2 Controller Features
Trident Planning and Installation Guide
Controller Features
To ensure the highest possible system integrity at all times, the Trident controller
includes the following features:
• Provides Triple Modular Redundant (TMR) architecture, whereby each of
three identical channels independently executes the application, and
specialized hardware and software mechanisms vote all inputs and outputs.
• Withstands harsh industrial environments.
• Integrates the I⁄O module with the termination assembly.
• Enables field installation and repair to be done at the module level while the
controller remains online without disturbing field wiring.
• Supports up to 14 I⁄O modules. (If the controller includes AO or PI
Modules, up to 10 modules are supported.)
• Provides TriStation and Modbus communication directly from the Main
Processor (MP) or from the Communication Module (CM).
• Executes applications developed and debugged using TriStation.
• Provides a dedicated co-processor which controls the input and output
modules to reduce the workload of the MP. Each I⁄O module is supported by
custom application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), which scan inputs
and perform diagnostics to detect hardware faults. Output module ASICs do
the following:
– Supply information for voting of output data.
–Check I⁄O loop-back data from the output terminal for final validation of
the output state.
– Perform diagnostics to detect hardware and field-wiring problems.
• Provides integral online diagnostics with adaptive-repair capabilities.
• Allows normal maintenance while the controller is operating, without
disturbing the controlled process.
• Supports hot-spare I⁄O modules for critical applications for which prompt
service may not be possible.
• Provides integral support for redundant field and logic power sources.