Embedded Products - Anybus-S Slave/Adapter Interfaces

 Anybus-S - Questions & Answers

Read the most common questions about the Anybus-S Slave/Adapter Interfaces.

Q: What kind of development tools do I need when I want to embed an Anybus-S module into my device?
A: The Anybus-S module will look like a 2k RAM memory on your address/data buss on your microprocessor system. The Design guide provide all electrical and functional informational you need to know. We also supply a piece of “example code” in C describing how to interface the Anybus-S module, this is helpful when you design your own software driver to exchange data between your CPU and the Anybus-S module.

If you want to do some evaluation and tests before you have you own hardware ready, take a look on the ABS-EVB, which is a 8051 based example application using Anybus-S

Q: If I need another connector than the standard on the Anybus-S module, how do I do to get that?
A: The Anybus-S is designed to support several different connector types, (to the network and to the application), HMS production is able to make customized configurations. I smaller volumes these are slightly more expensive than the standard versions. There is normally a one-time fee associated with setting up a customized version of an Anybus-S module.

Q: When I use Anybus-S for Profibus in my device, it will look like a device named “Anybus", can I change this text to be the name of my own device?
A: The name of the device is linked to a Profibus Ident Code. If you want to change the name of the device you must apply for your own ident number at the Profibus User Organization and perform a new conformance test. Changing the ident code inside the module is done by a mailbox telegram during the start up procedure.

Q: Is there a demand of HW or SW changes if I want to implement all fieldbuses with Anybus-S ?
A. No, if you prepare the SW in your application correctly no changes are needed. Only the fieldbus specific area differs between the modules. Refer to the memory map in the Anybus-S design guide.

Q: How can I download new firmware to the Anybus module. Is there a way to do this from the fieldbus ?
A: No, the only way for downloading new firmware is through the Anybus-S application interface. You can dismount the Anybus-S and connect it to the Anybus-S download adapter and use the firmware download software.

Q : Are there any considerations to be made regarding the timing of the DPRAM?
A: Yes. The DPRAM is accessed as an ordinary RAM with an access time of 55 ns. For details, see the Cypress data sheet for CY7C136, downloadable at http://www.cypress.com.

Q. How will HMS handle SW-updates done in the module?
A. If you buy a standard Anybus-S module, HMS always use the latest version of the software from our development. HMS continuously follow the changes from the fieldbus organizations and see to that our modules always are up to date with the fieldbus specifications.

Q: Is the Anybus-S compatible to the Anybus-M master module from HMS?
A: The hardware e.g. mechanical specifications and the main software functionality are the same. But, the master software includes Fieldbus Specific data that has to be handled by the application to create a complete master interface.

Q: Is the Anybus-S fieldbus certified? How will I proceed if I want to certify my product containing an Anybus-S module?
A: The Anybus-S is pre-certified. This certification is normally done by the fieldbus organization for the specific fieldbus, but in some cases it has been done by HMS development. The HMS certification is done to guarantee the functionality of the Anybus module in default mode and are only valid for the Anybus module itself. However, you will need to do a conformance test of your product containing the Anybus-S if you want a certificate for your own product. How a certification is done can be seen at the fieldbus organization home page. When you have ordered a test, you will send your product to the test-center advised by the fieldbus organization for the conformance test. HMS will also be able to advise and help you in this matter. To download the certificate for the specific Anybus-S module, look under support on this web page.