scope:

Performance

This part of IEC 62453 includes the engineering and commissioning of field devices. Functionality for documentation and audit trail support is also considered. Examples and use cases are mainly given for actors, sensors and remote I/Os. Of course, FDT is prepared to be used for devices like drives, analyzers, recorders, etc. as well.

The FDT interfaces are designed in such a way as to support all significant fieldbus protocols. The main focus of this version of FDT does not lie on any specific fieldbus protocol. Due to the scalable structure of FDT it will be easy to add new schemas in order to extend the scope to new protocols.

The FDT concept allows a device manufacturer to provide his device specific functionality within an engineering system. So the main capacity of FDT depends on the functionality of the devices and the according applications.

This PAS is intended for developers who want to implement FDT components.

The FDT concept does not claim to provide a solution for all engineering tasks and the associated tools. Therefore, the engineering subjects "electrical wiring planning, mechanical planning, etc." or the plant management subjects such as "maintenance, optimization, archiving, etc." do not form part of the current performance range of FDT. Some of these aspects may be included with future versions of FDT.

Audience

This PAS is intended as reference material for developers of FDT compliant Frame Applications and DTMs. It is assumed that the reader is familiar with Microsoft ActiveX¹ technology and the needs of the Process Control industry or of the field devices.

This PAS is intended to facilitate development of DTMs and Frame Applications in the language of choice that supports Microsoft ActiveX. Therefore, the developer of the respective component is expected to be familiar with the technology required for the specific component.

Remember, FDT is a client/server architecture implemented in a first step with Microsoft COM.²

¹ Microsoft ActiveX is the trade name of the a product supplied by Microsoft. This information is given for convenience of users of this document and does not constitute an endorsment by IEC of the product named. Equivalent products may be used if they can be shown to lead to the same results.

² Microsoft COM is the trade name of the a product supplied by Microsoft. This information is given for convenience of users of this document and does not constitute an endorsment by IEC of the product named. Equivalent products may be used if they can be shown to lead to the same results.