UniStream PLC (PLC without Built-in HMI Panel)

The UniStream PLC is a line of PLCs with built-in I/Os that may be mounted on a DIN-rail. Unlike other UniStream Controllers, does not include a built-in HMI screen.

This PLC is appropriate for applications that need UniStream power and functionality, but that either do not require an HMI application, or that require a distributed HMI.

All UniStream PLCs support Virtual HMI--they can display HMI screens which you design in UniLogic in exactly the same way as for any other UniStream controller. You can display the HMI screens on:

UniStream Displays (USL), included in this release. UniStream Displays are a series of color touch-screens that support VNC.
UniStream Modular HMI panels (USP)
UniStream Built-in (on the panels integral to the device)
Any device screen that supports VNC

The series is available in three versions: Pro, Standard, and Basic.

Note that a model number that includes:

B10 refers to Pro version (e.g. USC-B10-T24)
B5 refers to Standard version (e.g. USC-B5-RA28)
B3 refers to Basic version (e.g. only for USC-B3-T20)

When you select your UniStream model in Hardware Configuration, only relevant options are available in UniLogic.

The following features are not supported by UniStream PLCs:

Video
Audio (including Buzzer)

Differences between B10, B5, and B3
Feature	B10 Pro	B5 Standard	B3 Basic
I/O Expansion via Uni-I/O	Yes		No
Remote I/O Expansion via Ethernet I/O Adapter (URB)	Up to 8		1
VFD	32		2
MicroSD	Yes		No*
Add-on COM modules	3		2
System Memory	6GB	3GB	3GB
MODBUS Slaves	Unlimited		Up to 8
Ethernet/IP Scanners	16		1
Ethernet/IP Adapters	32		8
Web Server	Yes	No	No
SQL Client	Yes	No	No
MQTT	Yes
PID Loops	64		2
Data Sampler/Trends	Yes		No
CSV files: creating/ reading	Yes		No
FTP, server/client	Yes		No
Saving Data Tables to SD	Yes		No*
Screenshots	Yes		No
Sending email attachments	Yes		No
USB device (programming port)	Yes		No**

This UniStream PLC feature enables the user to carry out certain task without the need to interact with the PLC via an HMI panel.

Programmers can create Action files in UniLogic and save them to a USB mass storage device, such as a flash drive. The end user can plug the drive into the PLC's USB port, and then press the Confirm button on the front of the PLC to run the file and execute the Actions. Actions include updating firmware and network settings, downloading applications, extracting log files and more and more.

Data	Read Data Samples Read Data Tables Read Retained Memory Write Retained Memory
Logs	Read System Logs Read Alarms Log
Updates	Update PLC Application Update Firmware
Communication	Read Network Settings Write Panel IP Write CPU IP Write DNS Settings
VNC Passwords	Full Access Read only
PLC Passwords	Add PLC Password Use Default Password Overwrite Current Password

In order for Actions to execute, the PLC must have permission. USB Action Permissions are set in the UniLogic project, and are written to the PLC at download.

Set Permissions and Create the File

Set Permissions: in Hardware Configuration, click Define allowed USB Actions, and check the Actions you want to allow the PLC to execute.
Create the file: check all the desired Actions, and save the file.

Note	If you select Write Retained Memory, you need to browse to the location of the .hex file that contains the Write data. Do not rename this file.

Copy all of the files that are created by the tool, and place them in the root folder of the USB storage drive.

Note that the USBF.xml file determines the Actions that will run.

You can create Action files that are limited to run on a specific PLC, by renaming the USBF.xml file to include the PLC's serial number, found on a sticker on the PLC's side.
The accompanying image shows the serial number U4RF0A00012. Renaming a USBF.xml file as USBF_U4RF0A00012.xml will limit the files to run only on this PLC.

Executing the Action Files

Confirm button: when the following instructions direct you to press the Confirm button, note that this means a simple, quick, press &release. Do not hold the button down.

Open the PLC's top door, and plug the USB drive into the PLC's USB port.
The PLC detects the USB drive, and checks the file; if the file is validated, the USB light turns a steady green.
Press the Confirm button on the front of the PLC to run the file and execute the Actions.
When the files starts running, the USB LED begins to blink, and blinks while the Actions are in progress.
Monitor the LED indications:

If the Actions were executed successfully, the USB LED will be steady green. If the Actions require PLC reset, the RUN LED will blink green; press the Confirm button to restart the system.
Note that after restart, the PLC will be in Run mode
If the Actions did not execute successfully, the Error LED will also blink red; disconnect the USB drive to dismiss the error. See the Error section below.

Action Logs

The PLC creates a time stamped Action log folder on the USB root.

This folder contains:

Files of data that have been read by the PLC; for example; the result of Read Network Settings will create a file
An Action log file, showing how Actions were executed. Note that if an Action fails to execute, the PLC proceeds to the next Action.

Errors

If the USBF.xml file does not pass validation, the Error LED blinks red, and the PLC creates a time stamped log file on the root of the USB drive. An example, which assumes that the file was manually edited, is shown in the following image.

A complete table of LED indications is in the next section.

UniStream PLC LED Indications

The following tables summarize USB and Error indications.

USB Actions LED Indications
LED, Color & State
RUN	ERROR	USB	Indication
		Green On	This LED turns steady green: when a USB drive detected with valid Action file(s), indicating that you can press CONFIRM to begin running them. when the files on the USB ran successfully.
		Green blink	USB Action in progress.
Green blink		Green On	USB Action requires reset; press CONFIRM to restart system
	Red blink	Off	USB drive detected, but contains corrupt Action file(s)
	Red blink	Green ON	USB Action ran with error – disconnect the USB drive to dismiss the error.

LED Indications
I/O LEDs	Color	Indication
Digital Input	Green	Input state
Analog Input	Red	On: Input value is in Overflow
Relay and Transistor Output	Green	Output state
Status LEDs	Color & State		Indication
RUN	Green	On	Run mode
	Green	Blink	This indication is in conjunction with the USB LED. See table below, USB Actions Indications, for details
	Orange	On	Start-up mode
	Orange	Blink	Stop mode
ERROR	Red	On/Blink	The Error LED can give indications in conjunction with the RUN and/or USB LED. See the next tables Error Indications and USB Actions Indications for details
USB	Green	On	A USB drive is detected that contains valid action file(s).
USB	Green	Blink	USB Action in progress
BATT. LOW	Red	On	Battery is low or missing
FORCE	Red	On	I/O Force on
Error Indications	LED, Color & State
	RUN	ERROR	USB	Indication
		Red blink	Off	One or more of the Actions in the USBF.xml file is corrupt – disconnect the USB drive to dismiss the error
		Red blink	On	One or more of the Actions in the USBF.xml Action has failed – disconnect the USB drive to dismiss the error
		Red blink	On	HW Configuration Mismatch – the HWC in the UniLogic application does not match the Uni-I/O modules physically connected to the PLC
	Orange blink	Red blink		Application Invalid or Version Mismatch (UniLogic version is not supported by device firmware)
		Red On		Uni-I/O Error (check wiring connections)
	Orange blink	Red On		OS/Application error

UniStream PLC (without Built-in HMI Panel)

USB Action Files

UniStream PLC LED Indications