Serial Protocol Support - In detail

The serial protocol conversion is defined by using the supplied "ABC Config Tool". There are two pre-defined modes:

Master Mode
When the Communicator acts as master on the network it sends a request and expects a response from the connected automation device. In Master mode the Modbus-RTU protocol is a pre-defined option for which a easy six step configuration wizard is available. Besides Modbus-RTU, Master mode can be used with all other (custom) request/response based serial protocols.

Generic Data Mode
In Generic Data Mode, there is no master-slave relationship between the Communicator and the connected automation device on the serial sub-network. Any node on the serial sub-network , including the Communicator, can spontaneously produce or consume a message; A node does not have to reply to a message, nor does it have to wait for a query to send one.

Checksum and frame generation
The Communicator has the ability to generate defined data frames. These data frames can consist of data received from the serial sub-network or from the chosen fieldbus/Ethernet network, constant values, start / stop characters and many popular checksum calculations. The data frames are defined by using the "ABC Config Tool".

Handshaking and synchronization
The data between the serial sub-network and the chosen fieldbus/Ethernet network can be transported either un-synchronized or by using pre-defined handshaking mechanisms.

Summary
Together, these two modes make Anybus Communicator a powerful, configurable and flexible network product for converting serial protocols into standardized fieldbus and industrial Ethernet protocols. Because of this flexibility, the hardware and software of the automation device remains unchanged as the Communicator handles all necessary protocol translations.

 

ABC Config Tool

The ABC Config Tool is used to configure the Anybus Communicator. The tool runs on standard Microsoft Windows™ platforms. The tool is available "free of charge". It is supplied on a CD and a serial RS-232 cable along with every single-piece Anybus Communicator shipment. Alternatively the ABC Config Tool can be or can be obtained from the download section of this website.

 

 

 

 

The “ABC ConfigTool” - one configuration for multiple networks
The translation between the upper network and the serial sub-network is defined via the ABC ConfigTool. This windows based software has an easy to use user interface and requires no programming. All translations are easily
configured via pre-defined functions.

During configuration, the user can define which and how much data from the upper network shall be transferred to the sub-network. In addition specific start characters and/or trailing characters including checksum mechanisms
can be defined and thus a complete serial sub-network telegram frame is constructed. The Anybus Communicator uses a simple object based configuration instead of a complex programming language.

The ABC ConfigTool provides an efficient online help functionality and wizards for Modbus-RTU based configuration.
On completion, the configuration is downloaded from the PC into the Communicator. Now the Communicator is ready to start the communication with its assigned devices on the serial sub-network.

The ABC ConfigTool also provides the functionality to save the configuration into a file. This makes it easy for OEM manufacturers to upload pre-defined configurations for instant usage of the Communicator by their end
customers.

KEY FEATURES

Free Config Tool & Wizards for easy configuration & serial sub-network setup

Supports all Anybus Communicators with the exception of Lonworks

Once a configuration is completed is can be re-used for many other industrial networks

Password protection prevents unauthorized upload and download of configurations

In-built line listener with test functions

Multi language - supporting, English, German, Italian, French, Polish, Russian, Chinese (Mandarin)

User friendly interface with online help