Getting Started with SIMx52/SIMx62 HMI Modules

1 Pick your Module & Get a Dev Kit

There are dozens of different Serious Integrated HMI Module (SIMs): your first step is to choose the right SIM for your application.

Developing for the SIMx52 and SIMx62 families is a “build-your-own” dev kit approach: purchase the SIM of your choice along with a SIM Development Kit Accessory (SIMDKA) package. Purchase a SIM + Dev Kit Accessory pack at any of our authorized distributors.

2 Got your SIM + Dev Kit Accessory Pack?    Power it Up!

The SIM Development Kit Accessory (SIMDKA) package contains a 110/220VAC to 12V power adapter and an adapter cable from the barrel jack of the wall adapter to the green 3.5mm industrial connector on the SIM. Plug the power adapter into the wall, then the barrel plug into the supplied barrel jack adapter, then the green plug gently into the green socket on the SIM.

Be sure to connect the power + and – wires correctly or you will damage your unit. Consult the SIMx52 Technical Reference Manual (TRM) or SIMx62 Technical Reference Manual (TRM) if you have any doubt on the correct connection of the power supply to the unit.

Many SIMs purchased in single unit (-01) packages have a built-in demo installed. If you purchased a production multi-pack (-05 or -10), there will a (fairly unimpressive!) manufacturing GUI installed.  Either way, once the unit is powered, the on-board firmware will execute and any installed GUI should start running and displaying info on the LCD screen.

If there’s a demo installed on the SIM, go ahead and explore it!  It was developed using the Serious Human Interface™ Platform (SHIP) rapid GUI development system, including the SHIPTide GUI Development IDE and is less than a few hundred lines of code (really!).

Note: the USB Micro B connector on Generation 5 SIMs cannot power the unit. Connecting the USB cable to the PC will only enable communications and not power the unit.

3 Download SHIPtide and Connect

In order to build a GUI and uploaded it to your module, you’ll first need to download the no-cost tools from Serious. SHIPTide is the IDE where you develop your GUIs for downloading into your SIM. SHIPTide also has built-in communications and firmware upgrade capabilities for managing your SIM’s configuration.

Download and Install SHIPTide

For the Gen5 SIMx52 and SIMx62 series of modules, use SHIPTide 5.2 or later, downloadable from the www.mySerious.com portal.

Note: SHIPTide is only supported on Windows 10 64-bit systems.

Download SHIPTide 5.2 and install it on your PC. This download/install not only installs the SHIPTide tool, but also Windows USB custom drivers as well as the SHIPHarborMaster application. SHIPHarborMaster is a separate background app that sits in your Windows toolbar and monitors connect/disconnect events from Serious modules (both SIMs and SCMs) as well as brokers the conversation between the USB subsystem and higher level applications such as SHIPTide.

Run SHIPTide and Connect

You can run SHIPHarborMaster directly – SHIPTide does not need to be running to connect a PC to a SIM – however the easiest way to start is by running SHIPTide which auto-launches the SHIPHarborMaster background task. With the module powered and connected via USB, the drivers will recognize the module and give a Windows 10 notification of the connected unit as shown here.
Within SHIPTide you will also see all connected devices in the “Devices:” pulldown:

Update the SIM’s Firmware

You can easily, within SHIPTide, see what firmware versions are installed on the unit and the Serious Serial Number of the unit: click on Tools>Firmware Update to bring up the Firmware Update panel.

The panel shows the installed firmware versions and the serial number of the unit. It also, if you are connected to the internet, enables you to browse active, retired, and experimental firmware bundles available from Serious. You can, directly from this panel, select, download, and install a new firmware bundle onto your SIM.

If this panel shows a newer firmware release is available for your SIM than currently installed, go ahead and update your SIM now: it will only take a moment. You’ll see the SIM reboot and firmware being installed, then an additional reboot.  SHIPTide will show the module disappear and reappear as the module reboots.  When complete, you can go back into the Firmware Update panel and see the new firmware revision(s) you installed.

Note there are three firmware objects in every SIM: two boot loaders and the SHIPEngine GUI management firmware.  You can learn more about the SHIPv5 boot system here.

3 Build & Run First GUI

We know you’re eager to get your own GUI started! Dive right in. Within SHIPTide, click the Project->New menu and choose your SIM: Now give it a project name and choose a simple starting template for your GUI: You’ll now see a very simple GUI in SHIPTide’s workspace. Go ahead! Let’s build this GUI and install it into your SIM! Click Project->Build & Export and SHIPTide will “compile” your project and and prompt you to upload it to the SIM:

4 What’s Next?

Now it’s time to dig deeper into SHIPTide and how to build that rich and modern GUI you’ve always wanted for your product.

Time for a little watching and learning:

Serious Documentation Zone

The Serious Documentation area has a wealth of information:

  • applications notes
  • example projects
  • training videos
  • reference manuals for SHIP concepts

mySerious.com Portal

The mySerious.com portal contains many downloads for your SIM, including:

  • Technical Reference Manual (TRM)
  • Mechanical Design Package (MDP), including STEP file models of your SIM
  • SHIPTide updates

Don’t Get Stuck!

Product Safety

Please follow general Product Safety practices to avoid any situation which could damage your SIM or create hazardous conditions. More detailed information specific to your product will be available in the Technical Reference Manual.

SIMx62 HMI Module Families

Serious Touch Solutions

SIMx62 HMI Module Families

High Performance & Larger LCDs for Leading-Edge Embedded HMI Projects

Powered by the Renesas RZ/G1E MPU with 1GHz dual Cortex-A7 cores, SIMx62 delivers high UX performance, including video playback

No-cost built-in SHIPEngine firmware — no drivers or embedded coding required

No-cost SHIPTide GUI development tools ensure rapid time to a modern, production-ready GUI with absolute minimal coding

The Core of your Next Embedded System Innovation

Products Details

Related Products

SIM862 10.1″ HMI

SIM862 10.1″ HMI

SIMx62 Technical Product Brief (TPB)

SIM862 is in limited production; full production is scheduled for Q3 2019.

SIM862 is an Extended Lifetime Product and recommended for new designs

The SIM862 features a big, bold 10.1″ high resolution wide-screen 1280×800 or 1024×600 color LCD powered by the Renesas RZ/G1E MPU with 1GHz Dual Cortex A7 cores. Utilizing our proprietary SHIPEngine firmware, the SIM862 delivers a large array of options for front panel applications with industrial, commercial and medical applications.

Featuring built-in RS485/UART and high-speed USB connectivity, SIMx62 family members are easily integrated into existing system designs. The 30-pin expansion connector provides further expandability to custom daughter-cards or off-the-shelf Serious Communications/Control Modules for extensive connectivity (including WiFi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, RSxxx, CAN, and more) as well as powerful system control.

 

Explore these options compared to the SIM862:

  • SIM552 without video playback in a cost-effective 7″ form factor
  • SIM562 for similar features/performance in a more cost-effective 7″ form factor

FEATURES & VARIANTS

Processor and Memory
  • Renesas RZ/G1E Dual 1GHz ARM Cortex A7 MCU
  • 256MB DDR1333 DDR3 DRAM 
  • 4GB e.MMC storage for program, non-volatile data, and files system storage
  • μSDCard socket for (user supplied) memory cards for file system expansion and firmware/GUI updates
Integrated graphics/touch and audio I/O:
  • Integrated LCD with optional touch controller and ambient light sensor for high brightness LCD options
  • Integrated audio codec/amplifier with line/headphone, headphone detect, and 3W speaker outputs
  • External codec/amplifier support
Numerous communications ports
  • USB 2.0 high speed 480mbps host port A connector
  • USB 2.0 high speed 480mbps device port Micro B connector
  • RS422/485 port with selectable duplex and termination
  • 3.3V UART with transmit control (separate from RS485 port)
Simple in-chassis connectivity
  • Direct Dock to Generation 5 Serious Comms/Control Modules (SCMs, e.g. SCM318)
  • 16-pin JST ZPD series wire-to-board connector (RS485/UART, Power, RESET#)
  • 6-pin industrial 3.5mm pluggable connector (RS485, Power)
  • 4-pin audio headphone/line out connector and 3-pin speaker connector
Wide Operating Range
  • 10.8-35VDC wide range power supply input
  • -40 to +85C operating temperature range components (further limited by LCD option)256
FEATURE/VARIANTA01A05
LCD
Size (inches)5″ (SIM362), 7″ (SIM562), 10.1″ (SIM862)
Touch OptionsCapacitive, Resistive, None
Operating Range
Vin10.8-35.0 VDC
Operating Temp-40 to +85C (further limited by LCD)
MCU & Storage
FamilyRenesas RZ/G1E
Core1GHz Dual Cortex A7
e.MMC Flash (MB)4096
RAM TypeDDR3
RAM Size (MB)256
µSDCard SocketYN
Peripherals
Battery Backed RTCCY
Ambient Light SensorSee LCD
Audio OutputI2S
Line Out
3W Amp
I2S
Connectivity
Host Port/Speed (Mbps)480 
USB Host A ConnectorYN
Device Port/Speed (Mbps)480480
USB Device µB ConnectorYY
UART11
RS422/485 Transceiver10
2×15 Board-To-Board 1,27mm”YY
16-pin JST Wire HarnessYN
6-pin Industrial 3,5mmYN

LCD OPTIONS

See LCD Options for definitions and codes. Additional options may be available; contact your local Serious representative for details.

Capacitive Touch Options

LCD Option

C85ALSFF

C43ALSFE

C33ALSFA

Size (inches)

10.1

10.1

10.1

Pixels (w x h)

1280×800

1280×800

1280×800

Touch

Capacitive

Capacitive

Capacitive

Cover Glass

3mm+ w/ASF

3mm+

1mm+

Brightness (typ NITs)

800+

400+

300+

Backlight Life (typ hrs)

50,000

30,000

30,000

Viewing Technology

IPS

IPS

IPS

Color Depth (bits)

24

24

24

Operating Temp

-20/+70C

-20/+70C

-20/+70C

Ambient Sensor

 
Resistive Touch Options

LCD Option

R33ALSFA

Size (inches)

10.1

Pixels (w x h)

1280×800

Touch

Resistive

Cover Glass

1mm+

Brightness (typ NITs)

300+

Backlight Life (typ hrs)

30,000

Viewing Technology

IPS

Color Depth (bits)

24

Operating Temp

-20/+70C

Ambient Sensor

 
Non-Touch Options

LCD Option

N43ALSFN

Size (inches)

10.1

Pixels (w x h)

1280×800

Touch

None

Cover Glass

None

Brightness (typ NITs)

400+

Backlight Life (typ hrs)

30,000

Viewing Technology

IPS

Color Depth (bits)

24

Operating Temp

-20/+70C

Ambient Sensor

 

DEVELOPMENT TOOLS AND SOFTWARE

SHIPTide GUI Development IDE

  • Pixel accurate page layout
  • Built-in media support: jpg, png, bmp, tif, ttf, wav, and more
  • Windows 10 based

SHIPEngine Runtime GUI Engine

  • Licensed with every SIM
  • Runs GUIs generated by SHIPTide
  • Handles graphics, touch, communications, events, and more

SIMx52 and SIMx62 (“Generation 5”) HMI modules are supported by SHIP v5.2.

Learn More about the Serious Human Interface™ Platform (SHIP)

 

 

DEVELOPMENT KITS

The SIMx52 and SIMx62 Development Kits

SIMx52 and SIMx62 HMI modules are supported by SIM Dev Kit Accessory (SIMDKA) packages. Just purchase separately the individual HMI module of your choice, and add the appropriate DKA as a build-your-own dev kit.

SIMx52/x52 Dev Kit Accessories