Interconnecting low-level fieldbusses

Deals with higher-level to low-level fieldbus interconnection architectures, using four case studies that can demonstrate diverse fieldbus coupling techniques. The single-master, low-level fieldbusses considered involve ASI (Actuator/Sensor Interface) and NBIP (Nine-Bit Interprocessor Protocol), while the higher-level fieldbusses are represented, apart from NBIP and ASI in that role, by the well-known Bitbus. Hence, the following interconnections are reviewed: NBIP-ASI, ASI-ASI and two variants of Bitbus-NBIP. This paper discusses some concepts which should be reusable in the development of various low-level fieldbus interconnections that are either dedicated to special-purpose protocols or fit particular operational requirements.