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Plug your equipment into any bus

01 January, 2005

Plug your equipment into any bus

The Swedish industrial communications specialist HMS Industrial Networks has developed a family of plug-in modules that allow equipment such as inverters, HMIs or robots to communicate using almost any common protocol, simply by plugging in the correct module. The equipment builders will incorporate a socket - similar to that used for CompactFlash memory cards - into their equipment which can then be tailored to the required bus system simply by plugging in the right module.

The compact, low-power (3.3V) modules, incorporating the appropriate port, come in active or passive versions. The active modules have a built-in RISC processor and a multi-network controller to perform all the tasks of an industrial network interface for systems such as Profibus, DeviceNet, Industrial Ethernet, CC-link, CANopen or Modbus-IDA. The passive modules act as simple communications interfaces for serial systems such as RS-232/485, USB, Bluetooth, or wireless networking.

The Anybus-CompactCom (Anybus-CC) modules can be installed by the OEM or by the end-user. No special tools are needed.

HMS says that the system will make it simpler for manufacturers to offer equipment that supports a variety of protocols, and will avoid the need for them to develop their own network interfaces.

• ABB`s former chief executive Jörgen Centerman, has recently joined HMS as chairman.




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