Sensor Bus Network

Conventional I/O System vs. AS-i Bus Network

The AS-i (Actuator Sensor Interface) protocol was created in Germany in 1994 by
a consortium of factory automation suppliers. Originally developed to be a low-cost
method for addressing discrete sensors in factory automation applications, AS-i
has since gained acceptance in process industries due to its high power capability,
simplicity of installation and operation, and low cost adder for devices.
CONVENTIONAL I/O SYSTEM AS-i BUS NETWORK
Each AS-i segment can network up to 31 devices. This provides for 124 inputs and 124 outputs, giving
a maximum capacity of 248 I/O per network on a v2.0 segment. The AS-i v2.1 specification doubles this to Advantages Advantages
- Technology is already understood - Technology is easy to understand
62 devices per segment, providing 248 inputs and 186 outputs for a total network capacity of 434 I/O points. - Slightly lower device cost - Very low device cost adder
- Independent wiring from devices to the control system means - Lower installed cost
Both signal and power are carried on two wires. Up to 8 amps at 30VDC of power are available for field wiring problems with one device don’t affect other field devices - High speed network for sensor level devices
- Ability to integrate conventional devices into AS-i network
devices such as solenoid valves. Drawbacks - Easy addressing for devices; auto-addressing capabilities
- Higher installed cost on most masters
- Point-to-point wiring is expensive - Many gateways available to integrate AS-i network into higher-level
- Many wiring connections: networks, allowing for easy integration of a lower cost, sensor level
- are labor intensive to install network with a more sophisticated, higher-cost control level network
- create many points of failure - AS-i network provides for use of higher power devices
- increase complexity when troubleshooting - Easily expandable with network redesign
AS-i Network Highlights - require large amounts of cabinet or rack space for installation
of terminal blocks
- Requires no terminators or special shielding requirements yet still
less susceptible to RFI interface than some networks
- create time-consuming initial checkout and startup - Wide variety of masters/gateways available for PLC’s, DCS’s, PC’s
Technology Developer AS-i Consortium Power and Communications on same twisted pair - Expansion requires duplicating the entire wiring scheme - Power and bus communications are on same pair of wires
- Limited to 200mA per device power consumption for each additional point - Wide variety of topologies available, including point-to-point, line,
Year Introduced 1993 - Requires AS-i specific power supply on communications tree, and ring
bus for de-coupling
Openness Multiple vendors Drawbacks
800+ products, 150 Vendors Device Power Supply - Not available for Intrinsically Safe applications
- Devices can be supplied from bus (<200mA) AS-i is inexpensive, simple, supplies - Wiring runs limited to 100 meters
Type of Network Sensor Bus - Additional power can be supplied by AS-i power bus cable
having multiple power supplies (required for higher power outputs)
plenty of power and offers end users - v2.0 supports only discrete devices (v2.1 has limited analog support)
- No control in the field
Physical Media 2-wire cable (flat or round) a variety of wiring strategies. - Limited data quality and status messaging
Wiring Types - Limited analog support
Network Topology Bus, Ring, Tree, Star Round: Normal 2 wire cable - Requires specific AS-i power supply for bus communications isolation
#16AWG (1.5mm) - Limited redundancy capabilities
Maximum Devices
- v2.0 31 nodes (or 248 I/O points) Flat: 2 wire flat AS-i cable
TopWorx Comments on AS-i
- v2.1 62 nodes (or 434 I/O points) (1.5mm conductors)
Yellow for communications
Maximum Distance Black for additional power Strengths Hazardous Areas
- Maximum Distance 100 meters AS-i is inexpensive, especially in general purpose environments. Since AS-i is an 8 amp bus, it cannot be intrinsically safe. TopWorx has
- Maximum Distance with repeaters 300 meters Grounding aspects Ungrounded communications bus recognized the difficulties of installing AS-i in hazardous areas and
(max. of 2 repeaters can be used) AS-i is simple. Unlike other communication protocols, AS-i is not offers a variety of solutions suitable for use in Class I, Div 1 (Zone 1)
Shielding Unshielded wire designed to bring control system functionality to the field. AS-i is simply and Class I, Div 2 (Zone 2) environments.
Communication Methods a better way to connect field devices to the control system. AS-i offers
- Master/Slave with cyclic polling Terminators No terminators required end users a variety of topologies (wiring strategies). And AS-i’s principle When to Use AS-i
- Manchester Bit Encoding implemented via Alternating Pulse of operation makes it easy to install and configure as well as add new Generally speaking, TopWorx recommends AS-i when:
Modulation (APM) Hazardous Area Installations Explosion Proof wiring required devices later. - device populations are all discrete
- plants are not intrinsically safe
Transmission Properties Device Addressing AS-i supplies plenty of power. AS-i delivers plenty of power to oper- - cable length limitations are not an issue
- 5 mSec latency max. on fully loaded segment - Automatic when connected one at a time to the segment or ate virtually all field devices, including solenoid valves. - users desire the ultimate in simplicity
with Handheld Addressing Unit - existing discrete devices need to be incorporated into
Primary usage Limitations a bussed environment
- v2.0 Discrete Signals Governing Body ATO (AS-i Trade Organization) Wiring length - conventional discrete devices need to be incorporated into
- v2.1 Discrete Signals (supports 12 bit analog The maximum length of cable run is limited to 100 m per segment. a bus network
signals accessed over 5 cycles) Web Site www.as-interface.com Up to two repeaters can be added to increase this length to 300 m. - large numbers of discrete devices need to be cost-effectively
incorporated into an existing control level network via
a gateway device

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