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Fieldbus
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<p>A fieldbus is a member of a family of industrial digital communication <a href="/facts/Computer_network/3w5RM99p">networks</a> used for real-time distributed control. Fieldbus profiles are standardized by the <a href="/facts/International_Electrotechnical_Commission/hSK0kjwI">International Electrotechnical Commission</a> (IEC) as IEC 61784/61158. </p><p>A complex <a href="/facts/Automation/3YlF2K5q">automated</a> industrial system is typically structured in hierarchical levels as a <a href="/facts/Distributed_control_system/8cS2KoMS">distributed control system</a> (DCS). In this hierarchy the upper levels for production managements are linked to the direct control level of <a href="/facts/Programmable_logic_controller/bqh0GAdb">programmable logic controllers</a> (PLC) via a non-<a href="/facts/Real-time_computing/p9HxgL4L">time-critical</a> communications system (e.g. <a href="/facts/Ethernet/nMfhU8tU">Ethernet</a>). The fieldbus links the PLCs of the direct control level to the components in the plant of the field level such as <a href="/facts/Sensor/RN8SXbjs">sensors</a>, <a href="/facts/Actuator/mF9qVJJR">actuators</a>, <a href="/facts/Electric_motors/ArD7BGDa">electric motors</a>, console lights, <a href="/facts/Switch/vqbNDgYm">switches</a>, <a href="/facts/Valve/EwgqAwlJ">valves</a> and <a href="/facts/Contactor/Xzhy6Ura">contactors</a> and replaces the direct connections via <a href="/facts/Current_loop/FCnMkkWn">current loops</a> or digital <a href="/facts/I%2fO/WQTE8Jas">I/O</a> signals. The requirement for a fieldbus are therefore <a href="/facts/Real-time_computing/p9HxgL4L">time-critical</a> and cost sensitive. Since the new millennium a number of fieldbuses based on <a href="/facts/Industrial_Ethernet/IsB9Hwca">Real-time Ethernet</a> have been established. These have the potential to replace traditional fieldbuses in the long term. </p>