Tiny Fieldbus Interface Module Combines Analog, Digital Functions

July 23, 2001
The AnyBus Hybrid IC module from HMS Industrial Networks is designed for DeviceNet, Profibus, and Ethernet connectivity. It includes the most popular interface functions in a package that's five times smaller and half as expensive as its...

The AnyBus Hybrid IC module from HMS Industrial Networks is designed for DeviceNet, Profibus, and Ethernet connectivity. It includes the most popular interface functions in a package that's five times smaller and half as expensive as its predecessor. Measuring 42 by 21 by 12 mm, this 32-pin dual-inline footprint integrates all analog and digital functions.

Designed for integration into slave applications, the module includes a 16-bit processor. Its flash and RAM handle the entire Fieldbus protocol independently of the application running the AnyBus IC. Also, it features a maximum of 32 bytes of I/O data. The interface between the product and the application is either asynchronous (connected directly to the application processor) or synchronous (connected via shift registers to the application).

The AnyBus suits simple devices such as sensors and actuators as well as intelligent devices that have separate microcontrollers. All the technology needed for optocouplers, dc-dc converters, and other Fieldbus applications are included within the IC.

The AnyBus Hybrid IC costs between $80 and $100 in small quantities. It will be available in late July or early August.

HMS Industrial Networks Inc., 1925 N. Clybourn, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60614; (888) 826-9287; fax (773) 404-1797; www.anybus.com.

About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.

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