SPRADL5 April   2025 AM2612 , AM2631 , AM2632 , AM2634 , AM263P2 , AM263P4

 

  1.   1
  2.   Abstract
  3.   Trademarks
  4. 1Introduction
  5. 2PROFINET
  6. 3PROFINET Features
  7. 4Ethernet/IP
  8. 5Ethernet/IP Application Profiles
  9. 6IO-Link
  10. 7EtherCAT

7 EtherCAT

EtherCAT is an Industrial Ethernet protocol that offers real-time communication by using the concept of on-the-fly communication to ensure short cycle time and low jitter for accurate synchronization. In a network, the EtherCAT main device (formerly known as EtherCAT Master) sends a telegram, and each Sub Device (formerly known as EtherCAT Slave) reads the data addressed to it and, based on the commands, write. It supports the data in the frame when the frame is propagating downstream. EtherCAT subdevice processes frames on the fly and in hardware. Thus, frames are delayed only by hardware propagation delay, making network performance predictable. It supports the DC clock feature for synchronization with high accuracy. It supports connectivity to standard Ethernet networks by using special switch ports that allow the tunneling of TCP/IP packets using Ethernet over EtherCAT (EoE) protocol. It can support 65,535 devices in an EtherCAT segment.

Protocols in an EtherCAT NetworkFigure 7-1 Protocols in an EtherCAT Network
Table 7-1 EtherCAT Features
FeatureDetailValue
Fieldbus Memory Management Units (FMMU)Convert logical addresses into physical addresses by means of internal address mapping4
SYNC ManagerEnsure consistent and secure data exchange between EtherCAT master and local application of slave device4
Process DataMaximum Input1024 Bytes
Maximum Output1024 Bytes
Cycle TimeFree run31.25us
DC mode50us
Distributed ClocksAccuracy64-bit
SYNC0Generation single-shot and cyclic mode support
SYNC1SYNC1 cycle time multiple of SYNC0 cycle time
Note: A detailed feature support list for EtherCAT Sub-device can be found here.
EtherCAT SolutionFigure 7-2 EtherCAT Solution
Table 7-2 EtherCAT Profiles
Application ProfilesImplementation StatusDetails
Cia402 ProfileSupportedThis profile is provided by TI via application in Industrial Communication SDK
FSoESupported via third party partner ISIT, Neuron-automationFSoE protocol provides control and safety functions by differentiating between regular data and safety-critical data.
FoE/EoE/CoESupportedThese profiles are provided by TI via application in Industrial Communication SDK