Sensor Status Screen

The Facility Net program provides multiple sensor status screens that allow the user to display the current particle counts, in real time, for each sample point, group, or combination. When an alarm-level event occurs, the color status for that sample point or group will change to reflect the new condition. Sensor problems, such as laser power, flow, and communications, are also reflected in the color of the status screen.

Facility Map

A customized map may be created to illustrate the monitoring instruments configured into the system. The status condition and current values for selected sample points are displayed on the screen and updated in real time. The operator may add or change any monitoring instrument while Facility Net is collecting data. Multiple maps may be generated and organized to display a magnified view of specific locations within the facility.

Time Plots: Real-Time and SPC

Real-time or retrieved data may be plotted using up to ten color-coded pens for each plot. The operator may select particle and environmental sample points, alarm and warning limits, and instrument status levels to appear as selected pens on the time plot in either a linear or log scale. Multiple time plots may be displayed on the screen simultaneously and may be stored for later data analysis.

Historical Tabular

Detailed statistical information for each sample point is provided in real time on the tabular display screens. In just one screen, the operator is able to view the instrument's name, status condition, current values, number of samples, as well as minimum, maximum, average, and standard deviation for selected sample points. The historical tabular display screen enables the operator to review retrieved sample points in a similar format.

Event Log and Automated Tasks

An audit trail registers system activities such as alarm and warning conditions, communication errors, instrument status, configuration events, and operator actions. An operator can review each event and describe the cause in a user entry field.

A job generator allows users to schedule automated tasks. Facility Net can generate both printed and electronic reports, create a backup of the database, run recipes, operate external programs, and more, without a user present.

Alarms and Paging

Facility Net allows an operator to set alarms that generate audible or visible alerts when preset limits (parameters) are exceeded. Facility Net offers four alarm levels, allowing progressively out-of-parameter conditions to trigger increasingly urgent alarms. Alarm status information can be relayed to the Status Display, Tabular Display, and the Event Log. Alarm priorities can be set, allowing more important alarms to override less important alarms. An optional pager feature can be activated when an alarm is triggered.

Networking and Data Distribution

The Facility Net network option offers a powerful, real-time networking capability. Facility Net systems connected to instrumentation can broadcast data in real time over an Ethernet connection to other Facility Net systems not actually connected to instrumentation. Network stations can support a terminal server, allowing multiple users to connect and run the application simultaneously.

Through real-time networking, data can be viewed and analyzed from the convenience of an office. Through use of a central file server, office network stations can be configured to display data from any combination of instruments reported from the real-time stations.