In the past, the Bus Terminals were entered into the process image of the Bus Coupler depending on their data format, i.e. first all byte- or word-oriented Bus Terminals (e.g. analog terminals), followed by the digital terminals. The Bus Terminals can now be configured according to their hardware setup. A further advantage is that 2- or 4-bit Bus Terminals can optionally start a new byte or fill a byte that is already in use.

Each Bus Terminal can also be deactivated via parameter data or DP-V1 services from an existing configuration. This means that the configuration only has to be created once. If the Bus Terminal’s full configuration is not required, the associated Bus Terminals can simply be deactivated. The program, the addressing and the configuration remain unaffected. Furthermore, complex Bus Terminals can be configured via the parameter data of the PROFIBUS (e.g. KL3312 thermocouple terminals).

The new software features can be activated in conjunction with a new GSD file. They can be used from software version BC (BK3120) or version B4 (BK3150). The GSD files are available from Beckhoff support (support@beckhoff.com). Older projects can continue to use the conventional GSD file – and, therefore, standard addressing – without problems.

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