Prof. Xie Xie

Best of all, this document is available for download on the Opto 22 website!
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SUNY New Paltz ECE faculty member, Michael Otis is the recipient of the second OptoGreen Grant.
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Professor Otis and several of his students are working with The Solar Energy Consortium (TSEC) on "The Greening of New York State Farms".
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They plan on using the donated SNAP PAC System hardware & software for two pilot programs: Wright's Apple Farm in Gardiner, NY and Davenport's Farm in Stone Ridge, NY.Part of the grant includes a SNAP PAC Learning Center for future projects - a dairy farm and a vineyard are already in the works.These pilot programs will pave the way for future endeavors with all types of agri-businesses throughout New York State.

In other interesting Green related news, the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) announced yesterday that Intel Corp. joined Green-e Marketplace with the largest single purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) in history, representing 1.3 Million MWh of the electricity used to power its facilities throughout the U.S.

It is nice to see Intel following Opto's lead!
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In early January, the Opto 22 video team traveled to Lumenyte, a fiber optic lighting manufacturer in Foothill Ranch, CA, to shoot a video case study of their process control application.

Camera Crew - Lumenyte Display RoomCamera Crew - Lumenyte FactoryI was very excited when we arrived and they led us into a room that had examples of some of the different applications that use their products on display.When I think of Fiber Optic Lighting, I think of amusement parks but their display showed exactly how diverse fiber optic lighting really is.
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That is something I don't see everyday.

Lumenyte PipesDuring the filming process, the guys from Lumenyte were great and had some very interesting stories to tell.They talked about being presented an American flag from the military and how many American lives their homeland security products have saved.Way to go guys!
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It is once again my honor and pleasure to have been a part of the latest PAC Seminar to be held in China.Opto 22 and APT will be offering FREE Seminars every month this year in different cities in China.We will be visiting Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Nanshan and perhaps even your town.We will not stop until everyone gets and installs a Free copy of PAC Project Basic.

We started at the nations capitol Beijing on January 18th, 2008.Attendees got a detailed description of the Opto 22 products roadmap for 2008.You want to see it?Well just contact me or APT to schedule your attendance at one of our China seminars this year.

We had 71 attendees and including us staff had over 80 people in attendance at the first seminar.Many have attended our seminar last year which was also blogged.Also in attendance were systems integrators from the Wind Power field, Petrochemical, Petroleum, Water and Wastewater and Energy Management industries.It was quite a crowd.

The next day January 19th APT scheduled a full day training course for those who wanted to spend their Saturday learning about PAC Project.We had 10 PCs, 10 SNAP-PACLCs and 20 chairs.Well, 35 people showed up so we all quickly became close friends.

Zheng Hui of Beijing office gave the Saturday training and Sunday 15 came back for Q&A with me. People can't PAC enough these days.
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Come join the PAC family!
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But when I talked to John Hyatt our web developer, and Robert Leonard our IT manager, about what they were doing before Opto, I found out they had quite a story to tell.
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But when I talked to John Hyatt our web developer, and Robert Leonard our IT manager, about what they were doing before Opto, I found out they had quite a story to tell.
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High falls, street fights and getting hit by cars are just a few of the stunts John and Robert performed before they came to Opto 22.
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They both began with positions at the popular, Southern California theme park, Knott's Berry Farm, and again and again, they would watch the extraordinary stunts performed in the Wild West Show.After much time inquiring and meeting the right people, they were able to get into a stunt school which consisted of one teacher and an entire backyard of props, including an old car to practice getting hit.

During their training they landed their first big show as stunt men in a Sting music video!The 1980's song is called "We'll be Together" and you can watch it on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgA3T1wtBIg.

Next, with stunt school behind them and their newly acquired experience, they were able to accomplish their first goal of being regular stunt men in the Wild West Show.
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When the show began touring in Japan, one of the cast members was injured and they called Robert to take his place.
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The show ran for many months in Japan and was so large they needed almost 60 trailers to move it.
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Thanks for getting to know Opto!
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I don't want to give too much of the video away, but Paywerks, Inc. builds automatic toll payment machines that are used in many cities across the nation.
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You can see from the pictures that they even gave us stylish vests that they said were for safety reasons (but, I am pretty sure they were fashion statements).
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"What'd you do in Hawaii?"asked a coworker when I returned, still looking pale."Didn't you go to the beach?"

"Briefly," I replied."I also discussed options for automating a hydroelectric plant on Maui with my favorite alternative energy expert."

Okay, so I'm a nerd.

That breakfast conversation had quickly required something to write on.He'd drawn a basic circuit, while I wondered how many projects start with scribbles in a restaurant.I drew his same logic as a simple flowchart at the bottom of the notebook page:

SketchFrontAlthough his logic could be done on a brain, I recommended a controller."It's a little more expensive," I explained, "but you can write a control 'strategy,' with a chart like ours."I told him how the system would be easier to troubleshoot and expand later if he used PAC Control software.

I felt disturbingly like a sales person, but he got the PAC concept.He liked how the (free!) PAC Project Software Suite that comes with each controller would also give him the option of using the included PAC Display software--for easy-to-program user interface screens.I could almost hear the gears turning in his head.

"That's sounds good," he said, "because later we might also want to ,"

Seems like there's always that: "later we might ," Good thing PAC systems are easy to expand."Did I mention you also get free training in Temecula?"I asked."So you can come visit me."

I even got to see a large part of Maui's Makila hydro, which happened to be visiting Oahu, too:

(This is a before picture; it looks much lovelier now.)

Turns out they "might also want to" measure some temperatures around the old Allis-Chalmers turbine via a half-dozen or so thermocouple wires."You can do that with just one of our 8-channel thermocouple modules," I explained with pride, since I'd added the support for those into our brain and controller firmware.Chevron has been happily using about a gazillion of them since they came out: http://www.opto22.com/rss/optoproducts/2006/08/new snap high d.aspx

I was especially excited about the prospect of Opto 22 being a part of this green-in-many-ways project, since it involves not just renewable energy, but recycled machinery.The original hydro, over 75 years old, once provided power for a sugar mill which closed in 1999.It went online again just a few weeks before a 6.7 earthquake in October of 2006, which was followed by a brush fire. (That poor generator would've felt at home in Southern California.)

The old generator, newly rewound and re-refurbished, should be up and running again soon, with a few improvements (like the controls).Although the SNAP PAC System will be easy to install, I think I'll need to "help" and visit that Makila Hydro, in Maui's Kauaula Valley, which just happens to have some of my very favorite shades of green...
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Atesys, our distribution partner in Italy, has just recently published two Ad's in Italian automation magazines, "Automazione Oggi" and "Automazione e Strumentazione".The first ad is the one featuring Tommy Leung, one of our engineers, in the "THE SNAP-PAC IS SIMPLE" Ad.
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The second publication is our very recent "Jam PAC'ed" Ad, featuring the technical features of the SNAP-PAC System.

This last week the SNAP-PAC was in Guangzhou, China about two hours north of Shenzhen and Hong Kong in the South (22degrees 46'30"N and 113degrees 41'20" Google Earth Coordinates).Compared to Beijing this time of year when it is snowing, Guangzhou keeps a nice 15C temperature.APT (OptoTech) Opto 22's Distributor for the mainland organized the event.

On November 23rd 50 of our newest friends joined us for a full day presentation on the SNAP-PAC Components, product roadmap and half day training on PACProject.The conference also went over a few recent case studies from Sinopec, ECOPetrol, Daqing Gas, Konica, Doosan, Posco and Burket.As always if you would like the presentations for this seminar please email me and put 'Sinopec Seminar' as the subject heading.

For those of you that have Youtube access please click here for an brief but eye opening video of the conference.

... We start with the attendees trickling in at 9a.m. some images of how we decorated for the event, then product demonstrations, then lunch then detailed technical training including how to use OptoDataLink, Remote OPC Scanners and High Speed Control!

The seminar was a hit and all 50 attendees received the highly anticipated 2008 Opto 22 Calender that includes pictures of some of your favorite software, controllers, brains and I/O.Attendees came from near and far including Shenzhen Water Group, Sinopec, Photovoltaic Manufacturers (Solar Panels), wind Power.For a digital version of the calender please email me with the subject line (Opto 22 Calender).

Now we are off to Shenzhen where we will have a Saturday seminar.We have the smartest and hardest working team in the mainland.Enjoy the youtube, the slideshow and the pics.
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As a follow-up to a previous blog post on our annual Turkey Trot Golf Tournament, I am pleased to present this year's winners: Coming in First place with a score of 96 was the Chris Ibbeson and Doug Scarr team, pocketing a cool $200 in winnings.Second place honors go to the Sal Rosales and Viengvilay Viphakone pair with a score of 98 along with $150 in prize money.

The Benson Hougland and Ron Koss twosome tied the Jean Femia and Tom Parnakian team for third place finish at 100.In the nail-biting sudden-death putt-off, Benson and Ron prevailed, officially winning third place in the tournament, and banking the $100 winnings.
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Thanks for reading about this year's Turkey Trot and thanks for getting to know Opto!
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With the Thanksgiving holiday and two training classes, November was, no surprise, a busy month for the training group.

Training Clas 11/05/2007The first training class in November was held November 5th thru November 8th.The class roster included Scott B. from Alaska Native Medical Center, Raul G. from Energar, Darryl L. from Lennox Industries, Tony B. and Eric C. from Messier-Bugatti USA, Chris F. and Thad I. from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Nathan R. from Entegris Corporation, and Morris S. from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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Thanks to all these guys for coming out especially Raul and Scott who had to travel the farthest.
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This class included Arturo G., Luis G., Robert R., and William H. from Dole.
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Also, in attendance, there was Richard P. from First Energy Corp., Michael S. from FluidIQs, Kevin B. from Metalast, and Candance R. and Michael G. from NCUT in Canada.
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Also, in attendance, there was Richard P. from First Energy Corp., Michael S. from FluidIQs, Kevin B. from Metalast, and Candance R. and Michael G. from NCUT in Canada.
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Also, in attendance, there was Richard P. from First Energy Corp., Michael S. from FluidIQs, Kevin B. from Metalast, and Candance R. and Michael G. from NCUT in Canada.
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If you have been paying attention, you may have noticed that we have had quite a few people from Dole out to training lately.One gentleman explained the reason why as "We have Opto 22 all over our plant but never have a problem with it so that is why we don't know anything about it."
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However, this year it's 80 deg.F (26 deg.C) in sunny Temecula and not a hint of winter on the horizon.

The Opto 22 Turkey Trot became a tradition in 2000 when Opto 22's founder decided to put a nine-hole putting green on the property.Originally, the Trot was played individually and the winner would receive a putter.However, starting in 2004 it became a partner game with four different rounds including best ball, best score, alternating hits, and both player's total hits.
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Stay tuned for the results!

And for those of you in the U.S., happy soon-to-be Turkey Day!

Thanks for getting to know Opto!
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I reckon I could be accused of shamelessly tooting the Opto horn from time to time.But I'm not the only one.We get regular feedback from our customers and partners.Most of the time, it's about our knowledgeable engineers who provide free product support, the awesome free training course and facility, and our spot-on pre-sales engineering assistance (there I go again).

But I recently received the following feedback with permission to reprint--or re-type as might be more appropriate for a blog entry.So I'm thrilled to share with you this recent feedback from Jeffrey Turner from Johnson Controls Inc.:
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Norma (in Product Support) -- the subroutines you sent me work perfectly as you sent them.I have been working on a control strategy over 11 and 12 hour days for the past few weeks...and you can't imagine how valuable your assistance was.I realize that you're paid to do this work, but as far as I'm concerned, I owe you a favor.If you ever need information on HVAC controls, feel free to call me.

I am astounded at what powerful tools PAC Basic and Display are -- if you have this, who needs PLCs?I am looking forward to more great projects here at Johnson Controls using this incredible tool.
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SNAP-PAC-S2 introduced in Santiago, Chile. www.aieexpo.cl Hola PAC Fans,

It is once again my great honor to be a part of an International PAC Event.This week the SNAP-PAC joins our South American Distributor of 27 years Interlog Ltda in Santiago, Chile.Interlog is one of our oldest and most successful partners.Their expertise ranges throughout South America and their specialty includes the electrical utilities, water utilities, fish industries, pulp & paper and of course mining.

Chile is after all the largest producer of Copper in the world.I have used their references in many presentations to mining and metallurgy groups throughout the world.They have used all products from relays to Optomux, Pamux, Mistic to now SNAP-PACs.

This week Interlog was exhibiting at the AIE Expo in Santiago Chile.You can find more information on the event at www.aieexpo.cl.The event featured all the usual suspects in the Automation field and I was lucky enough to be able to present on the SNAP-PACs in modern DCS and SCADA applications.Check out the pictures below.It was a great stand and we got a chance to reconnect with old clients and make some new friends.

We spoke with customers from Mining, Telecom, Electricity, Cement, Pulp & Paper and Food Processing.We had a great time and look forward to next year's event.
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Folks - I was digging through some old Opto 22 file folders, and I came upon a very interesting memo.
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Being "Green" is a very fashionable thing lately, so I thought I'd give a shout out to those who kicked it Green back in the day ... OG ("Orignal Green").
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I was walking down the hall last Friday, my usual path to the coffee machine, and saw Chery Cirigliano, who works in Inside Sales.I asked her what her plans were for the weekend.She smiled, chuckled and said she and Ron Schmidt, who is an Opto Electrical Engineer, would be attending the Perris Fair, like they have for the last two years, because Ron was going to be racing.

"Racing what?"I was curious."A tractor," she explained.I was intrigued."How often do you guys race?"I found out they had been participating for the last 15 years.I just moved to Temecula about 3 months ago and I'm not familiar with the area, let alone its history, so this was really interesting.Chery and Ron have worked with Opto for over 24 years and have lived in Temecula for the past 18 years--since 1989.