Echelon NodeBuilder FX - Manual (Page 16)

2 Introduction
Introduction to the NodeBuilder Tool
The NodeBuilder FX Development Tool is a complete hardware and software platform for developing,
debugging, testing, and maintaining L
ON W ORKS devices based on the Neuron 5000 Processor and FT
5000 Smart Transceiver and all previous-generation 3100 Series chips. You can use the NodeBuilder
tool all to create many types of devices, including VAV controllers, thermostats, washing machines,
card-access readers, refrigerators, lighting ballasts, blinds, and pumps. You can use these devices in a
variety of systems including building and lighting controls, factory automation, energy management,
and transportation.
You can use the NodeBuilder tool to do the following:
• View standard resource file definitions for standard network variable types (SNVTs), standard
configuration property (SCPTs), and standard functional profile templates (SFPTs).
• Create your own resource files with user-defined network variable types (UNVTs), user-defined
configuration property (UCPTs), and user-defined functional profile templates (UFPTs).
• Automatically generate Neuron C code that implements your device’s interface and provides the
framework for your device application.
• Edit your Neuron C code to implement your device’s functionality.
• Compile, build, and download your application to a development platform or to your own devices.
• Test with prototype I/O hardware on either the FT 5000 EVB Evaluation Boards included with the
NodeBuilder FX/FT tool and available separately, or LTM-10A Platform and Gizmo 4 I/O Board
included with the NodeBuilder FX/PL tool and available separately, or use your own custom
device to build and test your own I/O hardware.
• Install your device into a L
ON W ORKS network and test how your device interoperates with other
L ON W ORKS devices.
New Features in the NodeBuilder FX Tool
The NodeBuilder FX tool includes support for Echelon’s new 5000 Series chips (the term used to
collectively refer to the Neuron 5000 Processor and FT 5000 Smart Transceiver), support for
Echelon’s new FT 5000 EVB, and the following key features:
• Increased network variable support.
• Neuron C Version 2.2 Enhancements
• Enhanced Hardware Template Editor
• Enhanced Code Wizard Template
• Enhanced Neuron C debugger
• New LNS Plug-in Framework Developer’s Kit
• Microsoft Windows Vista support
The following sections describe these new features.
5000 Series Chip Support
The NodeBuilder FX tool supports Echelon’s new Neuron 5000 Processor and FT 5000 Smart
Transceiver, which are designed for the L
ON W ORKS 2.0 platform. The 5000 Series chips are faster,
smaller, and cheaper that previous-generation chips, as they include the following new features and
functions.
• Backwards compatibility for device applications.
• Improved memory architecture.
• Faster system clock.