Android IO library for the BieMme Pltouch

In a previous article we introduced the Pltouch, a brand new Android-based HMI with an additional set of I/O pins addressable directly from the Java source code. 

In this post, we would like to explain the rationale behind the Android IO library that is provided free of charge in every Pltouch. This Android Java library acts as a bridge between the Android world and the low level I/O pins.

Once the library has been imported in an Eclipse workspace there are two ways in order to structure your app’s code. In both cases you have to

  • Create an instance of the Android IO library
  • Store this reference in the activity class (like for instance using private/public class field)
  • Call the initialization method

Let’s go through every point and expand each one with examples.

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Industrial Automation: An introduction to the Pltouch

Pltouch processors schemaHome and industrial automation projects employ a big set of products, such as sensors, touch screens, external modules, PLCs and HMIs in order to solve specific problems and dealing with special requirements. The current scenario shows that the logic and the user interface are frequently managed by different components, using a common bus in order to communicate and modify statuses. 

Based on this state of the art, our research and development lab, designed and created a brand new product with the aim of merging some of the products presented above, in order to reduce complexity, enhance user interface experience and especially reduce the costs.

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