smartLink DTM - User Guide
10 Version EN-052023-1.10
2.5 What is a frame application
An FDT (Field Device Tool) frame application is a software that provides a platform or framework for
configuring, managing, diagnosing, and monitoring field devices in industrial automation and control
systems. It allows you to import device information by accessing the relevant DTMs provided by the
device manufacturer. An FDT frame application is the only application within the FDT concept which
is implemented as an executable. It is application is responsible for loading and unloading the DTMs,
managing and saving data in a project database, managing a device catalog, generating a project
documentation, supervising user and access rights, and displaying all user interfaces of the DTMs.
There are a number of FDT frame applications on the market each offering a different user interface
structure and visualization. For the sake of consistency, this user guide describes the integration of
the smartLink DTM and connection the Softing smartLink instances using the frame application
PACTwareTM .
2.6 HART
HART (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer) is a two-way communication protocol designed for
field devices in process automation using a 4-20mA analog signal. HART provides digital
communication capabilities over the analog current loop by superimposing digital signals on top of
the analog signal. It can be used to parameterise, diagnose and poll process values.
The HART protocol implements OSI layers 1 (physical layer), 2 (data link layer) and 7 (application
layer). The HART Physical Layer defines the electrical connection between HART devices, typically on
twisted copper cables which transmit the 4-20mA analog signal of the device. For transmitting the
HART bit stream a high frequency signal is superimposed on the analog signal is using the Continuous
Phase Frequency Shift Keying (CPFSK) principle where the bit values of 0 and 1 are represented by
different frequencies without causing phase jumps during frequency switching. The data
transmission rate is 1200 bps. To synchronize transmitter and receiver preambles are added to the
Physical Layer.
The Data Link Layer deals mostly with the structure of the data packets, device addressing, error
correction and bus access control. Insofar, HART is a binary byte-oriented master-slave protocol on
which bus access is organized by the token-passing method. Device addressing is done either by
using a polling address that can be individually assigned to a slave (field device) or by a specific bit
address which is a unique identifier permanently set by the device manufacturer. With HART you can
have to masters.
The primary master is normally the control system master while the secondary master is used only
when required, typically by a temporarily connected hand-held communicator such as the smartLink
device. The token-passing protocol communicates between both masters to control the bus access.
During normal operation the slaves do not have an active role. They may, however, be used in what
is called burst mode communication, a method where the slaves are instructed to continuous burst
(broadcast) messages, thereby taking part in the token-passing communication.
The Application Layer handles through a serious of HART commands the generation (master) and
processing (slave) of data packets. The HART commands are divided into three categories: The
Universal Commands which must be supported by all slaves. The Common Practice Commands which
even optional device manufacturers are encouraged to prioritize them over Device-Specific
Commands. The Device-Specific Commands which include only device functions implemented by
specific manufacturers.