Industrial Networks

Industrial networks are moving from traditional dumb systems that communicate via current loops towards employing local control units and intelligent sensors. These intelligent systems and sensors inherently need to send and receive more data, and therefore create the need for a higher-bandwidth network. Exar’s XR16V798 UARTs, for example, now offer data rates of up to 16Mbit/s, supporting the high bandwidth requirements of industrial systems.

In more basic architectures, current loop, HART and other proprietary standards are gradually being replaced by the universal IO-Link standard; the USB of industrial communications. At the same time, the emergence of low-cost Plastic Optical Fibre (POF) is beginning to be seen in industrial systems, combining affordability with resistance to EMI. Future Electronics' MediaNet Converter Kit (opposite) equips designers with easy prototyping of Ethernet over plastic optical fibre and glass optical fibre in harsh environments.

More complex architectures are migrating from a centralised control system to distributed control modules. These can be largely autonomous and therefore do not need to communicate as frequently with the master unit. This has engendered a change in the communications systems that are used within industrial networks. So although PROFIBUS and other fieldbus networks will last for some time, Ethernet is being introduced into industrial applications.

The emergence of Ethernet has been supported by developments in real-time capabilities, such as IEEE 1588 time-stamping, required by industrial networks. The Design Note on page 10 discusses real-time Ethernet industrial control, whilst the Innovasic kit (below) supports rapid development of real-time network control.

Kit Enables Rapid EtherNet/IP™ Evaluation

The fido®1100 real-time communication controller is designed for deterministic processing, making the associated Dual Real-Time Ethernet (DRTE) module an optimal solution for industrial Ethernet networks.

Innovasic Semiconductor has now developed a complete EtherNet/IP™ solution based around its fido1100 communication controller. This kit enables rapid evaluation by providing a complete reference design with all the required development tools and software.

Comprising a DRTE module, baseboard, software, reference design and cabling, the kit delivers out-of-the-box evaluation of EtherNet/IP™. The DRTEmodule contains a dual RJ45 connector with magnetics, two Ethernet PHYs, a two-port Ethernet switch and the fido1100 communication controller, as well as RAMand ROM.

After basic set-up, the module is equipped to communicate on a network and with a host processor. For evaluation, the DRTE module plugs into a baseboard and communicates with a PC using USB. The PC hosts all the development software and tools to evaluate the DRTE module on an EtherNet/IP network. As a node on an EtherNet/IP network, the DRTE module’s two-port switch supports popular network topologies such as star and ring.

An EtherNet/IP stack from Pyramid Solutions and a TCP/IP protocol suite from NexGen Software, along with the fido1100 RTOS kernel in a Chip™, enable robust, high-availability communication. All stacks and software, as well as the RTOS kernel in a Chip™ are royalty-free, which helps to minimise production costs. The module is industrial grade and can be mounted directly on another processor board or can be incorporated into a processor board by using the reference design.

FEATURES


32-bit real-time architecture with 68000 software compatibility Royalty-free silicon Real-Time Operating-System (RTOS) kernel Fail-safe and deterministic operation for real-time applications Four programmable I/O controllers Low-jitter execution 208-lead PQFP, 0.8mm-pitch 208-ball BGA and 0.5mm-pitch 208-ball BGA packages

APPLICATIONS


Industrial Ethernet networks Ethernet networks Industrial applications Popular network topologies such as star and ring

The DRTE module evaluation kit is available to members of the Future Board Club.
To apply for the development board, and membership of the Board Club, go to
www.my-boardclub.com/manf-offers.htm

This offer is free and subject to qualification.

Innovasic / Fido 1100 kit