16/11/99 - Information: AS-Interface Master for PC based Automation
The AS-Interface Master Company
The Technology within PC systems (both hardware and software) has developed greatly with the price reduction in the Industry. This is one reason why PC based systems have been used in ever wider applications, including industrial automation. In addition automation solutions have increrasing access to PC based systems for graphical representation and control. In particular the connection between PC system and fieldbus offers the possibility for very powerful and inexpensive solutions. The high-quality industrial I/O devices are put to use decentrally while the PC is used as an efficient hard- and software basis for the purposes of control and visualization.
The use of AS-Interface with PC systems is facilitated by the range of interface possibilities such as PCs in combination with soft PLCs, own application software in C, C++, Pascal, Delphi, Visual Basic etc., or the use of graphical packages. With considerable expertise in this field Bihl+Wiedemann offers all common hard- and software interfaces for PC based automation. Bihl+Wiedemann offers the right AS-Interface master solution for each application.
Do you require a special solution that is not in our product range yet ? Please turn to us. We will try to offer you a solution as soon as possible.
As early as 1995 the first PC board as an AS-Interface Master was introduced by Bihl+Wiedemann. Today there are many different hard and software solutions from Bihl+Wiedemann that aid the use of AS-Interface in combination with PC based automation. The AS-Interface specification 2.1 and its new features such as the extension to 62 slaves on one master, the integration of the analogue value processing inside the AS-Interface Master and more detailed diagnostics (display of peripheral faults) are already implemented in Bihl+Wiedemann s masters.
The right master solution for every problem.
| Bezeichnung | AS-Interface PCI Board | AS-Interface PC2 | AS-Interface PC/104 Master | AS-Interface/Ethernet TCP/IP Gateway | AS-Interface Master with serial interface |
AS-Interface Master M-Modul |
| Artikel Nr. | BW1195 | BW1081 | BW1065 | BW1177/BWU1651 | diverse | BW1066 |
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| PC-Interface | PCI-Bus | ISA-BUS | PC/104 | Ethernet TCP/IP | serial interface | M-Modul Standard for VMEbus systems |
AS-Interface PCI Board (with 2 AS-Interface Mastern)
The AS-Interface PCI Board offers the functionality of two complete AS-Interface Masters on a PCI Board. The PCI Board works with „Plug and Play“. Up to 4 AS-Interface PCI Masters can be used simultaneously in one PC. The AS-Interface PCI Board meets the requirements for industrial use.
An event mechanism provides a fast data exchange between the AS-Interface board and the PC. This allows for a greater resource to be available to the application program, which equates to an improved performance of the system. The AS PCI Board is extremely suitable for PCs with PCI slots.
AS-Interface PC2 for ISA slots
AS-Interface PC2 offers the functionality of a complete AS-Interface Master on a short PC-board. Only 3 bytes of the I/O area are used by the DPRAM interface to the PC. Nevertheless this fact provides for an easy embedding of AS-Interface PC2 in any PC operating system (special drivers). The address of the AS-Interface PC Board at the ISAbus can be detected via software.
Up to 8 AS-Interface PC2-Boards can be used simultane-ously in one PC and can share one interrupt. The board meets the requirements for industrial use. The AS-Interface PC Board is suitable for PCs with ISA slots.
AS-Interface PC104 Master
The AS-Interface PC104 Master offers the same functionality as the AS-Interface PC2 Board.
As well as the use in PC/104 systems, this AS-Interface Master module can be implemented as embedded AS-Interface Master into specific controllers.
AS-Interface/Ethernet TCP/IP Gateway
The AS-Interface/Ethernet TCP/IP Gateway serves to connect the Actuator-Sensor-Interface to a hierachically higher Ethernet. The Gateway acts as 2 complete Masters for the AS-Interface and as a 256 bit digital I/O module for Ethernet. The AS-Interface/Ethernet TCP/IP Gateway serves as the connection of the Actuators-Sensors-Interface to Ethernet. The Gateway consists of 2 AS-Interface Masters and 1 Ethernet TCP/IP interface (Article No.BW1177).
The AS-Interface/Ethernet TCP/IP Gateway is an easy to use device to link the AS-Interface directly to the company network. While the Gateway is located near the application, the PC remains in the room with the master display. Modbus is used as fieldbus application layer. Other protocols can be implemented on request.
AS-Interface Masters with seral
interface
These AS-Interface Masters can be connected via the serial interface (e.g. RS232) to a PC or a specific controller very easily.
All AS-Interface functions can be called via the serial interface. The AS-Interface data can be transmitted using the B+W protocol with a high transfer rate. At 57600 Baud and with 31 connected AS-Interface slaves the cycle time on the serial interface is 10 ms. During this period, 16 byte AS-Interface input data, 16 byte AS-Interface output data and 1 byte AS-Interface Flags are exchanged. Serial protocols of particular control systems can be implemented on request.
AS-Interface Master as M-Modul
The AS-Interface Master as M-Module is suitable for the use in the VMEbus world through carrier boards.
As well as the use in VMEbus or other systems through carrier boards
(for example 3U or 6U carrier boards), this AS-Interface Master module can be
implemented as embedded AS-Interface Master into specific controllers.
All Bihl+Wiedemann AS-Interface Masters offer the whole AS-Interface functionality (AS-Interface Master according to AS-Interface Master profile M1). Furthermore the specification 2.1 is already implemented in Bihl+Wiedemann`s AS-Interface Masters. Many useful functions which go far beyond the requirements of a standard AS-Interface Master are implemented. The accumulated experience of making thousands of AS-Interface masters has been brought to bear on our current solutions.
Advanced AS-Interface Diagnostics
With Bihl+Wiedemann`s AS-Interface Masters it is simple to detect occasionally occuring configuration errrors at the AS-Interface. Furthermore there is the possibility to judge the quality of the data communication on the AS-Interface cable with an implemented error counter.
Bihl+Wiedemann AS-Interface Masters offer AS-Interface diagnostics which go far beyond the standard diagnostics of the AS-Interface specification. So problems which usually require additional expert tools and experts can be solved easily.
Very quick implementation of the AS-Interface
Masters
Bihl+Wiedemann`s Masters save the current I/O data directly in the DPRAM (or in another host interface e.g. with AS-Interface/Ethernet Gateway). The newest input data of the AS-Interface slaves is only 150µs old. The oldest input data is a maximum 5 ms (1 AS-Interface cycle) old. No time is wasted for intermediate storing of the input data in lists. Therefore the input data is a maximum 5 ms old per PC access.
DPRAM interface
All the important data of the AS-Interface PC boards can be read directly out of a DPRAM. The address mapping of the DPRAM is explained in the respective documentations. Therefore all PC boards can be easily operated with different operation systems.
Watchdog inside the AS-Interface Master
The watchdog can be activated in all AS-Interface Masters.
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The watchdog s task is to supervise the PC and to set the AS-Interface circuit (especially the outputs) to the offline phase in case of errors. The watchdog supervises the access to the AS-Interface Master (reading or writing on the DPRAM). If the AS-Interface Master is not triggered by a PC program at any time the program could have broken down or be stopped by a wrong operation. The watchdog time is set at the moment of activation. |
Preprocessing AS-Interface Control
„AS-Interface Control“ Mini PLC for AS-Interface
The preprocessing of the sensor-actuator data can take place inside the Master. The superior PC can be relieved for this duty.
Decentralised control tasks facilitate a shorter length for the commissioning of the plant. The execution of time critical operations is possible. The programming in AWL follows the syntax of STEP5®.
Interrupts
All AS-Interface Masters by Bihl+Wiedemann can be operated without interrupts (e.g. by simple reading and writing of a DPRAM). For very time-critical applications the ASi Master can be set to generate an interrupt. The AS-Interface Master can effect an interrupt in case of configuration errors at the AS-Interface network, in case of changes of the AS-Interface input data or cyclically with every AS-Interface cycle. Several AS-Interface Masters can share one interrupt.
AS-Interface Control Tools
All AS-Interface Masters from Bihl+Wiedemann can be operated with our projecting tool (software for configuration, programming and diagnostics for Bihl+Wiedmann`s Masters).
You can access all AS-Interface data. The AS-Interface Address Assistant is used for automatically addressing the AS-Interface slaves. You can read advanced diagnostic functions from the AS-Interface Masters . Furthermore there are simple DOS
Bihl+Wiedemann provides all common drivers for AS-Interface Masters, OPC server, NT driver, 16-bit and 32-bit dll drivers, etc. free of charge on the internet. In this way there is no need for a time-consuming licencing procedure with key disks etc. The latest drivers can be downloaded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It does not matter where problems occur with the use of the homepage users can ensure that they have got the right drivers. The drivers can also be ordered on disc
OPC-Server
The OPC server for the AS-Interface offers the possibility to exchange data between the respective AS-Interface Master and a SCADA software package via a standardized interface.
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In that way all Bihl+Wiedemann AS-Interface Masters can get connected to the leading graphics-based systems e.g. WinCC, RS View, Fix, Bridge View, Lab View, in Touch, Client. The „AS-Interface Control Tools“ can be used as configurator to commission the AS-Interface.. |
NT drivers
Fast device drivers to use the AS-Interface PC-Boards in combination with Windows NT can also be downloaded free of charge.
DLL interface for AS-Interface Masters
Bihl+Wiedemann provides AS-Interface DLLs for free. There are 16 bit DLLs for Windows 3.1/3.11 and 32 bit DLLs for Windows 95/98 and Windows NT. All variations of AS-Interface Masters use the same DLL interface.
MS DOS
With MS DOS it is quite easy to access the DPRAM directly. Furthermore there are drivers and sample programs.
Special operating systems, DPRAM solution
All AS-Interface I/O data and the most important lists exist in the DPRAM. The operation of the AS-Interface Master is very easy even with special operation systems.The address mapping of the DPRAM is explained in detail in the respective manuals.
Example programs as source code
There are several example programs as source code which demonstrate how to commision an AS-Interface Master and how to handle errors. For each application you can find examples about the use of the DLLs and also about the data exchange without driver (read and write I/O data) up to special configurations and error handling
Bihl+Wiedemann provides all common drivers for AS-Interface Masters, OPC server, NT driver, 16-bit and 32- bit dll drivers, etc. free of charge on the internet Even the simple configurator, the AS-Interface Control Tools with the whole functionality can be downloaded via the Internet. The newest drivers can be downloaded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It does not matter where problems occur with the use of the homepage users can ensure that they have got the right drivers. The drivers can also be ordered on disc.