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Enhanced HART DDL Specification Approved by HCF Member Companies

(Austin, Texas - October 2005) – In a decisive vote, HART® Communication Foundation (HCF) member companies overwhelmingly approved enhancements to the HART Device Description Language Specification. The enhanced DDL simplifies and standardizes the presentation of intelligent device information for both automation suppliers and users worldwide. The enhanced DDL greatly benefits users as it allows them to more easily configure, diagnose and monitor the performance of intelligent instrumentation assets.

“The enhanced DDL updates the industry standard with new capabilities for describing advanced visualization of intelligent device information while maintaining the proven integrity of existing HART DDL technology,” says HCF Director of Technology Programs Ed Ladd. “An enhanced DD registered with HCF will work on all enhanced DD-compliant host applications. One DD to work everywhere—that’s our goal.”

The DD Language enhancements have been incorporated into the HCF standard DDL tools — the Device Description Integrated Development Environment (DD-IDE) and the Smart Device Configurator (SDC-625). The DD-IDE supports efficient development, testing and maintenance of enhanced DDs. The SDC-625 is the HCF standard reference host supporting cost efficient development and testing of compliant enhanced DDs and DDL-enabled host applications.

HCF executives and industry leaders expect enhanced EDDL to revolutionize the process automation industry. ABB, Emerson, Honeywell, Invensys, Siemens, Yokogawa and others have already announced plans to fully support the EDDL enhancements in their intelligent HART field devices and host application systems.

The enhancements allow manufacturers to easily incorporate graphical windows, menus, images, trends and other advanced data visualization features into the device description for an intelligent HART device. All information to define the window, the presentation of data within the window and interaction with the device is described entirely within the enhanced DD. The device information will appear essentially the same on all EDD-compliant host applications regardless of supplier or operating system.

Device Description Language has been a key element of the HART technology since 1990 and is the HART standard and the only technology endorsed by the HCF for configuration of HART devices.

The HART Field Communications Protocol is the global standard for smart process instrumentation. 70% of all smart process measurement and control instruments installed worldwide each year use HART Communication and the global installed base of HART-enabled devices is the largest of all communication protocols at more than 14 million. Key features of this unique open standard communication technology are: 4-20mA compatibility, ease of use, low risk, and cost-efficient implementation for both users and suppliers.

The HART Communication Foundation is an independent not-for-profit organization providing worldwide support for application of HART technology. Established in 1993, the Foundation is the technology owner and standards setting body for the HART Communication Protocol. Major instrumentation manufacturers and users around the world support the Foundation. Membership is open to anyone interested in the use of HART technology. For more information, go to www.hartcomm.org.

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