Multi-Slave Interface Card

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada— Newly released by SST, the 5136-PMBS multi-slave Profibus interface card in ISA format is reported to be the first card that can assume more than one DP slave station address. Its developers say the card is unique because it emulates one to 125 Profibus stations, and can monitor one to 125 real slave devices without affecting existing network traffic. Users aren’t limited to 244 bytes in and out, several DP Class 1 Masters can communicate to one multi-slave card, and little set up and configuration is required of the user. Instead of using an ASIC, the 5136-PMBS card’s network protocol is implemented within a field upgradable hardware component called an “fpga.” Applications include OI/HMI and I/O simulation using SST’s PICs simulation software. When the Profibus Multi-Slave Card is used for OI/HMI applications, the card connects as a passive station, and isn’t in the token rotation list. As a result, the card won’t affect existing network traffic, where active stations like FDL, FMS, DP Master Class 2, or MPI will affect DP Master Class 1 I/O scan times.

SST (formerly S-S Technologies)

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