SX008 Interface
SX008 Interface
Skip to SX005 , SX002 , Measurex
The SX008 provides attachment for foreign devices or systems to the Honeywell LCN and is intended for real time (24 hr) operation. The SX008 is physically identical to the LCNSIM, however, the software part is completely different.
The SX008 Field Device Interface connects a Windows computer to a Honeywell Local Control Network (LCN). It supports read and write parameter data on Highway Gateway (HG) and Network Interface Module (NIM) devices and Application Modules (AM). It also records alarm events in the same devices. The interface consists of a 1/2 sized Universal PCI bus card and a separate LCN I/O box with BNC connectors. A three-foot long cable connects the LCN I/O box to the card. The card has an onboard micro controller and supports high speed interrupt driven communications to and from a Windows XP/Vista driver. The card and LCN I/O box are compatible with Honeywell standards for the LCN. Considerable attention is to be given to security of the data and security of the LCN should the card fail or partially fail.
A windows XP/Vista service (SX008FDI service) is included with the card. A simple API is provided to link user applications to the service. The SX008FDI server and user application must run in the same computer that has the interface card.
The user application sends messages to the SX008FDI service, which are acknowledged right away as received. The responses to the messages are sent back to the user application as they come in over the LCN network. The user application can send several messages to the SX008FDI service without receiving a response. If the application sends a message that is not acknowledged it means that the SX008FDI service queues are full and that the service is not able to process messages as quickly as the user application would like.
Only one user application can be connected to the SX008FDI service at a time.
Typical messages that a user application sends to the SX008FDI service are:
1. Read data (multiple items in a single message)
2. Write data (multiple items in a single message)
3. Get an internal tag id (multiple items in a single message)
An OPC server module is available to link user data to the SX008FDI windows service.
---PCI type peripheral card with on board micro-controller and firmware
---LCN driver/receiver functional and physical interface
---Token processing functional and physical interface
---Documentation
Proconex developed a High Level Driver for the SX008 interface to help its customers apply it quickly and efficiently. The High Level driver handles all the conversion calculations between standard engineering units and Data LCN format. An application program references data to be read or written with a tag identification and parameter code. Tags include application tags and system tags. Application tags are the standard Honeywell point types used to view or control the process. System tags are used by the application program to determine the status of the control boxes on the LCN and get performance statistics from the High Level Driver. The application program sends read and write requests to the High Level Driver in tables with 1 to 100 entries (different tag and parameter references). The High Level Driver can buffer requests, returning a response as soon as it is available.
Proconex has recently added an OPC server interface to the SX008 High Level Driver making the product even more attractive to the growing number of control system suppliers that use an OPC client interface. The OPC Foundation is a non profit organization that has defined a standard (OPC) which is based on Microsoft’s Component Object Model (COM/DCOM) protocols. The objective of the new standard is to improve interoperability between devices in the field, control applications, and business applications. Hardware and software developers use the specification to build OPC servers and clients that exchange real-time information between a variety of systems, including distributed control systems DCS's, SCADA systems, and PLC's.
SX005 Interface
Skip to SX008 , SX002 , Measurex
The SX005 is a printed circuit card with supporting software that allows a Windows NT computer to act as a preferred access device on a Honeywell TDC 2000 Data Hiway. The card supports read and write commands. There are two BNC connectors for the Data Hiway channels and a PS/2 mouse type connector for grant and request attachment to a traffic director. The card has an onboard micro controller and supports high speed interrupt driven communication to and from the Windows NT driver. It is compatible with Honeywell standards for the Data Hiway. Considerable attention has been given to security of the data and security of the Hiway should the card fail or partially fail.
The card is supplied with a kernel mode Windows NT driver.
Here is a schematic of the SX005:
Proconex developed a High Level NT Driver for the SX005 interface to help its customers apply it quickly and efficiently. The High Level driver handles all the conversion calculations between standard engineering units and Data Hiway format. An application program references data to be read or written with a tag identification and parameter code. Tags include application tags and system tags. Application tags are the standard Honeywell point types used to view or control the process. System tags are used by the application program to determine the status of the control boxes on the Data Hiway and get performance statistics from the High Level Driver. The application program sends read and write requests to the High Level Driver in tables with 1 to 100 entries (different tag and parameter references). The High Level Driver can buffer requests, returning a response as soon as it is available.
Proconex has recently added an OPC server interface to the SX005 High Level Driver making the product even more attractive to the growing number of SCADA system suppliers that use an OPC client interface.
The OPC Foundation is a non profit organization that has defined a standard (OPC) which is based on Microsoft’s Component Object Model (COM/DCOM) protocols. The objective of the new standard is to improve interoperability between devices in the field, control applications, and business applications.
Hardware and software developers use the specification to build OPC servers and clients that exchange real-time information between a variety of systems, including distributed control systems DCS's, SCADA systems, and PLC's.
SX002 Interface
Skip to SX008 , SX005 , Measurex
The SX002 interface, which was designed intitially for operator training simulations, has also been used as an interface on an operationg Data Hiway. It has been used to "window in" other special purpose systems to the Honeywell consoles. The interface emulates a number of boxes on the Data Hiway co-existing with actual Honeywell control boxes. Mesurements from the special purpose systems are displayed on the Honeywell consoles from slot subslots in the emulated boxes of the interface. From the Honeywell console, operators can write mode, setpoint, on/off commands etc. to the controllers in the special purpose systems.
This approach has been used to "window in" a Preciptator Control System and a paper machine Quality Control System to the Honeywell console.
There is more information on the SX002 in the section on Simulation Interfaces.
Measurex Interface
The Measurex device captures data from the host Measurex 200X computer by recording bus level data transactions directly as they occur in the normal operation of the Measurex 200X system. The data is selected by comparing the memory addresses of the host with a table of desired addresses held in a quick access memory on the interface. Only addresses matching the contents of the quick address memory cause a capture of data. Both the addresses and data are saved for transfer to an embedded single board computer. The data is decoded and formatted into engineering units and field descriptors according to the user's specifications. Output of data from the host to the target computer is the only function possible. (i.e. Input to the host is not possible.)
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