Lonworks Overview; Lon Concept; Applications - Trane LonWorks



TR1 Series VFD Installation And Operation Manual

LonWorks
LonWorks is both an existing standard and
Overview hardware developed by Echelon Corporation.
Echelon's stated goal is to establish a com-
modity solution to the presently daunting
problems of designing and building control
networks.
The result is LonMark Interoperability which
makes it possible for independent network
devices to operate together over a LonWorks
network. The LonMark program was
developed to address interoperability issues.
As a result, the LonMark Interoperability
Association Task Groups were developed.
The task groups determine that each device
on the network has an object definition,
create standards and models to be used by
LON
The LonWorks communications structure is
similar to that of a local area network (LAN)
Concept
in that messages are continually exchanged
between a number of processors. A
LonWorks system is a determined local
operating network (LON). LON technology
offers a means for integrating various
distributed systems that perform sensing,
monitoring, control, and other automated
functions. A LON allows these intelligent
devices to communicate with one another
through an assortment of communications
media using a standard protocol.
LON technology supports distributed, peer-
to-peer communications. That is, individual

Applications

An important LonWorks benefit is the
network's ability to communicate across
different types of transmission media. The
N
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system. The N
port allows for the use of transceivers for other
media (such as coax and fiber optic) to meet
special needs.
LonWorks control devices are called nodes.
Physically, each node consists of a N
chip and a transceiver. With proper design,
the nodes become building blocks that can
6
chip is the heart of the LonWorks
chip's communication
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particular applications and create a common
platform for presenting data. A standard
network variable type (SNVT) facilitates
interoperability by providing a well defined
interface for communication between devices
made by different manufacturers. The TR1
Series VFD supports the LonMark functional
profile for variable speed motor drives. It also
supports node object and controller standard
object definitions.
Customers are currently using LonWorks for
process control, building automation, motor
control, elevator operation, life safety systems,
power and HVAC distribution and similar
intelligent building applications.
network devices can communicate directly
with one another without need for a central
control system. A LON device is designed to
move sense and control messages which are
typically very short and which contain
commands and status information that trigger
actions. LON performance is viewed in terms
of transactions completed per second and
response time. Control systems do not need
vast amounts of data, but they do demand
that the messages they send and receive are
absolutely correct. The critical factor in LON
technology is the assurance of correct signal
transmission and verification.
be applied to control a variety of tasks, such
as lighting or ventilating, integrating a variety
of communications media.
The tasks which the nodes perform are
determined by how they have been connected
and configured. Because hardware design,
software design, and network design may be
independent in a LonWorks-based system, a
node's function can be programmed to
accommodate the networks in which it will be
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used.