Technical Data Sheet

fieldbus basics
The basics of fieldbus

Linking Device H1
H1
H1

High Speed fieldbus

Traditional I/O

H1 H1
H1

Point-to-Point Multi-drop Tree

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 The basics of fieldbus
FIELDBUS BASICS
Fieldbus is a digital, two-way, multi-drop
communication link among intelligent control
devices that will replace the 4-20 mA standard.
Let's break this definition down to give a little
clearer idea about why this is such a drastic
fieldbus basics
departure from today's technology.
First of all, fieldbus is digital. Although
computers, programmable logic controllers (PLCs),
and remote terminal units (RTUs) communicate
with each other digitally, most end devices (e.g.
valves, pressure transducers, switches, etc.) still use
analog signals to communicate.
For example, an analog value of 4 mA might
correspond to a pressure of no flow while a value of
20 mA might correspond to a 1000 GPM flow value.
With discrete devices, the presence of a signal might
represent a "closed" or "alarm" condition while the
absence of a signal might represent "open" or
"normal".
Two-way communications means that a value can
not only be read from the end device but it is now
possible to write to the device. For example, the
calibration constants associated with a particular
sensor can now be stored directly in the device itself
and changed as needed.
The multi-drop capability of a fieldbus will
perhaps result in the most immediate cost saving
benefit for users. With analog devices, a separate
cable needs to be run between the end device and the
control system because only a single analog signal
can be represented on the circuit.
Instrument
Interface
fieldbus
Transmitter
To Other fieldbus
Devices
FIGURE 1. Communications over a fieldbus require a fieldbus interface device in all of the devices.
Reference-4
Modern distributed systems partially solve this
problem by locating remote multiplexing devices out
in the field. The ultimate solution, however, is to be
able to connect a reasonable number of sensors all
located in the same area to the same cable. This is
exactly what fieldbus allows.
Finally, fieldbus will replace the 4-20 mA
standard, although this will not happen overnight.
There are millions of instruments in the world using
this standard right now, which does in fact have
some advantages. It is simple and well understood.
Devices from different suppliers using the 4-20 mA
standard can easily operate together (ie.
interoperate). More about this later.
Ultimately, however, a digital standard is
necessary to realize the benefits of fieldbus. Some
hybrid protocols, such as HART®, are now being
used to bridge this gap between analog and digital
technology. Using the HART protocol, the analog
signal is still used to transmit the process value
while a digital value is superimposed on top of the
analog value for exchanging additional information
with the device.
MORE THAN ONE FIELDBUS STANDARD
The term "fieldbus" is in fact a generic term.
Unfortunately, there are variety of fieldbuses in use
or evolving today. These buses fall into two general
areas: sensorbuses and fieldbuses. Sensorbuses are
currently used primarily in manufacturing
applications or other areas such as building heating,
ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) control
where such issues as security, intrinsic safety, and
fieldbus Communications
Interface (Round Board)
uP
Comm.
Stack
SW
Protocol
Chip
RAM
Media
Access To Host Computer
Unit System
fieldbus

Linking Device
High Speed fieldbus
Traditional I/O
H1 H1
H1
Point-to-Point Multi-drop
FIGURE 2. Fieldbus allows both low-speed and high-speed communications. Linking devices provide a bridge between
low and high speed as well as a path to other bus systems.
critical process control are not a major concern.
Sensorbuses often work with PLCs and provide a
cost effective solution where a large amount of
discrete or simple analog data acquisition and
control is taking place. Major sensorbuses today
include DeviceNet™ and LONWorks™.
Fieldbuses are designed to meet the stringent
requirements of the process industries. In addition
to the more stringent requirements for connection to
the fieldbus itself as mandated by the IEC 1158-2
standard, fieldbuses are designed to include more
features in their protocol to address issues of
performance, security, and error detection.
Depending on the fieldbus used, the protocol
provides a large suite of functions at the user layer
that facilitate distributing control from the central
control system out to the field devices themselves.
FOUNDATION FIELDBUS TECHNOLOGY
The rest of this description discusses
FOUNDATION™ fieldbus technology. Other
technologies are similar, but not as comprehensive,
as FOUNDATION fieldbus.
Communications over a fieldbus is achieved by
installing a fieldbus interface device in all of the
devices communicating over the fieldbus. One end
of this interface device connects to the fieldbus and
the other end to the sensor electronics or the host
computer system.
Rosemount Inc.
H1
H1
H1
fieldbus basics
PLC
Tree
Initially, these fieldbus interface devices are small
printed circuits that fit into the device or the host
computer system. Ultimately, these devices will be
little more than a single integrated circuit that can
be included in the device.
Fieldbus is designed to allow for both low-speed
and high-speed communications. Low-speed, or H1
fieldbus, is currently in use in the industry. High-
speed fieldbus is currently under development and
will use high-speed Ethernet at a speed of 100
Mbits/s. Linking devices will be developed for
bridging between low-speed and high-speed fieldbus
segments. These linking devices will also be used to
bridge to other bus systems such as DeviceNet
which handle high-speed contact I/O.
ACHIEVING INTEROPERABILTY
One of the primary goals of FOUNDATION fieldbus
technology is interoperability among different
manufacturers. FOUNDATION fieldbus takes a
rigorous approach to the area of interoperability
using Function Block and Device Description
Language (DDL) Technology.
Function blocks are provided through the use of a
standard function block shell included in the user
layer of the stack. These function blocks provide
standard functions such as analog input, digital
input, PID control, analog output, digital output,
etc., that can be included in the field devices.
Reference-5
 Currently, there are over 30 standard function
blocks supporting most functions ever encountered
in the process industries. These function blocks
were developed by a team of different manufacturers
working together so they do not merely represent
the requirements of a single control system supplier.
Any company that develops a device can be assured
that their device will be able to interoperate with
fieldbus basics
The Fieldbus Foundation will provide a service of
registering and verifying both communication stacks
and devices to assure that they meet all the
requirements for interoperability.
FIELDBUS BENEFITS
Fieldbus is already proving that it can have

other manufacturers as long as they simply dramatic benefits for end users. Wiring cost savings
configure their application using these standard of 80 to 90% over conventional installations are
function blocks. being realized.
To simplify the process for smaller companies, a The myriad of configuration and diagnostic
set of standard device profiles have been defined for information available in fieldbus devices is greatly
common devices such as flow meters, temperature reducing device commissioning time. This
transmitters, valves, etc. These companies can additional diagnostic information often makes it
simply refer to one of these standard device profiles possible to remotely diagnose a field device problem,
rather than having to having to define all the thus saving a costly trip to the field.
individual parameters for their device. Finally, the benefits of moving control functions
Some companies may have special features in from the central control room out to the fieldbus
their devices that make them unique. devices are resulting in better, more reliable control
Manufacturers can make this unique data available as well as a less complex centralized control system.
to the system by defining a device description (DD)
for the device using the device description language
(DDL). The host system can then read this special
data from this device, without using any special
programming, by using a program called device
description services (DDS) to read and interpret
the DD.
Both function blocks and device descriptions would
be of limited use if there was no method of
enforcement. Conformance and interoperability test
tools are available to allow third party testing of
both communication stacks and actual devices
themselves to assure that they meet all the
requirements for interoperability.

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