI cFP-2000

LabVIEW Real-Time

Controller Interfaces with Ethernet

NEW

Internal

DRAM

Nonvolite

Removable

RS-232

RS-485

Module

Memory

Storage

Compact Flash

Ethernet Ports

Serial Ports

Serial Ports

cFP-2020

32 MB

64 MB

✓

13

1

cFP-2010

32 MB

64 MB

–

1

2

0

cFP-2000

16 MB

32 MB

–

1

1

0