GE Fanuc IC697BEM711M Bus Expansion Receiver

The IC697BEM711 is a Bus Expansion Receiver module for the GE Fanuc Series 90-70 PLC platform. Its function is to logically extend the PLC's backplane, enabling a remote or expansion rack to function as an integral part of the main system. It operates as one half of a transmitter/receiver pair to create a single, contiguous backplane across multiple chassis.

Core Functionality

• System Expansion: Allows a Series 90-70 PLC system to be expanded beyond a single rack. The CPU in the main rack can seamlessly address modules in the expansion rack as if they were local.
• Receiver Role: Acts as the dedicated receiver in the expansion link. It must be paired with a corresponding Bus Expansion Transmitter module (e.g., IC697BEM701) located in the main PLC rack.
• High-Speed Parallel Link: Extends the VME backplane's high-speed parallel bus over a dedicated bus expansion cable, ensuring minimal latency between racks.
• Transparent Operation: The bus extension is transparent to the CPU and other modules in the system. No special programming or communication logic is required to access modules in the expansion rack.

Technical Specifications

• Module Type: Bus Expansion Receiver
• Platform: GE Fanuc Series 90-70
• Backplane Requirement: Installs in any VME standard IC697 chassis.
• Power Consumption: 1.5 Amps @ +5 VDC
• Bus Cable Interface: Multi-pin D-sub connector for the bus expansion cable.
• LED Status Indicators: Front-panel LEDs provide status for Module OK and Bus Active, allowing for visual diagnosis of the expansion link's integrity.

System Architecture and Use Case

The IC697BEM711 is exclusively used in multi-rack Series 90-70 configurations where the total number of required modules exceeds the capacity of a single rack.

A typical system consists of:

1. A Main Rack containing the CPU and a Bus Expansion Transmitter module.
2. A dedicated Bus Expansion Cable connecting the two modules.
3. An Expansion Rack containing the IC697BEM711 Receiver module, a power supply, and additional I/O or option modules.

This configuration creates a larger logical system, essential for complex automation tasks requiring a high density of I/O or special-purpose modules.