4/11/99 - Information: Bihl+Wiedemann AS-Interface Master and the new Specification 2.1
easy design,
dramatically reduced installation costs,
high
integrity and
good diagnostics...
These are all reasons that effected the success of AS-Interface as the
simplest automation networking solution. But good things can still be improved.
For this reason the AS-International Association completed the new
AS-Interface specification 2.1
(Version 2.1) as early as 1998 to integrate further requirements of the market
into the system. One of the most important features of V2.1 is the extension up
to 62 slaves on one AS-Interface Master. Furthermore peripheral faults are
displayed on the slave and the AS-Interface Master. Analog slaves are directly
supported by the AS-Interface Master. For further information see “What is
new about AS-Interface?”
Bihl+Wiedemann GmbH, the “AS-Interface Master Company” is technologically advanced in all aspects of AS-Interface Masters. Evidence for this is the fact that Bihl+Wiedemann GmbH already exhibited the very first running V(ersion)2.1 AS-Interface Master at Hannover Fair 1999.
Bihl+Wiedemann GmbH is the first company to offer the new AS-Interface Master with serial interface (power supply A : article no. BW1198, power supply N: article no. BW1199) which is the very first V2.1 AS-Interface Master on stock. This provides the market with its first standard V2.1 AS-Interface Master.
The V2.1 AS-Interface Master is compatible with the existing (old) AS-Interface Masters with serial interface. As long as you do not use the functions of the new specification the V2.1 AS-Interface Masters run as V2.04 Masters. The user does not notice any difference.
Compatibility means :
In short: The user does not notice any difference when
using the V2.1 AS-Interface master as an “old” master .
The three most important features of AS-Interface Version 2.1 are: the
expansion to 62 slaves on one master,
the more detailed diagnostics
(display of peripheral faults) and
the simple connection of analog
slaves.
Furthermore the complete new specification 2.1 is integrated: all new
V2.1 commands are implemented as additional serial commands in the AS-Interface
master with serial interface.
A simple AS-Interface monitor (AASI_MON) is
included as well.
It is planned to deliver the most important AS-Interface V2.1 Masters at the same time as the release of the first V2.1 AS-Interface slave products.
In Bihl+Wiedemann GmbH products the change to specification 2.1 is achieved by means of using a new software only.
Because of its intensive participation in working groups of the AS-Interface association on the specification 2.1 Bihl+Wiedemann GmbH succeeded in achieving the new specifiaction through a software update.
The advantages are obvious:
This means that finally V2.1 AS-Interface masters and gateways can be made available to your requirements very quickly.
In 1996 Bihl+Wiedemann GmbH already developed the ASIC
BW1742 for the implementation in AS-Interface masters. The discrete design was
changed to solution using the ASIC BW1742. The AS-Interface masters based on
ASICBW1742 realize all V2.1 requirements.
Soon the new A²SI ASIC of ZMD around
which slaves just as masters can be built will be available. At the moment the
ASIC development is completed and released, also the use of the new A²SI
ASIC of ZMD as an alternative to ASICBW1742c will be supported. Prototypes of
AS-Interface masters based on A²S-i are already running.
For the customers
“developers” Bihl+Wiedemann GmbH offers an AS-Interface Slave
Evaluation Board based on the A²SI chip (Article no. BW1190). It is
suitable for experiments and test setups before the real layout.
The AS-Interface 4E/4A Module
(with wiring pin: article no. BW1218; with screw terminals: article no.
BW1219), which meets the requirements of the new AS-Interface according to
specification 2.1 is the board based solution for an AS-Interface slave. It
offers additionally 2 holes for mounting angulars. The board is completely
powered by AS-Interface. The inputs and outputs are short circuit protected and
overload protected.
Bihl+Wiedemann, the
AS-Interface Master Company assembled a start set (Article no. BW1217) for
everyone who wants to get started with the new AS-Interface according to
specification 2.1 There is all in it you need to get an overview. So you have
the possibility to get to know to the various functions of the millenium
modules.
As early as 1998 the Advanced
AS-Interface test tool, an easy to use development tool (Article no. BW1162)
for the test of V2.1 AS-Interface slaves was delivered. In this manner
Bihl+Wiedemann GmbH proved to be well prepared for the V2.1.
Another development tool for AS-Interface components on
offer is the “AS-Interface Function and EMC Test Environment”
(Article no. BW1059), a diagnosis tool for quality evaluation of AS-Interface
circuits.
Attention: Both new ASICs A²SI and SAP4 can be programmed by both the Advanced AS-Interface Test Tool and the AS-Interface Function and EMC Test Environment.
Bihl+Wiedemann GmbH provides
companies who are engaged in development of AS-Interface components with a
hotline service at the customer´s expense. Software and hardware
engineers help to solve special problems via telephone, fax or e-mail.
Furthermore Bihl+Wiedemann GmbH offers a development service for AS-Interface slaves and masters.