Implementing a Fieldbus Interface Using an FPGA

Abstract

Fieldbuses are serial communication buses frequently used in industrial applications. There are a lot of different commercial solutions making difficult the compatibility between the equipment of different manufacturers. In this way to change an equipment implies to change the fieldbus too with the consequent economic losses. To avoid this problems this paper proposes the implementation of the fieldbus protocol in a reconfigurable device. Using reconfigurable devices it is possible to modify the protocol of a communication bus without changing its hardware support. Due to the diversity of commercial fieldbuses this work is centered on the implementation of a FPGA based interface for WorldFIP, one of the most popular fieldbuses.