Deviceinteroperability几十年来的是工业最终用户的目标。实现这一目标的压力只会变得更加激烈，随着物联网，行业4.0，越来越联系的内部供应链。
To address this connectivity challenge,Hilscher.是，工业现场总线和以太网通信技术的供应商宣布即将发布其NT 151耦合器。NT 151是为了响应CC-Link伙伴协会（CLPA）和PROFIBUS和PROFINET International（PI）发布的联合规范而开发，以便在CC-Link IE和PROFINET之间轻松互操作性。
According to Hilscher, the NT 151 coupler is the first such product to be released in accordance with the joint specification that enables “both networks to seamlessly share information” with each other. In its release announcing the new product, Hilscher states: “With the new coupler, users can effectively achieve communication between differing parts of a line on separate networks, hugely increasing transparency and integration. The simple bridge between the two networks will dramatically reduce the engineering work that has traditionally been necessary to achieve integration across the heterogeneous network architectures that are a fact of life in numerous plants around the world.”
Armin Pühringer, Hilscher’s business development manager, explained that the PI/CLPA joint specification covers cyclic and acyclic/transient communication. In response, the NT 151 was designed to “work as a slave on both sides towards the Profinet and CC-Link IE networks. Its key functionality is to allow both network masters to interoperate with each other.”
The fundamental mechanisms of the NT 151 coupler include:
- 映射模型，用于从两侧映射数据;
- Diagnostics for coupler and networks; and
- 基于Sycon的DTM，它用作耦合器配置工具。
Based on Hilscher’s experience with its netTAP protocol converters, Pühringer noted two aspects of equipment interoperability that are most relevant in the context of Industry 4.0. “The first aspect is to connect complete networks,” he said. “TheNT 151coupler enables this interoperability between CC-Link IE and Profinet.” He added that the new coupler’s connection capabilities provide end users with an additional method of achieving interoperability in brownfield applications versus the use of communication architectures that require existing devices to support additional technologies or protocols.
The second aspect of Industry 4.0 equipment interoperability highlighted by Pühringer is the ability to introduce connectivity to devices having only one protocol capability—in this case, either CC-Link IE or Profinet. The ability to provide this level of connectivity to such devices “requires a link device that functions as a slave on one side and a master on the other side.” Providing this capability is the next step in full connectivity between CC-Link IE and Profinet devices that Hilscher will be focusing on pursuant to Industry 4.0 requirements. This forthcoming link device will be based on the NT 151 coupler.
NT 151的官方发布将于11月举行，预计2018年中期的全产权释放。
