scope:

This Technical Report provides guidance for the development of device profiles for industrial field devices and control devices, independent of their complexity.

NOTE 1 Examples of devices covered are limit switches and contactors for simple device networks, medium complex devices, such as transmitters and actuators for process control, and complex devices for fieldbuses, such as power drive systems.

NOTE 2 This guideline is also recommended to be used for devices such as programmable controllers, network components and HMI. If a device is user programmable, its features, as introduced in this guideline (for example, parameters and behaviour), cannot be completely described in the profile. However, profile writers may agree on general common functions like Start, Stop and Reset as well as identification and process inputs/outputs.

A device profile may cover various aspects such as physical, functional, communication, electrical and functional safety as well as application system aspects, irrespective of whether these aspects are accessible over the network. This guideline focuses on the functional aspects of the device (see 3.1.9).

NOTE 3 Different users of a device profile such as device manufacturers, system integrators and maintenance operators may only use specific aspects of the profile.

The guideline is written in a network independent way. Therefore, it is applicable for various fieldbuses, including those based on Ethernet. The guideline is intended to be used by IEC product standards committees and industrial communications networks consortia when they develop their device profile organizations and structures. It is not intended to provide an outline for a specific device profile. Further, this guideline presents device models to better guide and delineate a device profile's content. The profile guideline allows the use of a parameter list, function block model and/or object model to convey the structure and behaviour of the device in a unique manner. It is up to the profile writers to decide which of the models they apply.

To be useful to users a common method for conveying the device profile information is required. This guideline recommends the use of device profile templates. This guideline gives an example of a template, which is intended to be the basis of the structure and content of further templates which may be developed by the relevant profile groups.

This will allow users of these profiles to make comparisons, determine interoperability and interchangeability, and recognize common device behaviour.

The development of industrial application and process profiles, as covered by ISO 15745-1, is not within the scope of this guideline.