Fieldbus Foundation’s DDL specifications granted to IEC

Austin, TX— The Fieldbus Foundation

DDL is a text-based language for describing the characteristics of field devices used in device networks. Automation suppliers developing devices based on FOUNDATION fieldbus, HART and Profibus specifications use DDL to create Device Description (DD) files, which provide in-formation on parameters and other data in a device. DDL is used to develop DDs that describe parametric information for field devices and convey digital information such as device status, process data and configuration information. Thousands of devices in the field use DDL, which was further validated in a recent evaluation by Infraserv Höchst (Frankfurt, Germany), a leading European consultancy.

‘The IEC, one of the most widely recognized standards organizations in the world, understands the importance of the Device Description Language to the thousands of end-users who depend on it for their plant networks,” says Richard Timoney, FF’s president and ceo. ”The Fieldbus Foundation has always supported the international standards bodies in their work to bring about proven technologies as standards to be utilized on an international basis.”

IEC harmonized FF’s specifications into a single standard, and approved a Publicly Available Specification (PAS) for the new standard in August 2002. This PAS is presently being circulated for approval, so it can eventually become an IEC Draft International Standard.

Control Engineering Daily News Desk
Jim Montague, news desk
jmontague@reedbusiness.com

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