AUMA SIMA 2, Manual

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2. Identification
2.1. Important terms (terminology)
This chapter includes the key terms and the terminology required for the basic
understanding of SIMA² installations. All other terms are explained in the respective
chapters.
Information
The simplified term SIMA² is used to refer to the SIMA² Master Station.
SIMA² Master Station
The SIMA² Master Station communicates to the field actuators using a standardised
fieldbus protocol. This protocol is used by SIMA² to transmit the respective operation
commands to the connected actuators. In turn, they send their respective status
signals to the SIMA² at cyclic intervals. Both actuator signals and diagnostic
information of SIMA² and the used communication interfaces are visualised by means
of an integrated web server and the multi-touchscreen at SIMA².
Generally, SIMA² communicates via a standardised communication protocol with a
host receiving all essential status signals and issuing the operation commands to
SIMA² for transmission to the individual actuators. Both, communication to actuators
and communication to the host can be arranged in redundant topology. In addition,
the SIMA² Master Station as such can be arranged in redundant topology. For more
details, please refer to hot standby system redundancy.
SIMA² Master Station offers easy, fast and detailed diagnostics of all connected
actuator interfaces as well as self-diagnostics. SIMA² further allows data concentration
of actuator feedback signals to relieve the host, a stand-alone mode as well as
protocol conversion and manages all redundancy properties.
Depending on the configuration, SIMA² Master Station is composed of one or two
SIMA² subsystems. Up to 4 networks are possible for each SIMA².
Figure 1: Single Master Station
SIMA² subsystem
Typically, a SIMA² subsystem consists of a power supply unit, a multi-touchscreen,
CPU and the interfaces required for communication to the actuators and to the host.
For hot standby system redundancy, two separate SIMA² subsystems are used. The
version without hot standby system redundancy only consists of one SIMA² subsystem
and is also named single master station.
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SIMA² Master Station
Identification MODBUS RTU, MODBUS TCP/IP to DCS