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DESIGN FEATURE
11.05.98
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Fieldbuses: Look before you leap

Use this handy comparison chart to find the best fieldbus for your application.

MTL Instruments Group

With so many available choices and so much conflicting data, it is difficult for engineers to determine the best "open" fieldbus to implement in their application environment. Before you make up your mind and choose a fieldbus, you should examine the advantages of the various options.

The chart (please download the PDF version of the article to view the chart) provides a fieldbus comparison across different potential application environments, including process industries, smart instrumentation, building automation, factory automation, and data communications. The chart examines Foundation Fieldbus, Profibus, ControlNet, Modbus, Interbus, Ethernet, WorldFIP, Lonworks, CAN, Hart, and AS-Interface. In addition, the chart looks at typical applications, data rates, communication techniques, media-access algorithms, supported media, the maximum number of nodes, the physical-layer standard, and other applicable standards. It considers whether the fieldbus is deterministic, whether it is suitable for process application, and whether it is bus-powered.

FIELDBUS USER GROUPS AND OTHER FIELDBUS INFORMATION
For more information on products such as those discussed in this article, use EDN's InfoAccess service. When you contact any of the following manufacturers directly, please let them know you read about their products in EDN.
AS-Interface
+49 2174 40756
fax +49 2174 41571
www.as-interface.com
Circle No. 453 		CAN in Automation
+49 9131 601091
fax +49 9131 601092
www.can-cia.de 
Circle No. 454 		Fieldbus Foundation
Austin, TX
1-512-794-8890
fax 1-512-794-8893
www.fieldbus.org 
Circle No. 455
HART Communication Foundation
1-512-794-0369
fax 1-512-794-3904
www.fieldbus.com/hart 
www.ccsi.com/hart 
Circle No. 456		 Interbus Club
Philadelphia, PA
1-888-281-2871
fax 1-717-944-1625
www.interbusclub.com 
Circle No. 457 		LonMark Interoperability Association
Palo Alto, CA
1-415-855-7400
fax 1-415-856-6153
www.lonmark.org 
www.echelon.org
Circle No. 458
The MTL Instruments Group
Bedfordshire, UK
+44 1582 723633
fax +44 1582 422283
Hampton, NH
1-603-926-0090
fax 1-603-926-1899
www.mtl-inst.com 
Circle No. 459		 Open DeviceNet Vendor Association
1-954-340-5412
fax 1-954-340-5413
www.industry.net/ODVA 
Circle No. 460		 Profibus Trade Organization
1-602-483-2456
fax 1-602-483-7202
www.profibus.com 
Circle No. 461
SDS
sds@po2.il50.micro.honeywell.com
Circle No. 462 		WorldFIP Europe Headquarters
+33 1 46 11 44 30
fax +33 1 46 11 44 31
www.worldfip.org 
Circle No. 463 		Note: ControlNet now has an independent ControlNet User Association.

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