Understanding Data Communication and Networking Part 1 & 2, 1998 Process Control, Electrical & Info. Conference Proceedings

There is an increasing application of microprocessor technology in the instrumentation field. Network standards are becoming integral to process control. The trend to totally integrate every aspect of the manufacturing and production processes increases the need to understand the fundamentals of transmitting data. This tutorial offers an overview of industrial data communication, as well as its basic principles. Networks, particularly Ethernet and MODBUS, as well as others, are presented through classroom instruction.

Digital and analog data communications are covered. Digital basics, along with modulation and demodulation, analog-to-digital conversion, multiplexing, baseband, broadband and carrier-band networks, terminology’s, protocols, languages, and signal conditioning, are included. The knowledge acquired from this course is essential to the understanding of the various instrumentation networks.

Tutorial Overview Part Two:

Demonstrations will include actual hardware and interactive software presentations in Part II, reviewing the concepts covered Part I. Serial communications, Spread Spectrum license free Radio-Modems, and HMI data presentations will be made using a variety of actual industrial hardware.