The BK7000 I/O Bus Coupler from Beckhoff Automation connects via the ControlNet fieldbus with Beckhoff Bus Terminal I/O. One unit consists of one Bus Coupler and from 1 to 64 I/O terminals and one end terminal. The ControlNET Bus Couplers can interface to existing PLC applications to help reduce I/O system cost.

Customers can take advantage of Beckhoff's 180 different I/O module designs and network all of them over ControlNet and every other major fieldbus using the appropriate Bus Coupler. The BK7000 Bus Coupler supports the use of redundant bus cables and has an integrated Network Access Port (NAP) for the direct connection of ControlNet tools. Redundant media allows for secure communications if required.

The analog and multifunctional Bus Terminals can be adapted to each specific application using the KS2000 software configuration set. Depending on the type, the analog Bus Terminal registers contain temperature ranges, gain values and linearization characteristics. Using KS2000, the required parameters can be set on a PC. The Bus Terminal stores settings permanently and in a fail safe manner.

Optionally, Beckhoff Bus Terminal I/O can also be controlled by the control system. Via function blocks (FBs), the PLC or the Industrial PC (IPC) handles configuration of the complete periphery during the start up phase. If required, the controller can upload the decentrally-created configuration data in order to centrally manage and store this data. New adjustments are not necessary in the event of the replacement of an I/O Bus Terminal.

ControlNet has been an open fieldbus system since 1997. The transmission speed is 5 MBit/s and coax cables are used as the data transfer medium. The ControlNet protocol allows both cyclic and non cyclic data to be exchanged via the bus without cross-influence between them.