Page 30 of catalogue Bus, identification and control systems of ifm Electronic GmbH

Controllers / Gateways, network extension

Controllers / Gateways, network extension

System description

Controllers / Gateways · Introduction AS-i controllers, gateways, masters and repeaters are elementary components of AS-i networks. These components are most of the time placed in the control cabinet and ensure Data communication, extension and power supply of the connected slaves, Sensors and actuators. AS-i master The master, as its name suggests, performs the most important function in every AS-interface network. It is responsible for the control of the complete communication. AS-i is a single master system. This means that max. one master is permitted at a time. The master controls the cyclical data transfer with the connected slaves, monitors the replies and makes the data available to the host. The host most of the time consists of a plc or an equivalent controller processing the AS-i data. Gateways AS-i gateways, also called couplers, connect the AS-interface to a higherlevel bus system. Thus, the advantages of both systems can be combined. The advantages of AS-i as the bus of the first automation level are its easy handling, fast data transmission, low costs and quick mounting technology. Via fieldbus gateways, e.g. to the Profibus DP, several AS-i installations can be connected to a control room over greater distances, e.g. in a mounting Hall. As the fieldbus is most of the time considerably slower, decentralised data preprocessing in the gateway is often required. Here ifm electronic offers the AS-i controller family as gateways with integrated plc.

The automation pyramid.
networking WAN, Internet TCP / IP visualisation LAN, H1, Ethernet, Profinet

control

Interbus, DeviceNet, Modbus, Profibus, CAN

processing

AS - interface

input/output

Controller e family.

Controller family In the ifm controller e family the components AS-i master, controller and fieldbus or serial interface are integrated into one unit. This high integration density enables very short cycle times between the AS-i master and the plc. The optionally mounted fieldbus slave can be configured in such a way that only the required AS-i data are transmitted, so that the fieldbus is not strained unnecessarily. In addition to the AS-i data, parameters and error messages all analogue values can also be gradually transmitted via a command channel.

Visit our website: www.ifm-electronic.com

30