GE IC697BEM734 Genius Bus Controller Module (Master)

Description

Why Your System Needs the GE IC697BEM734

In sophisticated, large-scale industrial automation and process control networks, the ability to seamlessly integrate high-performance controllers with diverse field devices, motor drives, and specialized subsystems is paramount. For engineers utilizing the highly robust GE Fanuc Series 90-70 PLC platform, the challenge often lies in maintaining the high-speed, centralized control while leveraging the benefits of distributed communication standards. Specifically, integrating the controller directly onto a Genius Bus network—a proprietary, high-speed, distributed I/O system known for its robust noise immunity and extensive diagnostic capabilities—requires a dedicated, intelligent interface.

The core problem the GE IC697BEM734 (Bus Controller Module) solves is providing a transparent, high-speed communication gateway between the Series 90-70 PLC CPU and the Genius Bus network. This module allows the PLC to act as a master on the bus, managing up to 32 remote Genius I/O blocks or other devices. It eliminates the need for complex, layered protocol conversions or the inefficient use of traditional serial communication for critical field data. By using the GE IC697BEM734, engineers gain the benefits of distributed I/O—reduced field wiring, better diagnostics, and modularity—without sacrificing the high-performance centralized control of the Series 90-70 system. This is an indispensable tool for achieving high reliability and maximizing the efficiency of I/O signal management in complex manufacturing and process control environments.

How the Product Works & Fits into a System

The GE IC697BEM734 is a single-slot communications processor designed to plug directly into the backplane of a GE Fanuc Series 90-70 baseplate.It contains its own microprocessor and memory, allowing it to offload the substantial task of Genius Bus communication from the main CPU. Its primary function is to manage all interaction between the Series 90-70 CPU and all remote devices on the Genius Bus network.

Operationally, the module interfaces with the CPU via the fast Series 90-70 backplane. The engineer configures the module (using software like Logicmaster or Control Software for Windows) to define which I/O addresses in the PLC memory correspond to the physical I/O points on the Genius Bus. The IC697BEM734 then continuously and automatically polls the Genius I/O blocks on the network, gathering input data and transmitting output commands according to the CPU’s control logic. This seamless, transparent mapping of remote I/O data directly into the PLC’s memory is what makes the Genius Bus so effective for high-speed control.

The module supports the high-speed, token-passing Genius Bus protocol, which allows for deterministic and repeatable data exchange across a distance of up to 2,000 meters. The Bus Interface Unit (BIU) on the GE IC697BEM734 uses a unique twisted-pair cable (often shielded) for communication, which is known for its exceptional noise immunity—a major advantage in noisy industrial settings.Additionally, the module’s intelligent design supports extensive network diagnostics, allowing the CPU to detect and locate faults (like communication errors, open circuits, or short circuits) down to the individual block or wire, dramatically improving troubleshooting capabilities.

Technical Highlights Summary

Real-World Benefits

The most significant operational advantage of implementing the GE IC697BEM734 is the superior diagnostic insight it provides. Unlike simple communication links, the Genius Bus and the BCM architecture inherently support comprehensive, real-time error reporting. This capability allows the system to not just detect a fault, but to pinpoint its location (e.g., “Block 15, Channel 3: Open Circuit Detected”). This feature drastically accelerates fault isolation and repair, ensuring critical system uptime and reducing engineering overhead associated with troubleshooting complex wiring issues.

The system’s modularity is another high-value benefit. The GE IC697BEM734 allows engineers to place I/O blocks exactly where the field devices are located, often reducing the total length and complexity of field wiring by thousands of feet. This approach saves on installation costs and dramatically improves I/O signal quality by minimizing noise interference over long analog runs. The module is engineered for maximum connectivity, allowing the Series 90-70 controller to manage a vast and geographically dispersed system from a central CPU.

Furthermore, the GE IC697BEM734 is a critical component for long-term performance in systems requiring exceptional noise immunity. The Genius Bus communication method is inherently robust, making it the ideal choice for deployments in electrically noisy environments common in heavy industry, metal processing, or power generation. This dedicated processor offloads communication burden from the main CPU, allowing the central controller to focus solely on executing the control logic rapidly and reliably.

Typical Use Cases

The GE IC697BEM734 is predominantly found in large, mission-critical industrial automation facilities that historically relied on the robustness of the Series 90-70 platform. A major use case is in automotive assembly and engine plants, where the Genius Bus is extensively used for connecting hundreds of distributed components—like proximity sensors, solenoid valves, and motor starters—along a high-speed production line. The ability to quickly identify a failed sensor is paramount to minimizing line stoppages.

Another critical application is in bulk material handling and mining operations. In these environments, I/O needs to be distributed over long distances (e.g., conveyor belts, stackers, and reclaimers). The GE IC697BEM734 provides the deterministic communication and long-distance capability necessary to manage these assets reliably from a centralized control room, often supporting critical system uptime in isolated locations.

It is also utilized in chemical and oil and gas facilities for controlling large motor control centers (MCCs) or distributed valve manifolds. The integration allows the Series 90-70 to communicate directly with intelligent Genius I/O blocks or motor starters that have diagnostic capabilities built into the field device itself, providing a high level of process control supervision.

Compatible or Alternative Products

GE IC697BEM713 – A similar Bus Controller Module but designed for the Field Control (FCM) network, an alternative bus architecture.

GE IC697CPX935 – A high-performance Series 90-70 CPU often used as the master controller for the IC697BEM734.

GE IC697PWR710 – The high-capacity Power Supply Module required to power the Series 90-70 backplane and the BCM.3

GE IC697ACC722 – A Blank Slot Interrupt Jumper often required in empty slots of the 90-70 rack for proper operation.4

GE IC693BEM331 – A Genius Bus Controller Module for the smaller Series 90-30 platform, representing a lower-capacity alternative.5

GE IC697CMU001 – A Communications Interface Module for the Series 90-70, used for alternative protocols like Modbus or SNP.

GE IC200BEM002 – The comparable Bus Controller Module for the modern GE VersaMax platform, offering an upgrade path from the Series 90-70 system.

Setup Notes & Maintenance Insights

Successful deployment of the GE IC697BEM734 requires adherence to the specific Genius Bus physical layer standards. Use only approved Genius Bus cabling and ensure the bus is correctly terminated at both ends of the network segment using the specified termination resistors. Incorrect termination is the most common cause of intermittent communication faults. Before installation, confirm the module’s bus address and the I/O mapping configuration within the programming software, ensuring no address conflicts exist with other devices on the bus or with the CPU’s local I/O.

Ongoing maintenance is significantly simplified by the system’s diagnostics. The BEM’s front-face LEDs provide immediate status (e.g., ‘RUN’, ‘COMM ERR’, ‘FAULT’). Any persistent error LED should trigger an immediate review of the system diagnostics reported back to the CPU. The Genius Bus is inherently self-healing in many respects, but periodic inspection of the bus cable integrity, especially where it passes through cable trays or near high-power equipment, is advisable. Unlike traditional I/O, the intelligence in the IC697BEM734 allows technicians to diagnose remote I/O faults without leaving the control room, focusing field activities only on the precise location of the failure.