Reduced phase logic programming

Without

PhaseManager

, a control engineer must implement the Phase Logic Interface (PLI), which is a set of ladder logic (RLL) routines that provides the controller interface to the

FactoryTalk Batch

Server and executes the command handshake protocol required by the server to communicate with the controller. This communication protocol is implemented using OPC and communication tags or other memory locations in the controller to hold commands, requests, and other data needed by the PLI. When OPC is used, the

FactoryTalk Batch

Server is compatible with any type of controller, including

Logix 5000

controllers, PLC-5s, or controllers manufactured by any vendor.

In

Logix Designer

with

PhaseManager

, the functionality associated with the PLI is embedded into the

Logix 5000

controller by means of equipment phase objects and instructions. Since

PhaseManager

implements the PLI functionality in the

Logix 5000

controller, do not implement PLI routines when using

PhaseManager

to create and maintain equipment phases in the

FactoryTalk Batch

system.

With

PhaseManager

, the

FactoryTalk Batch

Server communicates with the

Logix 5000

controller through direct CIP (Common Industrial Protocol) messaging targeted at the new objects in the

Logix 5000

controller. CIP messaging provides a faster and more reliable communication mechanism, a preferred connectivity path, and increased throughput. The combination of embedding the PLI functionality in the

Logix 5000

controller and using CIP messaging for communication provides a seamless integration between

FactoryTalk Batch

, RSLogix5000, and the

Logix 5000

family of controllers.

All commands previously supported from the

FactoryTalk Batch

Server to the controller, such as sending a parameter value to the controller, are also supported by

PhaseManager

. Likewise, all requests from the controller to the

FactoryTalk Batch

Server, such as the controller requesting a new parameter value, are also supported by

PhaseManager

. How these commands are sent is different when

PhaseManager

is used, due to the use of CIP messaging.