Product category:
Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications
News Release from: Fieldbus Foundation | Subject: H1 Interoperability Test Kit v5.0
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 28 March 2006
Fieldbus interoperability test kit
updated
Test kit updated with additional functionality enabling the testing of Foundation Fieldbus devices using current Device Description (DD) v5.0 files.
The Fieldbus Foundation has released version 5.0 of its H1 Interoperability Test Kit The test kit has been updated from previous versions with additional functionality enabling the testing of Foundation Fieldbus devices using current Device Description (DD) v5.0 files
The kit verifies the functionality of an H1 (31.25Kbit/s) device and its conformity with the Foundation Fieldbus function and transducer block specifications.
A tool for troubleshooting and debugging devices, the kit includes all hardware and software to ensure a manufacturer's complete device interoperability as specified by the foundation's official registration testing procedure.
By using the kit, device developers can run tests identical to those used by the Fieldbus Foundation before submitting their device for official registration.
The multi-bit alarm testing now tests for single and multi-bit alarms, which provides for more thorough testing.
Block instantiation as specified in the capabilities file has been added, insuring interoperability on a Foundation Fieldbus network when a block is instantiated.
Testing for valid or invalid behaviour during common software download has been added, to insure interoperability when downloading software or firmware to a device via a Foundation Fieldbus network.
According to the Fieldbus Foundation's Product Manager for Fieldbus Products, Stephen Mitschke, the tool is valuable for enabling automation equipment suppliers to streamline their preparations for Fieldbus device registration.
He said: "The updated kit includes expanded capabilities that allow testing of devices with DD 5.0 files".
"These DDs include powerful new features focusing on device data organisation, graphical visualisation consistency and support for persistent data storage".
"Today, at large plants with thousands of field devices, maintenance technicians must upgrade each device individually using vendor-specific tools".
"The kit's enhanced common software download features allow instrument suppliers to update their device firmware over the wire".
"Devices can be updated without the need for a technician to go to each device and update a firmware chip or attach a custom upgrade cable".
"Upgrades enable suppliers to add additional diagnostic capabilities to future-proof their existing devices".
Developed by the Fraunhofer Institute, the kit consists of a test engine, communication stack and function block interface card.
Its test engine executes a set of over 400 test cases that exercise the device implementation.
The tester also includes a DD Super Viewer that allows examination and verification of a device's DD, and a conformance test procedure for the physical layer.
The Super Viewer has been enhanced to support validation of existing DDs and the DD 5.0 format.
Device developers can walk their DD, execute methods and render the visualisation elements supported by the DD 5.0 technology.
As additional standard function blocks become available, the kit will be upgraded with test cases to verify these expanded implementations.
Most recently, the interoperability test suite was enhanced with an automation tool to eliminate several manual intervention steps required when performing preregistration testing of Fieldbus devices.
The tool improves the kit's schedule efficiency and provides a direct reduction in the hours needed to complete the testing phase.
Fraunhofer designed the kit to verify an aspect of Foundation Fieldbus that makes device interoperability possible - standard function blocks.
For a device to pass interoperability testing, it must contain a Fieldbus Foundation-registered communication stack that has passed conformance tests.
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