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CC-Link IE Extends 1 Gb Industrial Ethernet to Field Devices

CC-Link IE Extends 1 Gb Industrial Ethernet to the Field Device Level
ControlDesign.com
01/20/2010

The CC-Link Partner Assn. (CLPA) announced release of CC-Link IE Field Network, an open, 1 gigabit (Gb) Industrial Ethernet field network that, because of its speed and flexibility, claims to offer manufacturers improved data flow, easier implementation, and lowest total cost of ownership as compared to older and slower Industrial Ethernet solutions. In addition, automation equipment manufacturers can incorporate CC-Link IE compatibility easily into their products. CC-Link IE Field Network, which is based on the IEEE 802.3 standard, aims to provide the ultrahigh speed data acquisition backbone for manufacturing process improvement, process and part traceability, equipment control and monitoring, and failure detection. CC-Link IE Field Network benefits operations by simultaneously transmitting control data, log data, and diagnostic data at high speed. Features of the new CC-Link IE Field Network are said to include:Ultrahigh speed· One gigabit-per-second transmission and real-time protocol enables control of remote I/O field devices with essentially no transmission delay. This transmission rate is at least ten times faster than currently available Industrial Ethernet-based networks. The new network uses commercially available Cat5E cable and RJ45 connectors

Inherent determinism without Ethernet switches

A significant difference between CC-Link IE Field Network and other Industrial Ethernet solutions is that CC-Link IE Field Network delivers deterministic control communications without requiring the addition of Ethernet switches. This feature eliminates the hardware costs and engineering implementation costs of those switches. Also, the cost and need for developing communication statements to govern the flow of data is eliminated due to the shared memory concept of CC-Link IE Field and no knowledge of CC-Link IE protocol is required. Determinism is guaranteed by the CC-Link IE token-passing technique.

Flexible topology

A CC-Link IE Field Network allows for a topology best suited to the needs of the particular application - thus ensuring greatest flexibility. These topologies include star, line, mixed star and line, and ring. Within a single network there can be a total of 254 stations with up to 328 feet (100 meters) of Cat5E cable between each station. In addition, as many as 239 networks can be interconnected allowing vast exchange of data to suit any application.

Seamless Communication

CC-Link IE Field networking enables seamless communication of data from field devices to controllers and from controllers to other controllers in order to form an integrated network for transmitting data at gigabit speed. An Ethernet adapter enables connection to 100 Mb Ethernet devices.

Built-in diagnostics· Built-in network diagnostics help to reduce total cost of ownership from installation through to operation and maintenance.

Open CC-Link networking technology is managed by the CC-Link Partner Association, which has offices in the USA, UK, Germany, Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore. Manufacturers, OEMs, and device developers interested in learning more about the ultrahigh-speed CC-Link IE Field Network, Control Network, and other CC-Link open network offerings should call Chuck Lukasik, Director of CLPA-Americas, at 847-478-2341 or email info@cclinkamerica.org or visit www.cclinkamerica.org.