The NodeBuilder FX Development
Tool is a complete hardware and
software platform for creating
LONWORKS devices based on the
Series 5000 and 3100 Neuron®
Processors and the Series 5000
and 3100 Smart Transceivers.
NodeBuilder® FX
Development Tool
A Complete Platform for
Developing, Debugging,
Testing, and Maintaining
LONWORKS® Devices
You can use the NodeBuilder tool to create
devices such as VAV controllers, thermostats,
washing machines, card-access readers, refrigerators,
lighting ballasts, blinds, and pumps. These devices
can be used in a variety of systems including building
and lighting controls, factory automation, energy
management, and transportation systems. Whether
you’re building large or small control network devices,
the NodeBuilder FX tool makes your project faster,
easier, and more affordable.
FEATURES
• Available in free topology (FT), power
line (PL), classroom, and softwareonly versions.
• FT and PL versions include a
hardware platform (PL) or platforms
(FT) for initial application development
and testing.
• FT and PL versions include sample
I/O hardware with a 4x20 character
LCD display for easy I/O prototyping
and testing.
• CD version available for use with
custom hardware.
• Neuron® C Version 2.2 compiler
supports up to 254 network variables
for Series 5000 and 3100 chips,
and supports interrupts for Series
5000 chips.
• Resource editor displays available
functional profiles, network variable
types, and configuration property
types, and can be used to create new
functional profiles and types.
• Code wizard automatically generates
Neuron C code to implement an easyto-integrate device interface.
DESCRIPTION
• Code editor lets you easily edit device
There are four NodeBuilder
FX products:
• Project manager lets you manage
NodeBuilder FX/FT Development Tool.
Includes development hardware for
the FT 5000 Smart Transceiver.
• ISI library lets you create devices that
NodeBuilder FX/PL Development Tool.
Includes development hardware for
Power Line Smart Transceivers.
application source code.
device definitions and build
applications.
install themselves without the use of
an installation tool.
• LonMaker® Turbo Integration Tool
installs development and production
devices into networks, simplifying
network integration and testing.
• LonScanner® Protocol Analyzer LNS
Turbo Edition captures, analyzes,
characterizes, and displays network
packets so you can pinpoint
network or device faults and
identify potential solutions.
• LNS® Device Plug-in Framework
Developer’s Kit lets you create
and redistribute LNS plug-ins written
in a Microsoft .NET programming
language such as C# or Visual
Basic.NET, making your devices
easier to install and configure.
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NodeBuilder FX/FT Classroom Edition.
Educational use only (includes FT 5000
development hardware).
NodeBuilder FX CD. Software-only
solution (for those who don’t need
development hardware, such as
NodeBuilder 3.1 users, or for developers
who want to upgrade from the Mini FX
Evaluation Kit to the NodeBuilder FX
Development Tool).
All four products include a complete
suite of device development software
for Windows Vista or Windows XP.
The following table summarizes the
components in each product.
FX/FT and
FX/PL
Development Tools
FX/FT
Classroom
Edition
FX
CD
positive or negative level), the highperformance on-chip timer and counter
units, and a dedicated, configurable,
high-performance periodic system timer.
NodeBuilder
Development
Tool CD
☑
☑
☑
The NodeBuilder FX software includes
the following tools:
Development
Platforms*
☑
☑
LonMaker
Integration Tool
Professional
Edition CD
(includes Microsoft
Visio 2003
Professional)
☑
Component
LonMaker
Integration Tool
Standard Edition
CD (includes
Microsoft Visio
2003 Standard)
• NodeBuilder Resource Editor. View
☑
☑
LonScanner
Protocol Analyzer
LNS Turbo
Edition CD
☑
U10/U20 USB
Network Interface
☑
☑
☑
☑
* The NodeBuilder FX/FT Development
Tool and Classroom Edition include two
FT 5000 EVBs. The NodeBuilder FX/PL
Development Tool Full Edition includes
one LTM10A Hardware Platform, one
NodeBuilder Gizmo 4 I/O Board, and one
LonWorks Module Application Interface
(for development of PL devices).
NodeBuilder Software
The NodeBuilder software lets you
create, debug, test, and maintain
applications for LonWorks devices
based on an Echelon Series 5000 or
3100 Neuron Processor or an Echelon
Series 5000 or 3100 Smart Transceiver.
Using the NodeBuilder FX software, you
write your device applications using
the Neuron C Version 2.2 programming
language, a high-level language based
on ANSI C with extensions to simplify
network communication, hardware I/O,
and event-driven processing. Version 2.2
of the Neuron C language supports up
to 254 static network variables and 127
network variable aliases per device for
devices based on a Series 5000 or 3100
chip with Neuron Firmware version 16 or
newer, subject to available memory.
For Series 5000 applications, Neuron C
Version 2.2 also supports applicationspecific interrupt handlers and a hardware
semaphore that can be used for interrupt
task synchronization. Interrupt sources
include signals on any of the 12 I/O pins
(rising edge, falling edge, either edge,
standard types and functional profiles,
and create user-defined types and
profiles if the standard resource files
don’t include the resources you need.
• NodeBuilder Code Wizard. Use a
drag-and-drop interface to create your
device’s interface, and then automatically generate Neuron C source code
that implements the device interface
and creates the framework for your
device application. The code wizard
saves days of development for every
new device.
• NodeBuilder Editor. Edit the Neuron C
source code generated by the code
wizard to create your device’s application.
• NodeBuilder Debugger. Debug your
application with a source-level view of
your application code as it executes.
• NodeBuilder Project Manager. Build
and download your application image
to your development platform or to
your own device hardware.
• ISI Developer’s Kit. Develop ISI
devices that use the Interoperable
Self-Installation (ISI) protocol to
install and organize themselves into
networks automatically or at the push
of a button, all without the use of a
separate installation tool.
client-server architecture with an easyto-use Microsoft Visio user interface.
It’s compatible with a number of LNS
plug-ins, including the NodeBuilder
Project Manager.
LonScanner Protocol Analyzer
LNS Turbo Edition
The LonScanner Protocol Analyzer is a
software package that provides network
diagnostic tools that you can use to
observe, analyze, and diagnose the
behavior of installed LonWorks networks,
including networks with devices you’ve
built with the NodeBuilder tool. You can
use the LonScanner tool with the U10 or
U20 USB network interface included with
the NodeBuilder FX/FT and FX/PL Tools,
and you can also use it with other network
interfaces including all layer-2 OpenLDV
compatible network interfaces or an IP-852
(ISO/IEC 14908-4) network interface.
FT 5000 EVB Evaluation Board
Two FT 5000 EVB Evaluation Boards are
included with the NodeBuilder FX/FT
Development Tool and the NodeBuilder
FX/FT Classroom Edition. The FT 5000
EVB is a complete Series 5000 LonWorks
device that you can use to evaluate
the LonWorks 2.0 platform and create
LonWorks 2.0 devices. The FT 5000 EVB
includes an FT 5000 Smart Transceiver
with an external 10MHz crystal (you
can adjust the internal system clock
speed from 5MHz to 80MHz), an FT-X3
communication transformer, 64KB
external serial EEPROM and flash memory
devices, and a 3.3V power source.
• LNS Device Plug-in Framework
Developer’s Kit. Develop and
redistribute LNS plug-ins written in a
Microsoft .NET programming language
such as C# or Visual Basic .NET.
Plug-ins make your devices much
easier to install and configure. LNS is
the standard network operating system
for managed LonWorks networks.
LonMaker Integration Tool Turbo Edition
An integral part of the NodeBuilder FX
Development Tool, the LonMaker tool
is a software package for designing,
installing, and maintaining LonWorks
control networks. This single tool manages
all phases of a network’s life cycle, from
the initial design and commissioning
to the ongoing operation. Based on
Echelon’s LNS network operating system,
the LonMaker tool combines a powerful
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FT 5000 EVB Evaluation Board
The FT 5000 EVB’s compact design
includes the following I/O devices,
which you can use to develop prototype
and production devices, and to test the
FT 5000 EVB example applications:
• 4-line x 20-character LCD display
• 4-way joystick with center push button
• Two push-button inputs
• Two LED outputs
• Light-level sensor
• Temperature sensor
An FT 5000 EVB I/O library, included
with the NodeBuilder software, provides
easy-to-use high-level functions for
accessing the display, light-level sensor,
and temperature sensor.
The FT 5000 EVB Evaluation Board also
includes an EIA-232/TIA-232/RS-232
interface and a USB interface that you
can use to connect the board to your
development computer and perform
application-level debugging (only one
of the two serial interfaces can be used
at a time).
loaded into the RAM is preserved when
the module is reset, but not when it’s
powered down. You can use the Neuron C
Debugger to debug applications running
in the RAM or flash memory; however,
you should debug your application
running in RAM because extensive
debugging in the flash memory can
cause the flash memory to fail.
The LTM-10A Platform includes an
LTM-10A Flash Control Module that you
can design into your prototypes and
products. The module includes a Neuron
3150 Chip, 64KB flash memory, 32KB
static RAM, a 10MHz crystal oscillator
(providing a 5MHz internal system clock),
and custom Neuron firmware. The
firmware allocates the memory to the
Neuron Chip 64KB address space and
automatically initializes the transceiver
interface for standard transceivers.
The NodeBuilder tool can load your
application image into the RAM or flash
memory of the LTM-10A module. An
application image loaded into the flash
memory is preserved when the module
is powered down. An application image
A Gizmo 4 I/O library, included with the
NodeBuilder software, provides easy-touse high-level functions for accessing
the display, analog I/O, piezo transducer,
real-time clock, and temperature sensor.
NodeBuilder Gizmo 4 I/O Board
The NodeBuilder Gizmo 4 I/O Board is
included with the NodeBuilder FX/PL
Development Tool. You can use this
collection of I/O devices with the LTM-10A
Platform to develop prototype devices
and I/O circuits, develop special-purpose
devices for testing, or run the NodeBuilder
examples.
LonWorks Module Application Interface
The LonWorks Module Application
Interface (MAI) is included with the
NodeBuilder FX/PL Development Tool.
This interface board is plug-compatible
with the LonWorks TP/FT-10, TP/FT-10F,
TP/XF-78, TP/XF-78F, TP/XF-1250, and
LTM-10A control modules. The MAI
replaces the control module in a custom
device so that the LTM-10A Platform can
be used to debug the custom hardware.
This simplifies testing since the application
can be easily downloaded to the LTM-10A
Platform during development and testing.
Once the application has been debugged,
the MAI can be replaced by the control
module with the application programmed
into the control module’s PROM or
flash memory.
Gizmo 4 plugged into the LTM-10A Platform
U10/U20 USB Network Interface
The U10 USB Network Interface is
included with the NodeBuilder FX/FT
Development Tool and the NodeBuilder
FX/FT Classroom Edition. The U20 USB
Network Interface is included with the
NodeBuilder FX/PL Development Tool.
The U10 and U20 USB Network Interfaces
are low-cost, high-performance LonWorks
interfaces for USB-enabled computers
and controllers.
The LTM-10A Platform also includes
a PLM-22 power line transceiver with
external power line coupler for attaching
the platform to a LonWorks network.
Two power line couplers are included,
one for line-to-earth coupling and one
for line-to-neutral coupling.
Each FT 5000 EVB also features a
connector for optional in-circuit
programming of the external nonvolatile memory of the FT 5000 Smart
Transceiver on the board. This allows
fast application downloads to the
external non-volatile memory.
LTM-10A Platform
The LTM-10A Platform is included with
the NodeBuilder FX/PL Development
Tool. This complete LonWorks device
with downloadable flash memory and
RAM can be used to test application
and prototype I/O hardware.
• Temperature sensor
You can also plug a TP/FT-10 or TP/FT-10F
control module into the Gizmo 4 to create
a self-contained LonWorks device. This
requires separate purchase of the
TP/FT-10 or TP/FT-10F control module.
The Gizmo 4 includes the following
I/O devices:
• 4-line x 20-character LCD display
• Two 10-bit resolution analog inputs
with screw terminal connector
• Two 8-bit resolution analog outputs
with screw terminal connector
• Two digital inputs with screw terminal
connector and push-button inputs
• Two digital outputs with screw terminal
connector and LED outputs
• Digital shaft encoder
• Piezoelectric transducer
• Real-time clock
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The U10 USB Network Interface
connects directly to a TP/FT-10 Free
Topology Twisted Pair (ISO/IEC 14908-2)
LonWorks channel through a compact
removable connector. The U20 USB
Network Interface connects to a PL-20
C-Band Power Line (ISO/IEC 14908-3)
LonWorks channel through an included
power supply with integrated power
line coupler. The U20 USB Network
Interface can also be connected directly
to 10.8-18VDC power systems (such as
those in automobiles, trucks, and buses)
without a coupling circuit, or to virtually
any powered line through a customersupplied coupler/power supply.
The USB Network Interfaces can be
used with virtually any computer-based
LonWorks application, including all LNS
and OpenLDV based applications such
as the NodeBuilder tool, LonMaker tool,
and LonScanner Protocol Analyzer.
SPECIFICATIONS
Operating System
Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows XP.
Minimum Hardware
Intel Pentium® III 600MHz processor;
2GB RAM for Windows Vista, 512MB RAM
for Windows XP; CD-ROM drive; 1,024 x
768 resolution display with at least
256 colors; mouse or other Windowscompatible pointing device; 300 to 550
MB free hard-disk space.
Compatible LNS Network Interfaces
and IP-852 Routers
OpenLDV-compatible local and remote
network interface or IP-852 router.
Compatible local network interfaces
include the U10/U20 USB network
interface (included with the NodeBuilder
FX/FT and FX/PL Development Kits
and the NodeBuilder FX/FT Classroom
Edition); PCC-10, PCLTA-20, or PCLTA-21
network interfaces; and the SLTA-10
Serial LonTalk Adapter. Compatible
remote network interfaces include the
i.LON® SmartServer, i.LON 100 e3 plus
Internet Server, i.LON 600 LonWorks IP
Server, and i.LON 10 Ethernet Adapter.
Compatible IP-852 routers include the
i.LON SmartServer with IP-852 routing,
i.LON 100 e3 plus Internet Server with
IP-852 routing, and i.LON 600 LonWorks
IP Server. If you’re using an
IP-852 router, your computer must
have an IP network interface such as
an Ethernet card or modem with PPP
software. In addition, the i.LON software
must be installed on your computer, and
the IP-852 channel must be configured
using the LonWorks-IP Configuration
Server application software.
Neuron C I/O Objects
Bit, byte, nibble input/output
Bitshift input/output
Dallas Touch input/output
Dual slope input
(for low-cost A/D)
Edge divide output
Edgelog input
Frequency output
Infrared input
Infrared pattern output
I2C input/output
Level detect input
Magcard bitstream input
Magcard track 1 and 2 input
(for ISO 7811 input)
Muxbus input/output
(multiplexed address/data)
Neurowire input/output
(National Semiconductor Microwire
and Motorola SPI compatible)
Oneshot output, ontime input,
period input, pulsewidth output
Parallel input/output
Pulsecount input/output
Quadrature input
SCI (UART) serial input/output*.
SPI serial input/output*.
Serial input/output.
Total count input.
Touch input/output
(Maxim/Dallas 1-Wire®
protocol-compatible)
Triac and stretched triac** output
Triggeredcount output
Wiegand input
Neuron C Network
Communication Extensions
Functional blocks
Network variables
Configuration properties
Application and foreign-frame messages
* For Series 5000 and 3100 Smart
Transceivers and Neuron Chips with
hardware SCI and SPI support only
** For Series 5000 Smart Transceivers
and Neuron Chips with stretched triac
support only
FT 5000 EVB
Processor
FT 5000 Smart Transceiver.
Non-operating Temperature
-20 to +70°C
Dimensions
140mm x 105mm x 30mm
EMC Compliance
EN 55022 Class A.
LTM-10A PLATFORM
Processor
Neuron 3150 Chip.
Processor Input Clock
10MHz (5MHz system clock).
Processor Memory
64KB flash memory and 32KB RAM
mapped to 64KB Neuron memory space
in three memory configurations.
Power Input
+5VDC ±5% regulated 3A minimum
(power supply not included).
External I/O Power
+5VDC @ 100mA typical.
Operating Temperature
0 to +55ºC with enclosure.
0 to +70ºC in free air.
Non-operating Temperature
-20 to +70ºC
Dimensions
198mm x 145mm x 53mm
EMC Compliance
EN 55022 Class A.
DOCUMENTATION
Processor Input Clock
10MHz (5MHz to 80MHz system clock).
FT 5000 EVB Examples Guide
078-0389-01
Processor Memory
64KB on-chip RAM, 16KB on-chip ROM,
64KB external serial flash memory,
and 64KB external serial EEPROM
mapped to 64KB Neuron memory
space based on NodeBuilder hardware
template definition.
FT 5000 EVB Hardware Guide
078-0390-01
Operating Input Voltage
+9 to 12VDC unregulated.
External I/O Power
Combined +5V and +3.3V current
not to exceed 100mA.
External Power Supply
100 to 240VAC; 50 or 60Hz.
Operating Temperature
0 to +45°C
4
Gizmo 4 User’s Guide
078-0191-01
I/O Model Reference for Smart
Transceivers and Neuron Chips
078-0392-01
Introduction to the LonWorks Platform
078-0183-01
LNS Plug-in Programmer’s Guide
078-0393-01
LTM-10A User’s Guide
078-0132-01
LonMaker User’s Guide
078-0168-02
Neuron Assembly Language Reference
078-0399-01
Neuron C Programmer’s Guide***
078-0002-02
Neuron C Reference Guide***
078-0140-02
Neuron Tools Errors Guide
078-0402-01
NodeBuilder FX User’s Guide
078-0405-01
NodeBuilder FX/PL Examples Guide
078-0403-01
NodeBuilder Resource Editor
User’s Guide
078-0194-01
Series 5000 Chip Data Book
005-0199-01
*** Printed copy shipped upon receipt of
product registration.
ORDERING INFORMATION
NodeBuilder FX/FT Development Tool
10020R-40-24
NodeBuilder FX/PL Development Tool
10020R-40-27
NodeBuilder FX/FT Classroom Edition
10020R-40-34
NodeBuilder FX CD
10050-40
FT 5000 EVB Evaluation Board
28022R
LTM-10A/PL-20 Platform
65150R-270
Gizmo 4 I/O Board
28004R
Copyright © 2007-2011, Echelon Corporation. Echelon, LON, LonWorks, LNS, i.LON, and LonMaker are trademarks of Echelon
Corporation registered in the United States and/or other countries. LonScanner is a trademark of Echelon Corporation.
Other trademarks belong to their respective holders. Content subject to change without notice.
P/N 003-0460-01B
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