Electronic Device Descriptions to be extended into OPC’s Unified Architecture

Fieldbus Foundation (FF) reports that the OPC Foundation (OPCF) has joined an international cooperative team of the three leading fieldbus organizations—FF, HART Communication Foundation (HCF) and Profibus Nutzerorganisation e.V. (PNO)—to extend the reach of the trio's Electronic Device Descriptions (EDDs) into OPCF's Unified Architecture.

By Staff April 1, 2005

Fieldbus Foundation (FF) reports that the OPC Foundation (OPCF) has joined an international cooperative team of the three leading fieldbus organizations—FF, HART Communication Foundation (HCF) and Profibus Nutzerorganisation e.V. (PNO)—to extend the reach of the trio’s Electronic Device Descriptions (EDDs) into OPCF’s Unified Architecture.

In 2003, FF, HCF and PNO formed a cooperative joint working group to extend the capabilities of Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL). An underlying technology in millions of installed field instruments, EDDL is a text-based language for describing the digital communication characteristics of intelligent control devices. Device suppliers use EDDs to provide information on parameters and other data in a device.

The joint working group developed extensions enabling robust organizational and graphical visualization of device data; providing support for persistent data storage; and maintaining operating system and platform independence. The extensions will be integrated within the respective control network technologies and added to IEC 61804-2 standard upon completion.

Following successful collaboration in Phase 1, joint working group members say they have begun efforts to further extend the open and interoperable EDD standard for delivery of extensive device, control configuration, and diagnostic data to OPCF’s Unified Architecture.