Computer and Communication Terminals
Microterminals enable prompt-and-response functionality.
Press Release Summary:
Available in B models, CTM series prompt-and-response serial microterminals are used to monitor and control machines and equipment manufactured by OEMs. They specifically display informational prompt to operator and collect operator's response on numeric or alphanumeric keypad. B models are backwards-compatible with legacy versions and may be used as drop-in replacements throughout various applications.
Original Press Release:
New Old Intelligent Instrumentation Product is Dumber Than a Bag of Hammers
TUCSON, AZ - December 1, 2008 - When is dumb really smart? When it saves customers money! Today, Intelligent Instrumentation announces a renewed lifespan for the nearly 30-year-old design of their "dumb" prompt-and response serial microterminals.
The CTM microterminals were first designed and built in the early 1980's by Intelligent Instrumentation's prior parent, the Burr-Brown Corporation. While that may seem like a long time, the function they serve remains unchanged - namely, to display an informational prompt to an operator and collect the operator's response on a numeric or alphanumeric keypad.
The compact industrial CTM200 Burr-Brown microterminals are used to monitor and control machines and equipment manufactured by OEM companies in a broad cross-section of markets around the globe. Small, easy-to-integrate, and economical, they've been the choice of many machine and equipment manufacturers for nearly 30 years. Recently, the processor used in the terminal became unavailable. Did that stop us? No way! While Intelligent Instrumentation cannot control terminal component obsolescence, the next best thing was accomplished by redesigning the electronics in the newly released 'B' models of the microterminals so that they are backward compatible. The redesigned 'B' terminals can be used as drop-in replacements, or to provide many years, if not decades, of service in newly designed equipment.
If you're an OEM, you know why is this important! It's simple! Changes in form, fit or function of a component can produce cascading tiers of cost increases and supportability problems for your products. If a backward compatible terminal were not available, existing equipment software and hardware modifications would be necessary, additional documentation and customer training would be required, and support of existing equipment in the field would become much more complex. In some cases, costly and time-consuming regulatory re-certifications would be required. All these effects increase costs of equipment acquisition, support, maintenance and logistics, without adding a nickel of value to your customers. Intelligent Instrumentation has a history of customer sensitivities in this respect, having successfully redesigned several products in order to provide valuable backward compatibility in the face of component obsolescence. We understand that you would much rather spend your resources providing new functionality to your customers than re-engineering proven existing designs.
We buck the short product life trend in the electronics industry by manufacturing terminals for decades. Products are available for the long haul, along with associated service and support. The bottom line is that you and your customers can continually receive value for years and years after the initial design investment.
Just a few of the applications that use OEM design-in CTM Microterminals are:
o Process Controls for the Food & Beverage Industry
o Semiconductor Equipment & Machinery
o Process Controls for the Pharmaceutical Industry
o Process Controls for the Chemical &Petrochemical Industry
o Packaging Manufacturing Equipment & Machinery
o Material Handling Equipment & Machinery
o Environmental Controls
Intelligent Instrumentation's FactoryView® is a family of U.S. designed and manufactured products interfacing the machines, processes, and operations of an enterprise to data management systems. The company manufactures a complete line of industrial, LAN-ready data collection computers, automated time and attendance solutions, and microterminals for data collection and operator interface/control panel applications. Intelligent Instrumentation also manufactures data acquisition, test, measurement and control systems for desktop and portable PCs, including distributed I/O systems for Ethernet and Internet networks. The company has a worldwide network of sales and service offices.
To order, or for additional information, contact Intelligent Instrumentation, Inc.; 3000 E. Valencia Road, Suite 100; Tucson, Arizona 85706. In the USA, telephone (800) 685-9911 (Sales and Information) or fax (520) 573-0522.
Outside the USA, telephone (520) 573-0887 or fax (520) 573-0522. Visit their web site at: http//www.instrument.com/ctm; email: sales@instrument.com.
FactoryView® is a trademark of Intelligent Instrumentation®.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
