Chapter 11 - Communication of FBS-PLC
Chapter 11 - Communication of FBS-PLC
Communication of FBs-PLC
The FBs-PLC main unit has been built in the communication port0 with optional USB or RS232 interface. If additional communication boards (CB) have been purchased, then it can increase to 2~3 communication interfaces (depending on the model of CB). If it is still not enough, communication modules can be added to expand the number of communication interfaces to 5 (PORT0~PORT4). There are three types of communication interfaces, RS232RS485 or Ethernet, to choose from in both CB and CM. Among them, Port 0 is a permanent interface for FATEK communications interface, which is controlled by the CPU of the PLC, using FATEK Standard communication driver to manage the communication transactions of the Port, i.e. FATEK communication protocol. Any access to the Port must comply with the format of FATEK communication protocol to get responses from the PLC. This includes starting character, station no., command code, body, error check code, ending characters, etc.; for more details please refer to Appendix 2: FATEK communication protocol. WinProladder and numerous HMI and SCADA softwares are equipped with communication drivers complying with this communication protocol, therefore where the parameters on hardware interface and communications are consistent, communication connection can be established by just connecting the communication Port with the Standard Interface. If the communication driver with complying communication protocol is not available, besides writing its own commands complying with FATEK communication protocol to communicate with PLC, the commonly used industrial ModBus RTU protocol can also be used to establish a connection with FBs-PLC. The factory setting and the PLC system initialization on Port 1 ~ Port 4 default to FATEK standard communication interface; though in order to meet the extensive application and requirements of communication connection, Port 1 ~ Port 4 provides FATEK standard communication interface, as well as providing easy communication commands that support powerful functions to allow users to compile their required communication application software through the Ladder diagram program, and easily achieve the aim of system integration and distributed monitoring. Further detail will be explained in subsequent chapters.
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Besides the hardware interface distinction of USB, RS232,RS485 or Ethernet among the 5 COM ports of FBs-PLC, there are also 3 software interface types in terms of software interfaces. The table below shows the software interface types that can be configured on the 5 COM ports of FBs-PLC: Available types Software Interface Standard Interface Port0 Communication Port Port1 Port2 Port4 Port5 Notes Port controlled by CPU, using FATEK Standard communication driver or ModBus RTU communication driver, but Port0 does not support ModBus RTU communication protocol. Port controlled by CPU, using the Modem driver + FATEK Standard communication driver or ModBus RTU communication driver. Port controlled by users (Ladder diagram program )
Dedicated Modem interface Ladder diagram program controlled interface Interface type configuration method
Register
PLC PLC PLC Auto Auto Auto configure configure configure configure
Standard Interface : Port0 ~ Port4 can all be configured into this type of interface (Port0 can only be this type of interface
and only provides FATEK standard communication driver). Under this interface type, the Port is controlled by the standard communication driver of FBs-PLC (using FATEK communication protocol or ModBus RTU communication protocol), hence called standard interface. To communication with the Standard Interface, the connection can only be established by complying with FATEK FB-PLC communication protocol or ModBus RTU communication protocol. Port0 doesnt support ModBus RTU communication protocol.
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Dedicated Modem Interface : Only Port1 can select this interface type. Under this interface type, Port1 is controlled by
the built-in MODEM driver of FBs-PLC, in charge of telephone reception or dialing tasks, and then hand the connection over to FATEK standard communication driver after the connection is established, subsequent operation is the same as the Standard interface above.
Ladder diagram Program controlled interface : Port1 ~ Port4 can all select this interface type. Under this interface type,
the Port will be controlled by the users Ladder diagram program instructions, such as FUN94, FUN150, FUN151, etc., hence users can gain control of the Port through the Ladder program. The following sections will detail the functions and applications of the 5 Ports on FBs-PLC under each of the 3 different software interfaces. Port0 ~ Port4 communication parameter are default to : Baud Rate: 9600 bps Data Length: 7 Bits Parity: Even Stop Bit: 1 Bit
Functional specification
USB interface complies with standard functional specification of USB1.1 RS232 interface functional specification complies with the EIA RS232 standard, with 5 types of communication
speeds 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600 and 115200 configurable.
Basic usage
Besides providing the standard RS232 interface, models with USB interface are also provided since more and more
notebook computers are using USB port to replace COM ports due to light weight and thickness considerations.
The main purpose of Port0 is to provide a communication interface for program editing, so generally speaking it would
be in passive receiving mode.
Extended usage Besides program editing, it can also connect to HMI, SCADA equipped with FATEK communication driver. Through
network. conversion of interface signal into RS485 signal, connections can be made with RS485 interface peripherals, such as computers, WinProladder, HMI, SCADA, etc. or become a Slave of the FATEK CPU Link
Functional specification
RS232 interface functional specification complies with the EIA RS232C standard, communication parameters are
adjustable up to highest communication rate of 921.6Kbps. Factory setting and system initialization communication parameter is configured to the default communication parameter.
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Basic usage
There are 3 types of software interface are selectable as follows :