Ethernet linking

Process engineers now can extend plant-wide control applications to include ethernet capabilities with the National Instruments FBUS-HSE/H1 fieldbus high-speed ethernet linking device.

Using this, engineers can integrate sensor, process, discrete, hybrid and batch control subsystems with higher level supervisory applications.

The device connects 31.25 Kbps H1 segments to an HSE network running at 10 Mbps or higher, making it easier for engineers to build high-performance, integrated applications, such as manufacturing, refinery, chemical and pharmaceutical plant installations.

With this device, engineers can implement an open architecture for incorporating information into a process automation system. This is suitable for large process automation plants because engineers can perform temperature, level and flow control, which require multiple H1 transitioning devices connected through a commercial off-the-shelf ethernet network.

The company has also announced the NI-PCI-FBUS/2 plug-and-play PCI board, which engineers can use to more easily connect Foundation fieldbus devices to desktop PCs. The device eliminates challenges of configuring AT-FBUS boards with new computers that no longer offer ISA slots as a standard feature.

Now, engineers can plug the PCI-FBUS board into any new desktop with a PCI slot and more easily run software without using a complex interface card.

NI-FBUS 3.0 software integrates with LabVIEW 7 Express through the Fieldbus VI library, which eliminates low-performance, complex configuration OPC servers used to call Foundation Fieldbus devices.