GE IC697ADC701 Alphanumeric Display Coprocessor (ADC)

Description

In control rooms overseeing complex batch processes or high-volume packaging lines, where operators need instant visibility into machine status without hunting through HMI screens, the GE IC697ADC701 provides a dedicated text display right on the rack. Maintenance teams in automotive assembly plants or pulp and paper mills rely on it during troubleshooting shifts, scanning fault messages, recipe parameters, or production tallies amid the hum of conveyors and pumps. This module tackles the frustration of buried diagnostics in legacy systems, delivering real-time alphanumeric updates that cut response times when a conveyor jams or a filler overruns. Deployed in Series 90-70 PLC setups, GE IC697ADC701 supports shift handovers by showing customized screens—think live I/O counts or alarm histories—making it indispensable in industrial automation where every minute of downtime hits the bottom line.

Foundry operators monitoring furnace cycles or wastewater plants tracking pump runtimes appreciate how GE IC697ADC701 integrates directly into the backplane, pulling data from %M and %R registers without extra networking. In environments with restricted SCADA access, like secure utility vaults or food-grade cleanrooms, it offers a simple, robust alternative to full HMIs, fitting into retrofit projects where panel space is at a premium and operators prefer tactile, glanceable info over touchscreens.​

Product Introduction & Positioning

The GE IC697ADC701 is a single-slot alphanumeric display coprocessor module for GE Fanuc Series 90-70 PLC racks, running the CIMPLICITY 90 ADS software to show programmable text screens sourced from PLC memory. It mounts in any I/O slot, accessing shared data tables via the backplane bus, and drives a built-in LCD for 4 lines by 40 characters of high-contrast display. Engineers configure screens offline using Logicmaster or CIMPLICITY tools, defining up to 15 function keys and scrolling messages tied to PLC logic states.​

Positioned as an operator interface layer in rack-mounted control systems, GE IC697ADC701 offloads simple visualization from the main CPU, preserving scan times for critical control tasks. Its value lies in low-cost, high-reliability HMI for field panels, complementing larger SCADA by handling routine status checks. In Series 90-70 architectures—CPUs like IC697CPE, power supplies, and dense I/O—GE IC697ADC701 occupies minimal footprint while enabling custom apps like recipe selection or fault logging without external devices.​

For integrators supporting aging plants, this coprocessor extends 90-70 lifecycles economically, bridging to modern protocols via serial ports while keeping familiar operator workflows intact.

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Key Technical Features & Functional Benefits

Powered by a 12 MHz 80C186 microprocessor with 640 KB RAM, the GE IC697ADC701 refreshes screens in real time, supporting bitmaps, bar graphs, and formatted numerics pulled from PLC registers for dynamic process views. Dual serial ports—RS-232 and RS-422/485—allow printer output or host PC links for data logging, with baud rates up to 19.2K for quick dumps during audits. Three front LEDs (module OK, port status) plus a reset button enable at-a-glance health checks, while soft power-up avoids disrupting rack scans​

Rugged single-slot design weighs about 1.5 lbs, fitting standard 90-70 cabinets with no field wiring—just backplane insertion—and a battery-backed clock for timestamped events. Operating from 0°C to 60°C, it leads edge over basic LEDs by showing explanatory text like “FILL LEVEL LOW – CHECK VALVE #3,” reducing training needs for temps or contractors​

User-defined function keys trigger PLC logic directly, and non-volatile config storage survives power cycles, ensuring consistent messaging. Longevity shines with a 10-year battery shelf life and MTBF suited for continuous duty, making GE IC697ADC701 a set-it-and-forget-it upgrade for legacy racks​

Detailed Technical Specifications

Related Modules or Compatible Units

IC697CPM915 – Series 90-70 CPU that shares memory tables with GE IC697ADC701 for live data display​

IC697HSC104 – High-speed counter feeding count values to GE IC697ADC701 screens in motion apps.​

IC693ACC300 – Battery backup compatible with GE IC697ADC701 for extended clock retention.​

IC697PWR722 – Power supply for 90-70 racks housing GE IC697ADC701 and dense I/O​

IC697CMM711 – Serial communications module linking GE IC697ADC701 printer port to hosts​

IC693CPU374 – Smaller 90-30 CPU option that interfaces with GE IC697ADC701 in mixed systems​

Installation Notes & Maintenance Best Practices

Slide the GE IC697ADC701 into any available 90-70 slot after powering down the rack, ensuring adjacent modules don’t block the front panel view—aim for eye-level in operator-facing cabinets. Update screen configs via serial link from a PC running CIMPLICITY 90 ADS before startup, mapping registers carefully to avoid overwriting live data, and test function keys under simulated faults. Ground the rack per NEC guidelines, as serial ports can pick up noise in unshielded runs.​

Visually check the LCD and LEDs monthly for flicker or dimming, swapping the lithium battery every 5-7 years during annual outages to preempt clock loss. Download screen logs quarterly to archive trends, and if upgrading firmware, use the reset button post-download to clear glitches without full rack cycle. In high-dust areas, a cabinet air filter extends optics life, keeping text crisp for operators