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Industrial communication

Easy, fast and real-time data exchange using our analog and embedded processing devices and certified software

Unlock seamless connectivity and scalability in your design. Industrial communication enables a connected world in which both centralized and edge intelligence can be used to improve efficiency and real-time data exchange. It is transforming our homes, mobility, production and energy supply from stand-alone, discrete systems to fully transparent, connected systems. Our mission is to help the evolution of engineering. Simplify your design with our ready-to-use industrial communication solutions using our integrated software-on-chip products, protocol-compliant interface devices and certified device software stacks.

Ready-to-use industrial communication solutions

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Integrated SoC products

Our scalable, high-performance microprocessor and microcontroller portfolio enables simultaneous communication and computing in a single system on a chip (SoC) with 1Gb Time-Sensitive Networking.

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Protocol-compliant interface devices

Our product portfolio includes our trusted CAN and RS-485 transceivers, industrial Ethernet PHYs, IO-Link and single-pair Ethernet PHYs to increase system performance and reliability. 

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Certified, licensed and production-ready

We offer licensed and certified device software stacks, including production-ready hardware solutions from our partners and advanced configuration tooling for industrial protocols.

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Service and support from TI experts

Get online support from our industrial communication protocol stack experts on TI’s E2E community, offering customization and optimization options to help you get to market faster.

Software FAQs

Explore the essentials of industrial communication, protocols and integration

What does TI offer for fieldbus and industrial Ethernet?

Our device portfolio with the industrial communication subsystem (ICSS) implements various fieldbus and industrial Ethernet protocols. Our industrial communications software development kit includes certified protocol stacks along with application examples to help you get started.

What protocol stacks does TI offer?

Our software development kit (SDK) supports Profinet, EtherCAT and EtherNet/Internet Protocol (IP). Implementing these protocols using the ICSS hardware block enables users to stay up to date with the latest specification, while also providing the flexibility of a common hardware platform to implement different protocol stacks.

Are TI protocols certified?

Yes. We have certified our protocol stacks on our hardware evaluation platforms.

What is the cost and licensing model for the protocols?

Our protocols are royalty-free, with the production license included. There are no additional costs.

Does TI provide controller host-side protocols?

Yes. We partner with companies such as Acontis, Codesys, IBV and IGH to provide host-side (master) protocols.

Does TI collaborate with a partner network?

We work with an extensive ecosystem of partners. For a list of these partners and details about their business, see the Partner Directory page under Software Partners.

Where can I find support for industrial communication- and software-related issues?

Our TI E2E™ design support forums are an engineer’s go-to source for help throughout every step of the design process. Our protocol experts answer your technical questions and share their knowledge to help you quickly solve your design issues.

Enabling industrial communication technologies

The latest technology in real-time data communication

Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) is a set of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards that enable deterministic, real-time communication over Ethernet networks. TSN ensures low latency and high reliability in applications requiring precise timing and synchronization. Our products offer TSN support, such as processors with TSN-enabled media access control (MAC), including software protocol stacks and a broad Ethernet PHY portfolio to complete your design.

Take advantage of our products to:

  • Evaluate and prototype your TSN network requirements using our processor evaluation module and software development kit.
  • Leverage our TSN-related documentation, training resources and technical support.
parametric-filter Find Arm®-based processors parametric-filter Find Arm®-based microcontrollers parametric-filter Find Ethernet PHYs
White paper
Time Sensitive Networking for Industrial Automation (Rev. C)
Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) is an Ethernet extension defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) designed to make Ethernet-based networks more deterministic.
PDF
Blog
Ethernet PHYs to simplify design and optimize network performance
Read more about two Ethernet physical layer (PHY) transceivers, expanding connectivity options for designers of both space-constrained applications and time-sensitive networks.
Video
Process this series: Time-Sensitive Networking using Linux® on AM64x processors
This webinar focuses on the AM64x Time-Sensitive Networking capabilities that enable deterministic networking across a line topology of several nodes.
Featured products for Time-Sensitive Networking
DP83867E ACTIVE Extended temperature, robust low-latency gigabit Ethernet PHY transceiver with SGMII
AM6442 ACTIVE Dual-core 64-bit Arm® Cortex®-A53, quad-core Cortex-R5F, PCIe, USB 3.0 and security

Simplifying network connectivity

Take industrial communications from the cloud to the edge using single-pair Ethernet (SPE). Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol enablement along the entire signal chain allows both distributed processing and detailed remote analysis and storage.

To make predictive maintenance a reality in your system, get started by:

  • Building a system using our reliable physical layers (PHYs) and reduce maintenance costs once deployed.
  • Enabling precise timing characteristics using simplified solutions for Time-Sensitive Networking applications with industry-leading determinism and synchronization.
  • Maximizing system uptime with predictive maintenance enabled by advanced cable diagnostics.
arrow-right Learn about 10BASE-T1L single-pair Ethernet parametric-filter Find Ethernet PHY products
Application note
Single Pair Ethernet with Power Over Data Line
This application note contrasts Power over Data Line (PoDL) and Power over Ethernet (PoE), along with links to reference designs for implementation and more detailed technical information.
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Application note
How and Why to Use Single Twisted-Pair Ethernet (SPE) for Industrial Robotics Environments (Rev. A)
Learn about the advantages of single-pair Ethernet (SPE) in robotics. Step through specific testing performed on TI SPE physical layers (PHYs) to ensure proper operation using galvanic decoupling, plus how to minimize latency.
PDF | HTML
Featured products for single-pair Ethernet
DP83TG721S-Q1 ACTIVE Automotive, 1000BASE-T1 Ethernet PHY with TC-10, 802.1AS, Advanced TSN and AVB features
DP83TC818S-Q1 ACTIVE Automotive 100BASE-T1 Ethernet PHY with MACsec, advanced TSN with AVB features, and TC-10
DP83TD510E ACTIVE IEEE 802.3cg 10BASE-T1L Ethernet PHY

Combining data and power over single-pair Ethernet

Power over Data Line (PoDL) and Advanced Physical Layers (APLs) are technologies that enable devices to receive both power and data over a single Ethernet cable. They simplify network installations in applications such as sensors, actuators and industrial Internet of Things devices. APL is used for process automation environments, with its reliable data communication in harsh conditions.

Kick-start your project to implement PoDL and power-critical APL solutions by:

  • Leveraging our scalable reference designs to implement power-sourcing equipment (PSE) and powered device (PD).
  • Using our gateway solution to bridge Ethernet communication between standard Ethernet to single-pair Ethernet.
arrow-right View our 10BASE-T1L single-pair Ethernet design arrow-right View our four-port single-pair Ethernet design
Application note
Single Pair Ethernet with Power Over Data Line
Read more about how Power over Data Line (PoDL), also called single-pair Power over Ethernet (SPoE), combines single-pair Ethernet (SPE) and power on one cable, without the need to add additional lines.
PDF | HTML
Application brief
How to Implement an IEEE 802.3cg or 802.3bu-Compliant PoDL PSE
Power over Data Line (PoDL) for single-pair Ethernet is standardized in IEEE 802.3cg and IEEE 802.3bu. In 802.3bu, PoDL is specified for 100 and 1000BASE-T1 Ethernet, while 802.3cg adds support for 10BASE-T1L. 
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Application note
IEEE 802.3cg 10BASE-T1L Power over Data Lines Powered Device Design (Rev. A)
Read about how the IEEE 802.3cg 10BASE-T1L specification has resolved challenges around industrial communication by allowing 10Mbps full-duplex communications up to a distance of 1,000m through a single pair of twisted wires.
PDF | HTML
Featured products for Power over Data Line
DP83TD510E ACTIVE IEEE 802.3cg 10BASE-T1L Ethernet PHY
AM2434 ACTIVE Quad-core Arm® Cortex®-R5F-based MCU with industrial communications and security up to 800 MHz

Empowering smart sensors and actuators

IO-Link is an industrial communication protocol that connects sensors and actuators to automation systems. By enhancing data exchange and enabling advanced diagnostics and configuration, our IO-Link physical layers (PHYs) and reference designs simplify installation and maintenance, with seamless integration and improved efficiency in smart manufacturing environments.

Start your design by:

  • Using our evaluation module and reference designs to build low-cost IO-Link devices.
  • Design a single-chip solution with an eight-port IO-Link device, integrated frame handler and industrial Ethernet gateway.
  • Take advantage of our IO-Link documentation, training resources and technical support.
arrow-right View our evaluation module for IO-Link parametric-filter Find IO-Link and digital input/output products
Technical article
Implementing an IO-Link master with deterministic timing
In industrial factory automation designs, IO-Link has evolved into a popular protocol for sensors and actuators to improve factory efficiency and reduce downtime.
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Resource
 IO-Link device implementation for sensors and actuator reference design
This reference design gives an example implementation of an IO-Link device interface. The design includes the IO-Link device physical layer (PHY), including a low-dropout regulator (LDO) as well as a low-power microcontroller.
Resource
Eight port IO-Link BoosterPack™ plug-in module
This design implements an eight-port IO-Link with deterministic timing, independent cycling and bit-rate configuration to build a remote IO-Link gateway to connect to OPC Unified Architecture, Profinet, EtherCAT or Ethernet IP.
Featured products for IO-Link
TIOL112 ACTIVE IO-Link device transceiver with low residual voltage and integrated surge protection
AM2434 ACTIVE Quad-core Arm® Cortex®-R5F-based MCU with industrial communications and security up to 800 MHz
MSPM0L1306 ACTIVE 32-MHz Arm® Cortex®-M0+ MCU with 64-KB flash, 4-KB SRAM, 12-bit ADC, comparator, OPA

Bridging systems for seamless integration

An industrial communication gateway connects disparate systems and devices, translating data and protocols between networks. It streamlines integration, facilitates real-time data exchange, and enhances operational efficiency across industrial environments.

Our reference designs and evaluation modules (EVMs) support different types of gateways for you to start evaluating with, such as:

  • Eight-port IO-Link master to industrial Ethernet with our EVM, and example software to build a remote IO-Link gateway to connect to OPC Unified Architecture, Profinet, EtherCAT or Ethernet IP.
  • An Ethernet gateway that functions as a bridge between four 10BASE-T1L single-pair Ethernet ports with Power over Data Line and a 1000BASE-T Ethernet port.
arrow-right View our eight-port IO-Link BoosterPack™ EVM arrow-right View our four-port single-pair Ethernet design
Featured products for communication gateway
AM6442 ACTIVE Dual-core 64-bit Arm® Cortex®-A53, quad-core Cortex-R5F, PCIe, USB 3.0 and security
AM2434 ACTIVE Quad-core Arm® Cortex®-R5F-based MCU with industrial communications and security up to 800 MHz

Technical resources

Technical article
Technical article
Accelerating the adoption of Ethernet in factory automation with highly integrated processors (Rev. A)
Read about how Ethernet provides a mechanism for transferring latency-critical data, especially for Time-Sensitive Networking and protocols such as EtherCAT and Profinet.
document-pdfAcrobat PDF
Blog
Blog
How new connectivity technologies are lowering the barriers to Industry 4.0
In this blog post, learn about how the networking architecture of today’s factories is continuously evolving, unlocking better efficiency, safety and sustainability.
Video
Video
Key protocols for increasingly automated factories
TI experts discuss trends in connected factories including predictive maintenance and Time-Sensitive Networking, and how Ethernet continues to lead the way in transforming factories to meet digitization and connectivity needs.