Technical Information on the AS-i Gateway
Environmental profile of the AS-i Gateway
The electrical and/or environmental characteristics of the AS-i Gateway may deviate from the characteristics of the Schneider Electric safety-related modules as it relates to your control system. Therefore, validate that the AS-i Gateway is integrated into environments that are suitable and therefore compatible with the Schneider Electric system.
Refer to the corresponding documentation or specification provided by Bihl+Wiedemann with the AS-i Gateway.
WARNING
INOPERABLE EQUIPMENT
Verify that all of the electrical and environmental characteristics of the equipment meet the operating conditions and requirements of the embedded safety system.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in death, serious injury, or equipment damage.
Features & Facts
AS-i (short for Actuator-Sensor-Interface) is a standardized field bus communication according to EN 50295 and IEC 62026-2. It is mainly used on field device level for connecting sensors/command devices and actuators.
Each sensor/command device and actuator is considered as AS-i slave which obtains its address from an AS-i master (which is the AS-i Gateway in the present context).
Behind the AS-i Gateway (which also integrates control functionality), two AS-i circuits (1 and 2) can be realized. Each circuit allows to connect up to 31 safety-related or 62 standard (non-safety-related) slaves. This means, up to 62 safety-related or 124 standard slaves can be addressed in the same network.
Safety-related and standard slaves can be simultaneously used at the AS-i field bus.
Master/slave communication on AS-i field bus level: the AS-i Gateway acts as master and sends requests to addressed slaves which respond with the requested data. The duration of one communication telegram between master and slave is 125 µs. If the maximum number of 31 safety-related slaves is connected to one AS-i circuit, the maximum bus cycle time is 5 ms.
NOTE:
Two bus cycles are necessary to communicate with the slaves connected to both circuits 1 and 2.
Neither the AS-i controller program nor the AS-i communication is synchronized with the upstream Sercos field bus.
Cross-communication between several AS-i Gateway devices is possible via Safe Link. (Safe Link by Bihl+Wiedemann provides safety-related communication via Ethernet.)
This way, subnetworks (which are, for example, covering different safety architectures) can be interconnected and evaluated/monitored by the same Safety Logic Controller. The PacDrive 3 safety-related system supports a maximum of 5 AS-i Gateways.
Refer to the topic "Use case: several AS-i Gateways with cross-communication" for details.
Communication between an AS-i Gateway integrated into the PacDrive 3 system and the Schneider Electric SLC and LMC (AS-i/Sercos data exchange) is enabled via a 64 bit device object. From the perspective of the safety-related Safety Logic Controller application, each integrated AS-i Gateway device is considered as a 64 bit I/O module. Detailed information can be found in the introducing topic to this documentation, section "AS-i/Sercos Data Exchange (I/O mapping of AS-i data)".
Further Information
For a detailed description of the AS-i Gateway, its interfaces, and connectivity, refer to the product sheets and user manuals provided by the AS-i Gateway manufacturer Bihl+Wiedemann.
System limits for AS-i Gateway in PacDrive 3 systems: when integrated into the Schneider Electric PacDrive 3 Safety System, the functional range of the AS-i Gateway is available with no restrictions.
Hardware: interfaces/connectivity of the AS-i/Sercos III Safety Gateway BWU 2984
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(1) |
Chip card for storing the AS-i master configuration (control functionality, configured in ASIMON) |
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(2) |
Diagnostic interface for connecting the PC running ASIMON or a Safe Link connection to a further AS-i Gateway (cross-communication) |
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(3) |
LEDs for status indication |
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(4) |
Field bus interface for connecting the Sercos field bus |
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(5) |
LC display for status indication |
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(6) |
Buttons for manual operation |
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(7) |
+ASI1-: AS-i circuit 1 for connecting a maximum of 31 safety-related or 62 standard (non-safety-related) slaves |
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(8) |
+ASI2-: AS-i circuit 2 for connecting a maximum of 31 safety-related or 62 standard (non-safety-related) slaves |
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(9) |
ASI+PWR-: supply voltage for the AS-i circuits |
NOTE:
Electrical installation and start-up of AS-i Gateway devices is not part of this integration guide. Refer to the appropriate documentation provided by Bihl+Wiedemann.
