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Instruments Corporation. National Instruments respects the intellectual property of others, and we ask our users to do the same. NI software is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. Where NI software may be used to reproduce software or other materials belonging to others, you may use NI software only to reproduce materials that you may reproduce in accordance with the terms of any applicable license or other legal restriction.
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Operation of this hardware in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference. Users are required to correct the interference at their own expense or cease operation of the hardware. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by National Instruments could void the user’s right to operate the hardware under the local regulatory rules.
About This Manual This manual contains instructions on how to install and configure the National Instruments USB-8486 and the NI-FBUS software. The USB-8486 is intended for use in computers equipped with a USB port. How To Use the Manual Set OUNDATION ™...
About This Manual Conventions The following conventions appear in this manual: » The » symbol leads you through nested menu items and dialog box options to a final action. The sequence File»Page Setup»Options directs you to pull down the File menu, select the Page Setup item, and select Options from the last dialog box.
About This Manual Related Documentation The following documents contain information that you might find helpful as you read this manual: General Fieldbus Web sites: • Fieldbus Foundation—Responsible for the definition of the OUNDATION ™ Fieldbus specification. www.fieldbus.org OUNDATION ™ •...
Configurator software. The NI-FBUS Communications Manager software is used by the interface boards to communicate over the bus. Additionally, it provides a high-level API advanced users can use to interface with the National Instruments OUNDATION ™ Fieldbus communication stack and hardware.
(necessary if you are setting up a system for the first time). Your configuration software must match the interface card your computer is using to connect to the bus. National Instruments offers the NI-FBUS OUNDATION ™ Configurator with a National Instruments F Fieldbus interface card to let you configure your Fieldbus links.
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Chapter 1 Introduction Table 1-1 describes the National Instruments Fieldbus software. Table 1-1. National Instruments Fieldbus Software Software Application Short Name Description File Name NI-FBUS NIFB process This must be running nifb.exe Communications for you to use the Manager USB-8486 as a...
Your kit includes either the NI-FBUS Communications Manager software, the NI-FBUS Configurator software, or both. In addition, you can order LabVIEW DSC and/or Lookout from National Instruments. If you have not already done so, you also can order the NI-FBUS Configurator.
Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration Installing the Hardware Operate the USB-8486 only as described in operating instructions. Cautions Do not unplug the USB-8486 when the software is running. 1 Desktop PC 2 USB-8486 3 DB-9 Connector Figure 2-1. Connecting the USB-8486 to a Desktop PC USB-8486 for Windows ni.com...
Complete the following steps to use the NI-FBUS Interface Configuration utility to set the Fieldbus communication parameters and interface name. Start the NI-FBUS Interface Configuration utility by selecting Start»Programs»National Instruments FBUS»Interface Configuration Utility. Select the port you want to edit, and click the Edit button.
To do so, complete the following steps: Insert the device description disk or CD, if supplied by your Fieldbus device manufacturer, into the disk drive of the host computer. Select Start»Programs»National Instruments»NI-FBUS»Utilities» Interface Configuration Utility to run the Interface Configuration utility.
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Your base directory will include one folder for each different manufacturer for which you have imported device description. For example, if you OUNDATION ™ import the device description for a National Instruments F Fieldbus device, you will find a folder called . This is the 4e4943 OUNDATION ™...
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Appendix A Specifications Environment Operating Environment Ambient temperature ......0 to 55 °C Relative humidity ........10 to 90%, noncondensing (tested in accordance with IEC-60068-2-1, IEC-60068-2-2, EC-60068-2-56) Altitude ...........2,000 m Pollution Degree ........2 (IEC-60664-1:2007) Indoor use only. Storage Environment Ambient temperature ......–20 to 70 °C Relative humidity ........5 to 95%, noncondensing (tested in accordance with IEC-60068-2-1, IEC-60068-2-2,...
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Appendix B Pinout Information Figure B-2. DB-9 Cable for the USB-8486 Figure B-3 shows the pinout of the 9-pin D-SUB female connector so you can make your own cable if you need a longer cable than the one provided in your kit. No Connection Data + No Connection...
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Appendix C Troubleshooting and Common Questions Select Start»Programs»National Instruments»NI-FBUS» Utilities»Interface Configuration Utility. Right-click the USB-8486 to enable it. • If you want to use other interfaces in the system without this USB-8486, complete the following steps. Select Start»Programs»National Instruments»NI-FBUS» Utilities»Interface Configuration Utility.
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Appendix C Troubleshooting and Common Questions In the Interface Configuration Utility, I see more boards than what physically exist in the machine. Select Edit for the extra card. In the next window, select Delete. Caution Do not attempt to make unguided changes in the Windows registry. Doing so can cause many problems with your system.
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Appendix C Troubleshooting and Common Questions specification defines the directory hierarchy for storing device descriptions. There is a different subdirectory for each device manufacturer. Under the base directory, you should see a directory with the number from step 6 for the first device. 13.
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Remove the USB-8486 from the computer and close NI-FBUS Communications Manager. Connect the USB-8486 to another USB port in the system. Start the NI-FBUS Communication Manager. If the H1 Fieldbus LED still flashes red, contact National Instruments through the information provided in Appendix D, Technical Support and Professional Services.
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Appendix C Troubleshooting and Common Questions The H1 Fieldbus port on the USB-8486 has an LED to indicate the functional states of the port. Table C-3 describes each state. Table C-3. Interpretation of USB-8486 H1 Fieldbus Status LED LED State Meaning The USB-8486 has not been initialized.
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Technical Support and Professional Services Visit the following sections of the award-winning National Instruments Web site at for technical support and professional services: ni.com • Support—Technical support at includes the ni.com/support following resources: – Self-Help Technical Resources—For answers and solutions,...
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Appendix D Technical Support and Professional Services • Declaration of Conformity (DoC)—A DoC is our claim of compliance with the Council of the European Communities using the manufacturer’s declaration of conformity. This system affords the user protection for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and product safety.
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Glossary Block A logical software unit that makes up one named copy of a block and the associated parameters its block type specifies. The values of the parameters persist from one invocation of the block to the next. It can be a resource block, transducer block, or function block residing within a virtual field device.
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The block performs some control function as its algorithm. Function blocks are the core components you control a system with. The Fieldbus Foundation defines standard sets of function blocks. There are ten function blocks for the most basic control and I/O functions. Manufacturers can define their own function blocks.
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Live list The list of all devices that are properly responding to the Pass Token. Lookout National Instruments Lookout is a full-featured object-based automation software system that delivers unparalleled power and ease of use in demanding industrial measurement and automation applications.
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PCI-FBUS, PCMCIA-FBUS, or USB-8486 interface to communicate between the board and the Fieldbus. NI-FBUS API The NI-FBUS Communications Manager. NI-FBUS Communications Software shipped with National Instruments Fieldbus interfaces that Manager lets you read and write values. It does not include configuration capabilities. NI-FBUS Configurator National Instruments Fieldbus configuration software.
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Glossary Signal An extension of the IEEE 488.2 standard that defines a standard programming command set and syntax for device-specific operations. Stack A set of hardware registers or a reserved amount of memory used for calculations or to keep track of internal operations. Static library A library of functions/subroutines that you must link to your application as one of the final steps of compilation, as opposed to a...
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