Glossary
SIPART PS2 with PROFIBUS communication
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Operating Instructions, 09/2007, A5E00127926-07
Fieldbus
A fieldbus is an industrial communication system used to connect a number of field devices
with a control device. Field devices include measuring sensors, final controlling elements
and actuators.
Final controlling element
Converter that converts electric signals into mechanical or other non-electric variables.
Firmware
Firmware (FW) is the software embedded in a chip in electronic devices. It is not like
software that is stored on hard disks, CD-ROMs or other mediums. These days, the firmware
is mostly stored in a flash memory or an EEPROM. Firmware is software in the hardware,
and is thus an intermediate between the software and the hardware. Firmware is normally
model-specific. This means that it does not function on other device models and is delivered
by the manufacturing company. The corresponding devices cannot function without the
firmware. The firmware mostly contains elementary functions to control the device, as well as
input and output routines.
Foundation fieldbus
Syndicate of manufacturers of measurement and control systems. The syndicate develops
the open fieldbus specifications of the FOUNDATION fieldbus.
FOUNDATION fieldbus
Fieldbus to connect sensors and final controlling elements in hazardous areas as per IEC
61158-2. The FOUNDATION fieldbus uses a common 2-wire cable for data communication
and power supply. Data communication and power supply. The FOUNDATION fieldbus uses
bus types such as High Speed Ethernet and Foundation H1.
Frequency shifting process
The frequency shifting process is a simple modulation format in which digital values 0 and 1
are represented by two different frequencies.
GSD file
The file that describes the properties of a PROFIBUS DP slave or a PROFINET IO device.
The GSD file is a database file for PROFIBUS devices. The device manufacturer provides
the corresponding GSD file containing the description of device properties. The information
in the file can be read using Engineering Tools.
HART
HART (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer) is a standardized and widely used
communication system for erecting industrial fieldbuses. This communication system
enables digital communication of multiple participants (field devices) using a common data