EtherCAT is a popular real-time Ethernet solution in industrial automation due to its high performance. LCSC supplier ZLG will analyze how EtherCAT ensures high-efficiency, real-time, and flexible fieldbus communication.
The principle of EtherCAT
Ethernet for Control Automation Technology(EtherCAT) is a high-performance industrial network fieldbus system. It is a real-time Ethernet communication network based on Ethernet and specially developed for industrial automation control. EtherCAT is a highly flexible real-time industrial Ethernet protocol using a master-slave communication model.
A complete EtherCAT system comprises a master station and multiple slave station devices. When the EtherCAT master station sends a message to the slave station, the slave station device reads the corresponding data message when the message passes through its node. Simultaneously, the output data is also included in the message as it passes through. It enables a Fieldbus control system with high stability, low cost, and excellent real-time performance using standard Ethernet.
Features of ZLG EtherCAT
Strong compatibility
The EtherCAT master station equipment uses a standard Ethernet controller. Both computers with network interface cards and embedded devices with Ethernet control can serve as EtherCAT master stations.
Good reliability
EtherCAT processes data transmission in hardware, resulting in higher efficiency and faster transmission rates. It provides a stable guarantee for data transmission delay time, improving reliability and real-time performance. The EtherCAT protocol also allows for the connection or disconnection of a single slave node. That means that if it removed a slave node from the EtherCAT network, the remaining components can still function normally. In addition, EtherCAT also supports master station redundancy, cable redundancy, etc., which is suitable for occasions with high-reliability requirements.
Higher efficiency
In traditional Ethernet technology, each device can receive all data packets in the network, and the application layer needs to extract helpful device information one by one, seriously affecting the execution efficiency of the application layer. During EtherCAT data transmission, the slave devices dynamically insert their data into the same digital stream. Parsing and processing of Ethernet data packets after receiving them is unnecessary. It completes communication within a single Ethernet frame.
High flexibility
ZLG EtherCAT supports a variety of connection structure topologies such as line, tree, ring, star, and bus. The connection cable can be a 100Base-TX standard Ethernet cable. The topology is flexible and changeable, which can significantly reduce hardware development and assembly costs. The EtherCAT network can connect up to 65,535 devices.
As a supplier of industrial intelligent IoT products, ZLG Zhiyuan Electronics Co., Ltd. focuses on serving enterprise users in the industrial field. It provides products and systemization solutions from perception control, interconnection, and edge computing to the ZWS IoT-PaaS cloud platform.
LCSC is the authorized distributor of ZLG. And LCSC Electronics was founded in 2012 in Shenzhen, bordering Hong Kong. LCSC Electronics is committed to helping engineers and enterprises who purchase qualified electronic parts for samples and small production purposes. After years of unremitting efforts, LCSC has become a global distributor with an extensive selection of electronic components, with more than 4 million registered customers worldwide. Select ZLG‘s products at LCSC.
