User`s guide

7-2 Programming Considerations
Application Program Development and Export
Application programs are initially developed, tested, and debugged using the
LonBuilder Developer’s Workbench. See the LonBuilder User’s Guide for detailed
instructions on developing and testing applications. The LonBuilder SMX Adapter
with attached FTM-10 Modular Transceiver can be used with both the LPT-10 and FTT-
10 transceivers. The parameters for the FTT/link power channel definition are shown
in table 7.2. These parameters are compatible with both the LPT-10 and FTT-10
transceivers. A standard transceiver definition file is available for LonBuilder that
includes the FT-10 channel definition incorporating the parameters in table 7.2. This
file is available in STDXCVR.ZIP on the LonLink
™
bulletin board. Copy the
STDXCVR.TYP file included in STDXCVR.ZIP to the INCLUDE subdirectory of your
LonBuilder system directory, replacing the file of the same name already there. By
default, this directory is C:\LB\INCLUDE.
Application development begins by properly specifying the hardware characteristics of
the system under development. Table 7.1 shows the hardware properties for a typical
Link Power custom node. Assigning these properties to a LonBuilder emulator for
execution will allow the developer to test the application performance at the true clock
rate of the custom node that will eventually host the application. The emulator can also
take on the memory map of the Neuron 3120 Chip by changing the hardware property
Neuron Chip model number to 3120. The backplane network in the LonBuilder
Development Station can also be used to approximate the performance of the twisted pair
media used by the LPT-10 transceivers. Link Power channel emulation is accomplished by
creating a Channel with FT-10 selected as the transceiver type and changing the Comm
Mode type to Differential.
The LPT-10 and FTT-10 transceivers can function as a physical layer signal repeater to
extend the size of the network. The standard channel definition shown in table 7.2
accommodates the delay that occurs as a packet is forwarded by a single physical layer
repeater. If additional repeaters will exist in the path of a packet, the Rcv Start
Delay, and Missed Pream parameters for the channel definition must be modified
according to the notes shown in table 7.2. As the number of physical layer repeaters
increases, the overall channel capacity is reduced because the inter-packet spacing is
increased. In high traffic applications, LONWORKS routers should be used to
selectively forward packets. Systems designed using LONWORKS routers instead of
physical layer repeaters will have a higher overall network packet capacity.
The LonBuilder Developer’s Workbench is initially used to develop and debug
applications on emulators. Once application testing on the emulators is completed, the
LonBuilder software is used to generate custom system images for actual target
hardware (see the LonBuilder User's Guide, Chapter 7, and [4]). A LonBuilder Router
and a LonBuilder SMX Adapter with attached FTM-10 Modular Transceiver is
typically used to interface the LonBuilder hardware to an FT-10 channel. When
changing the LonBuilder hardware configuration to attach a LonBuilder router to an
FT-10 channel, ensure the following steps are completed:
• Select a backplane channel for side A and an FT-10 channel for side B in the
LonBuilder Router Target HW definition;