Object Dictionary
In the field of control and automation, an object dictionary refers to a data structure that is used to store information about the objects and data that are used in a control system. An object dictionary is often used in industrial communication protocols such as CANopen, DeviceNet, and EtherCAT.
The object dictionary is a central repository for information about the data, parameters, and services that are used in the control system. It serves as a dictionary of all the objects that are used in the system and provides a standardized way to access and exchange information about these objects. The object dictionary defines the structure of the data, such as the data type, size, and access rights, as well as any associated services, such as reading and writing data.
The object dictionary is an important component in the design and implementation of control systems, as it enables communication and coordination between different components and devices in the system. By providing a standardized and easily accessible source of information about the objects and data in the system, the object dictionary helps to improve the reliability and efficiency of the control system.
How To Use Object Dictionary
- Objects in the Object dictionary are areas allocated in memory. Object dictionary is also a special area created in memory that contains these fields. If we are using the canopen protocol, we configure the object dictionary according to this protocol. For this, first of all, let’s drag the canopen function block under the canopen tab in the toolbox onto the device we use.
- Then, let’s double-click on the canopen manager fb and load our Master EDS file and Slave EDS file in the opened canopen properties window and set the parameters. You can view #Master-Slave here.
- As a result of all these operations, you will have added your object to the object dictionary. For example, you can monitor the status of a switching element through this object.