Utilizing Industrial Control Standards and Instrument Connection

For hardware engineers who are not familiar with writing programs, it is a difficult task to control instruments and perform automated measurements. In order to solve this problem, instrument manufacturers use analog signal control and industrial control interfaces as one of the options for remote control of instruments. This article will briefly elaborate these control methods.

Analog control:

PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) is a controller familiar to electrical engineers. PLC has 0~10Vdc analog output and reading functions. It can be used with GW Instek's instruments with the analog control function to remotely control the output of the instrument through DC voltage.

GW Instek's instruments with the analog control function include:

• Power supplies:
  • The PFR series, PLR series, PSW series, PSU series, and PSB-2000 series
• Electronic loads:
  • The PEL-3000 series
• The insulation withstand voltage testers also have similar Signal I/O for similar control.
  • GPT9800/9900/12000/15000 series
• Meters:
  • GDM-8351, GDM-9061, GDM-8261A, GOM series, LCR-6000/8200(A)

Industrial control interface:

• Modbus: Modbus is a serial communication protocol published by Modicon Corporation (now Schneider Electric) in 1979 for communication using programmable logic controllers (PLC). Modbus has become the de facto industry standard for communication protocols in the industrial field and is now a commonly used connection method between industrial electronic devices. Two series of GW Instek power supplies, the PSU series and PFR series provide the option of Modbus.
  
  
• Profibus: PROFIBUS is a field bus standard used in automation technology. It was promoted by 14 companies including Siemens of Germany and 5 research institutions in 1987. PROFIBUS is the abbreviation of Process Field BUS. It belongs to the PI Association (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) together with Profinet. GW Instek PHU series DC power supplies provide the option of Profibus.
  
  
• Profinet: PROFINET is an open industrial Ethernet communication protocol proposed by the PROFIBUS & PROFINET International Association (PI). PROFINET applies TCP/IP and related standards of information technology and is a real-time industrial Ethernet. Since 2003, PROFINET is part of the IEC 61158 and IEC 61784 standards. GW Instek PHU series DC power supplies provide the option of Profinet.
  
  
• DeviceNet: DeviceNet is a field bus standard used in automation technology. It was developed by American company Allen-Bradley in 1994. DeviceNet uses Controller Area Network (CAN) as its underlying communication protocol, and its application layer has profiles defined for different devices. Major applications include information exchange, safety equipment and large-scale control systems. It has a relatively high market share in the United States. GW Instek ASR-6000 AC/DC power supplies and PHU series DC power supplies provide the option of DeviceNet.
  
  
• CAN: Controller Area Network (CAN or CAN bus for short) is a feature-rich bus standard. It is designed to allow single chips and instruments on the network to communicate with each other without a host. GW Instek ASR-6000 AC/DC power supplies and PHU series DC power supplies provide the option of DeviceNet.

Note: The above industrial control interfaces are referenced from Wikipedia.

Overseas Sales Department
Good Will Instrument Co., Ltd
No. 7-1, Jhongsing Road, Tucheng Dist.,
New Taipei City 23678, Taiwan R.O.C.
Email: marketing@goodwill.com.tw