Anybus-S - Technical Overview

The world's most sold high performance Slave interface range supporting 17 industrial networks with just one in-design.

All Anybus-S modules have a standardized application interface supporting up to max. 512 bytes of cyclic I/O data and additional support for acyclic parameter data. This is more than required by standard fieldbus protocols such as Profibus-DP or DeviceNet and provides a reserve for future technologies and additional functionality in the field device. The application interface is fully standardized regarding its mechanics, hardware and software features and thus all Anybus-S modules are easily interchangeable.

Data Exchange
Data and parameters which are not supported by all fieldbus systems are located in the fieldbus-specific part of the application interface. Data exchange between the Anybus-S and the field device is handled by control registers. These specify the size of the I/O area and the watchdog interval between the module and the device. In addition, the application software can interrogate data such as the fieldbus type, vendor information, the software and hardware versions and the serial number of the module.

Block schematic - Anybus-S

Powerful 2Kb Dual Port Ram
The application interface between the Anybus-S module and the field device consists of a on-board 2 Kbyte Dual-Port RAM and uses a 34-pin connector. The Dual-Port RAM allows the module and the device to independently address different memory areas.

Access to the Dual-Port RAM can be interrupt-controlled or polled from the field device. For transmission of large continuous data areas (e.g. analog values), a handshake mechanism is used between the module and the application program in the device to ensure safe communication and data consistency.

The subdivision of the Dual-Port RAM into memory areas for input data, output data, mailbox in, mailbox out. Control and handshake registers is fully independent of the fieldbus protocol used and is the same for all Anybus-S modules. Accordingly, the application software in the fieldbus device does not need to be modified when changing from one fieldbus type to another. It is only necessary to exchange the Anybus module. Specific fieldbus information can be read/written to in the fieldbus specific data area reserved on the module. Mechanical Overview